Chapters Chapter 1: Paying the Price
Far to the west of Canterlot across the very edge of the coast lay a town long forgotten by time, a once busy port town since abandoned in the favour of more convenient pegasi shipping. The once bustling settlement since reduced to a port of poverty untouched by the outside world. Very few of the ponies living inside even know of the colourful and vibrant outside world, most being born in the rust covered buildings and splintering shacks long after the days of being left in the dust.
The residents of Port Mareina attempted to find solace in their lives wherever possible, most lived in small groups sharing the cold collapsing houses. Very few remembered their real family, but to the poor ponies of the town, such groups were their family. The law itself vanished over time, however rather than spiralling into a criminal fantasy, the few remaining families began to act as governing figures, spreading order and hope through the distressed population.
With the loss of laws, one family in particular along the southern docks began to rise in fame and power among the local ponies. The Apple Family turned their warehouse into a gambling paradise, a place of fun and hope which soothed worried souls. Some ponies would get lucky, others would not. But one thing was for sure, all had an escape from their seemingly worthless lives.
--
“Two fives!” The blue mare shouted over the loud cheering in the distance before tossing her dice over the smooth green table, clashing them against the wooden wall before finally landing on their side.
“Snake eyes.” The brown stallion cupped the dice in his hooves before looking over to the withdrawn gambler. “Sorry again babe.”
The blue mare checked her saddle pack, scrounging around the badly corroded contents inside. “Wait, I think I still have some more...” She trailed off still looking for left over bits.
“Look babe, I know it's not my business, but you've been having a bad streak, how about calling it a day?” He looked over the mare's body, unlike the majority of the gamblers she was wearing a tattered waistcoat hiding her wings, the dirty rainbow hairs in her mane and tail made the mare look surprisingly beautiful to him, or at least she would have been if his customer didn't clearly have a problem with trotting away from the table.
“Ah here!” Rainbow Dash pulled out a selection of dull bits, placing them on the table. “How many tokens for these?”
The dealer looked down at the hoof-full of bits, they were only one bit coins, clearly she was scrapping the bottom of the barrel now. “I can give you thirty token worth, a bit extra since I like you, but just this once the Boss would have my flank if she knew.” He leaned over to collect the coins, swapping them for thirty tokens respectfully.
“Thanks Rusty.” She gave an honest smile appreciating the gesture from the dealer she had gotten to know all to well over her weeks at the establishment. “Okay.” She lifted the dice in her grasp, withdrawing into her mind as if feeling the future of the roll in her hooves.
“Sis please, let's just go.” The pink earth pony pulled at her sisters tattered waistcoat.
“It's okay Pinkie, don't worry. I'm in the zone.” Rainbow rolled the dice in her hooves, trailing them over each other until two numbers shone brightly in her mind. “Four and two!” She fired the dice to the far side of the table again, clashing them against the wood to land on the soft green cover.
“Two threes.” Rusty gathered the remaining tokens from the loser before looking her in the eyes with clear care and compassion. “Sorry babe, I wish you better luck in the future.”
Rainbow slowly backed away from the table, allowing another gambler to take her place. “Sis, are you okay?” She looked up to her little sister, she doubted they were really related, but she didn't care. Pinkie Pie needed somepony there for her, and it helped Rainbow Dash feel less alone herself.
“Yeah, it's just that I used to have the fire. I just used to score the hits and win, but lately.” Rainbow shook her head in sadness. “I just can't seem to win anything.” She looked down into her saddle pack, the last of her borrowed and stolen bits had once again vanished to her addiction. “Pinkie, mind waiting a minute? I need to go talk to a friend.”
“It's about borrowing bits again, isn't it?” Pinkie asked knowingly as her sister walked away.
Rainbow looked over, hating the fact she had to loan on a near regular basis. “Just wait for me, I'll be right back.” She made her way up the warehouses steps to where the Bosses room resided, being converted from the old warehouse managers room. Ironing her will, she made her way proudly towards the two tall stallions outside the door.
“Da Boss don't wanna be disturbed.” The goliaths besides the door stated, they may have lacked brain cells but she knew not to attempt to pass them. Rainbow waited still for a few moments until a green eye gazed between an opening blind, closing it soon after to be followed by a knock from inside the door. One of the guards opened the door for a moment before turning to face the host. “Da Boss will see ya now.”
