Arc One: I Burn
Part Six

Apple Bloom awoke with a shriek of terror.

Her eyes snapped open and as she screamed, she sat upright in the unfamiliar bed. Almost immediately, some stallions that she did not know tried to pin her down, to get her laying again, only adding to her fear. She wanted to call out for her sister, for her brother or even for Yang, but her breathing interrupted her words. He chest rose and fell quickly - far too quickly. Apple Bloom soon felt herself hyperventilating. Her head became dizzy and her vision swam.

“Please,” a stallion begged. “Please stay down.”

His voice was not one of a bad stallion. He sounded nice, sincere, and the calm tone of his voice helped calm Apple Bloom. Her breathing soothed, and though she did not lay down she did stop moving.

The stallion sighed, relieved, and smiled at her. She scooted away. Apple Bloom noticed that she wasn’t on an actual bed - rather she was in a sleeping bag that had been placed on the ground. She also noticed that she was in a tent. A rather large one, too. It was big enough to hold herself, the stallion talking to her, and three other ponies. One mare and two stallions.

The first stallion tried to place a hoof on her shoulder, but seeing her uneasy look he backed off. “It’s okay.” He assured her, a soft look in his eyes. “You’re safe here.” The stallion pointed at the other one and motioned for him to move out of the tent, which he did, and left Apple Bloom alone with the first stallion and the mare.

"My name is Tunny.” He informed her as the mare joined him at the sleeping bag’s side. “This mare here is my sister, Rainy Day.” When Tunny said her name, the mare waved at Apple Bloom with a warm smile. Tunny continued. “What’s your name?”

Apple Bloom gulped and took in a deep breath. “A-Apple Bloom.” She looked between the stallion and the mare. Both were a light blue color, though the mare, Rainy Day, was brighter in shade. The stallion, Tunny, had a mane and tail that was so light it was almost white, though with a slight green tint. The mare, however, had a deep blue colored mane and tail. Both of their eyes were a seafoam green. Tunny’s cutie mark was a half-open can of tuna, while Rainy Day’s was a sun behind a grey cloud.

Rainy Day’s smile never faded, and she wrapped a foreleg around Tunny. “Nice to meet you, Apple Bloom!”

The filly eyed them wearily, cautiously looking around the tent for a possible escape route. Tunny noticed her discomfort and grabbed his sister, dragging her back with him as he stepped away a little more. “We found you in the forest,” he explained. “You must have passed out or something. You weren’t hurt, but you had... quite a bit of blood on you.”

Apple Bloom’s eyes went wide; memories of the manticores flooding back to her. Her breathing picked up again, but she tried to calm herself down by laboring her breaths. “Ah...” She tried to speak, but words failed her.

Rainy Day stepped forward but did not touch her. “You weren’t hurt,” she began. “But you were exhausted. We brought you back here and once we know it's safe in the forest, we’ll bring you to the hospital.”

Apple Bloom simply nodded, looking herself over and slowly laid back down. She blinked, never looking away from the tent ceiling.

“We’ll let you get some rest.” Tunny and Rainy Day then turned and exited the tent, leaving Apple Bloom alone.

Another blow to her face sent Yang back to the ground. Pain seared through all parts of her body. She didn’t want to get back up - it would do nothing to aid her. No matter if she stayed on the ground or picked herself up, Culus would simply keep beating her.

With a groan of pain, Yang again rose from the grass, blood streaming down from a cut on her forehead and her broken nose. Bruises appeared on her face in several areas and her eyes were swollen and purple. Yang could hardly see, but as she picked herself up she made sure to glare at Culus, who simply stared at her with a cold, blank expression.

“Still getting up?” He asked, moving to Yang’s side. Her gaze followed him as he moved. He limped slightly, his hooves aching after striking Yang so many times. Culus paid it no heed, however, and kept talking. “You’re much more stubborn than I anticipated. Most ponies that I get personal with break not long after we get started.”

Yang spat some blood out of her mouth and forced a chuckle. “Well, I’m not a pony.”

Culus scoffed. “Obviously. I don’t expect you to break like one. But you certainly will die like one.”

Yang didn’t reply, simply settling for a low growl. She took pleasure in seeing Culus back away ever so slightly. The poacher shook his head, pacing around the tent. “Don’t try to scare me off. We both know that this ends one of two ways, and you’re at an obvious disadvantage.”

