Waking up in Equestria

There's nothing quite like being confronted with death that makes you so clearly think through all of your life's choices. Every event in your life up to that moment you've regretted and every thing you ever swore you would do before you die all become sparklingly clear in your minds eye behind the veil of terror gripping you. I didn't know I would be in this state shortly after climbing into the basket with Applejack, Rarity and Pinkie Pie, otherwise I would have chosen to stay below and return to Sweet Apple Acres instead of Big Mac.

"WHEEEEEEEEE!!!!!" Pinkie Pie shouted above me as she stood with her front hooves on the edge of the basket looking over. I had given up looking over the side moments after we dropped the heavy sacks of sand off the side and began to climb into the sky. I was currently cowering in a ball on the brown woven floor. I'd already been kicked twice by accident in the tight space under the three pony's hooves... but it was better than standing up.

"Aww Mason, why didn't ya tell us you were scared o heights?" Applejack looked down from her viewpoint over me.

"I didn't know I was!!!" This was true. I'd never been this high off the ground before. Once I'd climbed on my mom's roof, but other than being a little skittish of the edge I managed just fine.

Big Mac had been sent to Sweet Apple Acres to get Twilight. Since she was an Alicorn now, she could fly up here on her own just fine according to Rarity. Hopefully Celestia had arrived and she would be with her, she had added. The rest of us climbed into the basket and made ready to leave.

"Rarity, you know the cloudwalker spell, right? Otherwise we're gonna have a rough go up there." Applejack had asked the unicorn while she worked the knot on a sandbag.

"Oh Applejack, I simply couldn't be bothered to practice that one! I haven't used it in ages!" Rarity had said.

"Wait.. what's that mean?" I asked dropping my sandbag over the edge, the balloon was rising.

"Sugar cube.. Cloudsdale is called that fer a reason. It's in the clouds! Us land ponies can't walk 'round much there unless we've got a cloudwalker spell us otherwise ya just fall right back down to Ponyville! But don't you fret, Twilight's real good at it. She'll fix us up when she gets there. Why... we've been up there loads'a times, ain't we Rarity?"

"Well yes, but I may be quite rusty with the cloudwalker... lets hope Twilight gets there before us!"

Time passed slowly for me. Pinkie Pie had resumed her singing and despite Applejack's requests for her to tone it down a notch, Pinkie had insisted it was to keep the birds away and continued unabated. I didn't know how far we had rose and remained on the floor until Applejack gave me a gentle nudge. "Mason, yer gonna have to buck up there, human. We're here."

I got to my knees and slowly rose up enough to poke my nose over the railing. I forgot all about how scared I was when I saw Cloudsdale before me. We had risen to the edge of a massive cloud that held a towering jumble of buildings on it's top. Other smaller clouds were similarly built up nearby creating a clustered, tiered appearance to the town. Woven between all of these outlying clouds and the main one were streamers of rainbows that wrapped and slid around them with a delicate grace. Around the edge of the main cloud, I could see multiple running waterfalls cascading over the edge and disappearing into mist in the empty air below. The buildings were a light blue that matched the sky around us with white spire tops, sparkling in the sunlight and taking my breath away. I hazarded a glance down. Ponyville was far below us yet I could still make out the buildings of the town.

The magic of the grass poop box paled in comparison to the power that made this possible.

Several pegasus were soaring back and forth, going about their business. On the closest puffs of cloud, some were lazing about and a few had noticed us now, taking interest in our balloon. Applejack called out to a silver pegasus with a dark blue mane nearby.

"Hey there! Can ya give us a hand? We need to get into the town center!" she called.

"Land ponies!" the silver one laughed. "You got soooome guts coming way up here!" the pegasus had a deep booming voice and said this in a friendly manner. I took it as a compliment. "Hang on and I'll get ya goin in the right direction"

He hopped off the cloud and flew to our basket with an amazing graceful swoop. Putting his hooves on the edge, he began to flap his wings to push us, but when his large grey eyes fixed on me... he recoiled.