Rainbow made her way through the door, the guards closing it behind her. She stood in a well decorated room overlooking the casino floor. “Nice to see ya again Dash.” The voice came from a seat observing the workings of her families business below, it turned around to reveal an orange earth pony wearing an almost clean waistcoat and hat. “Ah see you had some more trouble downstairs.” She stated with a powerful, yet caring voice.
“Hey AJ, yeah I had another run of bad luck again.”
“For two weeks in a row.” Applejack responded leaning forward in her chair. “Two weeks of loosing solid bits.”
“Look AJ I know it seems bad, but you remember how lucky I've been in the past right? I guess this moment just had to come for a bit but I'll get better again soon I'm sure.” Rainbow paced around in a circle as she spoke, keeping eye contact off her friend.
Applejack stepped down from her seat, lending a hoof to calm her host. “Dash, I've known you for a long time. Ah know all about ya luck in the past. It was great, but we have to worry about the now.” She brought her friend's face to meet her own. “We've known each other since we were fillies, that's why I keep lending ya bits. But no more. You have ten times the maximum lending allowance in debt. We're a legitimate business family, we can't keep hoofing out our bits.”
“AJ I just need another chance to win, you can trust me.”
“Dash.” Applejack removed her hoof from her friend, returning to her seat. “We already repossessed that measly splinter covered shack. Don't make me take the cardboard from over your sister's sleeping head.”
“Please AJ, my only chance to make our lives better is if you give me another chance.” The homeless mare almost resorted to getting on her knees and begging, before her friend reluctantly gave in to her request.
“This is the final time.” Applejack leaned over to her desk, carrying a small bag of bits. “I expect payment from you tonight.”
“Thanks AJ!” Rainbow leaned forward to wrap her legs around her friend, hugging her for a few seconds before returning to the door. “Don't worry, I'll pay you back tonight.”
“Yes you will.” Applejack sighed as the door closed, turning around on her seat to observe the casino below.
A large figure appeared from behind a cabinet. Looming towards the Boss. “Ya know she won't win.”
“Yea, I know Mac.” The Boss sighed again turning around to face the red stallion behind her. “She just doesn't have it any more, an' she won't listen to reason.” Applejack returned her gaze to her business.
Big Macintosh kept his vigilant stance. “Ah know she's your friend, but she's hurting business. Others are complaining about her getting more chances, it's causing an uproar in the back.”
Applejack remained focused on her job, staring down at her ground floor. “Nopony touches her.” A short silence passed as her mind pondered the available options. “I'll deal with her personally.”
“Eeyup.” Big Macintosh leaned forward stroking his sister's mane.
Applejack stroked her brother's hoof in appreciation for comforting her. “What's the Number tonight?”
“Six”
The Boss smiled to the answer. “She's a useful mare.”
--
Rainbow Dash returned downstairs with her new bag of borrowed bits. “Dashie!” Pinkie ran up to cuddle her sister. “I'm getting tired, can we go home?”
Rainbow gently pushed her sister away, smiling down at her. “Just a bit longer, I got some more bits, let's put them on the next race and we can get our old home back.”
Pinkie seemed ready to cry looking into the addicted mare's eyes. “I don't care about our old home, I don't care if I need to sleep outside I just want to be with you.”
“I'm sorry Pinkie, but I got us into this mess, I'm going to get us out.” Rainbow gently stroked the pink pony's cotton mane. “Don't worry, I'm not about to leave you, I will make everything right again. Trust me.” With a smile she galloped over to the betting booth. It was crowded and loud, but eventually she managed to push her way through the crowd to the booth. The blue mare placed her supply of bits on the counter, allowing the clerk to count and collect them. “All these on Number Three.”
The betters and watchers alike made their way to the stands above the racing track. Pinkie cautiously approached her sister, holding her hoof around her for support. “It's okay Pinkie, everything will be fine. Just watch.” Finishing her comforting statement a bell rung and the eight small gates flung open.
The crowd began to cheer as the rabbits raced around the track, Two Three and Six were leading for the beginning, to which Rainbow began to cheer herself seeing her betting choice speed ahead. The track turned several times in quick succession causing several of the racers to fall behind, while Number Six jolted forward. “No! Quick catch it Three!” She yelled to some avail as her rabbit began to overtake the other. Numbers One and Seven were to far behind to stand much of a chance, causing several betters to walk away frustrated while the remaining cheered happily.
