South of Somewhere

Chapters

Second Division
Far Away
Ambiance
Sunshine for Your Honor
Inquisition
Encounter
Brave
Daylight
Dust
Security
Freedom is a Wonderful Thing
Gambit
Academy Record
Chance
What If
Charged
Escape

Second Division

“So she’s gone?”

Wind Rider squinted at the pegasus in front of him, who shifted uneasily on her hooves. The tension was so thick he could have cut it with a knife.

“Yes, sir. She didn’t report to role call this morning,” she replied.

“Sergeant, I think you know as well as I do that ponies don’t just disappear from the face of the cloud,” Wind Rider replied tersely. He turned his attention back to the sparse dorm room, organized and cleaned to perfection. Wind Rider turned behind him, forcing the other pegasi to snap to attention. “If the commander gets word of this, I do doubt he’d be pleased, Sergeant Spitfire,” he remarked evenly. “What is it that they say about deserters?”

“Desertion is betrayal,” Spitfire replied, trying to hide her disdain.

“Very good,” answered Wind dryly. He snatched a clipboard out of her hooves. “Keep that up and you may keep your stripes when this is all over.” Wind scanned the list quickly, eyes locking on a particular name. “Daring Do.”

“Sir?” replied a mare, stepping forwards.

“You are the bunkmate of the charged,” stated Wind Rider without looking at her. “And you have not a clue as to where our traitor went?”

“No sir,” replied Daring nervously. “She was gone when I woke up.”

“Oh, I’m sure,” he drawled. “If you were perhaps a little more convincing I’d have offered you immunity. Sergeant, who is the best tracker on your team?”

“It’d be Daring, sir,” Spitfire answered.

“Very well then,” Wind replied, tossing the clipboard aside. “Private Daring, you will accompany me in search of our missing friend. An example must be made, and a standard must be set: one does not simply betray the Second Division.”

Daring nodded slowly, biting her lip. “Sir yes sir, but… where are we headed?”

“Where else?” replied Wind with a scoff. “To the south, that cursed land where fools believe we can’t reach them.” He turned on his hoof sharply, leaving the gathered pegasi behind. “Gather your things, private, we leave immediately.”
As soon as he left the barracks building, the pegasi let out a collective sigh of relief. Several immediately flocked to Daring, who cast her eyes on the ground worriedly.

“Hey, I’m sorry you’ve got to deal with that dirtbag,” Spitfire murmured.

Daring shrugged. “It’s no problem, sarge.”

Spitfire offered her a sympathetic pat on the back. “You better get going, you know how he is.”

As Daring entered the barracks to grab her supplies, Spitfire frowned, glancing up at the rising sun above them. “Can’t blame her,” she said. “I think every one of us would take that chance if we had it.”

“You think they’ll catch her, sarge?” asked another pegasus.

Spitfire looked over her weary ponies sadly. Most of the ponies under her command had been forced to enlist in search of work, without reading the lifetime contract involved. Spitfire herself had been forced into the Division out of desperation, as had Daring, Rainbow, and hundreds of others.

“I’d hope not. Wherever you are, I hope you fly hard and fast,” she whispered. “And I hope to Celestia that you never, ever come back. Godspeed, Rainbow Dash. Godspeed.”

Far Away

Rainbow glanced behind her nervously. She scanned the clouds for movement, listening for the telltale roar of an airship engine or the distant form of a pegasus approaching her. To her relief, nothing broke through the cloud cover.

She flinched at that thought. Ever since she had left Cloudsdale, high on adrenaline and fear, she had been looking over her shoulder for any sign of a pursuer. What she was doing was dangerous. The Second Division didn’t take kindly to deserters like her.

Rainbow shuddered as she remembered the stories. The commander always threatened to cut off a pegasus’s wings and throw them off a cloud, and it was said that he loved doing that to traitors.

Well, if he wants my wings, he’ll have to catch me first, Rainbow thought through gritted teeth.

A yawn escaped her body. She’d have to stop for rest, whether she wanted to or not.

Rainbow began her descent, coming through the clouds to see a small town in the distance ahead of her. Dusty brown buildings popped up in the sand, breaking up the otherwise sandy landscape.

She made her way towards it, taking in the details as she drew ever closer to the ground. A few ponies dotted the streets, heading about on their daily business, oblivious to her presence.

Perhaps that was for the best.

