Five Tales

The Liberation War, Year 1.

1 month After Battle of Canterlot, (A.B.C.)

Canterlot Valley Campaign. Day 16.

Patience.

Waiting.

Silence.

These were things Rainbow Dash always had trouble coming to terms with. Especially sitting still. Sure, she could spend a good chunk of the day napping or loafing about. But when she had something on her mind, something that needed to be done, she simply had to do it.

Crouching in a bush was not Dash’s idea of being productive.

But she had to make that sacrifice. She and her fellow pegasi needed to buy their time. To wait for the perfect moment to strike.

That’s why they were called Strikers to begin with. They were assault troops. Fast, light, agile, and deadly. Ambush tactics were part of the game plan. When the game called for it.

Knowing they could spring their ambush at any moment didn’t help Dash’s anxiousness. It only drove the rising itch to move even more.

The branches and leaves to Rainbow Dash’s left rustled lightly, giving way to her wing-mate. A pony she had quite a history with.

“Captain says they’ll be here soon.” Stated Lightning Dust in a hushed whisper, crouching to the same level as Rainbow Dash.

Dash kept her gaze on the small holes in the bush, making sure she could see through the dense green leaves.

“She said that five minutes ago.”

“They had to stop for something. One of their wagons might’ve hit a snag. They’re moving now though.” Replied Lightning Dust. She shuffled slowly on the soil to get into a better position.

Rainbow Dash flicked her ears, catching the distinct sound that could only come from a pulled wagon. She turned slowly to her right, where she peeked through the layer of bush to see another fellow Striker. The mare waved her hand down with a look of caution, signifying their target’s arrival.

Along the dirt roadway lying a few yards away came the target; a very lengthy convoy of caribou wagons, pulled by rows of black collared mares chained to the wagon undercarriages. The convoy, numbering nearly a dozen wagons, was escorted by a large squad of caribou guards. Thick tarps covered each of the wagons, shielding their contents from view. The Strikers speculated them to be carrying more resistant mares in dire need of help.

The leading wagon passed by Rainbow Dash’s view, with several more following behind. The turning wheels bumping along the dirt road and the commands of caribou officers were the only sounds to reach the ears of the hidden Strikers.

In between the creaks of the wagons and voices of the caribou came the loud hoot of an owl. The caribou guards within ear shot looked around in confusion, perplexed at hearing an owl in the early afternoon.

That was no owl.

Rainbow Dash braced herself, priming her muscles for what was about to come.

A second of almost complete silence followed. Then, with rapid execution, an array of muzzle flashes from the surrounding bushes ignited from the pistols of several Strikers. Conical projectiles found their marks in the caribou guards furthest from the road. Those closer to the wagons had only seconds to react.

A commanding voice rose from the smoke.

“NOW!! TEAR THE BASTARDS TO PIECES!!”

In an instant, Rainbow Dash and Lightning Dust sprung from their hiding places following the battle cry, along with dozens of pegasi from the surrounding brush. They furiously charged into the side of the convoy, each Striker dual-wielding deadly serrated blades. Their featherless wings were displayed with an unfettered pride as they rushed forward.

Simultaneously, another group of Strikers launched themselves at the convoy from the row of bushes on the opposite side of the roadway, catching the entire wagon convoy in a vicious pincer movement.

As the Strikers fell upon their enemy, all sense of coordination melted into pure chaos. Filled to the brim with adrenaline, anger, and mercilessness, the Strikers carved into the beleaguered convoy. Metal clashed against metal. Blood spilt onto the coarse dirt as bodies fell.

Rainbow Dash had leapt onto the first caribou she came across with her serrated swords primed, impaling him to the ground. She quickly got up and turned her attention to another, sidestepping as the caribou drew his axe and slammed it into the ground.

Dashing right up to the caribou guard, Rainbow Dash locked her swords along his axe’s grip and spun around, throwing him off balance and allowing her to step around behind him. She slashed both blades across his back, staggering him enough for Lightning Dust to follow through with a finishing jab to the stomach.

Another two caribou appeared from the far side of a nearby wagon, choosing Rainbow Dash and Lightning Dust as their targets.
The two pegasi stood ready, shoulder to shoulder.