"WOAH WOAH WOAH!" he yelled, backing off several feet and regarded me with a shocked look. "What in the buck is that!" he pointed.

"This is our friend, Mason!" Pinkie Pie grinned at the pegasus. "He's a human and almost died once from being to happy!" she gave a little hop at the end.

"A friend?..."

"Now I know he looks a bit differn't an all, but you have our word he's not dangerous. Just please... can ya help us?" Applejack asked again.

He eyeballed me warily before moving back to the basket. He didn't say anything else, just began flapping his wings and the balloon drifted sideways into the passageway between the buildings just above the cloud floor. I could see material other than clouds were used to make the actual buildings themselves... but the floors of everything were the tops of the cloud like a puffy white carpet. Applejack was right... we couldn't leave the basket without magic.

We drifted through corridors and passageways. The buildings were small and stacked up tight with lots of pegasus now traveling about though the airspace around us. It was busy and crowded here, reminding me of how a busy shopping mall looked with people moving in all different directions. More than once, a pegasus would flit up near the basket for a quick peek at the land ponies inside. The ones that didn't see me quickly left. The ones that did... they left even quicker.

The pegasus guiding us seemed to know the way well and never once looked up to get his bearings. There were no real streets in this complex and I came to my own conclusion that there wouldn't need to be any. Cloudsdale didn't need the map of a normal town or city when it's citizens could fly. It felt alien to me, lacking the layout and organization I was used to.

Soon the buildings began to change in size and stature. They became more grand and tall with large spires, trellised balconies, and large windows that either were glass or some other clear substance similar to it. Through some, I could see immense inside spaces with ornate hanging light fixtures as we drifted by. Whoever these ponies were... they liked the finer things in life. The traffic thinned at first, and then there was none at all. Where ever we were now didn't have a lot going on and I took a guess that these large buildings must be for only one or two pegasus each instead of the dense population near the town's edge.

I was, thankfully, feeling better now that I couldn't see the ground. At least I could pretend that if I fell, I would land on that soft pillow of cloud below instead of plummeting to my death. I fought back the sudden urge to spit over the side to see what would happen when a familiar voice rang out in the still quiet air.

"FINALLY!" Rainbow Dash was sailing towards us. She looked completely frazzled. Her mane was mussed and her tail was frizzed out behind her. "Windshear? Hey buddy! How's it been?" she said with a strange grin when she noticed the silver pegasus pushing us along.

"Rainbow Dash!" His face turned red and he backed away from the basket. Ponies blushing still threw me for a loop.

"Heh heh.. yep. It's me! How's ol... what's his name... you know... the one you stood me up for?" she narrowed her eyes and swooped over in front of him. I was sure I heard her right.... what's HIS name?

"I... Nice meeting you all" Windshear said quickly and flew away back in the direction we came.

Rainbow Dash hovered for a moment looking after him. "Ehh.. you were boring in the sack anyways" she said and came back to the basket.

"Where's Twilight?" the pegasus asked, inspecting the occupants.

"We sent Big Mac to the farm to get her, she'll be along shortly. Pinkie Pie said you needed help?" Rarity asked.

"Well yeah! Windwhip is locked up in his brother's mansion and I need some serious unicorn firepower to get in there after him!"

Applejack spoke up. "Rainbow... we think Whipwind hurt those fillies somehow. We found this at Scootaloo's house!" She pulled the large bow up from the basket to show Rainbow Dash. She flew in close to inspect it.

"Is that..." She pointed to the clump of red hair, her eyes getting big.

"Yeah, that's Apple Bloom's mane alright. I got a bad feelin bout this Rainbow Dash. I think Whipwind has those fillies with him!"

"Well, lets stop messin around then! Let's get in there and kick some butt! Rarity can cover for Twilight till she gets here, can't ya Rarity?" Rainbow looked towards the impeccably clean and styled unicorn who was looking quite nervous now.

"Well.. the thing is... I mean... I'm not sure how long my spell will last! I'm not good at this sort of magic, you know! Can't you ask me to whip up a color coordinated rope or something?" She asked hopefully.

