Author's Note

Decided to save the rest for another chapter rather than cram this full, especially since it could be quite a while. No real clop in this part, sorry, but it does tie up most of the plot!

Chapter 6

The steam train smashed through the whorehouse. Walls collapsed and rattled amidst clouds of dust. Cherry Jubilee tapped a hidden portion of the sauna, which dropped out to reveal a cache of high-powered, experimental rifles that she started to pass around. “Get ready to defend yourselves, girls. This could get messy, but I'm not about to let them mess with our turf.”

Applejack stared at the weapons which were unlike any she'd seen. “Aint exactly legal.”

“We've gotta take care of our own,” reminded Pinkie with a wink. “Besides, this is an emergency!”

“You don't have to stick with us,” said Cherry to Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo. “I understand it could be a conflict of interest.”

Dash pursed her lips. “I'll stay. You too, right?” She shared a high-five with Scootaloo.

The train crashed in and skidded to a stop, screaming as it steamed. Calaeno stood at the front, flanked by Lightning Dust and Gilda, and she leveled her cutlass at Cherry Jubilee, unconcerned with all the guns trained on them. “I don't want any trouble. Just hand over Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo, and we'll b e out of here!” She nodded at the pair.

For a moment no one spoke nor moved, and mist rose around Cherry and her companions, their bare skin beaded in sweat.

Gilda hissed, “We don't have time for this crap. Make your choice, Dash.”

“I...I want to stay,” admitted Dash with a small blush.

“Me too,” said Scootaloo who stayed close by her side, uncertain why the change of heart but unwilling to abandon her.

“Your choice,” spat Lightning Dust with a snarl. “Always knew you'd turn soft, traitor!”

Calaeno sheathed her blade at the hip. “Guess this is it, then. It's been fun and an honor, but it's time we split town. Take us out of here,” she said with slumped shoulders, disappointed that she would lose a couple friends and return home empty-handed.

AJ narrowed her eyes. “You really think you're free to up and leave?”

Cherry Jubilee nodded, face still drawn in determination. “My place, my rules. Doesn't appear anyone's been harmed, and despite their rudeness, I treat this place like a sanctuary. They're under my protection and I say we call it even.”

AJ stomped a bare foot with a wet slap. “Even?! What about the damage they've done all over, not to mention-”

From the train arose a series of chains that shot out and wrapped around Calaeno, Lightning Dust, and Gilda. They yelped and were pinned to its shiny surface, and from the sides of the armored machine arose Flim and Flam who doffed their hats.

“Hey now,” said Flim. “We only led them here for a full pardon, isn't that so, brother?”

“Indeed,” answered Flam with a nod.”We've delivered three of the most notorious air pirates right to Gunsmoke!”

“Knew we couldn't trust those losers,” muttered Gilda who wiggled in her binds with a rattle.

Calaeno snarled and tried to summon her wings from the tattoo on her back, only for feathers to uselessly burst around her. “Curses,” she hissed. “To be undone by such low cunning! I could almost admire them...”

“Yeah,” said Lightning Dust. “Well, I don't intend to give up that easily!” Obsessed with finally beating Rainbow Dash, her back tattoo glowed too, and she thrashed in her bonds with a hiss. Sweat poured down her brow, her face twitched, and her wings burst free for the first time, as she did the seemingly impossible in a burst of wind and tossed the chains from her.

“What the-” Film and Flam could hardly believe the magic she unleashed in her rage and frustration. It knocked over those closest, thundered into the steam train's engine, which exploded with a concussive boom. Screams sounded when those on board were thrown loose, smoke pooled, and an inferno started to rage around the sauna, making the air twist under the heat.

“Everyone get out,” called Cherry Jubilee who tried to direct her girls outwards as the fires spread.

It was absolute chaos. A portion collapsed with a thud and Cherry looked on in horror realizing that all their escape routes were blocked. They coughed and were forced to keep low, the air now thick with a grayish-black haze.

But in the moment Lightning Dust didn't care. She tossed a cutlass to Dash and unsheathed her own. “Let's finish this!”

“Now's not the time-” Dash barely parried the swift blow that answered her in a spray of sparks.

“It's the perfect time! I have my wings now!” Lightning Dust cackled, oblivious to the world around them, focused entirely on their duel. “You've always looked down on me! Held me back! Well, not anymore!”

Dash carefully matched her slashes and turned aside her thrusts. Normally she wanted a challenge and welcomed excitement, but now her only concern was for everyone here, especially Scootaloo! They would all burn if they didn't die of smoke inhalation first, and her eyes watered, as she steeled herself in determination and attempted to finish this quickly as she could.

Applejack held her little sister close. “Is this really how it ends-?”

As if in answer the debris was torn away by heavy claws. Spike and Ember appeared in the hole the steam train had made, tossed aside heavy stones and fallen planks of wood, and even between them strained and heaved out the half-destroyed steam train. Those trapped within rushed out into the open, and the dragons rushed in to find and rescue any stragglers.

