Iris Rising: Dreamfall (retcon planned)

Dash rested against the head of her bed after decided not to sleep yet. Closing her eyes, she tried hard to jog her memory. Like Zach, she is also anxious to know what course of events have transpired to cause her to be here.

Then Dash began to remember… she was talking with a young man, in a diner, still in Paragon. But his facial details was rather blurry. Who is he? Why do they seemed to be at odds with each other? Abruptly, the scene changed and then she saw herself hurtling down towards the forest floor.

Dash cringed inwards. Totally shaken, she quickly reached for the thermos on the bedside table, poured it into an empty glass and gulped down the tea in mouthfuls.

Outside her window, the bright full moon loomed in the night sky.

Zach cautiously moved across the grey powdery lunar surface.

Grown frustrated of days of fruitless searching, he stopped, raised his fists high and yelled, “Aw, I’ve been wandering for hours!!! Where the heck could Princess Luna be!?”

Up in the dark sky, a luminous blue and green sphere was clearly visible. This is the Equestrian’s home planet. Due to its color & appearance, this universe’s ‘Earth’ is dubbed the Blue Marble.

***

Over at the long table, Dash, Sunset Shimmer and Sir Blueblood were quietly looking through Lyra’s book collections when the former incidentally yawned. After Dash apologized, Sunset Shimmer dropped the book she was reading on the table in frustration.

“This feels like it’s going to take forever!” she complained. “We’ll never know what kind of magic Lyra used to bring her army to life!”

“Let’s call it a day,” Blueblood told her. “We can carry this on tomorrow.”

He turned to Dash. “And thank you, Miss Dash.”

“Just making myself useful around here, sir.”

Before she could take hear leave, Discord marched into reading chamber, looking serious.

“Sir Blueblood, scout report! It’s as we feared. Ragingheart has taken control of Ponyville and claimed the town hall as her headquarters. Worse, more of her forces have poured in across the southern border.”

Both unicorns somberly took in the bad news.

Later in the courtyard, Zach was the bench, his mind seemingly preoccupied.

Discord appeared from behind. “You look tense, my friend.”

“I got too many things in my mind now,” Zach confessed. “My master’s journeying alone to Diamondia. Then there’s Trollestia.”

“And Miss Dash,” the captain added. “Well then, can I interest you in an afternoon tea with me? Herbal tea served with bread and butter and jam ought to sooth your thoughts for a while.”

“No candy popcorns in the menu?” Zach asked jokingly.

Grinning, Discord gave a thumbs-up. “Also good.”

“No thanks,” Zach said politely. “I’ll do fine by myself,”

After excusing himself, he went off to the terraced gardens. Zach decided to release his stress using a technique taught to him which is known as the Happy Place. It is the mental state achieved when one wants to avoid the unpleasant or uncomfortable. It usually consists of the things that make one feel joyous.

Sitting on the floor, Zach inhaled deeply, hold for a few seconds then exhaled. He repeated this for a few more times until he was seemingly in a calmer state. He closed his eyes, his breathing became slower. He started to engage in a focused thought. He thought about his loved ones, his friends, his home, all happy memories from his past. Everything he imagined in his mind formed to become his ‘happy place’.

Meanwhile, Dash was laying on her bed, awake but really bored. She got up, deciding to do something about her boredom. While walking down the hallway, still undecided on what to do, Dash glimpsed through the window. There was Zach, in the very same spot she saw him doing his self-training days prior.

She watched Zach performing what appears to be some kind of martial art routine. His movements were slow yet brisk and graceful. All the moves appeared to be more dance-like than being practical in any unarmed combat. She speculated the routine was likely pure exercise, meant for relaxation.

By the time Dash arrived, Zach was in the midst of practicing his dual sword fighting technique with a pair of batons, like he did the day before.

“Hey,” she greeted him.

Zach finished his move before answering. “Oh, Hey. What’s up?”

“What’s it called?” Dash immediately asked.

“Excuse me?” Zach was not sure what she was talking about.

“I mean, the routine you performed earlier? I didn’t recognize it at all. Is it some kinda kata for martial arts or simply a dance?”

Zach did not answer, instead he said, “Martial arts, huh? Hmm, I almost forgot you’re quite a fighter the other day.”

“Yeah,” Dash recalled. “And you called me a ‘noob’.”

“In my defense, I sort of blurted it out,” Zach said.

“Oh no, you ain’t getting away that easily. Nobody calls me loser, ever!” Dash removed her jack then tossed it away. “It’s time for some payback!”