"Rarity..." Applejack moved close to her friend and put a hoof around her. She fixed Rarity with a confidant, steady look. "I've got faith in ya. You're the best unicorn I know at magic next ta Twilight and she's the best there is. Go ahead and cast it on me first. I know you'll do just fine."

"Yeah! lets get this show on the road!" Rainbow cried as she hauled the basket down to the cloud below, stopping just inches above the cloud's surface.

"I'll stay with the balloon and keep watch for those naassstyy birds! They can't be trusted, ya know..." Pinkie spoke up, but I noticed she lacked her usual cheer. Her voice was flat and quivering a little.

"You alright Pinkie?" I asked.

She didn't say anything, but busied herself inspecting the various pull chains dangling from the balloon above.

"Pinkie ain't much for confrontation, Mason." Applejack said. "She get's kinda funny when people are angry 'round her. Now lets do this"

Rarity gave one more whimper before she screwed her muzzle up in determination and shut her eyes. Her horn began to glow weakly at first, and then brighter when she strained. Applejack stood in front of the unicorn patiently waiting with a confidant smile. The horn grew in brightness until finally a glowing spark arced off the end and landed on Applejack's hat, falling apart in a sparkling shower before fading away completely. The farm pony didn't hesitate one moment and she jumped over the side of the basket, landing softly on the cloud below.

"Yeeehaw!" she gave a triumphant cry. "That's the stuff, Rarity! Good job!" Now get Mason and yerself and we'll go get our fillies back!"

Rarity turned towards me. Despite how nervous I was, I was struck at that moment by how beautiful she was. Her large dark blue eyes and matching main against her pure white coat was majestic and refined. I felt like I should do something... something to encourage her.

"Go on Rarity... I trust you" I said awkwardly and put my hand out against her cheek briefly. She gave a quick smile and looked down.

"Thank you, Mason. I hope my magic works on humans too..."

Oh boy... that thought hadn't occurred to me. What if the spell she was doing turned me into a quivering pile of goo or something! I was about to protest when her horn began to glow brightly again. Screwing my eyes shut, I waited for something bad to happen.

Moments passed. I didn't feel or hear anything. I kept my eyes shut...

"Come on!" I heard Rainbow Dash say impatiently. Opening my eyes, I saw that Rarity was already out of the basket and the two land ponies were waiting for me to join them on the cloud. I felt foolish. Swinging my leg over the side, I cautiously hung from the edge of the basket and touched the tips of my toes against the cloud's surface. I felt a squishy but firm resistance before letting go.

"What's the matter, Mason?", Rainbow chided me "Scared of heights?" she chuckled.

"Shut up, you overgrown bat" I said to her with a nervous laugh.

"Hahah!! A bat! Not bad, human." Rainbow Dash laughed and swooped in to give me a chummy elbow in the ribs.

"Come on ya'll lets quit stallin!" Applejack grew serious again. "What house is it?"

"This one over here, come on!" Rainbow took off ahead of us and we followed along behind her on the soft cloud's surface.

We didn't go very far, only a couple of buildings further past where we left Pinkie Pie and the balloon. It was a single large structure that soared up into the air above us. It reminded me of a miniature skyscraper you'd see downtown in a big city. There were windows and balconies at regular intervals along what I guessed would be about 5 or 6 floors total above us. The bottom entrance was a large round rotunda jutting out into the cloud's passage way. A massive double door stood closed, barring our entrance.

"Rarity, whadya think?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Can ya manage this one too?"

"Rainbow Dash!" Rarity said in an offended tone. "You are asking me to help you break into a house!??"

"Well.. Maybe just a little bit... But COME ON! Whipwind might have Apple Bloom and Scootaloo in there!"

"Did you try knocking?"

"Yeah, but there's a stuffy ol' penguin suit butler who won't let us in!"

"I will NOT stoop to the level of a common criminal!" She held her muzzle high. "I will simply talk some sense into this servant and let him know who he's dealing with." Even I was growing impatient now. I was feeling like every moment wasted was one we could be using to save the two fillies he have in there.