Rainbow touched down gently in the soft morning sand, setting a small cloud of dust into the air as her hooves touched the ground. After a quick survey, she tugged her field cap a little lower over her eyes and trotted down the dusty roads.

She maneuvered her way through the maze of general stores and commercial buildings, dodging other pedestrians and the occasional lamppost.

As she made her way down the sidewalk, two ponies with matching brown dusters and hats suddenly turned the corner. Rainbow froze up, seeing the patches on their sleeves and weapons strapped to their sides.

Rainbow drew a sharp breath and took a few steps backwards. “They’re probably not related,” she muttered to herself. “But still…” she turned around with a flick of her trail and trotted off in the other direction, away from them.

She kicked a rock underneath her hooves as she walked, feeling her stomach growl. A part of her regretted leaving as early as she did, but she never was one to make plans. Still, it probably would have been smart to snag a few rations before she ran.

Her eyes scanned some of the wooden signs labelling the buildings around her before she finally located a motel and ducked inside.

After a few seconds her eyes adjusted to the darkness. The lobby itself was fairly empty, with a few chairs, couches and bookshelves dotting the room. The receptionist’s desk was empty, a small sign on the counter indicating that they had gone to lunch.

Rainbow left the reception room quickly, following the signs to the hotel’s cafe. The room was fairly dim, as the windows had their curtains drawn to keep out the heat. A few ponies were scattered about the room, finishing off their early meals or taking a quick break from their daily tasks.

She went over to the bar counter and slid onto a stool, catching the eye of the waiter. “Could I just get a hayburger and some fries?” Rainbow asked, pulling at her jacket collar.

The waiter nodded, disappearing into the kitchen quickly. Rainbow unzipped her flight jacket, dumping it on the seat next to her. It was still fairly early in the morning, but the heat was already picking up.

Rainbow folded her forelegs on the counter in front of her and sighed, lowering her head into them slowly. The adrenaline from her earlier flight had mostly worn off now, leaving her weary and tired, but still with a long way to go.

Now that the novelty was beginning to wear off, a part of Rainbow was beginning to regret her actions. She had years living, training, and fighting with the Second Division, and in a second she had thrown it all away.

She couldn’t lie, though: she wouldn’t be the first pegasus to consider escaping from their clutches. But even if she wasn’t there anymore, she could still feel Wind Rider’s smug face staring at her from the shadows, calculating how to crush her spirit and waiting for the right time to strike…

What was she even doing? Did she really think that she could just walk away from one of the most powerful private armies in Equestria? She shuddered. What were they going to do when they caught her?

No, Rainbow. Not when. If. You’re still the fastest pony in Equestria, she reminded herself. You’re going to get out of this. Somehow.

“‘Scuse me?”

Rainbow shot up, swinging her head to the right, where an earth pony was standing.

“You, uh…” she gestured at the Rainbow’s jacket on the stool.

It took her a few seconds to realize what she was saying. “Oh, my bad. Were you sitting there?”

“Eeyup.”

Rainbow balled up her jacket and shifted it to the countertop. The pony tipped her hat in thanks and sat down, giving her a sideways glance. “You doin’ alright? You seem mighty tired.”

“Fine, fine,” Rainbow said with a wave of her hoof.

The other mare shrugged, going back to her food. A few seconds later, the waiter reappeared, leaving a plate of steaming food in front of Rainbow and the bill with the other pony.

Rainbow dug in quickly, savoring the taste of some real food. It tasted miles better than the MRE’s she usually had to eat while on patrol. Her chewing slowed a bit as she thought of that. She’d miss her patrol mates.

A twinge of guilt snapped through her body. There were plenty of ponies stuck with the Second Division who deserved a better life. Rainbow wasn’t sure if she was one of them.

She set the half-eaten burger back on her plate, frowning. It’s too late for regret, she thought to herself. What are you going to do, go back and grovel for mercy? No way that’d go well, the LT would probably just clip your wings and throw you off a cloud.

Rainbow poked at her hayfries with a sigh.

“You, uh… you from the Cloudsdale area?”

Her ear flicked as the earth pony’s scratchy voice spoke up again. “Uh, yeah?” Rainbow replied, slightly suspicious. “Why do you ask?”

“No reason, just had some friends up there,” she replied. “And besides, we don’t get many pegasi ‘round these parts…” she trailed off. “Apologies, didn’t mean to bother you at all.”