It was Yang’s turn to scoff. “That’s what you think, man.” True, she had taken many hits, but she’d faced things ten times more dangerous than this pony. As soon as her Aura came back, she’d make her escape. That is, if her Aura came back at all.

She had a plan in case that happened. Without her Aura, though, she’d have to be a lot more careful out in the forest. Culus walked to the flap of the tent, raising it and whispering a few words to the pony stationed outside. Yang couldn’t make out what was said, but the guard moved away and Culus exited the tent, giving Yang one last mocking glance before disappearing.

The human sighed.

Blood dripped from her face and onto the ground. Now in addition to the dried blood of the manticores, she now had her own blood caking on her body. Part of her welcomed the pain. Pain was proof that she still lived, proof that something had kept her heart beating even after her death on Remnant. But another part of her wanted the pain to leave. Wanted the pain to overtake her and kill her a second time. Maybe if she died here, she’d see Ruby again.

But Yang Xiao Long was no quitter. Her pride was simply too strong to allow her to roll over and die. She was a Huntress, dammit. A Huntress in training, yes, but a Huntress nonetheless. And she would not let a fucking horse be the end of her.

She let out a quiet groan as she tugged at the chains binding her hands. The metal dug into her skin, and without her Aura this only served to redden her wrists and send pain shooting through them. Yang cursed under her breath and stopped struggling.

It was becoming increasingly clear to her what she had to do.

She still had Ember Celica. She still had fourteen shots left. And while she wanted to use one shot right now to bust the chains and escape, all that would accomplish would be blowing herself up. Yang gave a final half-hearted tug at the chain, wincing at the sharp pain as her skin tore slightly.

She could hear ponies talking outside. She didn’t know what about, nor did she really care. But she heard them laugh - not an evil ‘we’re going to kill this creature’ laugh, but instead a laugh shared between two friends. She glowered at the ground, her resolve waning. She couldn’t kill them. She wouldn’t. But if they gave her no choice...

Yang sighed. Hopefully her Aura came back soon, otherwise she’d never even get the chance to choose.

Since she sat with nothing but the pain to keep her mind occupied, Yang wondered what she would do when her Aura returned. She could imagine Culus’s face as he went to strike her... Only for his hoof to stop dead against her face. He would try again and again, only for a blast from Ember Celica to send him flying backwards and set Yang free...

Deciding to abandon that train of thought, Yang sighed again. She still needed to find Apple Bloom. Hopefully she could be out looking soon.

Apple Bloom knew that she wasn’t truly alone.

The walls of the tent were not very thick. Despite the trees of the Everfree blocking out most of the sun, she could faintly see the silhouettes of two ponies, standing outside the flap. They were no doubt standing watch, making sure she didn’t try to escape. Or maybe to make sure nopony came in. Apple Bloom didn’t know who these ponies were, but they seemed nice enough.

Slowly, Apple Bloom stood and sighed. She heard the tent’s flap open and close as a set of hoofsteps walked in. She turned to face the pony. His grey eyes stared at her as she backed away in slight surprise. She wasn’t expecting anypony to come in.

“Hello,” the stallion said kindly, sitting on the ground. “My name is Culus.”

The filly gulped. “Hi... Ah’m Apple Bloom...”

Culus smiled widely, though this only caused Apple Bloom to take a small step back. Culus’s face tightened ever so slightly, though he kept his smile. “It’s nice to meet you, Apple Bloom. I’m the leader of this here group.” Her breath caught in her throat - this stallion was the leader? Why did the leader want to see her?

Culus continued. “I see that you’re afraid.”

Apple Bloom shook her head hastily. “N-No, no Ah’m-"

“Don’t lie to me.” He said with such finality, such calm authority that Apple Bloom immediately ceased her nervous babbling. “I’m sorry if I scare you. It’s not that I mean to. Being leader just gives off a certain feeling, you know? Ponies don’t quite look at you the same. But I wanted to talk to you, you see. One of my ponies found you in the forest, passed out and with blood all over you. We took you here, cleaned you up... but you weren’t hurt. Why did you have blood on you, Apple Bloom?”

She closed her eyes, shaking her head yet again. “N-No, Ah... Ah don’ wanna talk about it...”