Rarity moved to the door and gave two hard bangs against it with her hoof then waited. The seconds ticked by and I thought I might have to pee soon. The white unicorn banged again and waited. Only the air swirling around us marked the passage of time as the four of us stood still. Yep... kinda had to pee. She reared back again to knock but stopped when the faint, echoing sounds of hoof steps came from within just before the latch on the door was thrown back and one of the two doors was pulled open.

A pale, gaunt pegasus stood in the doorway wearing a formal looking black and white outfit. I had not seen a pony wearing clothes yet and struck me as rather odd to see. He wore a gold monocle in his left eye attached to a thin silver chain that dangled into what must have been a pocket below the curve of his chest below. His coat was bone white with a jet black mane and he regarded us with an obvious disdain mixed with inconvenience before speaking in a fussy, dramatic tone.

"Yes... can I... help? you?"

Rarity took the lead. "Yes, my good man. Would be so kind as to tell Whipwind that he has guests here to discuss urgent matters with him? Off you go now, thank you very much." she said with a haughty tone.

"Yes.. well I'm sorry. Master Whipwind has given me direct instruction that he is not to be disturbed, madam" the butler replied.

"Nonsense. Be a good fellow and run along to fetch him now. We will just wait in the foyer." Rarity moved to take a step into the doorway but the butler was unmoving. She came up short right in front of him with an offended air. "OH! I never!" she gasped into the butler's face.

"Madam, I don't know who you are but as I've told your crude friend here, the Master is not taking visitors. Now good day!" and the door was slammed in Rarity's face. She was close enough that the door smacked her on the nose painfully. I could see her eyes water up as she rubbed her snout.

"That was the most rude... insensitive... I... I.... I have never met a....! Who does he think he is?!" She spat at the closed door in front of her.

"NOW will you believe me?" Rainbow Dash said exhaustively, rolling her eyes.

"I am going to give that butler a piece of my mind..." Rarity said in fury as her horn began to glow once again. She grunted once and then a small 'snick' sound came from the door. "You ponies are turning me into a deviant!" she said dramatically.

"All RIGHT! Way to go Rarity!" Rainbow Dash did a quick, tight loop de loop and slammed into the door, opening it.

We piled inside quickly and shut the door behind us. My heart was actually pounding now that we had broken what at least was a law in the world I came from. We were in a large entrance way with two sweeping staircases opposite from us leading up to the floors above. They were made of some clear blue material I had never seen before and slightly transparent. On the opposite wall behind these stairs was a large window letting in bright sunlight that illuminated the arched doorways that stood on the left and right of us. Below each staircase, was a small closed door. I figured they had to be closets or something... unless magic made room for something else.

The butler heard our entrance and was on us almost immediately striding in from the arched entrance to our right. "EXCUSE ME!" he shouted as he trotted up to us indignantly. "This is a private..."

Rainbow Dash was fast. I mean holy shit she was fast... I didn't even see her move! I only saw a rainbow colored flash and then the butler was pressed against the wall across the large foyer under the right stairs being held up by her hoof at his neck. Her mane was sticking up like an angry cat.

"Listen here you slimy penguin..." she growled in his face. "Whipwind has some visitors whether you like it or not. Now we can do this one of two ways... My way.. or the eeeeasy way..." she leveled her muzzle with his.

The butler was paler than before. He looked absolutely petrified and given the circumstances, I didn't blame him. Rainbow Dash was apparently not a pony to be messed with and another mental note of mine was made. Applejack had moved to the small door under the stairs next to Rainbow Dash while the butler weighed his options. She opened it, revealing a small broom closet. "This'l be the easy way..." she said pleasantly to the butler. He nodded without taking his eyes off of the threatening blue pegasus who held him.

After stowing the butler in his holding pen, Rarity was called on again to perform magic. She struggled with the spell but managed to bind the knob in such a way that it should hold him for some time.

"Really... You ponies should have Twilight here for all this nonsense! Breaking into houses! Keeping prisoners!" she threw a dramatic hoof to her forehead.

