The rogue colonel

Autumn returned outside squinting, bring his hand up at the sudden increase of light from outside.  Lowering it as his eyes adjusted he moved his attention to the clouds. He had heard of his current species sub type flying, though being able to manipulating weather he was less inclined to believe.

Looking down noticed two wide shadows branching of the side of his main one. Looking at his back he saw his wings stretching subconsciously, bring themselves to their maximum length. He smiled at his new forms apparent desire. Testing his new capability he stretched and gave a couple of experimental flaps. Satisfied at his preflight check he gave a full flap putting all the strength he could muster. This of course turned out to be a less than educated guess as he shot up several hundred feet over the town. Looking down autumn flailed his arms as he began plummeting downward. Thinking quickly he tried flapping negating his fall speed but still falling at an alarming rate.

Searching for a place to land Autumn directed himself to a nearby cloud for a hopefully soft landing. His body came to a crashing halt as he impacted the cloud causing the air to be forced out of his lungs. Breathing heavily he laid on the cloud thankful but more surprised by the fact he was laying on a cloud. Really he should have fallen through it being it made of water vapor but despite what the laws of physics said he was laying on a cloud. Perhaps the water partials were stabilized by some manipulation field: like how force fields worked with air. Regaining his strength as oxygen filled his burning lungs he stood up and looked over his clouds edge. He was still several of not a couple hundred feet over the small town. Taking in the scenery Autumn looked out reliving the day before where he marched out of the forest and into the sleepy town he was in now.

Moving on from the forest he took in the sight of the Mountain View and what appeared to be a…castle? That was certainly something hard to miss. Still he could focus on that later, now he had some basic flight patterns and maneuvers to get down

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Rainbow was having a great day. So far she had gotten through her daily weather duty and had time to take a nap before lunch. Yea today had been great, but a day can get better with some stunts over ponyvill with its many fans to enjoy her awesomeness.

Puffing up her chest Rainbow soared several feet into the air breaking into the cloud barrier and continuing to sail onward. Taking a deep breath she folded her wings against her sides, letting herself fall. Freefalling. The ultimate experience in flight. She reviled as the wind racing past her blue jacket and shorts causing them to ruse and flicker with each passing second. Closing her eyes she lived in the sensation letting it fill her entire being. She opened her eyes just in time to collide with somepony in a tan suit. Her entire body felt like it hit a rock as she and the for mentioned pony flew out of control. She lucky landed on a cloud with only slight bruising. She could not say the same for her counterpart.

Looking over her cloud she saw him Laing on the ground, allowing her to take in his appearance. He was a Pegasus like herself but seem to be wearing a rather tacky and restrictive tan business suit with black shirt. His fur matched his suit to a motif, the dirty blond mane looked perfect as if her sudden bombardment hadn’t shuck a hair out of place. Dropping from her perch took a look over the stallion. So far he was unconscious that was the good news as if was awake he`d probably have been trying to sue her. The bad news was he had a pretty messed up wing. Looking up she could see the towns folk coming over to see that the commotion was, even worse was when some started muttering about her “taking another out” and “first out roofs now this”.

Leaning over she could feel the eye drilling on the back of her head. A firm believer in first action she put her arms around the unconscious stallions body dragging him away from the crowd. Half dragging half limping she brought him through town square making way to the hospital all the while the whole town was either following or whispering about her and the stallion in her arms. Uncomfortable and less that ecstatic at the towns display she manage to get him and herself in side.

Looking up she saw not only Fluttershy but all her friends waiting inside. Their faces showing annoyance and disappointment at her. “Guys” she started her voice stained by her excusive work of moving another’s mass through town. “I know this looks bad but …it was an accident.”

Twilight spoke up first “We understand, but this stallion still had every right to be in the sky as you did. But even then that not the point. You could have killed him!”

“Shes right sugar cube” said Apple jack her signature draw accompanying every word. “You hurt somepony and now your have to live up consequences, no matter what happened. You owe him that much.” She spoke nodding her hat at the end.

Rainbow dash blushed in embarrassment at the words of her friends, she looked down at the stallion in question still lying in her arms but flipping in and out of consciousness.  Almost immediately he flipped out of her grasp and landed a foot and a half away from her kneeling with one arm steading himself the other gripping the shoulder with the hurt wing. She heard him hiss as he used the free arm to search for something in his pocket. Moments later she saw him pull out some weird syringe thing with an oval on top. Apple jack spoke up at the display. “Now mister I know you are a little confused but you gott-“ her sentences was cut off as the stallion grabbed his wing and used the syringe thingy on it. A small hiss came from the device before he pulled it out sighing in relief before putting it back in his suit pockets.