“I’ve got your back.” Dash muttered.

Lightning Dust only grunted, her eyes locked onto her enemies and her grip on her blades tightening.

The two opposing caribou moved in to engage them, rearing their shock batons. The first swung his pulsing weapon horizontally, causing Rainbow and Lightning to duck. As the second caribou swung downward in suit, the two Strikers spun to the side and brought their swords to bear against the caribou electrified steel.

Rainbow and Lightning weaved and rolled, one blocking a caribou blow as the other dodged a swing. Coming full circle, Lightning Dust dove into a somersault in between the two caribou, causing the first to accidentally hit his comrade. Rainbow followed through the slip, cutting the impaired caribou and stabbing the other with both swords. Lightning Dust ascended from her roll and finished the impaired caribou, driving her blades into his back.

The two Strikers panted, their opponents defeated. The other Strikers wrapped up the remainder of the fighting, securing the convoy for themselves. The enslaved mares were freed of their chains, expressing their joy and gratitude to the pegasi of the Alliance. No later did the pegasi begin sifting through the wagons for whatever cargo they held.

Rainbow Dash and Lightning Dust helped scrounge through the convoy, seeking out any other mares held prisoner within the wagons. However, the wagons only contained foodstuffs and miscellaneous equipment. Disappointing, but nonetheless useful.

Rainbow Dash came around to one of the last wagons, brushing aside its hanging covers and hauling out a chest. She snapped off the lock with a downward stomp and flipped the box open.

“Whoa…”

“What is it?” Lightning Dust asked, peering over Dash’s shoulder as she knelt.

Dash lifted out the backpack, shaped like a metal disc with a body harness attached. Connected to its sides were two extending metal wire frames, acting like arms which matched up to a pegasus’ wings. The frame’s white tinted steel was dull and worn.

“It’s a cloud rig. One that might still work. If… any of us still had feathers.”

Dash recalled using cloud rigs. They were one of the earliest known machines created in Equestria, formed of magic and unique cloud materials to allow pegasi to fly at heights which were considered impossible to reach. While pegasi could hover in air or glide for some distances with a healthy pair of wings, they could not ascend very high. Cloud rigs were what allowed the Wonderbolts to perform their amazing feats, and it is said that early cloud rigs allowed historical pegasi to construct the first cloud cities.

The cloud rig was a fantastic find, as most had been destroyed by the caribou, but it was utterly useless. A cloud rig could only operate if the user had a full set of feathers, and virtually all of the pegasi which made up Dash’s unit of Strikers had none, thanks to the Fall. And although both genders of ponies were starting to overcome past grievances with one another, there were hardly any stallions in Dash’s unit. The few that were belonged to a particular sect of stallions who, after realizing their actions under the crystal heart’s corruption, ceremoniously plucked their own feathers in atonement. No one would be using this cloud rig anytime soon.

Lightning Dust briefly examined the cloud rig as Rainbow Dash held it. “It’s still a good find. I’m sure the Captain would want to see it.”

“She has a name, you know.” Rainbow stated plainly.

Lightning Dust scoffed. “I know.”

With a stern departure, Lightning Dust moved to the front of the wagon, aiding a few of the other Strikers in hauling it to a collection point to be dumped and exhumed of its supplies. Older wagons like these were favored by the caribou, since they relied primarily on slave labor for most of their needs. They mostly avoided using Equestria’s auto-wagons; wagons self-powered by magic conductors, which were finishing development just before the Fall. The Alliance had placed a priority on acquiring the means to manufacture auto-wagons, or ‘augons’ as they were commonly nicknamed, for military use. For now, the Alliance made do with whatever outdated transportation they could find.

Placing the cloud rig back into its chest, Rainbow Dash turned and walked down the line of driverless wagons. She passed by other Strikers working with the newly freed black collars to set the wagons on their way, or to dispose of the corpses from the battle. A nearby ditch served as the dumping grounds for the bodies, which already begun to gather a foul stench.