As the rabbits passed the final corner to the strait burn to the finish line, Numbers Three, Five and Six made it ahead, looking at each other through hurt eyes. Number Three began to beat the other two causing Rainbow to further become exalted. But as the rabbits reached the last few yards Number Five slowed down behind Six, and Six gave Three a stern look reminding him of the talk before the race. Three gave an agitated expression as he slowed down just before the finishing line, allowing Number Six to take the first place victory.
Rainbow Dash looked on stunned as the victory was torn from her. She was positive she knew which racer would win. But in the end she had failed, wasting her final supply of borrowed bits. Pinkie gently hugged her sister to comfort her. Attempting to cheer her up. “It's okay Sis, let's just go home, the two of us.”
Two large stallions loomed over the sisters, one of them readied his hooves before being stopped by the second, whispering into his co-workers ear. “Da Boss said no violence.” Both stallions stood still over the ponies before speaking. “Da Boss said she wants to speak to ya.”
Rainbow slowly stood up, removing herself from her cuddling sister. “Don't worry Sis, I'll be right back.”
“Da Boss said we are to see her home.” The guards new statement concerned both of them, but Rainbow knew her best friend wouldn't want Pinkie hurt, she knew she would want her to make it home safely. Reluctantly Rainbow Dash nodded, making her own way upstairs as the guards gently helped Pinkie Pie up.
“Sis...” Pinkie could feel herself tearing up as she accepted the escort home.
--
Another guard stood outside the office holding open the door, allowing Rainbow Dash inside before closing it behind her with what sounded like the door tumbler locking. “Hello Dash.” Rainbow looked around to see her friend sitting down on a sofa in the back of the room.
“Hey AJ, I'm sorry for.”
“It's okay, come take a seat.” Applejack tapped her hoof on the spare space beside her, welcoming her friend to sit by her.
“Thanks.” The unlucky mare sat down next to her friend who placed a hoof around her, it had been a long time since they last had a moment like this, the last time just before Applejack inherited her parents business. “About.”
“We aren't here for business Dash.” The orange mare replied, grabbing a bottle on the table. “I want to have a good time with ya again, work's been all I've been able to focus on lately. It is good to have a night just for our old friendship don't ya think?”
Rainbow nodded happily, it had been to long, almost long enough to make her fear their friendship may have faltered. Applejack began to pour apple flavoured vodka into two mugs, she left the still open bottle on the table before taking a mug in her hoof and her friend followed suit. “For our friendship.” Rainbow stated in a slightly cocky yet serious manner before taking the drink to her lips, enjoying the taste and slight hit of the delicious beverage.
Applejack on the other hoof downed the drink in a single go, holding the mug upside down on her mane when she finished. Providing both the challenge, as well as the escape she needed. “Beat that.” She stated in an arrogant tone.
“You're on!” Rainbow finished her current drink before pouring a new drink for herself and her friend. “Okay, three, two.” They both cheated, downing the drink before the countdown ended. Rainbow managed to finish first, slamming the mug upside down against her mane as she stared with hazed vision at her friend with a slight giggle. “One all.” Applejack merely smiled in reply.
Applejack began to pour the third round. “You've always been my best friend Dash, ah really wished it didn't have to come to making a choice between you and the family business. But in the end my family has to come first, and with all respects, you're just a homeless thief that the town wouldn't miss.” She finished pouring the drinks, offering her best friend hers, she could see the sad look in her eyes as she heard the truth about her, the truth she already knew. “I would miss you, and ah would take care of Pinkie.”
“You're a good friend, a really great friend.” The broke mare managed to smile as she took the drink from her best friend to stare into the reflecting surface. “At least two ponies would remember me, when I do eventually go.”
“For our friendship.” Applejack repeated her friend's toast.
Several rounds passed before the count came to 'two four' in favour of Applejack, she had always been a better drinker than her friend which she remembered from the times they used to drink together. Rainbow was almost out cold, barely able to move as the alcohol infested her body and mind. Applejack simply stroked her friend's mane, enjoying their final moment together. “Well. It's time.” Her drunk friend murmured something beneath her breath, being to intoxicated to form a reply or realise what was happening as her friend lifted her onto her strong back, making her way outside.