With a serious look, she pointed a finger at Zach. “Zachary Watterson, I challenge you to a sparring match!”

“Ugh, really…? I’m not in the mood to-” He stopped to ponder a brief moment. “On second thought, this might turn out to be interesting, to see what you’re made of.”

Dash smirked, was quite confident of herself. “One hundred percent pure awesomeness! That’s what!”

“All right. I accept your challenge.”

“Oh yeah! You are so going down! Winner gets to call the loser ‘LOSER’ all day long!”

Facing each other, Dash and Zach both assumed a combat-ready stance. She let Zach make the first move. Zach threw a series of punches but Dash kept blocking it with her forearms. For a split second, Dash saw an opening in Zach’s attack. With a swift movement, Dash seized his arm then executed a throw to send him down hard on the ground. She dropped straddling over him then feigned a strike to his neck. First round went to Dash.

She got to her feet and stepped away. “C’mon, you gotta do better than that!”

Zach jumped back to his feet, smiling confidently. “I have yet begun to fight, you cocky little brat.”

They faced each other again and get into a combat-ready stance. Zach lunged. He threw a punch but Dash used one arm to deflect the punch, then another elbowed him in the side face. Zach staggered back but quickly recovered and began throwing punches at her.

Dash ducked a punch, instantly sidestepped and suddenly she was behind Zach. Grabbing on to his arm and shoulder, she forced Zach to the ground. Zach was now pinned down, subdued by Dash’s hammerlock.

Satisfied with her second victory, Dash released Zach.

He got up and faced Dash, looking thoughtful. “Impressive.”

“Hah, you’re just saying that to cover your sorry face!” Dash mocked at him.

“No, seriously,” Zach earnestly said. “Your fighting technique isn’t all about offense. You focus on bringing down your opponents as quickly as possible and disarming them when needed. Where’d you learn to fight like that?”

Dash was not happy at all with Zach observing her. She was supposed to humiliate him. That was her original attention.

“Come on, you can tell me,” Zach urged her.

“I was in the air force,” Dash reluctantly answered.

“The air force, huh?” he said, pretending that this was new to him.

Zach was not prepared to face what Dash might do if he told her he had eavesdropped Dash’s conversation with Sunset Shimmer in the dining room few days earlier.

“How much do you know about armed combat?’ he asked her.

“I know how to use a staff.”

Zach went away for a minute then returned with a pair of batons and a long pole in hands.

“Show me.” He tossed the pole to Dash. “Swords versus staff, I hope you don’t mind. After all, your pole has a longer reach.”

Holding their weapons respectively, both assumed a combat-ready stance.

“Only one rule,” Zach said. “First weapon to touch the any part of the body, wins.”

“Whatevs,” Dash scoffed. “I can take you in a cinch.”

“Begin!”

They lunged forward. They crossed their weapons without hitting at each other. Dash exhibited swiftness and skill in her movements, as she rolled around and torqueing her ‘staff’ to parry Zach’s ‘swords’. This went on for a few minutes.

Now it was Dash’s turn to go on offence. She executed a punch, upwards, downwards and side strikes in quick successions, which Zach parried them all, thanks to his speed and two-weapon advantage. Dash tried to sweep at Zach’s feet but the feline parried it low. In the same move, Dash attempted to strike down at Zach. He blocked it with his ‘swords’, twisted around to deflect the ‘staff’ away from him then quickly backed away to safe distance.

“Not bad,” Zach said. “You’re definitely one interesting individual, Rainbow Dash.”

“Hey! Don’t call me-”

Without warning, Zach charged at her, hitting with his swords without relent. Dash countered using both ends of her ‘staff’ before diving out of Zach’s way.

“Hey! You cheated!” Dash said furiously.

“Only one rule,” Zach reminder her, “first weapon to touch the any part of the body, wins.”

“Oh, I see how it is now,” Dash grumbled.

He tried to distract me, she mused on a way to beat him, so it’s only right that I respond with feint maneuver.

They charged at each other. This time, Dash increased her speed and ferocity, forcing Zach back towards the edge of a pond. When Zach blocked another attack, Dash kicked him. Zach was momentarily off balance, allowing Dash to ferociously strike the one ‘sword’ off his hand. She rolled in a thrust but Zach slipped sideways, deflecting the ‘staff’ away with his remaining ‘sword’ at the same time.