Dash arrived at the very last wagon, coming around to see a congregation of mares. Most of them were the convoy mares, now having their runed collars removed by a caribou prisoner. The stag was the lone survivor of the convoy’s guard, and was allowed to live only if he agreed to remove the collars of the now liberated slaves.

The last collared mare, with a flash of the caribou’s antlers, was freed from her remaining symbol of slavery. The caribou stag, on his knees with his wrists bound before him, huffed from the constant strain on his magic.

“Alright… There… Now let me-”

The stag’s words were cut short as a sword was thrust into his back, piercing out from his chest. He slumped to the ground as the Striker Captain withdrew her sword with a grisly sound.

“Captain Spitfire.” Dash announced, standing at attention.

“Rainbow Dash, just in time.” Spitfire replied, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. It was the only indication of her wellness.

Captain Spitfire had stood out among the senior officers of the Wonderbolts in the past. She did the same in the Strikers, quickly becoming the leading officer of one of the first Striker units formed following Luna’s victory in Canterlot.

Her Striker’s armor was battered and prideful, showing off its scars and leaving two holes for her featherless wings to stretch out, much like the other pegasi. She had two of the sharpest serrated blades, riddled with jagged edges from previous duels. A large strap resting across her chest held holsters for three griffin fire dart pistols, giving her an incredible amount of firepower at her fingertips.

However, it wasn’t her arsenal which made Spitfire stand out amongst her troops. Pressed on the bridge of her snout and against her brow was a blackened visor, modified from the old pair of flight goggles she used to wear as a Wonderbolt. The glass was a dark charcoal, and the head straps and visor cap were fastened tightly to prevent them from being dislodged.

Spitfire never took off her visor. She wore it at all times, day and night, to protect her damaged eyes from the elements. A magical enchantment placed upon the visor helped to enhance Spitfire’s weakened vision no matter how bright or dark her surroundings were.

While it gave Spitfire a menacing and calculating appearance, her black visor stood out as a reminder of the torture many went through at the hands of their masters. Yet another symbol of the scars inflicted by the Fall.

“All of the mares here have been taken care of. We only have this last wagon left to pick apart. Rainbow Dash, go keep an eye on the supplies. I’ve got to meet with another Striker group looking to rendezvous with us before we head to Ponyville.” Spitfire explained, as though she had completely forgotten about the prisoner she just executed in cold blood.

Rainbow Dash ignored the body of the stag, focusing on the Captain. “Yes, ma’am. Lightning Dust and I found a cloud rig that seems to still be usable. Might be worth keeping.”

Spitfire opened the box as Dash presented it to her. She nodded, pleased with its contents. “Agreed. For now, keep it with the other supplies at the collection point.”

As two other Strikers tossed the lifeless caribou stag into the ditch with the other corpses, Captain Spitfire departed. Rainbow Dash made sure the last wagon was ready to move, trying to block out the awful smell of rot and death. She only hoped the stench wouldn’t follow her.

Ponyville was an important target for the Haven Alliance, despite its meager standing. It was positioned perfectly between two back roads which ran through the Canterlot Valley. Though Ponyville’s true significance laid in its promise as a subtle base of operations for the New Monarchy to help rebuild heartland Equestria. It had been sought after by the Consulate to use as an ideal candidate for its Reconstruction Program. Ponyville could very well become the new heart of progress and innovation in Equestria. But it had to be retaken first.

Those first steps have already been made, thanks to the Striker assault on the caribou convoy destined for Ponyville. What was gleaned from the wagons was now being sorted and kept on a small patch of land just on the fringes of Whitetail Wood, as well as the empty wagons themselves. Much of the supplies consisted of necessities for a small town. The apple Rainbow Dash had picked from another chest was one such example.

As she spied her wing mate sitting atop a large crate, Rainbow Dash made her way over. She took a seat on a smaller crate next to Lightning Dust, juggling her half-eaten apple in one hand. Lightning Dust didn’t budge, keeping her gaze outward towards a nearby field.

The silence wasn’t anything new. She and Lightning Dust hardly ever talked when outside of a battle. The most they ever did was tolerate each other. It’s been like that ever since they were paired up.

Rainbow felt like being different today. Things were boring enough in between the action.

“So, uhhh… The… clouds are looking nice today.”