“It’s fine,” Rainbow replied, going back to poking at her fries.

The mare dumped some bits into the tray and stood up. She hesitated for a few seconds before turning and trotting away.

Rainbow sighed, munching on the last bits of her food as her eyes drifted up towards the ceiling. The farther she could get from Cloudsdale, the better. Rumors from the others were that the Southlands were the best bet for any fool brave enough to desert.

“Alright, screw it,” muttered a voice from behind her, causing Rainbow to jump up a bit. She turned around to see that the earth pony had returned and was now looking her directly in the eye.

Rainbow’s heart began to race and her eyes darted around, looking for an escape route.

“Listen, stranger, I don’t know you at all, but your kind’s hard to come by,” the pony said. “You lookin’ for work at all? I own a place down south, and we’re lookin’ for extra farmhooves.”

It took a few seconds for Rainbow to process what the pony had just said. “A… job?”

“Eeyup, if you’re interested. We can give you food, bits, and a place to stay,” the pony replied with a nod.

Rainbow chewed on her lip in thought. Was she seriously about to accept a job offer from a pony she had just met?

She weighed the choices in her mind. Rainbow was fast, and a decently good fighter, she could probably take this pony if it came to that. Plus, travelling with a companion would likely look less suspicious, as her pursuers were only looking for her. And to cap it off, a job would give her cover and a new identity, along with bits to tie her over…

“Sure,” Rainbow finally said, almost surprised at the sound of her own voice. “I’ll go.”

The pony smiled at her. “Great to hear. Name’s Applejack. Yours?”

“Uh, Rainbow. Rainbow Dash.”

Applejack nodded, sitting back down next to her. “Great to have you aboard. Let me tell you a bit about what you’ll be doin’...”

Ambiance

Wind Rider scanned the horizon with a frown on his face. A few clouds lined the midday sky, dotting the skyline like stones in a river.

Daring stood next to him, squinting at a compass in her hoof.

“Surely she can’t have gotten that far ahead of us,” he remarked.

“I don’t know, sir, Rainbow Dash is… unnaturally fast,” Daring replied, shifting her eyes from her compass to the sky.

“If that’s the case, then why are we wasting time just sitting here?” questioned Wind Rider.

Daring shoved her compass back into her shirt pocket. “Uh, just trying to reorient us, sir. It’s likely Rainbow kept heading west, but it’s hard to tell which angle exactly she went. There should be a town close by, I think she’d probably stop there to rest for a bit.”

Wind Rider waved his hoof dismissively. “Fine, let’s head there then.”

He took to the air, leaping off the cloud with practiced ease.

Daring hesitated for a second, looking up at the horizon.

She hadn’t been this far away from Cloudsdale before, as the commander usually liked to keep everyone on a fairly tight leash. The air seemed a lot clearer out here, and the sky so much more expansive.

It gave her a false sense of freedom. If only she could have made it real…

“Private!” snapped Wind Rider. “Let’s get a move on, yes?”

“Sorry, sir!” Daring shook off her thoughts and hopped to the sky, following her lieutenant.

Sunshine for Your Honor

Rainbow kicked at the dust beneath her hooves, watching as it clouded up into the air. The wagon depot was busy in the morning, with plenty of ponies shouting through the din and calling out to each other.

She pulled her cap lower over her eyes as a pair of ponies trotted by. Rainbow knew from experience that the Second Division had eyes and ears everywhere.

Her ears pinned back at that thought. Would she ever be safe, no matter how far she ran? Or would the ghost of the Second Division plague her no matter where she went?

“Hey, sorry ‘bout that.” Applejack’s voice pulled her from her misery. “Darned new hires, nearly lost my cart,” she muttered, adjusting her hat.

Rainbow glanced behind her to see that she was hauling a large four-wheeled wagon behind her, loaded with crates and boxes. “You need a hoof or something?”

“Naw,” Applejack said, waving a hoof dismissively. “It’s lighter than it looks, most of these here boxes are empty, just sold most of my crop. Come on now, let’s get a move on.”

The farmer led the way out of the depot, Rainbow hovering close behind.

“So, tell me,” Applejack called to her. “What did you do in Cloudsdale?”

Rainbow’s mind began to race. What if she’s heard of the Second Division and kicks you out… or turns you in? You can’t tell her. “I did, uh…” she glanced up at the sky briefly. “Weather! I was in the weather patrol!”