Dash waded in, feigned a strike, prompting Zach to take the bait. Dash swiftly withdrew her ‘staff’ then knocked away the last ‘sword’ from his hand, leaving Zach currently defenseless. She struck her staff at Zach’s throat, only to stop an inch from his neck. Zach froze, almost tripping over his back into the pond.

“Well done,” Zach congratulated. “But you haven’t beaten me.”

Dash looked at him, smiling in triumph. “I’m ‘bout to.”

Not finishing off Zach immediately turned out to be her gravest mistake. She moved her ‘staff’ but Zach was quick to duck causing her to miss his hair by inches. He slipped right next to her and was now facing Dash’s rear. With a hard push, Dash fell into the pond- SPLASH!

At the bottom, Dash was thrown into a fit of panic after small amounts of water had made its way into her throat and nostrils. After her head broke through the water surface, she frantically made her towards the edge of the pond.

Dash was coughing out water on all fours when Zach lightly tapped his baton on her head. He would have declared victory if he had not notice Dash’s heaving gasping and panicked expression. She looked as if she had come back from drowning.

“Hey, what’s gotten into you?” he asked.

Dash glanced at the pond, genuinely confused. The pond is only about three feet deep. It is not like that she does not know how to swim nor is she hydrophobic. Dash rolled to lie on the ground. Her stare looked dazed.

Zach became concerned, fearing another panic attack. “Crap! I’ll get Trixie.”

But Dash frantically reached out for him. “No, no! Don’t go!!!”

Grasping her hand, Zach knelt next to her. “Breath! Breath…slowly!”

He remained by Dash’s side until her breathing became normal again.

“Are you okay now?” Zach asked her.

“Zach, do you actually trust me or not…?”

“Why would you ask me that all of sudden?”

“I-I dunno why, but I was so scared. It doesn’t make sense… I thought…I was drowning…”

Zach speculated that Dash was likely still conscious throughout whatever ordeal she encountered prior to her arrival in this Equestria. But she was suffocating. And the internal injuries she suffered would have caused her lungs to be flooded by bodily fluids. Somehow falling into the pond triggered a brief memory flash of this event, inducing another panic attack.

“Why is this happening to me...?” Dash asked herself.

***

Two Years Earlier (Earth’s Timeline)

A military bus pulled up in the compound of Equestrian Royal Air Force’s Paragon base. Dozens of fresh recruits disembarked from the bus. One of them was Dash. She felt proud to be here, though she is not motivated by patriotism. Her real target is getting herself enrolled in the Thunderbolts’ flight academy.

On the first day of training, Dash lined up with the other female recruits out in the field. In the middle of the inspection by Sgt. Blaze, her mind was distracted at the formation of F/A-6s thundering high above the base. Suddenly, the sergeant darted within inches of Dash’s face and started grilling her immediately. She was definitely taken aback by the sergeant’s harsh words, but managed not to show it.

For the next one week, as part of their initiation into the air force, all the cadets, Dash was no exception, were subjected to the overly ridiculous tradition of humiliation hazing by the seniors. In the first month, every night when everyone else was sleeping, Dash would always bury her face on the pillow, tactfully crying her heart out. Each day, she kept wondering to herself whether she really can get through army life.

Months have passed. Somehow Dash did not manage to make any real friends at the base. Most likely the reason was that the cadets did not like Dash due to her attitude. In doing so, she was frequently at loggerheads with one particular cadet whose surname is Cloudchaser. The two always quarreled with each other, most of the time over petty matters and behind Sgt. Blaze’s back. Although Cloudchaser had several friends to back her up, Dash refused to be intimidated.

In order to teach Dash a lesson, she was subjected to many pranks by Cloudchaser’s group, few of which involves stealing Dash’s laundry and hid them away at random places, and sabotaging her locker. One day, Cloudchaser probably went too far and it was the last straw for Dash. This led to a scuffle between Dash and Cloudchaser that eventually turned violent. Due to this incident, Dash was charged with disciplinary misconduct and thereby was discharged from the air force. Cloudchaser’s fate is unknown.

Having never left Paragon ever since, Dash went on to work as a bicycle messenger for an express delivery company. A year later, her life remained unchanged. One day, Dash pulled over at a diner she frequented after work. Crossing over towards the counter, she accidentally bumped into a man who appeared to be of similar age. They looked at each other.

***

Zach regarded Dash with obvious sympathy, the same way as Sunset Shimmer did.

