To Be a Mother

Rainbow Dash began cleaning up quickly, but slowed down a bit as exhaustion nowadays quickly kicked in.

"Rainbow Dash, are you sure you're completely cured of the sickness?", Fluttershy asked.

"Fluttershy. I've been healthy, except for other reactions to being pregnant, for the past two days! It's time I got up, and flew after that run away fool! He thinks he can go faster than I? The fastest Wonderbolt? No. Hell no! I will find that stallion even if I have to search the entire planet!", Rainbow Dash exploded on Fluttershy.

"You're having another mood swing. Maybe you should bring something else with you other than combat materials."

Rainbow Dash stopped fiddling with the strap which held the several knives she favored, and looked at Fluttershy.

"See this face?"

"Yeah."

"This my, I don't give a fuck, face! I don't know where this stallion lives, nor do I know how far, or where it is past! I will be prepared no matter the cost! I've got three hundred bits on me, ten emergency knives, one holy hand grenade, you don't know when those things might come in handy, but when they do, it's both awesome and a great idea, as well as a survival knife. Man, that survival stallion was no kiddin, they are sharp. Now, if you'd excuse me, Fluttershy, I have to get going. Tell everyone of my departure, please take care of Tank for me while I'm gone. Kay? Thanks. Now, see ya Fluttershy."

Rainbow Dash trotted to the door of her cloud house and crouched, repositioning to make room for her cramped stomach, and took off, demolishing her porch in an all too quick dash. She easily broke the sound barrier and was speeding forward even more. The watch which Twilight made to measure her speed, read a total of nine hundred seventy three miles per hour. She nodded at the device then looked head on once more, watching as the clouds flew past her, felt as the wind coursed through her fur, listened as...Twilight lectured her?

"...need to not go off so suddenly.", twilight ended.

Rainbow Dash opened her eyes and looked around at the library. She was freely flapping her wings, but she wasn't moving. She stopped and Twilight let her go.

"What the hay Twilight!"

"We noticed, all of us noticed, that you were going the wrong way. That, and we just had to say good bye."

"Listen, I know you guys care so much about me, but I need to hurry before he completely disappears from ou reach!"

"We don't have to worry about that. I got Princess Celestia to help us. She gave me a spell to use on a clock watch. But it has to have atleast an hour and minute hand."

"My watch that you gave me which measures my speed has that. Though, the time is completely wrong. I played with it a lot because it was so useless for anything else."

Twilight sighed, "Ok, I'll do it on the watch. It will spin wildly for a few seconds before locking onto his body."

Twilight pointed her horn at the watch Rainbow Dash held out on her arm, and did the spell, purple light washing over and seeping into the hour hand. It twirled around quickly for a few seconds before stopping on Rainbow Dash. She moved to the side and it followed her.

"Oh great, it's locked on the baby...", Rainbow Dash pouted.

"Easily fixed. I'll do the spell again. No two hands can be on the same person. Which is why this wasn't recommended. Because it locks on to even the smallest collection of that one person."

"Ok."

Twilight did the spell again and the minute hand twirled around the clock wildly before stopping on the nine.

"So he's west, huh?"

The minute hand jerked quickly to the five, vibrating slightly.

"Wow. Either he was moving at the speed of light, or the magic is glitchy.", Rainbow Dash said.

"It's the magic. Princess Celestia made this one up quickly."

"Well, tell her I said thanks anyway."

"Can do."

Rainbow Dash saluted Twilight then dashed out of the library, nearly knocking the door off it's hinges as she shattered it.

Once in the air, she rose to supersonic speed, then changed her direction accordingly to where the watch said. It was pointing slightly to the left, so she took to that direction.

Over the next few hours, she just flew straight, keeping a speed of nine hundred miles at most. When she began feeling the effects of exhaustion, she slowed down to make a final stretch to the nearest town. It wasn't far, and unlike what she'd seen before, was a very small town, having a total of twenty two buildings. There wasn't much activity in the houses either as it was all along the road where every traveling passerby walked or ran.