--
Rainbow Dash lay at the very edge of an abandoned pier, several open bottles lay around her, soaking her body with a strong smell of alcohol. She struggled to make out where she was, still being to intoxicated from the drinking game to see. “A,J. P,innk,ie?” She struggled to speak hoping to hear familiar voices to help comfort her. But other than the sound of the crashing waves against the pier and the falling rain, there was silence.
Far up a hill facing the pier Applejack stood with her back against an old heavy goods cart, stacked high with heavy boxes. She enjoyed the feel of the rain as it fell against her coat, hoping in some way it would wash away the guilt for what she was about to do. Rainbow Dash had always been her best friend since they were fillies, business or not nothing would change the fact she liked her. “Sorry, Dash.” Applejack raised her backlegs, forcing all her strength against the cart, sending it flying towards the docks with speed. Within seconds the heavy cart hit the end of the pier, sending it and all nearby into the freezing depths below.
Chapter 2: An unworthy reward
Rainbow Dash moaned quietly as she awoke, groggily opening her eyes before flinching to the bright sunlight assaulting her vision. Despite the night of heavy drinking she was no longer intoxicated, on the contrary she was completely sober and free from pain. “I guess you won AJ.” The blue mare managed to say during a yawn before her vision came into focus. The sight was mesmerising yet somehow familiar, a bright sea of fluffy clouds dominated her view several of which were fashioned into columns and paths, even buildings. “AJ? Pinkie?” Rainbow struggled to her hooves with caution, noticing she was standing on the cloud sky herself. But as she stood there she felt the soft floor support all her weight, something that she seemed to already know despite never being off the ground before.
Rainbow slowly trotted across the cushioned floor, each step leaving a soothing touch on her hooves. She gazed down over the edge of her cloud, far below her she saw what looked like another less extravagant collection of clouds covering the distant land. Straining her eyes she could just make out the port town, what must have been hundreds or thousands of meters below her. “Is that, Mareina? Where am I?”
“Welcome dear pegasus.” The surprised mare quickly turned around to face the approaching figure, her hooves delicately trotted across the silencing floor leaving her approach only identifiable by her calming voice and alluring perfumed aroma. “What is you name dear?” The unicorn's coat glowed with a brilliant white, almost more pure than even the clouds themselves. Her comforting sapphire eyes gazed into the newcomer's own with care and compassion.
“Hey, I'm Rainbow Dash, some just call me Dash though.” Rainbow looked around cautiously, still unaware of where she was or what was happening. “Where am I? And who are you? And how did I get here?” She stated, almost demanding to be answered.
The elegant mare smiled down, placing a hoof on the new arrival's shoulder. “That is a beautiful name, I will try to answer as many of your questions and worries as I can, you can come to me whenever you need advice or comfort. My name is Rarity, I used to be an actress in Canterlot until one night, when there was an accident with the rigging holding the lights. Like you I found my way here as all ponies eventually do.” Rarity softly stroked her new friend's mane, hoping to comfort her. “This land is known as Heaven.”
Rainbow backed away from Rarity's soothing touch. “Wait, what are you talking about? I mean, Heaven is for...” She shook her head quickly looking around for signs of home. “No, I was just drinking with my friend, Pinkie's waiting for me back at home, I-” Her words cut short as a white hoof pressed against her lips.
“Rainbow Dash dear, I know how you are feeling. When the lights fell on me I woke up here, at first I refused to accept it. I was loved in Equestria, hundreds would come to Canterlot to adore my performance, my beauty and my acting. Inevitably, I needed to accept what had happened, that I had died.” Rarity rubbed her hoof gently across the clearly worried pegasus' face. “We all miss our loved ones but there is no changing our fate. Nopony lives forever, even the princesses must inevitably follow.”
“I can't be, dead.” Rainbow Dash lowered her head in sadness, she couldn't be dead, she needed to take care of her sister. Pinkie couldn't support herself alone, she didn't know how to steal food or bits needed for medications, she was to kind to even think about such things. Her thoughts escaped her as a light blue aura approached her face, carrying with it a golden watch. “What's this?”
“It is your life Rainbow Dash, take a look inside.” Rarity lowered the levitating watch into the pegasus' hooves. There was an engraving of a thunderbolt shooting from a cloud on its surface, the same image as her cutie mark. Rainbow cautiously opened the watch to reveal a second identical engraving on the inside. The clock itself was silent, no longer ticking, its hands and dials stuck forever on the time she last remembered. The time when a loud sound came rushing towards her. Tears slowly dropped on the surface of the clock as the realisation finally sunk in her mind. Rarity softly hugged her new friend, helping to support her in her time of need. “It's okay, I am here for you.”