“All I wanted to do after that was to get my life back on track,” Dash said. “Then suddenly, I found myself here. The next moment, those things tried to kill and you guys started talking about war. This is all too crazy…”

She gazed expectantly at Zach. “What’s gonna happen to me?”

“I really can’t say yet,” Zach was being frank. “That’s why I was hoping you could shed some light here.”

“But what if I don’t wanna remember?”

“Why…?”

“I saw myself falling from someplace high, somewhere up in the mountains. It must’ve been after talking to that mystery guy at the diner. I wish I could remember who he. What if something horrible came out of that conversation? What if…I’d done something stupid?”

Zach understood where Dash was getting at. “There’re far easier, less painful ways. Besides, I don’t think you have a strong enough reason to do so.”

“I’m not that kinda person,” Dash tried to convince herself. “I know I’m not. But just to think that I could still do it b’cuz one day I got too depressed. I’m too scared to find out.”

Zach gave a gentle squeeze on Dash’s hand and spoke to her in a reassuring voice, “Hey, hey, I know I was a bit…hard on you earlier. It’s just that I already have my hands full. And you being here, things become more complicated.”

“Then be honest to me,” Dash demanded, “what actually are you planning to do to me…?”

“I said I was willing to help you,” Zach affirmed, “and I meant it.”

“So I can trust you?”

Zach considered for a moment, taking in everything what he knows so far and what Dash just said.

“Yeah,” he finally said.

“What does it take to gain yours?”

“I need more details.”

Dash looked away. She knew Zach was right. Only her mind holds clue to what happened and why she ended up in this world. But it is not like she is not trying at all.

“What the hay!?” Sunset Shimmer exclaimed. “What happened to you?”

She along with Trixie and Lightning Dust were shocked to see Dash completely wet, and gloomy.

Zach tried to come up with an explanation for Sunset Shimmer but Dash cut him off him with a lie, “I accidentally tripped into the pond. I was so bored, so I went to have some fresh air and my mind got kinda lapsed for a while out there.”

Lightning Dust did believe her. “That’s horse apples-”

“Lightning Dust!” The needless use of the profane language had elicited a scolding from Sunset Shimmer. “You apologize to Miss Dash this instance!”

The pegasus bowed her head apologetically. “Forgive me for my rudeness, Lord Watterson, Miss Dash.”

“Err, was that supposed to be vulgar?” Dash asked in surprise.

“Yes, it is,” Sunset Shimmer replied, anger still in her voice. “Now about your clothes…”

“Not necessary,” Zach immediately said. “It’ll dry up completely in a few hours.”

“Yea,” Dash decided to play along, “what he said…”

Afterwards, the three ponies excused themselves to attend to other matters.

“Any word from Prince Umbra yet?” Dash was asking after they arrived outside her room.

“No, not yet,” Zach told her. “Urgh! Trollestia really made a mess of things here.”

“Yeah,” Dash agreed. "Sunset Shimmer and Trixie are so worried about Lighting Dust b’cuz of it. I really felt…sorry for those three.”

“So you really are attached to Sunset Shimmer,” Zach slowly realized.

“No, don’t say it. Talking-” Dash caught her voice. She was currently talking to one. Is the term ‘animal’ offensive here? “Well, y’now what I mean, right? It’s not really normal at where I come from.”

“But?” Zach urged Dash to admit it.

“We’re not that close, ‘kay? But Sunset Shimmer and I had a talk. It was weird on many levels. These ponies, I realized that they have their own feelings and dreams, with different personalities. I felt like I’m talking to-” A sudden realization came across Dash’s mind. “Like any other person, normally…”

“Don’t think of yourself going crazy, okay?” Zach urged, failing to detect a sudden change in Dash’s voice. “You’re adapting to your surroundings. That’s a good thing.”

“Err, yeah.” She was now feeling a little uneasy. “So, um… I don’t feel so well right now, so I’m just gonna turn in.”

“Okay,” Zach said with understanding. “Have a good rest and see you, tomorrow.”

Holding the door open, Dash regarded the blue feline. “Hey, Zach?”

“Yeah?”

“I didn’t get to say thank you the other day. I mean, for saving me from getting stabbed in the back. And I’m sorry, for calling you a freak.” Dash noticed then the look on Zach. “Hey, I don’t usually apologize even when I know I’m wrong. But don’t think out it much, okay. Bye.”

She closed the door, leaving Zach amused by the irony of the situation.

Inside her room, Dash leaned on the door, thinking. “That’s weird. All of ‘em were totally surprised when they first saw me, but not Zach.”