"Rarity... You're doing great! Don't sweat it..." I said to her.

"Sweat?! Am I sweating??!" she looked positively frightened now.

"Nah, yer dry as a bone. Now listen up" Applejack commanded again. "Lets split up. Rainbow Dash and Mason take the right side and Rarity and I'll take the left. If ya find Whipwind, send one of ya ta come back n find the rest of us before ya mix it up with him. Deal?"

"Deal!"

"Deal"

"Deal!" I said.

Rainbow Dash and I headed up the right staircase. I struggled to keep up with her as she was flying quickly up the courses without touching a single step. She didn't wait for me at the top either and was already looking into the rooms of the long hallway that was the only egress from the landing at the top. I was out of breath and panting hard behind her at the hallway's entrance when she zoomed back to me.

"Nothing here, everything is empty." she said then gave me an appraising look. "Say... what's with you? You can't handle a little exercise?"

"I... Guess not..." I panted in embarrassment.

"Well, keep up human! I'm the fastest pegasus in all of Equestria! HA!" she boasted and then took off down the hallway towards the stairs at the end.

I ran as fast as I could along the cloud floor of this hallway towards the next flight of stairs way at the end. The walls and ceiling of the hallway were a light blue brick looking material with open doors of dark wood on either side. How this place existed was beyond me but I was past the point of caring. All I was concerned about was getting up the next flight. At the end of the hallways was another large window at the bottom of the steps that I began to climb. Half way up, I was out of breath again and had to stop. Jesus, this was embarrassing.

Rainbow Dash returned to me again as I gained the landing of the 3rd floor. She zoomed up and came close. "I found him... he's in the room... second door on the left..." she whispered to me. "Scoots is there"

I didn't say anything, just nodded. I couldn't say anything... I had no breath.

"I'm gonna go get the others. Keep an eye on him till we get back"

Rainbow Dash vanished in an instant down the steps and I was alone. After waiting for my breath to catch up, I moved down the hallway to the second door that stood open in this new hallway. My heart pounded in my chest as I peeked into the space beyond.

The room was a large open space with large windows on the opposite the wall from the door. The left and right walls were shelves built into the light blue cloud like material and displayed row upon row of what looked like gold trophies and awards that gleamed in the sunlight streaming in. In the middle of the room sat a large wooden desk that held only a single large clear bottle that appeared mostly empty of some dark blue fluid. Behind and pushed away from the desk far enough for me to see him completely, sat Whipwind in an overstuffed chair.

He was the largest pegasus I had seen yet. Even sitting down and slumped over in the chair he looked like a monster. But he also was a mess. Drool ran from his muzzle as he snored lightly and when I followed the silvery stream glinting in the sunlight down into his lap, it was pooling on Scootaloo's mane. She was curled in a tight ball with one of his hooves wrapped around her holding the filly to his considerable belly. I couldn't tell if she was awake, but she wasn't moving.

My heart raced. Whipwind looked completely out of it! I could sneak in and grab Scoots and run out before he even knew what happened if I was quick. I knew we had agreed to just watch him until we were all together, but what if this was our only chance to get Scoots back without incident? I didn't want to risk her getting hurt... I slid into the room and moved as silently as I could towards the sleeping pegasus.

The smell of sick vomit and moldy wet clothes assaulted my nose when I was my body's length away. I fought the urge to gag and wondered how in the hell anyone or anypony could be alright smelling like that. Now that I was this close, I could also now see his orange coat was matted and dirty with smears of who knew what. Two more steps and I began to reach out for Scootaloo, planning on scooping her up out of his clutch and running.

One more step... my hands were almost there. I could feel the sick heat coming from Whipwind now, the smell was intolerable.

Another... my hands touched Scoots and began to wrap around her when suddenly her head turned back to look at me. Her eyes were wide with fear and blood caked one whole side of her face. "Trap...." she whispered. My blood ran cold.