A short while passed before Rarity withdrew from her hug, levitating a golden chain around the blue mare's neck. “What's this for?” Rainbow finished drying her uncharacteristic tears.
“Attach your watch to it, as a reminder of your good life.” Rarity brought her hoof to show a diamond engraved watch around her own beautiful neck.
Rainbow fitted the watch to the chain, making sure to secure it as she listened to her new friend's words. “I haven't exactly had a 'good' life.” She sighed before trotting around in a circle, staring up to the boundless sky. “I can't even remember my parents, having to scavenge all my life for me and my sister. Stealing, cheating, lying, even gambling it all away for nothing.” She gazed over to the white mare. “I don't really deserve to be here.”
“All ponies go to Heaven.” Rarity responded with a caring smile. “You may have had a bad life, but now you can rest in peace and happiness forever, is this not what you have always wanted?”
The pegasus slowly made her way to the edge of the cloud, looking down at the old home that tormented her. “It's not just what I want, Pinkie wants it to. But she is down there, helpless, I don't want her to die to be happy.” She turned around grabbing the legs of the white mare. “Please, let me go back. I can't let her suffer I need to keep her safe!”
Rarity shook her head sternly. “You cannot go back, she will find a way to survive and if not. She will find happiness like us.”
“She's not going to die!”
“Rainbow Dash.” Rarity's voice became bold as she called out over her friends worries. “I know it is painful, believe me, I know. But you need to understand you cannot go back to the world of the living. Even if you could the gates of Heaven would not open for you again, your life has come to a stop.”
Rarity gently removed her hoof from her new friend before turning around and trotting across the soft cloud sky. “Come with me Rainbow Dash, I know some other ponies who would love to meet you.”
Rainbow didn't move an inch towards her friend, her mind worrying itself with her sister, she couldn't just forget about her and let her die. She couldn't just enjoy heaven and wait for to join in, she can't be so cruel to the only family she knows, one of only two ponies that ever cared for her. 'My life has come to a stop?' Cautiously she reached down to open her golden watch, the representation of her life eternally stuck at the time of her death. “Pinkie.” Rainbow knew what she had to do, what she had to try. Carefully she took the winding screw in her lips, and began to turn.
“What are you doing? Rainbow Dash don't do that stop!” Rarity yelled loudly with sheer worry in her voice to try and stop her desperate friend, but her words fell on deaf ears. By either sheer will or luck the watch somehow managed to tick again, the cogs rotated painfully against each other, and the hands moved.
The final words Rainbow heard as she fell towards Equestria rung in her ears. “You can never come back.”
--
Rainbow Dash awoke to immense pain, coughing up water as her broken body lay sprawled out on a jagged rock being struck by the tide. She could feel her body in agony, large wheel tracks crossed over her body where the heavy cart had run her over, breaking her back left leg as a result, the rest of her limbs were covered in cuts and bruises from the jagged rocks and even teeth marks from some unknown animals who must have been feasting on her tattered dead body. However, aided by the immense pain she felt one thing was for sure. She was alive again.
The barely alive pegasus struggled to lift herself up, checking down on her heavily wounded body. Around her neck lay her golden watch, though there was a difference, the gold looked corroded. Thinking back to the final words she heard, she feared she knew what the corrosion meant. “Pinkie.” Rainbow struggled to move her lips, luckily rigor mortis had yet to take effect but it was still difficult to move her broken body after previously leaving it, added to the intoxication which returned more dilute than before.
Putting her worries behind her, the wounded pegasus climbed over the jagged rocks to the shore, cutting herself slightly more in the process. But she didn't care, Rainbow knew what she came back for, she had to help her sister. Even if it had to cost her an eternity of happiness.
Applejack rested her head against the table, her face covered on all sides by her loose mane as she sat in silence with only the tick of the clock to keep her company. Her system was slowly loosing the effect of the alcohol which prevented her mind from being able to hide what she had done to her best friend. In the end of the day she had no choice, but that was little comfort to the grieving mare.