Applejack nodded. “Might come in handy, then. Celestia knows we could use some help out here. Droughts hit us hard every season, dust storms eat up our crops… mighty brutal.”

“How far out is your farm?” asked Rainbow.

“Not that far, reckon it’s a two or three day walk.” Applejack adjusted her hat and grinned. “Hope that ain’t too much for you.”

“Please, it’s nothing,” Rainbow replied. “I fly miles and miles on a daily basis.”

It wasn’t a complete lie. Lieutenant Rider had a tendency to… ride them, for lack of a better word, and give out punishments whenever he felt they were necessary. She shuddered at the thought: memories of whips and punches bubbled to the surface of her mind, along with screams of pain and anguish.

“Have you lived around here your whole life?” asked Rainbow, searching for any sort of distraction.

Applejack nodded. “Eeyup. My family founded Appleoosa, and the lot of us have lived there ever since.”

“Really? Sounds pretty neat.”

“Eeyup,” chuckled Applejack. “My cousin’s darned proud of it, He leads the Ranger Corps down here.”

Rainbow felt the hair on her mane stand up. “Ranger Corps?”

“They’re crafty bastards. Wouldn’t mess with ‘em, they’ll knock ya sideways,” Applejack mused. “I’d stay on their good side if I were you,” she added with a wink.

“Y-yeah. Sure.” Rainbow shuddered, glancing around them nervously. A few other ponies loaded with carts were trotting by, unphased by the beating sun above them. Ranger Corps. Wonder if they’ve got buddies up in the Second Division… I might be in trouble if they do.”

Rainbow’s train of thought was abruptly cut off by a shout from next to them. “Leaving so soon, Applejack?”

Applejack grimaced and turned to face the pony trotting towards them. To Rainbow’s surprise, the pony in question was not an earth pony but a pegasus. She tensed nervously, watching the scene in front of her unfold.

“Uh… howdy, Strawberry,” Applejack said, awkwardly tipping her hat in her direction.

“Don’t you ‘howdy’ me,” Strawberry snapped, jabbing a hoof at Applejack’s face. “You’re three months behind on your dues, Applejack. Three months!”

“Strawberry, I told you, the money’s comin’!” Applejack protested.

Strawberry huffed, flipping through pages in her clipboard. “That’s what you said last month, and the month before that!”

Applejack’s eyes fell to the ground, and she began rubbing her foreleg nervously. A crowd of townsfolk was gathering around them, eyeing the exchange with some morbid interest. Rainbow glanced around, unsure of what exactly to do.

“Strawberry… I’m mighty sorry. It’s just… y’know, times are tough,” Applejack muttered.

Strawberry shut her eyes and took a deep breath, pressing the clipboard to her forehead. “Look, AJ… I can’t keep giving you breaks like this. I had to cut out Winter Melon and Four Leaf, and ponies are starting to ask questions. You’re on thin ice, and there isn’t much I can do to get you out.”

“I know.” Applejack somehow managed to muster a smile. “Hey, you’ve done plenty enough. This is my own fault. You’ll get the bits, Strawberry, every single thing I owe. Apple Family honor.”

Strawberry nodded, tucking her clipboard back under her wing. “I believe you, Applejack. Sorry for pushing you like this, but it’s like you said. Times are tough for all of us.” With that, the pegasus ruffled her feathers and turned away, heading back to the heart of the market.

Applejack slowly exhaled, her posture drooping as Strawberry left.

“So, uh… what was that all about?” Rainbow asked.

“Oh, that was Strawberry Sunrise. She runs the farmer’s market,” Applejack said with a vague gesture. “I’m just… a bit behind on some of my dues. Ain’t nothin’ to concern yourself over, though.”

Rainbow nodded slowly, uncertain of what exactly to do.

After a few seconds, Applejack shook her head and started walking again. “Ain’t nothin’ to worry about,” she said again. “Come on now, we’ve got a long walk ahead of us.”

Inquisition

Wind Rider loved strolling into places like he owned them. Perhaps it was a byproduct of his foalhood, as his parents did actually own most of Cloudsdale, so on a technicality, he did own the places he went to.

Not here though. The hotel clerk shot up in their seat as he banged the door open, strolling and scrutinizing the lobby with a careful eye. Daring entered behind him, offering the clerk an apologetic glance.