I heard a deep growl come from Whipwind's chest. My eyes traveled up from Scootaloo to his face and found two redish purple eyes boring into mine. They were the eyes of a wild animal, not the same eyes I had grown accustomed to with the ponies here so far. His upper lip curled in a sneer and then a bright white flash of pain rang in my head. I felt myself lifted off my feet and pushed backwards, landing painfully on the cloud carpet on my back. I was dazed for a moment, wondering what the hell just happened when my jaw began to throb in exquisite pain. A loud buzzing in my ears that I hadn't noticed a moment before morphed into words that I could understand.

"...kind of abomination are you? Sent here by the LAND SLUGS?!!" the voice was filled with uncontrolled hate and anger.

I tried to clear my blurred vision and succeeded marginally in understanding that Whipwind was now rising from the chair. Scootaloo was curled in a ball on the table now, shaking with wide unblinking eyes. I tried to move, but my body and mind didn't seem to be cooperating at the moment.

"You break into my family home and then try to STEAL my property?" his words were sloppy and wet, quivering with the sound of loose jowls and extra spittle. "This filly may be WORTHLESS but she is still MY property." He was on me now, only a few swaying steps away from standing over me. "Are you with that WHORE land slug corrupting her? HUH?? Is that why you're here?!"

My muscles finally responded to the frantic signals my brain was sending and I began to slide backwards. I didn't go far before I bumped against the wall. Quickly snapping my head to the right, I saw I was up against the bottom shelf of statues. They all looked pretty much the same, about two feet high with a heavy, wide gold base that supported a cylindrical shaft. On the top of each was a gold pegasus rearing back with it's wings spread. They shone brightly in the sunlight streaming through the windows.

I needed to do something otherwise Whipwind would be over the top of me in moments. I grabbed one of these objects by the gold pegasus top and scooted away from the advancing mad pony. I got to my feet as quick as I could and readied myself for what could only be a stupid attempt in my mind to defend against this beast. I hoped the others got here soon. Unlike the mares, Whipwind was almost as tall as I was with a thick, heavy body. He easily outweighed me by a couple hundred pounds.

"Ah.. hahaha-" Whipwind tried to give a mocking laugh but it ended in a phlegmy, hacking bark of a cough that sounded wet. "Do you know who I am? I AM WHIPWIND! The best Wonderbolt there ever was! Just look around you, creature... see all these? Nopony has this many awards. I got them by being THE BEST! Not even this stupid FILLY can take that away from me!"

"She's your daughter, man! What the fuck is wrong with you?" I tried to sound brave holding my makeshift club in front of me as a weapon. I could feel blood running down my neck from the sharp center of pain on my chin. My whole lower face felt hot and thick. If I stalled him long enough, maybe Rainbow Dash and the others would get here in time before he fucked me up too bad. The only thing keeping me from pissing my pants right there and running was Scootaloo and Apple Bloom. This had to end, for their sakes.

"Don't make me laugh... please." he said with a disturbingly clear voice now. Either his craziness was just an act, or he wasn't as out of his mind as I thought he was. "She isn't worthy of being my filly. She has ruined MY NAME, she has ruined MY LIFE!"

He suddenly darted at me. Damn he was fast. I barely had enough time to slide to my right, bringing the trophy down in an awkward cross body swing towards his back. It struck a glancing blow off his shoulder but it was enough for the heavy base to draw blood. He swung back with his hoof and barely missed re-arraigning my cheek bones that time. We separated again. Staring at each other.

"Where's Apple Bloom?" I asked him.

"Oh... you mean the WHORE?" He lunged again, slower this time and I swung true, connecting with his muzzle solidly. A wet smacking sound came from the impact and I saw several white chips fly from his mouth. It took a moment for me to realize I had won that exchange.

"HA! THAT'S FOR SCOOTALOO YOU MOTHER FUCKER!" I yelled in surprised triumph.

A cry came from him that started in pain and ended in rage. He spat out a messy glob of blood and teeth and charged again before I could react. His head impacted my upper chest and for the second time that day I was flying backwards. The breath left my body when I impacted the floor this time, the trophy flew from my grasp. He was on me instantly and I felt a searing pain as his mouth clamped down on my left arm above the elbow, jagged teeth digging into my skin and vice like pressure compacted the bone. Blood ran freely from his mouth, both his and now mine.