Big Macintosh opened the door, leaning through the entrance to his sister. “Ah saw you settled the debt problem.” He spoke in a particularly cold manner considering the occasion to which Applejack didn't respond. “Ya did the right thin-”
“Get out.” Applejack spoke for the first time since the pier, her brother left without another word leaving her to further regret her actions alone. But it wasn't like she deserved any better. Applejack knew there was no forgiveness for what she had done.
Several minutes passed before the orange mare finally raised her head leaving a wet table beneath her. She had to get her mind off what happened, not as she deserved to, but rather because she still needed to run her business. Applejack would be damned if she stopped now after the cost it demanded. She made her way down a side passage in the office, trotting down the echoing steps to the hidden rooms behind the casino. As she made her way past a bolted room she heard a quiet voice from the inside. “C, can I please go home yet miss.”
Applejack remained silent, being unable to gain any fake emotions to reply with. The voice from behind the door began to cry softly as she realised the pony outside had left her alone again.
--
Rainbow Dash limped her way through the dark streets, her hooves splashing at the puddles of rain water littering the barely visible floor. She would usually fear getting a cold if her body didn't have far more serious issues at hoof. She knew the current street well, even in the dense darkness. Her home used to be here, before she lost it to her debts. 'I shouldn't have gotten so carried away, how could I expect Pinkie to live in the rain...' The injured mare's thoughts trailed off as she made her way down the following street, passing behind the back alley of the Apple Family warehouse to a series of large skips. Her new home.
Rainbow heard soft crying as she made her way to a gap between two rusted skips. Under a single piece of cardboard barely protecting from the rain, the small pink pony lay curled in a ball crying into her hooves. Rainbow was filled with both love for her sister, and hatred for how she allowed Pinkie to live in such a horrible state. Rainbow carefully lowered herself to the wet floor, wrapping her legs around her sister.
“Dashie?” Pinkie withdrew from her hooves to look her sister in the eyes, within seconds she wrapped herself around her injured body in a tight hug. “I was so scared.”
“It's okay, I'm here now.” Rainbow looked down at her dulled watch before tearing up, rubbing her neck against her sisters. “I won't leave you yet. Not yet.” She pulled out from the embrace hearing her sister's stomach growling. “Don't worry, I'll go get you something.” Pinkie Pie sat up wiping tears from her eyes, watching with a mix of love and worry as her sister limped away.
Rainbow Dash was a pony of few skills, but with the hidden wings beneath her tattered waistcoat she managed to sneak away from a local flower shop with two wings full of poor tasting flora. She sat down by her welcoming sister as she opened her wings with a smile. “Thanks Sis.” Pinkie happily began to nibble at the bland flowers, which to her, tasted like a deliciously filling meal. Rainbow softly stroked her sister's mane, enjoying the sight of her being happy.
The broken mare checked down to see her watch again, which she could swear looked even duller than before. She knew stealing was wrong, she always knew it. But what other option did she have, she didn't want to watch her sister starve. “Sis.” Pinkie's sweet voice silenced the thief's thoughts, offering her sister one of the flowers she was eating. “You need to eat to.”
Rainbow reluctantly accepted her sister's gift, taking the bland flower in her lips without chewing the delicate petals, passing it sideways as she silently regretted her past. As she lay in thought she heard soft crying hidden behind the splashes of rain, almost to silent to hear. “Don't cry Sis, I'm still here.”
“I'm not crying.” Pinkie remained locked on her sister, enjoying the comfort of her eyes. “Not since you came back.”
The soft crying continued, becoming more audible with each second that the injured mare paid attention, the cries didn't sound distant, but rather close, very close. Rainbow inched away from her sister to follow her ears, one of the few still reliable parts of her body. With each step the sound became clearer as she sneaked alongside the warehouse, until finally she found a broken window hidden behind a splintered crate.
Rainbow peered inside through the broken glass. The room was littered with open boxes of various bottled beverages, sadly empty, which was also the case for the rest of the damp storeroom. But one thing caught her eyes, in the far corner barely visible from her current position lay a small yellow pony she hadn't seen before crying in her hooves. Gathering her trade skills Rainbow quickly and carefully unlocked the window through the sharp glass, silently opening it and lowering herself inside.
“Who's there?” The crying mare attempted to retreat further into the wall as the intruder landed on the floor, staring at her beaten body with horror before shielding her face behind her flowing pink mane.