Lightning Dust tried her best to hide the grimace on her face, though she failed to hide the snap in her voice.

“What is it, Dash?”

“I’m just trying to talk to you. Sheesh.”

“Why now, of all times?”

“Just bored is all. Need someone to talk to. In the past few weeks we’ve been wing mates, you haven’t said a whole lot.”

Lightning Dust scoffed.

“…Did you finish the Wonderbolt academy?”

Dash was surprised by the jump in topic, but she could care less.

“Yeah. I was planning on taking the test for the reserves.” Said Dash, mindfully keeping herself from sounding too proud. Considering that Lightning Dust was not only demoted after her stint in the academy, but discharged as well, Dash didn’t want to accidentally press any buttons.

“… I was going to try and sign up again.”

Dash looked up in surprise. “Really?”

“Yeah. Of course, the day I had decided on doing it was the day everything went to tartarus. I walked into the recruitment offices in the morning, before any reports of the caribou had spread.” muttered Lightning Dust. She tilted her head forward, pushing aside a portion of her mane to reveal a scar near the top of her skull.

“The recruitment officer clocked me right here. When I wake up…”

She fanned out her featherless wings. Featherless to a point. Some of the pegasi had started to regrow mismatched clumps of their feathers. It still didn’t look very pleasant.

“We’ve all been there.” Rainbow Dash stated, trying to find comforting words, though she quickly realized Lightning Dust needed none of it.

“No shit we’ve all been there. I’ll just be happy once we kick those caribou assholes out of our home. And once we do, I’m going to find a place to live and stay there for the rest of my life. I’m done chasing dreams.”

Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow. “What, all alone by yourself in some house?”

With an exasperated sigh, Lightning Dust shook her head. She turned to look Rainbow Dash in the eye. There was no anger or annoyance in her expression. Only exhaustion.

“I’m not like you, Dash. I couldn’t reach my dreams. You did, even if it was for a little while. Why should I face failure again and again when I can just find some peace?”

That dreaded silence found its way back. Dash tried thinking of something better to talk about, though Captain Spitfire’s presence caused her and Lightning Dust to jump to their feet. A whole column of other Strikers, the second unit Spitfire had mentioned earlier, marched past them.

“At ease, you two.” Spitfire ordered casually.

“Need anything, ma’am?” Rainbow Dash asked, unsure of Spitfire’s mood thanks to her blackened visor.

“I just came from the meeting with the other Captain. Brainstorming ideas on how to take Ponyville. We should have the numbers to overwhelm the caribou, but we could take casualties if we outright assault the place. None of our officers could come up with a good plan. Any ideas?”

Rainbow Dash looked around while she thought, until her eyes landed upon the wagons lying nearby, still covered with their heavy tarps. “I think I have an idea, ma’am.”

“I’m all ears, Rainbow Dash.”

“What if we hid inside the wagons, underneath the tarps? We could have our stallions pull them, so long as the caribou don’t realize they’re featherless. Once we are in the town center, we can spring an ambush, and draw attention away from the perimeter so the other Striker unit can come in. We could take Ponyville from the inside out.”

“I’m not about to put all of our lives in the hands of a few stallions.” Spitfire stated, a frown forming on her lips.

“With all due respect ma’am, it’s either that, or risking a direct attack.” Rainbow Dash calmly replied.

Lightning Dust cut in. “Our stallions plucked their own feathers to try and make up for their actions. Let them redeem themselves. They clearly want to help.”

With a scratch of her chin, Spitfire conceded. “Alright. We’ll use the wagons.”

Spitfire went to relay her decision to her officers, who quickly spread the word. In moments, the Strikers gathered their gear and prepared the salvaged wagons, cramming in as many pegasi as they could beneath the large tarps. Rainbow Dash and Lightning Dust joined, readying themselves for the next battle to come.

For Rainbow Dash, this battle would be personal. The memories she cherished from a time worth living still rested in Ponyville. And Dash was damned if she was going to leave those memories in the hands of the caribou any longer.

The convoy en route to resupply the caribou still clinging onto Ponyville had finally arrived, despite their delays. Though the stallions pulling them were unexpected, the perimeter guards had allowed the convoy to pass through. That was only minutes ago.

