contingent

It has been five days since Rainbow disappeared and they have had no such luck in finding her. The guard has been processing everypony who was at the show that night for a couple days now. Asking them questions like if they saw her, saw her leave, if she was with anyone else, anything that would lead them to anything. So far, nothing. There were so many ponies at that show that it's going to take forever to find out who saw her and who didn't. But it was the only thing they could do to find a lead.

Soarin sat on the sofa in the old library with all but one of the element bearers. Everyday after his shift at the Wonderbolts HQ, he would head to the library to talk with the girls. They would talk about the next moves about finding Rainbow at the beginning, but the conversation would drift to casual talk after a while.

These mares had amazing stories to tell, that's for sure. And since Rainbow was always the start of their daily conversations, there would always be stories about her. The more he heard, the more awesome she sounded. He may not have known her that well before, but they were still friends. Once this was all over he had to make an effort to see her more. Become proper friends. That'd be nice. She was headed to the Wonderbolts after all. They'd see each other every day.

The girls finished one of their tall tales. Something about all of them knowing each other before they met, or something crazy like that. But what did catch his attention was the rainboom mentioned.

“So, wait wait wait.” Soarin said. “Rainbow at that age, managed to accomplish that much of a feat?”

They all nodded, though it was Fluttershy that spoke. “Nopony believed her when she'd try to bring it up again. I mean, even now the majority of ponies don't believe she did it when she was that young.”

He whistled in impression. “Dang. I believe it though. Why would all of you lie? That's what I would find hard to believe. But still, wow. I've seen her do the Rainboom. All pegasi know the legends of being able to break the sound barrier. Never dreamed I'd see it happen in my lifetime. Just accomplishing it is amazing in of itself. But doing it as a little filly? That's impressive.”

Fluttershy smiled. “You should tell her that.”

“Oh yeah!” Pinkie piped in. “That would just make her day be all superific-tastic!”

“Super-if-wha?” The stallion asked, confused at the odd vocabulary.

“It would make her day.” Twilight clarified. “You have a high position within the Wonderbolts. To hear it from someone like you... I think it would just mean a lot.”

“Especially after finally being found.” Rarity added then sighed. “We have no idea what the poor dear is going through.”

And the conversation was brought back to the harsh reality. They all knew by now that being gone for five days meant her position wasn't good. She obviously needed help, but they had no idea where she was.

“But we're doing everything we can.” Twilight reminded them. “What we can't do is give up.”

“Twi's right.” Applejack said. “I think we can all come to agreement that something is wrong. Terribly wrong. But we'll find her. And fix whatever mess she turns up in. It's all we can do. Just be here when she gets back.”

Soarin sighed at the sad truth. When they do find Rainbow, she isn't going to be in good condition. Somepony had to of taken her. Kidnapped. She might be beaten, hurt, malnourished, or even worse... He shook his head. Can't let his thoughts go wild. For all he knew she could have been kidnapped by someone who takes good care of their victims. It isn't unheard of.

Just then a loud knock was heard from the front door and a large royal guard stallion entered the library. They all looked at him with shock at the sudden entrance, but then realized who it was. Secretly there was that shred of hope that maybe, just maybe, he would have the news they've all been waiting to hear. That Dash was found.

“Princess.” He saluted before proceeding forward, handing her the scrolls. Twilight began to skim them as the guard continued. “We have finally got a lead. A couple of the show goers said they saw the brightly colored mare leaving the show with a stallion.”

“A stallion?” Rarity asked.

“Anything else?” Applejack also asked.

“From what they could tell, it didn't seemed forced. She was strolling right along with him. They were able to describe him of having a brown coat and light blue mane. Another witness said his cutie mark appeared to be a flame and a cloud.”

“A flame coming from a cloud?” Fluttershy asked as the guard nodded. “Oh my goodness...” She said quietly.

Twilight looked up from the official scrolls of the witnesses statements. “What is it Fluttershy?”

“W-well,” she squeaked being put on the spot like that. “Back when me and Rainbow were in school, we knew a guy just like that.”

“An old friend?” Soarin asked, Fluttershy nodded.

“That would explain why she would be walking willingly with him.” The guard thought out loud.

“You remember his name?” Twilight asked hopefully.

Fluttershy looked at the floor, struggling to remember.

“Please please please remember.” Pinkie slightly begged.

“U-uh.... Flare. Yeah, it was Flare Chaser.”

“You sure?” Soarin asked.

“Definitely. Bu-but, he would never do anything to hurt anypony. He was our friend.”

“Alright.” Twilight looked at the guard. “I want this Flare Chaser's records and address ASAP. Go to his house and grab him for questioning. I want to know every detail. He might have been the last one to see Dash.”

He saluted. “Yes ma'am. Right away.” And with that he left.

“I think this was the break we were waiting for.” The lavender mare stated with a smile.

_______________

Another day has passed making day six, and Dash was in no better condition. Flare was true to his words of not being too cruel and patched up her wing best he could. But she knew she needed an actual doctor. It wasn't going to heal properly this way.