Rainbow watched in shock along with her friends as the stallion she had dragged in with a broken wing and unconscious stood in front of them looking nun worse for wear.

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Autumn remained standing regain his senses. Hearing gasps and whispers behind him he turned around to face who or whatever was behind him. Turing he meet five individuals standing before him with shock written on their faces. “Is something the matter?” surprised not by the five in front of him but by the fact he was in the hospital again.

“Bu-but y-you were in her arms and-and we thought you be out but now…How?” the yellow one asked her voice soft yet concern evident.

Miss Rarity and Miss pink were among the group. He decided to respond promptly. “Why miss I don’t know what’s going on. One moment I was flying observing the town the next I am back here with my wing crushed, in fact I say you all know more than I do. Would you be so kind as to fill me in?” Autumn said his voice calm but hinting at the anger inside.

The yellow one immediately hid behind Miss Pinky pie, peeping over her friends shoulder at him. Autumn gave a raised eyebrow at the yellow one`s fanatics.

“She`s rather anti-social” the purple one said in a matter of fact tone.  She stood out from the rest as she had wings and a horn on her head. This confused Autumn to no end. Had she been some defect born with both or some creation by a nearby lab? Super mutants had been known to create some foul results just by placing similar creatures together and adding the forced evolution viruses. Even more so when a competent scientist was doing the tampering.  Just as he was about to ask about herself she cut him off. “I’m twilight sparkle by the way. Princess, but my friends just call twilight, most of the town bows and says your majesty but it would be nice if you didn’t. I won’t force you to follow this request but as a friend it would please me.” Twilight said her eyes full of awaited disappointment at his predicted refusal of her request.

“Why princes Twilight I am flattered you consider me a friend so soon after meeting me let alone to allow me ignore rank.” He could see her smile falter as he spoke the line ‘princes’ “but I think except those terms twilight.” he said smiling at the surprised look she giving him.

Smiling back she looked over to her friends who were still standing by her side. Twilight than began introduced him to them. To her left was miss Rarity in a white dress who he knew from before. Miss pinky pie still donning her pink short skirt and top who he also knew from a previous encounter. Next the frightened Pegasus Fluttershy came up, she too wore a short pink skirt though she had a light yellow turtleneck sweater. On her right was Apple jack who unlike the rest had what he identified as a southern accent. She wore what her friends chuckled at as her signature tan Stetson hat with orange flannel button up shirt, jeans and cowboy boots. “and one of our fastest friends rain- hey where’s rainbow?” she said absent mindedly her eyes swaying to and fro around the room searching for something.

Autumn how ever had spent the last five or six minutes listening to the mutie talk about her friends. He was in no mood to listen any more after waking up with a broken appendage. Giving the most sincere smile he could conjure he spoke breaking them all out of their search. “Thank you for the introductions. I however have had a long day and could use some rest. Later I can meet this friend you mentioned, you did say she was the fastest you know. More than likely she got bored and went out for some excitement. Miss Rarity could I perchance give you the uniform we discussed earlier and then we can all retire for the day?”

Seemingly pleased by his words Miss Rarity gave a small nod in his direction. Following the conformation, Autumn gave his own nod as he walked down the hall on his left leaving the five in the main lobby.

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Rainbow dash remained still in the corner of the room. Currently she had flown into the high right shrouded by the lack of light there. She hadn’t meant to do that, but when he pulled out the syringe and it hissed that horrible sound she panicked. Luckily neither her friends nor him had notice she was gone until the end. By then he seemed to have blown them off and walked into the hospitals long hallways. As soon as he was gone she immediately caught all her friends staring frustrated in her direction. So much for not noticing.

“Hey guys” she chirped anxious at her friend’s current demeanor.

“Rainbow.” Twilight said her voice dripping with venom. “Get down here.”

“Uh..fine.” rainbow replied letting herself glide down from her post. Landing on the floor she walked up to her friends current places in the room, mentally preparing for a lecture from Twilight. “Guys look I’m sorry for flaking out like that but really weren’t you at least scared by that whole act. I mean look one moment the hes laying there with a broken wing, the next standing up his wing looking as if nothing happened! Even if he was a unicorn, magic doesn’t work that fast. Something aint right. Not one bit!” she huffed crossing her arms to make her point.

Twilight however wasn’t going to let her off that easily. “Your right dash even magic can’t heal wounds at that rate nor can a Pegasus do so on their own.”

The five others all in a signature yelled “WHAT!” over the comment.

“I said your right, but I didn’t say your reasons were right. In fact want you to find out how our friend did such an act. Then you can write a report about this situation and the aftermath. If you don’t I can always write to the princesses about it. They would most likely agree.” Twilight said smiling at her friend current situation.