Before the caribou in charge of the town could inspect their newly received supplies, a volley of ear-shattering shots were unleashed from beneath the tarps of the many wagons, puffs of smoke flowing out in all directions. Following the blasts by seconds, the Strikers launched their surprise attack, jumping forth from the tarps and throwing themselves upon the shocked caribou.

Spitfire appeared at their center, fury in her voice.

“Strikers! Fan out!”

As the ambush unfolded into a spanning brawl, Rainbow Dash and Lightning Dust leapt out of their wagon to join the fray, coming around the nearby town hall and engaging their enemy.

As caribou soldiers moved into the center of the town to combat against the Alliance attack, the second unit of Strikers hiding in the outskirts moved in, eliminating what remained of the perimeter guard and flanking the caribou. The town of Ponyville transformed into a warzone in mere minutes. Rising pegasi fought ferociously against caribou soldiers and some traitor stallions, as caribou cows and other civilians either fled or attempted to hide.

With the center of town already overrun and the caribou disintegrating in command, Rainbow Dash and Lightning Dust moved southward towards Sweet Apple Acres in pursuit of a fleeing force of caribou and traitor stallions. They sprinted ahead of their comrades, trailing the escaping caribou as closely as they could.

“We can’t let those bastards get away. Come on!” Lightning Dust yelled.

Gaining speed, Lightning Dust sprinted ahead, with Rainbow Dash close behind. The two Strikers approached the old schoolhouse, moving alongside it. They neared the corner of the building, preparing to swing around and continue their pursuit.

Suddenly, a large caribou appeared from the other side of the corner, taking Lightning Dust by complete surprise.

With a heave, the caribou swung the edge of his shock baton directly into Lightning Dust’s head, knocking her to the ground as the electric shock made contact with her skull. Her swords flew out of her hands as she became still.

“No!!”

Rainbow Dash drew her fire dart pistol and shot the caribou point-blank, killing him instantly. She grabbed hold of her partner’s limp arms and dragged her to the schoolhouse, hurriedly bashing open the door and bringing her inside.

The interior of the schoolhouse was empty, save for its collection of desks. It was far from the schoolhouse it once used to be, as it was still slathered with the propaganda that was churned out during the Fall. The state of the school was revolting, but Dash ignored it as she slammed the door shut.

Shoving aside the desks, Dash hauled her incapacitated wing mate to the far wall of the schoolhouse, carefully leaning her underneath a chalkboard. She quickly checked her pulse, breathing a sigh of relief upon discovering Lightning Dust to be alive.

“They went in here!”

Shouts from outside reached Dash’s ears as heavy footsteps surrounded the schoolhouse. Axes and batons slammed against the windows and the door as the caribou looked for a way in.

Rainbow Dash hurriedly reloaded her fire dart pistols and drew her swords, readying herself to defend Lightning Dust with her life. She stood in the center of the classroom, attempting to keep eyes on every possible entrance while bracing herself for a fight.

The caribou aggressors outside suddenly stopped their breaching efforts, seemingly preoccupied with something else. Sounds of pistol shots and slashing swords came from nearby. A moment of silence set in, followed by a hectic knocking on the schoolhouse door.

“Friendly! Friendly!” A mare’s voice pleaded.

Rainbow Dash hastily opened the door, allowing the mare inside. She shut it and locked it once more, before turning to her visitor.

The mare was clearly a Striker, though not from Dash’s unit. She assumed her to be from the second unit which had attacked from the town outskirts. Her armor was mildly worn from use, though still seemed new. Her purple coat and snow-white mane and tail were very unfamiliar, along with her bright pink eyes. But none of those things caught Dash’s attention. This mare felt completely alien to her, thanks to her most outstanding feature.

The mare had a healthy pair of wings, filled with bright purple feathers. They showed no signs of abuse whatsoever, and they were certainly not new.

Her voice snapped Dash out of her sudden stupor.

“I heard a struggle coming from the schoolhouse, and I noticed you dragging your friend inside. I’m here to help.”