He had rutted her once again since the wing break. That was the worst. Every little thing she did that upset him, he would hurt her. Her saying rude remarks or complaining wasn't going to fly. She hated to admit it, but he was starting to scare her.

The basement door creaked and light poured in from the other room. Flare entered and turned on the light, making Rainbow squint. Flare approached the mare with a bowl of slop. She shrank out of fear the closer he got. He dropped the bowl roughly on the floor, making Dash flinch.

“Time to eat.” The stallion simply stated. But Rainbow didn't move. She looked at the bowl then looked away. He usually just left it at that and left her to eat. But he stayed there, staring at her.

“Can I help you?” She skeptically asked.

“Well, the thing is, I got another mare knocked out in the living room. She should be waking up soon, so I need to get her into the cuffs there.” He motioned to said cuffs just to the right of Dash. “So, I'm gonna have to move your chain here to the other corner. Now, are you gonna behave?” She nodded. Not wanting anymore pain than necessary.

With that he unhooked the chain from the floor and started dragging it and Rainbow along with it. She walked calmly and clumsily. Not walking around for five days really took a tole on her. More than she realized. She wanted to go run around so badly, and up to last night, fly too. To breath fresh air. If it's only been five days, she can't imagine being here forever.

Flare hooked the chain onto the wall as Dash unceremoniously plopped onto the floor. He reached his hoof towards her head, making her flinch, but he just ruffled her mane. “There's a good girl.” The stallion then walked back to the cuffs, kicking the bowl towards Dash. She flinched and covered her head, expecting it to be kicked much harder. But all it did was gently skid to her. She slowly opened her eyes, realizing this fact.

Flare left the basement and returned a few minutes later with an unconscious mare on his back. She was pink with a periwinkle mane up in a loose ponytail. Her cutie mark was a sun setting on a hill. He placed her where the cuffs were and attached them to her.

“Alright, I gotta head out and run some errands. She'll wake before I get back, so don't panic or anything.” And with that he left.

Dash stared at the slop in her bowl then started to eat it. It was always some bland oatmeal wet cereal stuff. Didn't taste so good, but wasn't unbearable either. As she was finishing up, she looked at the mare across the basement.

The poor thing had no idea what she was gonna wake up to. Then another thought occurred to her. He got rid of his mares when he was done with them, that was what he said. Rainbow was apparently the acception. But what about this pink mare here? Rainbow sighed, coming to the realization that this girl was doomed the moment she fell into Flare's trap.

Then the mare started to stir, making some groaning sounds, gathering conscious. Slowly she began to look around, trying to piece together where she was. Then her sight settled on Rainbow Dash in the corner.

With confusion written all over her face, she asked. “Where am I?”

“You're in some type of hell.” Rainbow simply put it. “Were you out drinking or something with a blue maned stallion?” She nodded. “Yeah, that's why you're here. You are now a sex toy. Congrats.”

Panic shot through the mare's face as she looked at the cuffs and then back at Dash, noticing her condition. Her poorly bandaged broken wing, cuts and bruises everywhere, dirty coat, greasy tangled mane, and pure exhaustion written all over. “I take it you've been here a while?”

“Something like that, yeah.” Dash answered, shifting a bit.

“I'm Sunset Daze, by the way.”

“Rainbow Dash. Look, everything will be easier on you if you just roll with it. Don't fight or anything. It only makes things worse...”

Sunset studied Dash's expression, then to her wounds. “I take it you've tried fighting?”

“Not at first. I thought my friends would've found me by now. So I just went with it, as not to make things worse like he said. But as the days drew on I started to get.... agitated, at the situation. Talking and fighting back. He didn't like that, so these kind of happened...” She gestured to herself, implying the wounds.

“That's awful.”

“No kidding.”

“So, he just comes in here and... uh...”

Dash could tell she was a little uncomfortable with the subject. Hey, under normal circumstances she wouldn't want to talk about sex with anypony either. “Fucks you? Yeah. That's the gist of it”

Sunset looked down at the ground. Probably contemplating her fate here. “Have you tried to escape?”

“Yeah, that's how I got this gash here and this one over here.” Rainbow said as she pointed to the wounds. “Nearly got my leg broken when I attacked him. Haven't tried again since.”

“Oh.” Was all she could say as her hope was most likely dwindling.

Rainbow decided to leave it at that. If Sunset was going to die, she didn't want to raise her hopes to high. There was just nothing she could do. Time passed and soon enough when the front door could be heard opening. That meant Flare was back.

“Just keep calm.” Dash said as Flare entered the basement. He smiled as he saw that his new victim was awake.

“Oh good, you're up! You two get acquainted while I was gone?” He ventured further into the basement as Dash nodded. “So then, what's her name?”