A dull crunching sound filled my ears and my arm went numb. I tried to scream, but I still couldn't draw in a breath. It was like a tight band was wrapped around my lungs, suffocating me. He had me... I was done.

He began thrashing his head back and forth like a dog playing with a rope, my arm and body helpless against the force and I was whipped back and forth several times before he spat and threw me. I bounced against the floor in agony, waiting for the end. Through a red tinged haze of pain, I saw Whipwind over me, blood and drool streaming from his muzzle landing on my chest. He reared up, putting his two front hooves together to drive his weight straight into my face.

"MASON!" I heard from the door.

Rainbow Dash streaked into the room and slammed into Whipwind's chest just as he began to thrust down. The force of her impact drove him back and he landed on the edge of the desk. Dash landed in a heap herself, momentarily dazed by the force of the blow.

"Now you just better cool yer jets before this gets any uglier..." I heard Applejack's voice near me.

"Don't... you speak to me you... slug!" he spat. "My ears... are sickened by your voice..."

"WHERE'S MY APPLE BLOOM??!" she shouted at him as he gained his feet.

"Probably DEAD in the Everfree forest where I left her!"

Applejack's face twisted in rage. "You... you wouldn't have..." she said slowly.

"What do I, Whipwind, care about some whore slug filly. She was corrupting the last chance my filly had at being a true blood member of Cloudsdale! She deserved whatever she got!"

My arm was throbbing in the most intense pain I had ever felt in my life. I lay helpless on my side, able to breath now but unable to move my arm watching the scene unfold before me. Rainbow Dash had regained her wings and hovered off to Whipwind's left, Applejack stood between him and me.

"You gonna regret you ever set eyes on that filly, Whipwind..." the farm pony said in a dangerous shaking voice.

"I'd like to see a land slug like you try..." he grinned a sick bloody grin at Applejack.

Rainbow Dash took the opportunity to zip behind and scoop Scootaloo off the table, getting her out of harms way. She brought her to Rarity who I saw then was next to me, standing ready with her horn glowing. Before Dash set the quivering filly down, that same spark that I saw touch Applejack in the basket jumped from the end of her horn and landed on Scootaloo. Satisfied, Rainbow Dash gently set her down on the cloud carpet where she curled back into a ball, hiding her face.

"Aww.. isn't that sweet... you're trying to save that worthless brat..." he gave a mock sincere face to Rainbow Dash.

"Alright, Whipwind... Now ya gotta deal with me too." Dash said turning to the large pegasus who stood waiting. "Nopony hurts my friends and gets away with it!"

She didn't wait for a response, she darted in with a rear hoof extended aiming for his already bloodied face. He dodged, grabbing her leg and swinging her past and away towards the windows behind him. She halted short of smashing into the clear panes and came at him again quickly. Applejack was charging now and clamped her own mouth on his flank as he readied against Rainbow Dash's next attack. She bit hard and deep, tearing away a large chunk of flesh and spitting it out instantly in disgust. A bright red hole remained where she bit him, blood already pouring down his leg.

He cried in pain, swinging around with a hoof that connected squarely with the face of Applejack, sending her sprawling and unconscious. But this left him open to Rainbow Dash who was already speeding towards him. She landed a speed driven hoof against his temple, knocking him staggering towards where I lay. He landed with his back facing me in a heavy heap inches away and I was overcome with the stink and sick smell that wafted in to my nose. I could see his wings closely, the orange feathers were unkempt and dirty. I remembered how sensitive Scootaloo's were and acted on impulse, not willing to let this chance go.

I dug the fingers of my only working arm into the stiff feathers of one of his wings and gripped tightly. Pulling back as hard as I could, a ripping, popping sound came from his back and a large clump of feathers released from their anchors, coming away in my hand. He screamed in real pain this time. Agony was thick in his cry and he thrashed to get away from my hand that was already reaching back for more. I got one more good handful before he managed to get far enough away.