Wind slammed his hoof on the desk, pulling a glossy picture from his jacket pocket and sliding it across the desk. “We’re looking for a pony. Rainbow mane, blue coat, hard to miss. Have you seen her?”

The clerk took the photo and blinked a few times. “Uhhh…. Don’t think she checked in here.”

Wind Rider narrowed his eyes. “Now, we’ve been checking with every single motel and hostel in this town, and nopony’s seen a trace of her? I find that hard to believe, my friend.”

“I… I don’t know what to tell you, sir,” the clerk stammered. “But I’m tellin’ you, I’ve never seen this pony!”

“What in tarnation is goin’ on?” Wind Rider turned to his right to see a pony in an apron trotting over.

Wind helped up the picture of Rainbow for him to see. “We’re looking for this mare. Have you seen her?”

The waiter nodded. “How could I forget a mane like that? Yeah, I saw her. She came in yesterday for a bite to eat.”

“Do you know where she went?” Daring asked from behind Wind Rider.

“Not a clue, ma’am. If she didn’t check in, she could’ve gone anywhere.” The waiter rubbed his chin in thought. “Actually, hold on a sec’. I think she left with Applejack.”

Daring pulled out a notebook. “Applejack?”

“Yeah, she’s a big name ‘round here. Farmer mare, lives up in Appleoosa and comes down here to sell her crop. The two walked out together, if my memory serves me right.”

Daring and Wind Rider exchanged a glance. “This Applejack… you say she lives in Appleoosa?”

“Yessir,” confirmed the waiter. “You follow the main road, should get there right quick.”

Wind Rider nodded, turning and heading for the door. “Then we have our next goal. Let’s get a move on, private.”

Daring rummaged around in her bag and dropped a few bits on the counter. “Thanks,” she said, tilting her helmet.

“Wait now, who are you folks anyways?” the waiter asked.

Daring sighed, shooting a backwards glance at the door. “... it’s best if you don’t ask.”

Encounter

Rainbow held a wing above her head to try and block out the sun, feeling sweat trickle down her backside. It was midday now, and the desert head had arrived in full force. She had grown accustomed to the chilly air of Cloudsdale, and the drastic shift in weather was wearing on her.

“Shouldn’t be all that hard, I’ll walk you through the loadin’ process,” Applejack was saying. “It’s right simple when you get down to it.”

Rainbow nodded, pulling her canteen from her bag. “Uh huh.”

The city had long since disappeared behind them, leaving them on a single long road with cacti and sand dunes lining either end. A few mountains sat in the distance, as far away as Cloudsdale was.

The paved road in front of them was worn and dusty, with a few rocks dotting its surface. Wagon wheels had cut parallel cuts into the road, and some parts were cracked and chipped. Taking in the barren, empty landscape, Rainbow was a bit surprised how peaceful it all was.

In Cloudsdale, it seemed like something was always happening. Pegasi seemed to be naturally talented at getting into every space possible, from higher clouds above the city to hidden rooms in buildings, Rainbow never really felt like she was ever alone.

Which was strange, because in a sense she was alone when she was with the Second Division. There was always a sense of anonymity, even amongst those she considered her friends. She wondered if anypony there would miss her now that she was gone.

Rainbow noticed a cropping of rocks on the right. Something caught her eye against the glare of the sun above.

“Hey, Applejack. Do you see something…”

As they drew closer to the rock, a dusty form suddenly lunged at them from behind the rock.

“Don’t you move now!” a pony barked, throwing off their dust-brown poncho.

Applejack froze, staring down the bandit silently. “Easy there,” she said with a low voice. “No need to hurt anyone, now.”

“Right you are. You just give us what cargo you got and we’ll let you on your merry little way,” said a second pony, coming out from behind the rock. The knife strapped to his foreleg glistened in the sunlight.

Rainbow felt her combat instincts kick in as she lowered her body and flared her wings out defensively. She scanned the area, taking in her surroundings and the threat before her.

“I ain’t got no cargo,” Applejack said. “Just sold it all at the market.”

The two bandits exchanged a glance. “That means you’re loaded on bits then. Hoof ‘em over,” the lead bandit demanded.

Applejack’s ears drooped, and she glanced back at Rainbow. “Fine.”

The lead bandit jerked his head towards the back of the wagon. “Go check the back.”

The second bandit nodded and moved towards the back of the wagon. Rainbow slowly followed him, keeping her stance low and eyes trained on the other pony. Just as he was about to hop into the back of the wagon, Rainbow flared her wings out and dived forwards.