Rainbow Dash stopped in front of the town tavern and walked in. Unlike in Ponyville, the place was lit by lanterns and a large fire in the middle. Above, wooden chandeliers hung, small candle flames burning.

It wasn't the only thing ugly in the tavern though. The multitude of mares and stallions there were either scarred, dirty, or just unkempt. Though, that wasn't the only thing. The giggles, laughs, talking, and even music stopped. Without a glance except for her seat, Rainbow Dash walked forward, sitting at the bar.

"I'll take a glass of tea please."

The bartender turned around from the sink as he finished drying a glass and set it in front of her, still empty.

"Those are some...mighty sharp knives ya got there, missy."

"Well, they have to be. How else am I to protect myself?"

"We just want to know why a combat pegasus is in the tavern! A tavern thats more than seven hundred miles away from the borders!"

"Combat pegasus? Oh know, I'm just a regular pegasus. Really, I bought these knives from a magazine catalog.", Rainbow Dash returned with a chuckle.

The bartender seemed satisfied but backed away for a second as a large stallion walked up next to Rainbow Dash, leaning in close to her with a hoof on the bar.

"A little pegasus like you is far from home. Could get hurt out here if ya not too careful."

The alcohol and unwashed mouth of the stallion created a foul smell which almost made Rainbow Dash gag.

"Listen, bub. I came in here because I had just flown over three thousand miles straight in the past three and a half hours!"

"Oh guys, guys! This little pegasus says she flew over three thousand miles! Hah! Not even Jacob could go one twenty that long!", the stallion laughed.

"He can only go one twenty?", Rainbow Dash laughed.

Immediately all laughter stopped. The only one laughing was Rainbow Dash and she was laughing hysterically. Everyone made way for the black pegasus as he moved towards her, they even movd tables and chairs.

"Scuse me? You think thats funny? You laughin at me?! At me! The best damn flyer in the next thousand miles!!!!", the black pegasus burst out loud.

"Next thousand miles? Hah! No wonder! Though, I'm sure you've heard of the Wonderbolts."

"The who?"

"The Wonderbolts. Only the most awesomest, best, most coolest flyers int eh world! If you don't know the Wonderbolts then you sure are a big dunce!", Rainbow Dash answered.

The pegasus' eyes turned red with fury, ready to explode in the amount of hate held behind them. He reared up and as he came down, Rainbow Dash turned, bucking him backwards. He staggered, then fell backwards onto a table, smashing it.

"Get 'er boys!", the pegasus called out.

All stallions went after Rainbow Dash, some getting a hard hoof to the face, a few others getting the impact of the blow through one of the others. Though, soon she was sedated. Three stallions held her down, and one looked over, ready to hold down anything that might get loose. The position she was held, her hind legs were wide open and her front legs were held together, forcing her front end down.

"You know what we do to misbehaving mares that dis me and then put up a struggle?"

"No, but when I found out Red Feather, damn runaway bastard, wasn't gonna stick around to be a father for our child, I was thinking he was more like you guys."

And within the mention of Red's name, all activity ceased and Rainbow Dash struggled free. She turned towards the black pegasus, taking stance to ready herself.

"Ok, thats quite disturbing seeing everyone stare at me like fools."

"Y...You...*ahem* Uh...Well, slight change of plans! Come on boys! Lets buy this lovely mare a drink! On me!"

Rainbow Dash looked at the pegasus, puzzled by what had just happened. Then as everything resumed to what it was when she had entered, she was pulled to the side by a red colored pegasus. He was easily twice Rainbow Dash's size. She noticed his large cutie mark, a three tined shield with the word "protect" over it.

"Oh hey, I know you! You're Buster!"

"Seems introductions are over then. Meet me outside. I need a word with you."

Rainbow Dash Rolled her eyes and walked out behind the large stallion.

"Ok, we're outside, what ya want?"

"First, I'll say it doesn't matter to me if Red got you knocked up, kay? Second, I will need your help and intend on doing many things necessary to make it happen."

Rainbow Dash's blank stare turned to anger in a quick manner, leaving her face a reddish color.

"Scuse me? Knocked up? Do you seriously know how offensive that is to me? I am insulted by your comment on who I am, and not only that, but even if you didn't make that insult, comment, whatever you call it, I'd not help you. Maybe you shouldn't threaten someone when you want something."