What are you doing here? You’re not from my lance... You’re not making sense, comrade! Why were you sent here?... I think I’ve seen you before…

No, he was definitely surprised, Dash thought, but in a different way.

She then recalled back the time she fought against Mithra. “Why did he talk to me all those time as if I was…?”

Use your Ethereal weapon!... Hey, what kind of a Godslayer are you!?...

Things suddenly did not add up. Just before she explained her ordeal to Zach, he had acted like he is used to human companion, when it is reputed that human beings are nothing more than a myth in this world.

“What’s he hiding? Should I…” Dash shook her head to dismiss her suspicions. “No! I’m overthinking it. I should trust him. Yeah! I trust him. If he knows something ‘bout me, he woulda told me.”

After assuring herself that there was nothing wrong, she proceeded to the shower room.

Later that evening, Zach sat on his bed, musing at length. He held out his hand and a small fireball harmlessly materialized above his palm. He watched the fireball calmly.

“Trust, huh…”

***

Elmore (Alternate Universe)

Elmore used to be a lively metropolitan, full of unique, downright wacky characters. But now it was in shambles with no survivors. Everywhere, structures have been razed down to the ground in the aftermath of a great war. The sun appeared red due to the thick smog veiling the skyline.

The residential area in the suburbs looked almost no different from the city. This was where Zach lived.

From afar, the Watterson residence looked quite nice from the front yard. But on closer look, fire damages were evidently visible. Only little remained of the bedrooms on the second floor. In the backyard, the kitchen has been completely burned down to the ground.

A female Godslayer appeared in the house. She was clad in a Fleet SHADE, meaning that the Godslayer is from the Swift Striker class. The Quint-Gold Star insignia indicates her rank is Lord Magister, the second highest rank attainable by the Godslayers.

She crossed over the room through the charred debris. Slowly opening the door, the Godslayer found Zach cowering inside the closet. He was only eight at this time. Fear and distrust were written all over the feline’s face, having witnessed carnage and destruction with his own eyes. And now due to freakish good luck, he was left as the sole survivor of his own world.

On one knee, the Godslayer cautiously extended her arms for the young feline. “I mean you no harm. Please trust me.”

Suddenly flames burst from Zach’s hands. He then lunged at the Godslayer…

It was only later that the Godslayer was revealed as a human version of Lightning Dust, with exactly the same clothing with that Dash’s current attire. Her name is Gazleen Perris. Out to the front porch, she carried in her arms the young Zach, now crying his heart out.

“I wasn’t able to save your family,” Gazleen expressed her regret to him. “I am so sorry…”

Nearby, a corvette-class space cruiser, known as The Moderator, was hovering above the skyline.

***

On the very next day, Dash again was back to her original self after a good night’s sleep. After doing a bit of stretching in her room, she walked down the hallways and soon spotted Sunset Shimmer talking to Zach at the far end.

She approached to greet them. “Mornin’!”

“Good morning, Dash,” Sunset Shimmer greeted back.

Zach’s baggy and bloodshot eyes are now more apparent to Dash.

“Whoa Zach!” she jested. “You look totally worn out, even worse than yesterday. The funny thing is that when someone exercises in the morning, they should’ve more energy the next day. But you’re the total opposite! Either you’re way stressed out or I’m doing a much better job of keeping myself fit.”

Looks like the cocky brat is back, the feline thought.

“Nice to see you in high spirits again,” Sunset Shimmer said, feeling glad.

“So, whassup?” Dash asked them.

“We’re going to this place Silver Spoon about to show us,” Sunset Shimmer informed her. “Want to come?”

“I… If it’s okay with him,” Dash hesitantly said, eyes squinting at Zach.

“Sure, why not?” said the feline.

“You serious-” Dash suddenly felt unsettled the moment Zach gave out a sly smile.

Zach, Sunset Shimmer, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon traveled up the steep inclined path through the woods.

Diamond Tiara stopped to look back. “For the last time, are you sure you don’t need help?”

Far behind the rest, an overly exhausted Dash trudged with two saddle bags slung over her shoulders.

“Are you kidding me?” She was breathless, but refused to admit defeat to Zach. “I’m totally…fine... Oh yeah…!”

Zach chuckled inwardly and turned back. When he offered to help carry one of the saddle bags, Dash turned it down.

“No way! I can make it!”

“Forget it. The bet’s off.”

“No! Nobody calls off a bet just like that! That’s not how it works!”