“Thanks,” Dash replied, “I’m Rainbow Dash.”

“I’m Velocity.” said the purple mare, shaking Dash’s hand firmly.

More grunts and shouts from more caribou came through the windows, prompting Rainbow Dash and Velocity to arm themselves. The school door suddenly burst open from a forceful kick.

Velocity immediately put a shot through the first caribou, causing the one behind him to hesitate long enough for Rainbow Dash to lunge forward with her blades, stabbing his chest and kicking him backwards into the other caribou.

As another came through the door, some caribou climbed through the windows, forcing Velocity to turn to face them as Dash continued guarding the door. She slashed another caribou down as Velocity made use of her agility to outmaneuver the caribou, leaping on the desks and broadly slashing at her attackers.

The fighting lasted for only a few seconds, before most of the caribou soldiers were defeated. Rainbow Dash paused for a quick breather, unaware of the remaining caribou about to bring his shock baton down upon her from behind. Velocity’s warning was cut short by a single pistol shot.

The caribou fell dead to the ground. Rainbow Dash whipped around and saw a dazed Lighting Dust, her pistol raised, smoke seeping from its barrel.

“Hah… Too slow...”

The Battle of Ponyville lasted only an hour. The entire town was liberated thanks to the tactics and tenacity of the Strikers.

Rainbow Dash walked among the streets, looking around at the town she knew as home, which she had not seen for years. It was very different. More pale and dreary than she remembered. None of the happiness which made Ponyville so welcoming had survived the years of the Fall. The fact that none of Rainbow Dash’s old friends were here only deepened that sense of emptiness.

Along the streets and corners, Alliance Strikers rounded up the few caribou left over from the battle. Nearly every soldier had been killed, leaving the job of removing black collars to the caribou civilians who were being rounded up into holding areas. Those mares who were red or purple collars were simply cordoned off in their own holding areas, separate from the caribou. Rainbow Dash noticed a few familiar faces among the red collars being escorted to their holding sites. Mainly Roseluck and Cheerilee, and some other local residents. None of her close friends were among those gathered.

None of the Strikers had any kind of pity for their prisoners. Whether they were kept behind a fence or held at a weapons point, the prisoners were often berated and mocked. It wasn’t uncommon for some mares to take out their anger on a caribou stag, whether he was a soldier or not. The mares who were really, really upset would direct their violence upon cows, sowing terror among them.

Though she shared the anger and frustration that was born from the Fall, Rainbow Dash kept herself from stooping to that level. If she needed to vent her hatred, she would punch something else. Never an unarmed prisoner, even if that prisoner was a caribou.

Rainbow Dash soon arrived at the medical tent set up near the town hall, its white tarps spanning outward over a large area. It was manned by a small group of battle medics, led by a few Heartmenders from Haven. They had followed the second Striker unit from a distance, and moved into Ponyville to care for the wounded once the fighting had stopped, bringing the salvaged convoy supplies with them.

The front flaps of the main tent parted as Dash approached, giving way to two medics carrying a resting and awake Lightning Dust on a stretcher.

Lightning Dust asked the medics to stop for a second as they neared Rainbow Dash. She turned her head towards Dash, revealing the thick bandaging around her head.

“Hey, Dash…”

“Hey Lightning Dust. You feeling any better?”

Lightning Dust chuckled with a weak smile.

“Yeah… Just got a nasty bruise to the head is all… Another scar to add to the collection. According to the meds, I’m spent for a while. Maybe even for the whole war.”

“Sorry to see you go so soon. I guess you’ll be able to settle down in that lonely house a lot sooner now, huh.”

With a happier grin, Lightning Dust nodded.

“Guess so. Listen, Rainbow Dash…

Lighting Dust took Rainbow Dash’s hand, holding it tightly.

“Thanks for saving me.”

“You’re welcome, buddy.”

With another smile, Lightning Dust let go, allowing the medics to carry her to off to another medical station set up nearby. Rainbow Dash waited until she was out of sight before heading inside the main tent before her.

The inside was crowded, though surprisingly clean. Most of the injured Strikers had already been stabilized and patched up, either resting from fatigue or begging the medics to let them rejoin their units. The few who had fallen in the fighting were carted out on covered stretchers.