“Relax, I'm not here to hurt you.” Rainbow froze in place to the sight of the prisoner, her body was unharmed and surprisingly clean. But one thing caught her eyes, two delicate wings fluttering helplessly beneath a taught iron cylinder. “Are you okay?”
The genuine concern in her voice soothed the crying pegasus who managed to slowly retreat from behind her sheltering mane. “Y, yes.” She stared at the approaching stranger, and could only hazard a guess to the level of injuries she must have suffered. “You're hurt.”
“Don't worry about me.” Rainbow felt her heart warm to the stranger's care, most ponies she knew wouldn't lift a hoof to mention her injuries or forbid show any actual compassion. She took the flowers from her mouth to give them to the crying mare. “Who are you, and why are you crying?”
“M, my name is Fluttershy. I'm just really lonely, I can't find my parents.” Fluttershy accepted the flowers, softly chewing on them. It was clear she didn't approve of the taste, but was thankful for the gift regardless.
'You and everypony here.' Rainbow's heart wrenched in agony to the thought as she sat down beside her, yet another pony loosing their parents to the forsaken town. At least she never knew her parents and was spared the pain of loosing them, the same of which couldn't be said for her new friend. “Where did you last see them?”
Fluttershy cautiously moved closer to Rainbow, resting her head against her shoulder. “We went camping in the forest, we were looking for cute animals for my birthday, my parents are really kind.” She hesitated placing her legs around the injured mare for support. “But one night I heard some roaring, they said they didn't want us there. I told my parents and we left but.” Rainbow began to hug her back, gently stroking her pink mane as she would for her sister. “I just kept hearing them roaring about how juicy I looked, I flew as far as I could.”
“I'm sorry.”
“I just want to see them again.” Rainbow felt ready to interrupt her before she continued. “The Apples said they would find them.”
“Wait, the Apples?” Rainbow stared at the pony in her hooves shortly before looking around her, the abandoned room was clearly uncared for and no place for a guest. “How did you find them, and why are you in this storeroom?”
Fluttershy seemed to grow a small smile. “I was at the edge of the woods when I flew into them, he said his name was Big Macintosh. I told him about what the roars said and my parents, and he told me he would look for them. One of the others, ermm Applejack, took me back here for safety.”
Rainbow grew more concerned as the discussion continued, Applejack had never talked about any of this to her. They never kept secrets from each other. “So she brought you here? But what's with that...harness?” She struggled to find the word, rubbing her hoof over the taught iron band restraining the pegasus' wings.
“She said it would keep me safe...” Fluttershy began wiping tears from her eyes again. “But I've been here for days, she gives me food, and lets me talk to the animals. But she never mentions my parents, I just want to go home.” The timid pegasus continued to cry in her friend's hooves.
“Dashie? Are you okay?” Pinkie's voice called over from the window she stuck her head through.
“Don't worry she's nice.” Rainbow calmed the worrying pegasus before looking back to her sister happily. “Yeah, come inside it's warmer.”
“Thanks Sis.” Upon noticing the yellow pony Pinkie quickly rushed over to hug her. “Hey I'm Pinkie Pie.”
“Ermm, h, hello Pinkie.” Fluttershy stuttered to the sudden interaction from the new pony.
Rainbow gently stroked both ponies manes. “Her name is Fluttershy, you two should get along well.”
Pinkie stared intently at the new pony, she could see the same sadness in her emerald eyes that she herself felt, the loneliness and worry of being unloved. It was the same look she noticed in her sister as well, the look she always tried to fade away with whatever laughter and fun she could bring. The only thing she ever could do well. “Is she, our sister?”
Rainbow smiled happily to the innocent words, stroking the yellow pony's mane. “Yeah, she can be our sister if she likes.” The injured mare felt a warmth in her heart as her pink sister began to hug her new friend, or perhaps new sister. Fluttershy remained quiet but seemed to enjoy no longer being alone and began to slowly accept Pinkie's enthusiastic nature, the nature she was pleased to finally see again after her weeks of sadness and inactivity. 'The weeks I ruined everything.' Rainbow knew it was her fault, but it was to late to change what happened. Looking down at her watch she knew she couldn't change the past, she could only delay the result. Clenching the watch in her hooves, Rainbow could feel each tick of her life as it passed.
Hearing her sisters chatting, or rather Pinkie chatting and Fluttershy listening quietly, Rainbow knew what she had to do. She failed to put her sister first in the past, but now she would never make that mistake again. She couldn't afford to make that mistake again. “Fluttershy.”