The bandit cried out as she slammed into his side, and the two went tumbling into the dust. Rainbow quickly fixed herself on top of him, retching his knife from the sheath on his foreleg.

Rainbow drilled a few quick strikes into his face, while tossing the knife behind her. The bandit tried to shake her off, but Rainbow quickly recovered and kept her balance.

A shout from in front of her told Rainbow that the bandit’s partner was bearing down on her.

Rainbow pulled off of the first bandit and dodged as the leader flashed his knife at her. The leader stumbled forwards, carried by their momentum, but quickly whirled around again to face her.

Rainbow hoovered above him and put on a burst of speed, diving towards him. Before the bandit could slash out with his knife, she drove her hooves into his chest. The two went tumbling backwards, kicking up dust into the air again as Applejack sprinted over.

The two bandits scrambled to their hooves in a panic, staring at Rainbow. Rainbow growled and stared right back.

After a few tense seconds, the two bandits turned tail and ran, shooting terrified glances behind them.

Rainbow watched them leave, not relaxing until it was clear they weren’t coming back.

Only then did she deflate, exhaling slowly and feeling the adrenaline pound through her veins.

“Where in Equestria did you learn how to do that?” came Applejack’s voice as she trotted over.

“I may have… picked up a few things here and there,” Rainbow panted, wiping off her sweat and checking herself for wounds.

“... from the weather patrol?” asked Applejack skeptically.

Rainbow responded with a wink. “Sure. Weather patrol.”

Applejack glanced up the path then shrugged. “... alright, then, sugarcube. If you say so.”

Brave

“Loyal.”

Daring blinked, glancing at Wind Rider. “Sir?”

“That was the word your sergeant used to describe the deserter,” Wind Rider said. “Loyal.” He shook his head and chuckled. “And here I was thinking she was a good judge of character.”

Daring shrugged. “Uh, I don’t know, sir.”

“Of course you don’t.” He gestured downwards, towards a cloud, and the two descended.

Wind Rider let out a measured sigh as he gazed at Daring. The mare dropped her eyes and kicked at the cloud below them.

“You knew the traitor quite well, did you not?” he asked, gazing idly at the mare in front of him.

“Yes, sir,” Daring said, biting back her fear and looking Wind in the eye.

Rainbow Dash had always intrigued her. She was never afraid to stand up to her superiors, and often encouraged others to do the same. And no matter how many times they’d beat her and punish her for it, she’d always come back for more.

If Rainbow Dash could be brave… maybe she could too.

“Then tell me, Private. Why did you stand back and let this happen?” Wind Rider continued.

“All due respect, sir, she didn’t exactly tell us what she was planning to do,” Daring replied shakily.

Wind Rider narrowed his eyes at her. “I find that hard to believe.”

“Well, sir, it’s the truth.”

“The truth? The truth?!” Wind Rider lunged at her, seizing her by the collar and dragging her to the cloud’s edge.

Wind wrapped his hooves around her neck, eyes burning with a barely masked fury.

“Do you know what we do to liars private?” he hissed.

Daring didn’t answer, glaring right back and gasping for breath as she struggled in his grip.
Wind closed his eyes and hissed in annoyance, releasing his grip.

Daring plunged a few feet before she flared out her wings and caught herself, gasping for breath.

“Don’t youever talk back to me again,” he snapped before hopping into the air with a grunt. “Let’s go.”

He set off again, following the distant trail below them. Daring rubbed her neck angrily, staring after him with a barely masked bitterness. She shook it off and followed him, wondering once again if Rainbow had the right idea.

Daylight

“Hey, seriously. Thanks.”

Rainbow Dash groaned and rolled her eyes, rolling onto her stomach and peering over the top of the wagon. Applejack kept her eyes forwards and continued to pull the cart effortlessly, as if Rainbow’s extra weight didn’t bother her at all. “You’ve said it a million times.”

“And I meant every single one of ‘em,” Applejack replied. “Saved my hide right there. Apples don’t forget a thing like that.”

Rainbow grunted, rolling her eyes. “You keep saying that, what does it even mean?”

Applejack chuckled. “Reckon you never heard of the Apple Family before. We’re the biggest provider of Apples in Equestria, from Canterlot right down to Dodge. If you’ve ever eaten an apple, chances are it’s one of ours.”