Passing by the medical cots on her way to the opposite end of the tent, Dash stood before another flap leading to a smaller, more secluded room. Unlike the rest of the tent, there was no light coming from the other side of the flap.

“Come on in, Rainbow Dash.”

Parting the flap to one side and letting it fall back into place, Rainbow Dash entered the darkened room. Sitting on an examiner’s chair was Captain Spitfire, flanked by a battle medic on one side and a Heartmender on the other.

Dash stood at attention, but couldn’t help but stare at Spitfire as she turned her head

Spitfire’s visor laid on a small table nearby. Her once blazing orange eyes were now pale and milky, blurring the distinctive line separating her pupils from her irises. Each blink she made caused Dash to shift uncomfortably.

“Uhh… Are you sure you want to see me now, ma’am?” Rainbow Dash asked as respectively as she could.

Spitfire nodded, much to the chagrin of her healers.

“I know, it doesn’t look pretty. But this is what happens when someone forcibly tapes open your eyelids for days at a time. The Heartmenders have been giving me checkups every now and then, to make sure I don’t go blind. What I really need are eye-menders.”

The Heartmender tending to Spitfire only smiled courteously, her hands placed upon the Captain’s shoulders. “These healing sessions take time, Captain Spitfire. They don’t work instantaneously. With monitored sessions, your eyes will-”

“Yeah, yeah, I heard you before. Just hurry up. Please.”

Spitfire returned her attention to Rainbow Dash standing before her.

“I wanted to congratulate you on a job well done, Rainbow Dash. Your plan did better than I expected. I’ve decided to promote you to ranking officer. You answer directly to me now.”

“Thank you very much, ma’am.” Dash replied, failing to hold back a proud smirk.

“Which reminds me about your current lack of a wing mate, with Lightning Dust out of commission. I talked briefly with the Captain of our partnered Striker unit, and we agreed to pair you up with Velocity, the mare who helped you in the schoolhouse. You’ll be a team from now on.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Dash hadn’t seen Velocity since after they brought Lightning Dust to the medics, though the mare hadn’t left her thoughts. The fact that she still had her wings kept tugging at Dash’s curiosity.

Spitfire continued.

“We’ll be staying in Ponyville until we receive orders from the higher-ups. The best bet is that we will be told to head west, and probably to join up with a griffin unit along the way. Should be a few days wait. You and Velocity should pick up your patrol charges in the meantime. You’re dismissed.”

With another salute, Rainbow Dash departed, catching one last sight of Spitfire’s damaged eyes before they were covered by the visor once more.

Exiting the tent, Rainbow Dash was surprised to see her new partner, Velocity, outside waiting for her.

“Hello again, Rainbow Dash. Did Captain Spitfire bring you up to speed?” she asked, smiling plainly as she crossed her arms.

Rainbow Dash got off a nod, though her mind was fixated on Velocity’s feathery wings. She scanned them with a squint of her eyes, determining them to be as real as can be, as far as appearances go. Dash couldn’t hold back her thoughts.

“You still have… How do you still have your feathers?”

Velocity sighed, though still kept a friendly tone in her voice.

“Well, I guess if we’re going to be wing mates I might as well tell you now. Let’s go find a place to sit.”

The two pegasi walked towards Ponyville’s town hall, finding a suitable spot along the extending stone steps. Velocity got herself comfortable, with Dash sitting beside her intently.

“… When the Fall broke out, I was able to go into hiding. I’ve never actually been forced to wear a collar or have my feathers plucked because I was never found.”

“How the heck did you pull that off? Where did you hide?” Dash asked, dumbfounded.

“I mostly hid in Cloudsdale thanks to some friends. But I had managed to relocate just before the Day of Rebellions. Er, the day-”

“The day the caribou brainwashing was lifted. And the day Cloudsdale was destroyed.” Rainbow Dash added. The Day of Rebellions was a crucial point during Luna’s efforts to unite Equestria. For the pegasi of Cloudsdale, however, the day only held the horrifying memories of their great cloud city falling from the sky.