By then, both of them began to lose their cool.

“C’mon,” Zach said in an urging voice, “you’re taking it way too seriously.”

Dash remained stubborn. “Just gimme a minute to catch my breath, ‘kay!?”

Seeing the two arguing over a stupid bet appalled both Sunset Shimmer and Diamond Tiara. The argument was finally settled when Sunset Shimmer and Diamond Tiara took away the bags from Dash without asking her.

Arriving at the top, Silver Spoon pointed at the cave opening in the cliff wall ahead, with a cart track running through it.

“The abandoned crystal mines,” Sunset Shimmer realized.

“Abandoned?” This was from Zach.

“Canterlot used to be small mining town,” Sunset Shimmer explained to him, without going through too much details. “Once all the crystals ran out, the mining community simply left it.”

“I see.”

They all proceeded to walk along cart tracks into the mine. Silver Spoon walked ahead of the others, leading them down through several passages.

“Before my parents died,” the Earth pony said, “they acquired this mine with the attention of experimenting with a light rail transit system connecting Canterlot with the suburbs.”

“So this place is like all yours,” Dash remarked.

“You could say that.” Silver Spoon led them into another passage. “Had the project taken off, it could’ve provided a cheap transportation system for ponies who can’t afford chariots or carts. That was their plan.”

They went through several more passages, Silver Spoon still leading the way. For Sunset Shimmer, this seemed very strange. How would this young Earth pony know the way around these passages like a book? she thought to herself.

It was a quite a long walk but finally they got to the end of passage with an iron door. After getting the door opened, they walked into a wide and extensive basement hallway. Iron doors and ventilation shafts line both sides of the walls. The vaulted ceiling soared above their heads and is supported by sturdy pillars. At the opposite end of the hallway is a wrought-iron spiral staircase with a dumb-waiter lift in the center.

“My family built this as a safe shelter,” Silver Spoon was telling them, “in the event of disasters or home invasion.”

Upon hearing that, Sunset Shimmer glanced around. “Is this what I think it is?”

She moved in on the spiral staircase and looked up. “Silver Spoon, we’re right below your old house!”

Silver Spoon confirmed it with a curt nod.

“All these years the mines are connected to your house and you never told us,” Sunset Shimmer said to the Earth pony as soon as she rejoined the group.

“Well, the thought that these caverns might come in handy someday never crossed my mind,” Silver Spoon admitted.

“Wait,” Sunset Shimmer said all of a sudden. “All those times when we were playing hide-and-seek, did you come down here to hide?”

Silver Spoon’s eyes flickered.

“Err, no,” she lied.

Silver Spoon gave the group a brief tour around the basement before going out into the passages again.

After going through various long passages, they went out onto a wide platform looking over a mass of black darkness. Sunset Shimmer lighted up her horn, lifting the darkness to reveal a vast cavern. Multilevel platforms have been built on the length of walls and the wet rocky floor, each one connected together via staircases.

They descended to the lowest platform and jumped down on the wet rocks then moved along the small underground river, following it where it disappeared under some more rocks. They stepped over to the cavern’s entrance where a roaring curtain of crystal-clear water is pouring down behind it.

Dash, Zach and Diamond Tiara emerged through the curtain of water onto a wide ledge. They found that the cavern is hidden behind a waterfall overlooking a gorge. The cityscape of Canterlot was visible beyond the opposite side of the gorge, covered with radiant red, gold and brown foliage.

“Nice,” Zach remarked. “No one’ll suspect we’re hiding behind here. Plus, this spot will make a good lookout point.”

Dash stared down at the gorge with strange familiarity. The vertical rock cliffs, the raging stream with woodlands lining the stony banks- where else she had seen a place like this before? All of a sudden, she became disoriented, causing her to accidentally slipped over the edge.

“Dash!” Zach managed to catch hold of her wrists in time. But with nothing to hold on to with his other hand, he was pulled in by her fall. Fortunately, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were quick to react by biting on to Zach’s sweater, preventing both him and Dash from plummeting down into the gorge.

At the same time, Dash’s feet happened to land on an opal-colored cloud which slowly lifted her up. Sunset Shimmer’s horn was glowing, revealing the cloud was an object lifting magic spell that she cast. Dash did not wait. She instantly leaped onto Zach, causing them both to drop onto the ledge floor. Visibly shaken, Dash clung to Zach, her face buried on his shoulder.

“Hey, it’s all right,” Zach assured her. “You can let go of me now.”