“Oh no you don't!” Lightning seized Dash by the ankle when she unfurled her wings and tried to make an exit. They beat their plumes furiously, sailed out the hole and into the sky, where they continued their duel in mid-air.

Spike watched them break apart, dive at each other, and cross their swords. Ember asked, “Should we intervene?”

He shook his head. “It's like dragon pride. She has to do this on her own.” Ember nodded her understanding and the pair hoped that Dash would ultimately triumph. They then returned to make sure everyone was okay, and thankfully other than some minor wounds that appeared to be the case. For the moment, they would keep an eye on the prisoners until they knew what to do with them. Around them Cherry Jubilee and her crew tried to snuff the flames with barrels of water, to little effect.

While she had stolen tons in her time Rainbow Dash had rarely taken a life, and only under extreme circumstances. She'd certainly never killed anyone remotely innocent. “You've lost it, Dust! But I don't wanna hurt you!”

“Hurt me? Fat chance!” Dust unleashed a shrill scream and sailed at her. Her wingspan glowed, overloaded with the magic she unleashed contained within, the plumage shaken under the strain. Again-and-again she dive-bombed her.

Dash yelped and twisted to evade, shocked at her speeds, and the blade grazed her side and drew blood from the thin cut. “Dust,” she called. “You're putting too much pressure on those wings! At this rate they're gonna-”

“Shut up!” Dust's eyes twisted in hate and she redoubled her attack. Suddenly her wings erupted into a shower of colorful feathers, she yelped, and went into a free fall, so panicked she fell unconscious and wet limp.

Dash immediately hurtled towards her, swooped in, and barely seized her before she thudded to the earth. She held her old friend's lithe body close to her breast and softly wept, thankful she was still alive but uncertain if they could ever mend this.

Fires crackled behind them when AJ approached and said, “You did good, sugarcube. I'm proud.”

Dash simply nodded with a sniffle and looked to Scootaloo who was thankfully unharmed and smiled at her. The other pirates and the Flim Flam brothers were rounded up by the authorities, their fate to be decided later. The whorehouse burned down, and Cherry Jubilee and her followers looked on, distraught but helpless to do anything more in the moment.

A somber mood settled over Gunsmoke, but at least they were all alive. She looked upon Calaeno and Gilda while they were hauled away, pained, and wondered if they would ever be allowed to take skyward again...

*****

Days passed while debates raged and decisions were made. Spike decided to make his own choice. “Anyone who wants can come with me,” he offered. “You'll be under the Dragon Lord's protection. Of course, you'll have to obey his rules, and whatever you do will reflect on me. Sorry if that's not good enough, but your only other real choice is to stay here...”

Applejack folded her arms and nodded. “Seems like the authorities have agreed to your proposal.”

“I don't have a place here anymore. Most of my fortune is lost,” lamented Cherry Jubilee. “And I'm not sure I have the heart right now to start anew. Why not?” She traced his muscles with her folded up fan as they stood in the middle of town square.

“We've decided to come too,” said Pinkie Pie who stood with her sisters in the shade cast by a building.

“You know my choice,” said Dash at Spike's side. “What about you, squirt? You could start a new life here, if you want.”

Scootaloo shook her head. “I'd rather stay with you. It'll be an adventure!”

“I want to come, too!” Apple Bloom beamed. “Come on, sis! Don't you want to see the world?”

“Yeah...but I also want to look after Gunsmoke,” reminded AJ who turned to the burnt remains of the whorehouse.

“C'mon, don't be like that! The sky pirates aren't active and most of the worst criminals are rounded up! This place'lll be fine! Admit it, you're nervous! I know you've got a crush on Spike!” She teased her with a nudge in the ribs.

“Hush now,” answered AJ with a small blush. “Okay, maybe I could give it a try, for a while.”

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo cheered with a fist bump. “You two will get along great with Sweetie Belle,” noted Ember. “I'll have to introduce you once we're home. What about everyone else? Calaeno, Lightning Dust, Gilda, Flim and Flam...?”

AJ said, “They'll serve some time but I convinced the judge to go easy on them. Lightning Dust a little more, since she put everyone in danger. After that they should be able to go back to normal lives if they keep their noses clean. Doubt it'll take in Flim and Flam's case, and as for Lightning Dust, well, we'll see. Calaeno seems remorseful, at least.”

Spike nodded. “We'll sweep by and visit when we can. And who knows? Maybe they'll be let out early for good behavior?”

“I'm proud,” said Ember who pressed close to him. “You've taken the first step on your journey to become the Dragon Lord.”

She's right. So many have helped me on the way. All those allies scattered across the world...maybe they'll make for strong ties if I ever do become the Dragon Lord? That still seems so far off, and their lives are so short. Guess I'd better strive harder, then.

Plus, I'm intrigued by what the Pie sisters said. Something about a supposed Goddess at the world's end? Someone who can put the lost magic back in the Fire Ruby? Better visit Rarity, Sweetie, and Smolder first, plus drop off Ember and everyone else before I undertake the next leg of my journey. Until then, hopefully we can take it easy for a while!