Velocity nodded. She lifted a hand to the back of her mane, fussing with the low, short ponytail at its end.

“What did you do before the Fall?”

“I worked as a bartender aboard one of the royal air liners based out of Canterlot. My special talent involves making drinks. I know what you’re thinking. My parents named me Velocity because they thought I’d be a cloud rig racer or maybe a Wonderbolt. Turns out the fastest I’d ever go in my life was at the pace of an airliner. Fate, huh.”

“Heh, yeah. That’s pretty funny.”

“Enough about me. What’s your story, Rainbow Dash?”

Rainbow Dash chuckled. “You probably already know everything about me.”

“I know as much as any average pony does about the Element of Loyalty,” Velocity replied, “But there’s more to a pony than just her reputation. And even a pony like you needs to de-stress, you know? The best way to do that is to tell your story. Especially when you have somebody listening.”

Velocity had a good point. With the constant movement and fighting, along with nearly losing Lightning Dust, Rainbow Dash did feel stressed.

“When you put it that way… Ok. Before the Fall, I was Ponyville’s weather pony manager. That and a Wonderbolt cadet for a little while. But aside from that I spent most of my time doing stuff with my friends.”

“Were you born in Ponyville?”

“No, I grew up in Cloudsdale. I moved to Ponyville on my birthday, believe it or not. Been a few years since then. Though I did a lot as a kid in Cloudsdale. I was part of the Junior Speedsters, and I also met my best friend… Well… former best friend, Fluttershy.”

“Former?” Velocity asked plainly, “Something happen between you two?”

Dash sighed in frustration. “Yeah. The Fall happened. When everything was being torn apart, what was the first thing she did? Choose red. She liked what was happening to us. So did Rarity and Twilight and Pinkie! The only pony who still had any common sense was Applejack. How could they do that? After all we’ve been through together!”

“A lot of ponies sympathized with the caribou, but don’t forget what the crystal heart was doing to all of us. Have you seen any of them since Luna’s victory in Canterlot? They probably aren’t the same red collars as you last knew them.”

“No, I haven’t. But until I see any of them again, they’re not worth the time. Nopony who chose red should be worth anypony’s time.” Dash replied stubbornly.

Velocity paused for a moment, a brief look of sadness appearing on her face before she continued. “You know, there are a bunch of ponies who faked choosing red. To give themselves an easier time while trying to fight the caribou or help others. A lot of them former black collars too. How do you feel about them?”

“Well… That I could understand, I guess. But how can you trust someone who chose red and then says she faked it? She could be just saying that to get off easy.”

“We’d have to rebuild that trust the same way we are rebuilding trust with the stallions,” Velocity argued calmly, “With time and patience. That’s what Princess Luna has been saying.”

Rainbow Dash let out a frustrated huff. “Don’t get me started on Luna. I don’t care how much good she’s done for us. Nothing justifies killing Celestia. Oh, she was ‘beyond saving’. Bullshit! It doesn’t make any sense at all!”

“Who knows what was going through her mind when she did that. But either way, we wouldn’t be here without her.”

“You know, that’s what bothers me the most. Isn’t anyone worried that Luna could be insane? For all we know the Fall messed her up so much that she could be a… a psychopath leading us all to our deaths. And now she’s making new governments, alliances, and everything in between! And she just murders Celestia and no one seems to care!” Dash exclaimed, throwing her arms outward before rubbing her head.

Velocity waited for a few seconds to let Dash cool off. As she panted and found some composure, Velocity smiled.

“Feel better?”

“I… Yeah. Felt pretty good to let all that out. Thanks. Are you sure you’re not a therapist or something?”

“I made drinks for a living. Running a bar with early birds and late-goers around makes you the listening type. That’s my way of helping others.” Velocity replied with a smile.

“Well… it’s good to know that ponies like you are still around.” said Rainbow Dash as she hopped to her feet. She lent a hand to Velocity, pulling her up from her seat.

“Let’s go grab our patrol orders. It’s about time we got some more exercise.”

“Alright,” Velocity stretched, “I’ll race you to the command tent.”

Rainbow Dash grinned.

“So long as you don’t use those wings of yours… Then you’re on!”