Culus cleared his throat, and Apple Bloom immediately opened her eyes to stare into his. “We generously helped you. You were in quite a predicament... all alone, passed out in the middle of the Everfree.” He paused for a second to let his words sink in as Apple Bloom’s eyes widened. “We could have easily left you there. So please, repay our kindness and tell me why you were bloody.”

“Ah’m scared...”

“Then don’t lie to me. Don’t avoid questions. Just talk.”

Her breathing coming in short, uneven breaths, Apple Bloom recounted her troubles. Being cornered in the orchard by manticores, her brother taking a hit to try to save her... “And that’s when...” she trailed off, her words failing her.

Culus raised an eyebrow, leaning forward. “And that’s when... what, Apple Bloom? What happened?”

“Ah... Ah... Ah was... rescued.” She didn’t know how to get out of this. She couldn’t mention the fight without mentioning Yang, and there was no convincing way to tell this leader that an alien saved her! Her mouth refusing to form words, Apple Bloom eventually gave up and just started sobbing. Her tears fell from her cheeks onto the grassy dirt and she crumpled to the ground.

Culus scoffed without any trace of sympathy. “Get up, please. Come with me.” As he stood, he looked at the weeping filly with cold eyes. Apple Bloom didn’t move, didn’t make any acknowledgement of his orders. She simply cried. Culus, after a moment of staring at her sighed and turned to the flap of the tent, sticking his head out. “Tunny!” He hollered. “Bring Apple Bloom to it. I know what needs to happen.”

Hearing this, Apple Bloom immediately ceased her crying and stood. Her wet eyes went wide, pleading with Culus who only looked back with a cold stare. “We won’t harm you, Apple Bloom,” he said smoothly as Tunny, the stallion from before, came into the tent with an unreadable expression. “But we need you to come with us.”

Apple Bloom choked on her sobs, trying to suppress them as Tunny stepped forward and reached a hoof out. “Apple Bloom,” he said as he stepped closer. “Please stop crying. You won’t be hurt, I promise.”

Could she trust them? These ponies had helped her, cleaned the blood off of her coat... but their leader seemed so cold, so uncaring with the thinly veiled threats. If their leader could pretend to be nice but then flip to a jerk, what about Tunny? As her orange eyes stared into Tunny’s green. In that moment, Apple Bloom made a decision.

With a gulp, the filly smacked Tunny’s hoof away, and as he gasped in shock she ran forward, ramming into his chest, making him stumble backwards. Apple Bloom ran past him, and as she reached Culus the leader thrust out a hoof, intent on grabbing her hair. Quickly she ducked, sliding under his foreleg and past him.

The flap of the tent was so close. Apple Bloom jumped to her hooves and continued running. Just a few more steps-

Culus had dove at her and landed on her back, knocking the two of them to the ground. “You damn girl,” he growled, using a hoof to grasp her mane and drag her to her hooves as he stood. “I’ve wasted resources on you - resources that were better suited for my ponies. The least you could do was follow some damn orders!” Culus shouted at Apple Bloom, who tried to shrink back but could not due to the stallion’s grip on her mane. Apple Bloom’s tears began.

“Tunny!” Culus exclaimed. Tunny jumped, turning to Culus and nodding. Culus continued, “Make sure the creature’s awake. I have something to do.”

Tunny nodded, his body shaking. “Y-yes sir, Culus. But... Sir...”

“What?!” Culus asked forcefully, glaring at Tunny.

“She’s... She’s just a filly...”

“I don't care! I will not have anything threaten my ponies!" The leader yelled, his eyes as wide as dinner plates and full of fury. “If you would like to spend your life in jail, that’s fine! Go let the guards know that you’re a criminal!” Apple Bloom’s eyes also widened, but in shock rather than anger. “However, if you want to be a free stallion, we have to get rid of this filly. We both know exactly where those manticores were when Yang killed them...” Apple Bloom gasped and tried to wiggle out of Culus’s grip, but to no avail.

Culus walked forward, dragging Apple Bloom with him and he used his free hoof to open the flap of the tent. “This filly was at Sweet Apple Acres. Her name is Apple Bloom. Her family owns Sweet Apple Acres. And out of all the heroes of Equestria, who lives at Sweet Apple Acres?

Tunny nodded slowly, and with a shaky breath opened his mouth to respond. “A-Applejack...”

Culus made a noise of approval. “Yes. And who is Applejack friends with?”

Tunny gulped. “Princess Twilight...”