“Sunset Gaze.” Flare smiled and set a little cupcake in front of her. Rainbow just stared at it, unsure of what to do. A treat? This was new…

“Go ahead and eat it. I figured you should start earning stuff.” She greedily took it and ate it in one bite. Enjoying its flavor and sweetness. He ruffled her mane. “There's a good girl.”

Sunset stared at the spectacle in front of her. Rainbow devoured it in mere seconds, licking the icing from her lips greedily. All the while he sat there and praised her like a dog. The two made eye contact and Dash quickly looked away, embarrassed by her behavior.

“What do we say?” The stallion asked the cyan mare.

“Thank you.” She said cowering back into her corner.

“Now then, on to the newbie here.” He said, directing his attention to Sunset. “I take it she explained how things work around here?” She nodded. “Fantastic, then we can start right away.” Her eyes widened in panic.

“W-what?”

“You heard me. Go on, bend over.” She just looked at him. “Alright, have it your way.” He grabbed her head and forced her front down roughly. “That's better.”

Rainbow and the other mare's eyes met once again. Dash looked away sadly, turning so she was facing the corner and curled up on the floor. She knew what was gonna happen, and she didn't want to see it.

As he started Dash could hear everything. Flare enjoying himself and Sunset suffering. She covered her ears to try and block out the sounds. But, no such relief came. She could hear Sunset fighting back with some attitude, but not long after was a short yelp and she would silence herself for a while. Then it would repeat. Obviously Flare was hurting her much like he did to Dash herself, the gashes a constant reminder.

Sunset was being very bothersome it seemed for Flare. Dash could hear the pink mare actually try to physically fight back, which she only heard a sickening crunch that sounded like bone and a pained scream from Sunset. But, she still refused to look back. She told her not to fight back or anything.

After what seemed to be forever, Rainbow heard the end of it. Sunset collapsed on the floor with a thud. Dash finally turned around to find Sunset all bloodied and beaten. Her left forearm was bent all funny and she was covered in gashes.

“You're a little bitch, you know that?” Flare spat angrily at the beaten mare as she whimpered and flinched at every word. “You were more trouble than you're worth!” He grabbed her roughly and unhooked her from the cuffs, then threw her to the side. He looked around and grabbed what appeared to be a screwdriver and stabbed her neck.

Dash only looked on in horror. She couldn't look away or say anything as he repeatably stabbed her now dead body. She concluded in this moment, that she officially feared this stallion.

He stood up and threw the screwdriver to the side. He looked at the bloodied body as if he was admiring his work. He turned to Dash and the fierce look in his eyes disappeared.

“Sorry you had to see that. It's kind of what I do to the ones that are more trouble than needed.” He began to walk over to her. “But you're not like that, are you?”

Rainbow shrank back as he got closer to the point where she was as far in the corner as she could get. “No-no.” She stuttered out as he patted her head.

“There's a good girl.” Then there was a knock coming from the front door. Flare had a puzzled look on his face. Apparently he is never supposed to have visitors. He returned his attention to Dash with a stern look. “Don't you make a sound.” He said as he left the basement.

Thoughts were racing through her mind. She could scream…? But, what if they didn't hear her? That might get her killed by Flare. But, what else was she going to do? Might as well try and accept her fate if it failed. This was her one chance.

She flicked her ears in the direction of the door, trying to hear what was transpiring on the other side. She heard murmurs of Flare answering the door. Then the unmistakable sound of a royal guard introducing himself. The guard wanted Flare to come with him, but he kept saying he couldn't. Something about the guard not having the right to do so.

Flare was probably a little messy from his little murdering session before. No wonder he is trying real hard to get this guard to leave. Before he did though, Rainbow had to make her move. 'It's now or never,' she thought.

She screamed at the top of her lungs. Then, with another breath, began to scream some more. “Hey! Hey, down here!! Please!” She went to go scream more, but heard a loud bang and scuffling hooves. Then the basement door slammed open revealing a very pissed off Flare. Rainbow cowered in her corner.

“You fucking little bitch.” He simply stated before rushing at her.

She heard poundings at the front door, obviously the guard trying to get in. Flare slammed into her, pushing her onto her back as he stood tall above her. Then without any warnings, he started to beat her. Hitting her in the face. Too outraged to even obtain the screwdriver again. She tried to fight back, but she was in no state to. Rainbow was beginning to accept the fact that she wasn't going to make it out of this.

Her vision was blurry, going black. All she could see was Flare's evil face. Then a giant blur of white and gold slammed into him, knocking Flare off of her. Some more punches were thrown before the guard knocked Flare out. He stood over the unconscious Flare a bit, breathing heavy, before turning and seeing Rainbow. He got off the stallion and went to her in a hurry.

“M-miss Dash! Are you alright?”

She struggled to speak, but found the strength. “Does...Does it look like I am?”

“Right. Sorry, I -Just-” The large stallion stammered, trying to organize his thoughts. “I sent my partner to go get help. Just hang in there.”

Rainbow made some sort of grunt noise in response, before accepting the blackness. Drifting off....