"NO!!!" he cried. "YOU IGNORANT..." that was as far as he got before Rainbow Dash was on him again. But somehow he saw her coming and managed to duck at the last moment. Dash sailed through the space where he had been seconds before and slammed into the trophy wall with a tremendous crash before falling in a heap on the ground, the objects of the entire shelf tumbling on top of her in a glittering, heavy fall.

Whipwind stood up and staggered back towards the large desk, looking from the heaps of Rainbow Dash, Applejack and myself. A delirious, sick smile lit his face up and he began to cry out in victory. "HA!! You see!!?? I AM UNSTOPPABLE!"

I looked over to Rainbow Dash who struggled to raise her head under the pile of weight on her. She was bloody from a large cut on her forehead and she tried to focus on me. "Get... Scootaloo... out..." she said weakly.

I turned to look at Rarity who nodded and scooped the shaking ball of orange and purple up before backing out of the door. Whipwind slowly walked towards the unconscious form of Applejack on the other side of the room with a gleeful madness.

"First... the land slug..." he gave a slobbering giggle.

"Stay the FUCK away from her!" I yelled as loud as I could.

"Or what?! Huh!? You're helpless... just like everypony ELSE!" he kicked Applejack in the ribs. She didn't respond.

"NO!" I screamed again. Rainbow Dash was trying to get up but she was pinned.

He reared back and drove another hoof against Applejack's midsection with a dull cracking sound. Blood sprayed from Applejack's nose. He was going to kill her! I tried to get to my feet but the pain completely immobilized me. Tears fell from my eyes at the frustration and helplessness I felt.

"GOD DAMMIT NOO!" I cried as he reared back for another massive kick...

"WHIPWIND!" A loud commanding female voice rang out casing him to stop. Both he and I turned our heads to this new voice.

In the doorway stood the most majestic pony I had seen yet. She was taller than any other I had seen, fair and beautiful with a light pinkish white coat and a flowing mane and tail of purple, blue and green that sparkled with a preternatural depth. She wore a gold crown that circled the large white horn on her head matched by gold accents on her hoofs. Large wings fanned the air behind her as she stood tall and proud with an aura of authority and power.

"Suffer my wrath!" she intoned gravely and before he could form a response, she lowered her head. From the end of her horn came an intense beam of brilliant white light. It shot straight and true, striking Whipwind in the center of his body behind his right front flank. A scream of agony tore from his throat as the beam became a bubble, encasing him in light. His cry became distant, as if he were moving away at a rapid pace yet he remained where he was frozen and unmoving. The light solidified on his form attaching itself to him and then a bright flash lit the room... and it was over.

Whipwind was frozen in place, now a pale white figure half raised on his hind legs with a grotesque twisted expression on his turned head. But his eyes... his eyes still moved! They rolled and twitched in rapid movements focusing on the large pony at the door, to me and then rolled over and over again.

"Applejack!" Twilight Sparkle ran into the room sprinting towards the prone form of her friend. "No! Applejack, hang on..." she cried out skidding to a halt beside her, the Alicorn's horn was already glowing. Several small beams of blue light traveled from her horn down to Applejack's body where an ugly depression had formed from Whipwind's last kick. They focused there and began swirling rapidly. Twilight focused and strained as the lights grew faster and more intense, then she gave a barking cry. "CELESTIA!! PLEASE!!... I CAN'T...."

The large mare at the door moved gracefully to Twilight's side and lowered her head, touching her horn to Twilight's. The room flashed in bright blue light and the beams from Twilight's horn grew steady and strong. The dent in Applejack's body began to fill out and solidify once again. A few moments passed, and the magic was done. Twilight remained by Applejack's side, crying.

"She's...gonna be alright... isn't she?" I asked the room.

The large pony with the shimmering mane turned to me. She had a calm and soothing way about her that comforted me. "She will mend with time.... and so will you, brave human."

I collapsed back against the floor, tears of my own running down my cheeks.