Little Redd: the Lost Concept of Peace

Chapter Four

Hospitality

"I'm fine!"

"You are going to the hospital!"

Cresting another hill, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Little Redd were faced with the farmhouse and barn just a few hundred feet ahead.

"Just drop me off at the barn!"

Rainbow Dash glared at her.

"No."

Applejack ground to a halt, Redd shifting on her back a bit.  Having not expected the stop, Rainbow Dash kept going for a second before turning around and coming back.

"AJ, what're you doing?  She is bleeding out!"

Applejack's eyes locked with Dash's.

"If she wants ta stop here, she can stop here.."

Applejack looked at Redd's face hanging over her shoulder, who regarded her with eye contact.

Little Redd slipped off of Applejack's back and gasped as her weight hit her left side, wincing as she forced her torn muscles to function.

Turning to face her, worry worked it's way into Applejack's eyes.

"You sure 'bout this Redd?"

"Y-yes."

Redd started limping down the farm's path before turning back to the farmer.

"Applejack?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry."

. . . .

"Hey, what about me?"

__________________________________

Rainbow Dash hovered around relaxing on the breeze, giving commands to a few newbie Weather Team members.  To be honest, they weren't doing the best of jobs trying to eradicate the small storm Dash had blown up for practice.  Their form was off, they hardly knew what half the terms meant, and they weren't using the proper technique for certain clouds.  One of the stallions joining the team accidentally left somewhat of a charge in one of the clouds before preparing to break it, and Rainbow Dash decided to let him learn for himself why procedure was procedure.  He shot at the cloud, actually looking somewhat impressive, until he smashed into the ball of electricity with a hindleg extended.

CRACK!

The stallion ricocheted back in the direction he came, smoking a bit at the ears.

"Omigosh, Miss Dash, Bender just got electrocuted!"

A young mare who looked an awful lot like Derpy shouted before diving after Bender Breaker.

"He'll be fine.  He doesn't want to listen, he doesn't have to.  That doesn't mean he's gonna be babied and given chance after chance."

"But--"

"But what if this were a real job?  What if he was alone, like so many ponies have to be when there aren't any more to spare?"

"But--"

She deflated.

"Fine."

"Now, if you wouldn't mind, Mr. Knowitall needs a capable hoof to properly dispose of a storm cloud.  He's gonna be out of business for the rest of the day."

"I thought you said he would be fine?"

"I did.  I didn't say he wouldn't be broken."

The storm finally gone, Rainbow Dash dismissed the session and finally stopped controlling where the wind took her.  After a few minutes, she cracked an eye open to see where exactly she was.

Right over Sweet Apple Acres.  Seeing the farm below her made Rainbow Dash think about the encounter with Little Redd, the whole argument, and her ridiculous stubbornness.

What was she even doing there?

Out of curiosity, Rainbow Dash dove out of the sky, headed for the place of action.

Bottom of a hill, West Orchard, near the Everfree--

Dash facehoofed.

Duh.  She was probably in the Everfree and ran out in the open when she was being attacked.  But still...

Determined to see if that was the situation, she lowered her altitude until her hooves brushed the ground.  Then she slowed down and set her weight firmly on the grass, not missing a beat.  Looking out over the battlefield, she could see the sapling that Applejack had used as a bludgeon.  It was smashed apart, a large clod of dirt still attached to the roots.  Burnt sticks lay scattered across the ground, and a pile of ash marked the timber wolf's final resting place.  Then there was the blood wiped across the grass in places, making the green blades look like they had been the ones doing the cutting.  Stepping out of the shade of the trees, a glimmer of light caught the corner of her eye.  She trotted over to the shiny object to find a ceramic tea setup, a wicker basket next to it.  Another small patch of blood had dried under the tree.

I need to make it rain around here soon.

She bent down, and smelled the contents of the pitcher.

It's tea, but it's familiar.  Kinda flowery.  Where have I--

Her face quirked up.

"...Zecora made this..."

_____________________________

A magenta eye stared from around the darkness of a tree, zeroing in on Zecora through her window.

"And just as Daring Do was about to infiltrate the dark temple of Maessaeroic, suddenly a--"

"You know she can hear you, right?"

Rainbow Dash screamed, and clung to the tree she was hiding behind.

"Who's there?  Show yourself!"

"You know, I appreciate the gesture, but your crotch is in my face."

Leaping away from the tree, Rainbow Dash gaped down at a wide wooden face that looked like it had been carved onto the trunk.  Her features stiffened, and she bucked the tree in the nose.

"Oooow!"

"That was for being a pervert."

She kicked it again.

"Ooowwwwww!"

"That was for blowing my cover."

"Sorry, but you blew your cover."

She bucked the tree a third time, sending it's nose flying into the underbrush.

Zecora looked up from her cauldron.

"In your eyes, a conflict lies.  Unspoken, 'twill be your mind's demise."

"Well, not really... it's about Little Redd."

"What's up?"

Rainbow Dash jumped, toppling backwards off of her stool.  Redd stood in Zecora's door, bandages on her left ankles and scratch marks left on her cheek.  Her brow furrowed, and her eyes got large.

"Are you alright?  Did I frighten you?"

She became sheepish.

"I'm sorry..."

Zecora pursed her lips and moved for the door.

"To collect the willow's bone, I shall leave you two alone."

Redd stepped deeper within the tree to let the zebra by, and helped Dash to her hooves.

"Thanks.  So, "

Staring after Zecora, RD turned back to Little Redd.

"how did you two meet?"

Redd casually met her gaze.

"She knew my parents before she came here."

"Oh."

That was... vague.

Dash tapped the cauldron with her hindleg.

"Y' know what's in there?"

"Smells like jasmine."

Rainbow Dash facehoofed.

"I know what it smells like.  Do you know what it is?"

After a moment she shook her head.

"No.  Tea?"

Silence fell between them.

... Wow...

"You have a passion for that stuff, don't ya?"

Redd's brow cocked.

"I... suppose."

She shook the expression off her face, and became serious.

"Look, not to be rude, but if you just want to talk about my beverage preferences then I have other things I need to do."

Rainbow smirked.

"Okay."

They stared each other down for another minute.

"Alright."

Redd turned out the door, kicking the tree as it wolf-whistled.  She only noticed she was being followed when she heard a thud behind her, back-to-back with another yelp of pain.

"Son of a bitch!"

"That was for good measure."

Redd turned.

"Why are you following me?"

Rainbow Dash shrugged, looking innocent aside from the smirk that was beginning to burn into Redd's mind.

"Don't really have anything to do, so... why not?"