“Yes, ermm.” The quiet pegasus looked over to her pink sister to think of her words. “D, Dashie?”
Rainbow felt the same warmth again, before remembering she failed to introduce herself. “Sorry, I'm Rainbow Dash, but you can call me whatever you like.” She lowered her hoof to aid Fluttershy up. “Do you want us to go look for your parents?”
Fluttershy almost burst with joy, before returning to her worried stance. “B, but the Apples said they would do it, and they said I should stay here for the time being.”
As much as Rainbow Dash liked her best friend, she couldn't just pretend she didn't see what was happening. She loved Applejack but this room, the refusal to move, the restraints, anypony could see Fluttershy was nothing more than a prisoner here. 'Why would she foalnap her? Why would she do it to anypony? Applejack was never like this.' Rainbow shook the thoughts from her head, thoughts she really didn't want to think about. “We could always help them, to help find your parents quicker.” She was relieved to see a reassuring nod from her new friend. There was no way of knowing if her parents were still alive, yet alone where they were if they did manage to survive. But the least she could do was to set her free and try. “Do you know how to take that off?” She asked pointing down at the constricting iron.
“Applejack had the key, but she never gave it to me...”
“That's okay, let's just go.” Rainbow tried to hide the conflict in her mind as she painfully climbed through the narrow window and into the damp alley, she leaned back through the window to help pull her sister up. The weight strained her degenerating body but she managed to pull through.
“Thanks Sis.” Pinkie Pie hugged her sister as she waited in the rain for her new friend to join them.
“Come on, take my hoof.” Rainbow leaned through the window again, she could see the concern in her friend's emerald eyes. “Don't worry I'll keep you safe, I promise.” Fluttershy reached forward, and with great struggle she managed to lift the iron wearing mare into the rain.
Fluttershy began to rub her legs, shivering slightly to the cold rain hitting her coat. She felt a sudden warmth overtake her as her guardian softly placed a tattered waistcoat over her back. “Here. You deserve it more than me.” Fluttershy turned to smile at her caring guardian, before gazing down at her now naked body. Her light blue coat covered in countless cuts and bruises, some sections of her body even seemed to be missing, as if...eaten. But beyond the fearful sight she was calmed to see two delicate wings mirroring her own, but without the multiple fractures.
“Oh, I didn't notice you were a pegasus.” Fluttershy smiled warmly gazing into her guardian's eyes, finding solace in the racial similarity. But the longer she gazed the more concerned she became to her friend's silence, it was as if she didn't know what she meant. “Y, you have wings, and can fly, like me.”
“I guess I am.” Rainbow replied quietly lost in thought, both Fluttershy and Rarity used that word to describe her. She always figured her extra limbs were a deformity of some kind since she was the only pony she knew who had them, she never knew others existed like her, how could she know.
Fluttershy gently brushed her hoof across her guardian's tattered wings trying to comfort her. Although Rainbow remained silent she could see the worry in her tear filled eyes, the thoughts of her wings being so alien to her. “I'm sure you would make a great flyer.” She gazed down to her wings, fluttering them helplessly beneath the heavy restraints before looking back into the violet eyes of her friend, hiding the discomfort of the iron cylinder beneath a smile. “I would love to help.”
“Come on we should keep moving, there's no point standing in the rain.” Rainbow forced the scene to an end, the revelations of her life being to painful to discuss. The broken mare stood motionless merely watching as the others moved ahead, unflinching to the cold rain hitting her coat as she stared at Fluttershy's golden wings, symbols of freedom chained down by the iron cast. All she wanted her entire life was to escape from the gutter, to live a happy life with her sister. She never realised she had the ability to fly away from her miserable existence. Instead she used her wings to steal from others, desecrating the very gift she was given.
The wounded pegasus cupped the watch in her hooves, staring down at the struggling hands depicting her declining life. She drew her hoof close to her chest, closing the tainted gold case against her heart as the rain washed the tears from her face. It was to late for her, she knew her dying body wouldn't last long enough to learn to escape to the skies, yet alone be able to carry her sister away with her. Rainbow knew the only chance Pinkie had of escaping her depressing life lay in the freedom of the innocent pegasus untainted by her own corruption. The pegasus she was determined to save.