“Fine” Rainbow replied looking defeated. “But how can I get him to even spend that much time with me anyhow? Not like he would willing let me follow him or be in close contact any given time.” she said smugly.

“You could offer up the guest room. Not like he has a place to stay in town really.”

The main six turned in unison to the front desk. Siting there was none other than nurse Red heart sipping away at her coffee.

“What? I keep my ear to the ground, not like any of you noticed me.”

“Yea but how…when did you come in?” Twilight asked confusion prominent on her face.

“Really? I have been sitting here all day your majesty, then you all show up waiting for rainbow Dash and still ignore me until I speak up.” She shifted in her chair before picking up her mug. “And ponys say I’m oblivious.” Nurse Red finished her sentence with a slurp of her coffee, an almost bored but contempt smile slid across her face.

“She has a point what better way to learn about our mysterious friend then by having him in your house?”

“The fact of having a stranger in my house. Not just that, its also a stallion. What would everypony say? You know the rumors that spread around town Twilight.”

Rarity interjected “Rainbow I’m sorry to cut his short but that stallion is anything but a scoundrel. Earlier today he came into my shop a true gentle colt not even eyeing me in my robe. And if he can resist me, you certainly won’t have any problems.” Rarity winked causing rainbows eye to twitch out of sheer anger and embarrassment.

“Fine but when I come knocking on your door don’t tell me I didn’t say so!”

“Say so about what?”

Turing to her left she saw the stallion in question hanging a lump of clothes on his right arm. He stared at her for a second but quickly turned to Rarity giving the bundle to her with three gold bits on top.

“Thank you for taking my request so soon.” He spoke facing her friend. Returning to her he spoke repeating his earlier question. “You say so about what, Miss Rainbow?”

“That..that-I-I would know you need a place to stay and-uh..i would be the only one to accommodate you?” she stammered trying to think of a reason she would allow him to be in her house without it being creepy. The girls only stayed behind the stallion demonstrating their dislike of her lying skill by various gesture`s ranging from face palming to mouthing out various curses.  Rainbow only smiled and prepared for his imminent rejection of her offer. What he said she never suspected.

“Hum…Name your price.” his tone stagnant

"That’s what I tho…huh?" Rainbow replied taking a double take on his response

“I said I except your offer and I wish to discuss payment.” he gestured calmly

“Uuuuu” she stammered until she formed “three hundred?”

“Deal” he spoke, passing rainbow on his way out the door.

Rainbow turned her head giving the girls the meanest glare she could muster. Turning back she walked out of the hospital to find the sky darkening and him standing outside waiting. “Just for formality’s my name`s Autumn. Augustus autumn. Yours be miss…”

“Dash” she replied her voice cold. “Rainbow dash. Got it?”

“Crystal” he replied his tone matching her own.

“Good. Now keep up or I’m leaving you in the dark.”

With that she took of speeding into the air. Her feeling of empowerment filling her ego with the idea of him lost in the wet night. Turning her head back she found, he was keeping up only he seem to be struggling with the turns and twist of her path. Perhaps she could lose him just yet. Well she could hope.

Rainbow trotting up her door steps of her cloud home her unwelcomed guest trailing behind her. Undoing the lock she stepped into her home followed by her guest. “Feels like those slasher films.” She muttered entering the unlit house.

“Yes, but I’m not dressed as my mother and you’re not in the shower.” Autumn replied his comment causing her skin to craw at the thought.

“Yea. Your room is up the stairs. The left door leads to your room. The bathroom is down the hall on your right by some windows.” She directed trying to get this guy away from her as fast as she could.

“Thank you.” He replied half  facing her on the stairs moving upward to his new bed.

She watched him travel up into the darkness disappearing. The only evidence that he found his way being the sound of a door rapidly opening and closing in an instant. Sighing in relief she too made way to her room. Opening the door on her right she entered lowly. She closed it behind herself and was relieved that she was in her own sanctum. Walking past various wonder bolt poster she sat down on her cloud bed taking off her shoes, pants and jacket striping down to her underwear. Slipping into her covers, she rested her head on the soft pillow.

Through her wall she could hear her new house guest himself slipping in his bed as well. Stiffing sleep for a moment she thought about how she was going to approach this situation. So far she didn’t like him and didn’t like her too.  How would he ever revile his secret to her? She really despised the girls for doing this. Couldn't they have just spied on him than force her to keep him in her home, talk about too close for comfort. Still it was a chance to prove them wrong like she does from time to time and rise above the challenge. Smiling she let herself fall into deep sleep dreaming of the glory that awaited her.