“Exactly.” Culus bowed his head curtly and exited the tent, with Apple Bloom kicking her hooves in a vain attempt at escape.

Yang allowed herself a small smile, even as her bloodied wrists sent waves of heated pain through her arms. She felt it returning. As the chains rubbed at her skin to try and tear it even more, the metal encountered resistance. A protective shimmer covered her skin, slightly dull but still satisfactory.

She could break out now. But she would not. No, Yang wanted to wait for the perfect time. Culus had been gone for about ten minutes now, and in that time Yang’s Aura had regenerated to about half its normal strength. She didn’t know why her Aura had disappeared in the first place, but that didn’t matter now.

Yang took in a deep breath through her mouth and slowly exhaled through her nose. No matter what Culus threw at her now, she’d be able to brush it off no problem. The only thing left to do was wait.

Her ears picked up the sound of two sets of hoofsteps approaching - through they seemed clumsy. She wiggled her fingers, trying to steady her frantically beating heart. She wasn’t scared. In fact, she was excited.

But that excitement died the second the flap of the tent opened and Apple Bloom was thrown into the tent.

Apple Bloom quickly scrambled to her hooves and turned back to the tent’s exit, but the way as blocked by Culus, who stared at the filly with cold eyes. Seeing that her escape was blocked, Apple Bloom turned away, only for her to stop dead in her tracks when her eyes landed on Yang’s beaten and bloodied form.

“... Y-Yang...?” Apple Bloom whimpered, shrinking back slightly.

The blonde’s mouth hung open in shock, her breathing nonexistent as her lilac eyes stared ahead. “Apple Bloom.” Yang’s words were whispered, her gaze never moving away from the filly. “What are you-?”

Culus stepped in between them, cutting off Yang’s words. “So you do know each other.”

Yang’s mouth closed and turned into a furious frown as her head snapped to face Culus. “What is she doing here?!” She exclaimed, her voice full of hatred. Culus took a small step back, but only partly out of fear. He grabbed Apple Bloom’s mane yet again and lifted her into the air, causing the filly to let out a yelp of pain and fear.

“You bastard! Let her go!”

Culus shook his head. “Can’t do that, Yang. If I do, she’ll run off and tell her sister all about us. Then the guards will be arresting my friends. I can’t have that happen.” He moved his head to his side, using his mouth to open his saddlebags. Yang’s eyes widened.

"No!"

Culus’s head snapped out of the bag, in his mouth was a knife that was uncomfortably pointy. As the Ember Celica began expanding, having some slight trouble moving past the chains on Yang’s wrists, Culus dropped Apple Bloom and with a grunt he charged at the human. Yang took in a deep breath and closed her eyes tight.

An explosion erupted, flinging both Yang and Culus back in opposite directions.

Yang lay on her back, slightly dazed. Her weakened Aura had done a decent job of blocking her blast, but the impact rocked her brain inside her skull. She blinked a few times and jumped to her feet to see Culus laying on the ground, holding a foreleg in agony. Yang growled but then noticed Apple Bloom, hugging herself tightly, off to the side of the tent, staring at Yang with wide eyes.

Her face relaxed, her frown turning into a small smile, and Yang took a small step towards Apple Bloom. Before Yang’s foot even touched the ground, however, the filly’s face seemed to be filled with more fear than ever before and she backed away into the wall of the tent, which bent around Apple Bloom’s small body. Yang’s smile fell and she stepped back, her hand pathetically reaching out towards the filly.

Suddenly, Yang felt something slice across her face. She jumped back, raised her fists and looked to see Culus standing there, knife still clenched tightly in his mouth and blood staining the left side of his face. Yang growled again.

Culus did not respond, settling for jumping at her. He aimed for her neck, intending for the steel of his blade to sink into her skin and end her life, but his eyes widened when the knife seemed to simply poke the human. Before Culus’s hooves could touch the ground one of Yang’s hands flew forward, her fingers wrapping around the pony’s throat. Culus’s breath caught in his lungs as his airway became cut off. His jaw dropped slightly and the knife fell from his teeth, the blade sinking into the ground.

“You know,” Yang started slowly. “You really shouldn’t have done that.”

Arc One: I Burn
Part Six End

Author's Note

Next time, I Burn concludes. Yang is free, her Aura is back and she still has thirteen shots left.

I'll see you next time, y'all.
-Qrow