"Either way, you will help."

"Try me."

Immediately after she said the word "me", she was tackled by another stallion, this one, an alicorn. Using magic to restrain her, she was held to the ground by magic clamps. The alicorn used another flurry of magic, strapping her wings to her side. The clamps dissipated and Rainbow Dash stood, trying to open her wings. But no matter how much she tried, she couldn't. She bashed the magical straps against a tree, scraped them on a rock, but only harmed herself.

"Please...", she pleaded, "Give me my wings back."

"Not until you do as I say, how I say."

"Fine, just let me have my wings back!"

"No, not until you have finished what you are told. Rigget, remove any tracking magic."

The alicorn nodded, proceeding to scan Rainbow Dash's body with his horn. He stopped at the watch, grabbed it with his teeth, and yanked it loose, then stomped on it.

"Hey! I need that!"

"We can't have anyone following us.", Buster retorted.

"But...I...I can't find him now, that was the only lead on Red I had.", Rainbwo Dash began tearign up.

"Stop your whining. Now. Down to business. We want Red, and if you two were really "in love" to the point of whatever the hell happened to you, you're perfect bait."

"B-bait? But...why? Why are you doing this?"

"Revenge. For humiliation."

Buster's answer was cold, straight forward, and without emotion. It scared Rainbow Dash. And not much scared her anymore.

"Now, with your broken spirit and disabled wings, you're nothing more than a doll. Rigget, strip her of her weapons."

Rigget nodded and used magic to remove the straps which held the knives and casings to Rainbow Dash's body.

"Why do you want revenge so bad? And why treat me like a rag doll?", Rainbow Dash asked.

"When your best friend stabs you in the back, you'll know why. And for obvious reasons, you shouldn't be treated anymore than a rag doll."

"Why? Is it because I'm a mare? Is it because I'm pregnant? Or is it because you are scared of me?"

Rigget tightened the straps over her wings resulting in a scream of pain from Rainbow Dash.

"Rigget! No need fro that. After all, we want them both alive for this."

The alicorn let off the magic and Rainbow Dash, now laying on the ground, relaxed, panting from the recent pain and actions.

"I neither fear you, nor think of you as less of me. You have two things that are precious to Red, should he see you hurt. Not only will he go after you, but he will do it alone. What you will do, is you will go and find him in the next town past the Dacil Desert. once you do, speak to him, exchange whatever words you want, rejoice, party, I don't care. But once he is alone, spill the beans, tell him you're being taken hostage by a few friends of his. If you do none of this, try to run, or anything out of line, Rigget here will not hesitate to kill you."

The alicorn smiled, using magic on Rainbow Dash once more, putting a horrible mental image into her mind. She let out a small whine of fear, and swallowed hard.

"But...what will happen to Red?", she asked.

She knew the answer, but she denied it.

"Thats our business. But I can tell you already know. It is no high school reunion. I'll tell you that now."

"But...He...We...He's the only stallion with which I've actually been able to start something that could last...I don't want to lose him!"

"Too bad. You're just the poor unfortunate soul here. But once this is done, you'll be free to go. Allen, Jack! Come on!"

Two more stallions appeared, one a pegasus, the other a unicorn. The pegasus sighed at the sight of Rainbow Dash, then looked at the unicorn.

"Jack, you owe me thirty bits."

The unicorn mumbled then with a flurry of magic, slammed the pegasus into a tree.

"There's your thirty bits, Allen Wench!", Jack chuckled.

"Real funny Jack Ass!", Allen replied.

"Thats enough. Now, tonight, we sleep in the tavern. But one of us has to keep watch over this one as the others sleep. We'll take turn to keep everyone from fussing. I'll take first shift. When we go in, ask fro a room, and hand them these coins.",. Buster tossed her a bag, "But act natural, don't tell anyone what we're doing or I'll have Rigget take care of you on the spot. First cry of help, do you hear me?"

Rainbow Dash nodded hurriedly. Not only was she scared out of her mind, she doesn't know what to do now.