Dash however refused to let go and remained unmoving. The rest looked amongst each other worriedly.

Diamond Tiara and Zach removed food containers and thermoses from the saddle bags and placed them on a cloth spread on the front yard garden of a dilapidated mansion.

Sunset Shimmer approached Dash, who was looking gloomy again like the days before. “Would you like some tea? Or maybe milk?”

Dash shook her head mildly.

“Mineral water it is then,” the unicorn said before turning away.

Dash looked at Silver Spoon. The Earth pony was gazing sadly at her former home. Dash reached out to her and placed a gentle hand on the pony’s shoulder.

“You miss them, don’t you?” Dash asked compassionately.

Silver Spoon nodded meekly.

“I know how you feel,” Dash said to the Earth pony. “I’m an orphan too. I lost my dad years ago in a… an ‘accident’. My mom…she died right after giving birth to me.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Silver Spoon said softly.

“Diamond Tiara has been good to you, hasn’t she?” Dash asked her.

That prompted Diamond Tiara to cast a glance back at Dash and Silver Spoon. She remained tactful to pretend not to hear their conversation while helping Sunset Shimmer preparing the drinks.

“It’s not just her,” Silver Spoon said.

Dash then gave her advice to the Earth pony. “Then cherish it. Make every moment of it counts, ‘kay?”

Silver Spoon gazed at Dash whose eyes looked sincere.

“Okay,” she said.

Later by late afternoon, Dash looked like she has recovered from the incident and they all returned to the castle safely after that.

Trixie had just finished tidying up one of the many rooms at the castle’s guest quarters. All that was left for her to do is to store the box away. She was about to do so when Sunset Shimmer came into the room looking for her.

“Trixie, there you are. Sir Blueblood wants to see us both at his office.”

“Oh, right now?”

Dash unexpectedly showed up outside the door. “Trixie, I’ll help you with that box.”

Trixie politely declined the offer. “That's too kind of you, Miss Dash.”

Yet Dash said she insisted. “C’mon.”

“Are you sure?” Sunset Shimmer asked her.

Dash nodded. “Uh-huh.”

Dash did say she wanted to be useful around here instead of being an unwanted guest, Sunset Shimmer thought. If it makes her happy...

She nodded at Trixie, who was still hesitant but passed the box to Dash anyway.

“Where to?” Dash asked.

“The toolhouse,” Trixie replied. “It’s right across the training ground. And thank you.”

When Dash got to the training ground, there were actually multiple structures around it. “Um, where's the toolhouse again?”

In the mess hall’s kitchen, the centaur, who now sports a muscular body, was showing Captain Discord the cauldron atop the fire heater.

“Behold, captain!” Tirek proclaimed, pride was evident in his voice. “High-grade mithril alloy with magically enchanted coating that can withstand even the scorching heat from the very core of the solar orb!”

“Excellent work, Tirek!” the captain praised him. “And how's the weaponized super-hot sauce coming?”

Tirek used a tong to open the lid of the cauldron. The sauce looked like thick, bright green mud, bubbling sluggishly. Hazy smoke from the sauce began to fill the kitchen.

At the same moment, Dash entered the kitchen with her box. “Hey, guys. D’you know where-”

She bolted out of the kitchen right way at the stinging smell of the smoke.

Captain Discord and Tirek were too preoccupied that they never noticed Dash was there a second ago.

“Pee-eww!” the captain exclaimed as he pinched his nose. “That’s a strong one indeed!”

Captain Discord and Tirek were ruled out. So now Dash needed to ask someone else where the toolhouse is. She spotted Nova sitting alone on the edge of the field and approached him.

“Hi, it’s Nova, right? I was wondering-”

Dash now realized that Nova was deeply immersed in some sort of strange meditation.

He kept on repeating the same chant over and over again: “I-am-the beast...”

“Never mind.” Dash slowly backed away from the changeling.

Dash entered the workshop after hearing the sound of the ratchet reverberating from outside.

“What’re you guys doin’?” she asked the brothers who were busy modifying a tractor-like contraption.

“Upgrading the Super Speedy Chaser 6000 to Version 7000,” Flim replied, who was halfway in installing the Gatling cannon onto the vehicle’s rear.

Flam slid out from underneath the vehicle with a wrench floating over his head.

“That’s right, missy!” He was obviously enthusiastic. “This thing will be better, faster and… better! We’re gonna take Ragingheart down in style! Did I mention it’ll be better?”

Dash looked at the vehicle wonderingly. “What’s this thing run on?”

“Unicorn magic, duh.” Flam had made it sound like it was common knowledge even though Dash was clearly foreign to all of this. “Everypony knows that.”

“Riiight,” Dash said. “Hey, can you guys point me to the toolhouse?”

Dash thanked the brothers after they pointed to a direction outside the workshop.

When Dash got there, there were a row three small buildings before her.

“Hey Dash!” It was Zach. “What brings you here?”

Dash showed the box in her hands. “Toolhouse.”

Zach pointed at the third building. He then helped Dash to store and sort out the box’s content in the toolhouse. It did not take them long to finish. They were heading back to the castle when Discord approached them.

“Lord Watterson, there you are!” The captain’s voice was full of enthusiasm. “You are now about to witness the Reserves’ graduation to the main army!”

“Well, I’m off then,” Dash said to Zach.

“Wait!” Discord quickly handed over a gramophone to Dash. “Since you’re here, you can help by holding this for me.”

“What’s a gramophone hafta do with army training!?” Dash demanded an answer.

“Come on now, Miss Dash!” Ignoring the question on purpose, Discord jostled Dash against her own will to the training ground.

Zach shrugged his shoulders then followed them from behind.

The Reserves were waiting in the field for their captain. When Discord, Zach and Dash arrived, they all gathered in a circle.

“All right, greenhorns!” the captain called the Reserves.

“And a green wing, captain,” Nova said. “Don’t forget that.”

The captain was not at all angry for the interruption.

With a wide grin, he snapped his fingers and said, “Yes, of course!”

Dash leaned close to Lightning Dust standing right next to her.

“I think Nova likes you,” she whispered to the pegasus.

The words offended Lighting Dust greatly. She would have given Dash a piece of her mind but she remained silent so as not to interrupt her captain’s address.

“I am very proud after seeing the fruitful results of your physical training, for you all have passed your limits. Today we demonstrate to Lord Watterson what you’re made of! Tomorrow we take on Ragingheart and we shall not yield to her chaos!”

In response, all the Reserves shouted, “Ooo-rah!”

Dash gazed at each member of the Reserves one-by-one. “Huh, I don’t see anything different about them.”

When her gaze fell upon Tirek, she was astonished. “Wait, what!?”

That prompted Zach to turn his gaze away from the captain to the centaur. Like Dash, he was shocked at Tirek’s current build- robust with muscular arms and abdominal muscles.

“That’s impossible. I mean, just yesterday you were this-!” Zach brought his palms together to exaggerate Tirek’s previous size. “Seriously, from a day of extreme workout!?”

Tirek made a side chest pose and said, “That, and some protein shakes.”

“Now before we begin,” Discord addressed the Reserves, “let’s do a warm up. Do any of you know what a true soldier needs for a good warm up?”

“Mittens and a scarf?” Nova guessed.

“No,” Discord said with a shake of his head. “Inspiration, the 15th track of Lady Rara’s third music album.”

He turned on the gramophone Dash is holding then began working out to the flow of the vibrant and inspirational tune of the playing track. The Reserves followed suit…

Dash and Zach gaped in amazement as Flim skillfully maneuvered the Super Speedy Chaser 7000 around the obstacle course, with Flam, as rear gunner, simultaneously destroying the targets with the Gatling cannon without missing a shot.

Dash and Zach stepped back a few yards. Discord gestured at them and they retreated further. A moment later, Lightning Dust swooped down and streaked across the field. The resulting air turbulence turned all the targets into splinters.

Dash and Zach stared down at Bunny-Nova with uncertainty. Suddenly the small creature leaped into the air and kicked Zach right in the chest. He landed on his hind leg on the ground as Zach is sent flying backwards. Dash stared back at the fallen Zach with astonishment.

Tirek dual-wielded a pair of pump cannons, heavily modified from the bazookas, attached with a hose to the sealed cauldron holstered on his back. He fired streams of boiling hot sauce, melting all the targets like acid.

Dash and Zach looked on as Discord and the Reserves, all of them high in spirits, continued their aerobic workout until sunset.

“Still, will they be enough?” Zach wondered. Can all six, counting in Zach, hold against Ragingheart’s unstoppable army until reinforcements arrive?

Dash tried to give him some encouragements. “Hey, in a world where the sun and the moon need to be raised manually and vehicles run on magic, anything’s possible,”

Zach took those words in and said, “I guess can't argue with that logic.”

“Nor comprehend it,” Dash added.