Rainbow stomach growled at that. “Uh, speaking of that…”

“Sack of apples in the back, sugarcube.”

Rainbow smiled, spreading her wings and gently hopping off the wagon. She glided into the back of the wagon with ease, touching down in the cramped interior. Rainbow found the sack easily and pulled out a single apple, tossing it in her hoof.

With a shrug, she ducked back out and returned to her perch atop the wagon. She shined the apple against her coat, watching as it almost glowed in the sunlight.

She took a bite out of it, savoring the taste. It was miles better than any meal the Second Division cooks could dream up.

“How’s it taste?”

“Great,” Rainbow replied through a mouthful.

Applejack glanced back at her and winked. “Plenty more where they came from.”

“Yeah?” Rainbow rolled over to her stomach, holding the apple with one hoof and smirking at Applejack. “What if I get sick of apples?”

“Then I reckon you start lookin’ for a new job,” Applejack replied with an easy wink.

Rainbow laughed, flipping over to her back and taking another bite of the apple. She stared up at the sky, as a few clouds blew past. “So you guys really have natural weather out here?”

“Eeyup. Don’t have enough pegasi for a patrol so we rely on what we can get. Ain’t stopped us from growin’ crop, though,” Applejack said. “... even if it’d be a mite easier to deal with things.”

Rainbow’s ear twitched as she detected a drop in her voice. She flipped back onto her stomach and saw Applejack’s ears droop a little and her posture falter. “Everything alright?”

“Fine, fine!” Applejack quickly said, picking herself back up. “Farm’s just been goin’ through a rough patch lately. Nothin’ we can’t handle! We Apples are nothin’ if not resilient,” she declared, tossing her head back.

Rainbow shrugged, not quite believing her, but not sure what else she was supposed to say.

“But that’s enough about me,” Applejack said. “I think you’re mighty tired of my voice. What about you? What’s your life been like?”

Rainbow chewed thoughtfully, keeping her eyes on the sky. “Not much to say, I guess. Born and raised in Cloudsdale. Times were tough for my parents, money was tight. We didn’t really have the bits to spend, y’know?” She held her apple up to the sunlight, gazing at it languish. “Kind of had to head to work as soon as I got out of school. Thing about Cloudsdale is that there are a lot of ponies there fighting for not that many jobs… usually means ponies are eager to take whatever they can get.”

“That what happened to you?” Applejack asked.

“Sort of. Kind of got wormed into a job without reading the fine print,” Rainbow replied. “Took me a long time to find a way out.”

“Ah.” Applejack glanced back over her shoulder and winked. “Hope you ain’t gonna work your way out of this one.”

Rainbow cracked a grin. “Depends how much you’re going to pay me.”

“Pay you? Now, who said anythin’ about pay,” Applejack said smugly. “You mean you ain’t doin’ this from the goodness of your heart?”

“Please! I’ve got the best heart in Equestria,” Rainbow said, banging on her chest. “But even I need some sort of compensation! The Great and Powerful Rainbow Dash demands it!”

Applejack rolled her eyes and came to an abrupt stop, jerking the cart forwards.

“Woah!” Rainbow tumbled over the top of it, crashing down to the road in a small cloud of dust.

Applejack laughed, her voice sounding crisp in the empty air around them.

Rainbow picked herself off the ground, growling at her. “Jerk. I’ll get you back for that, just you wait.”

“Sure thing, sugarcube. Sure thing.”

Dust

“Eyes up, sugarcube. We’re here.”

Rainbow jolted awake, rubbing sleep from her eyes. A town lay in front of her, it's wooden buildings sprawling into the distance. Everything seemed to glow in the bright luminescence of the sun above, making the browns and tans vibrant and colorful.

“Welcome to Appleoosa,” Applejack said. “Home of the Apple Family and everythin’ you could ever need.”

Rainbow gaped at the sheer size of the town in front of her. This was miles from the dinky little township she had envisioned when she first planned her escape. The town sprawled across the desert, looking like it had always been there, blanketed by sand and dust.

“You guys built this? Way out here?” she asked, awestruck.

“Eeyup!” replied Applejack with a smile. “We laid the foundations down ourselves, did everythin’ with our own hooves.”

Rainbow blinked, jaw still open. “That’s… really cool, actually.”

“I know it is,” Applejack said with another wink. “And trust me, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.”

Rainbow sat back on her haunches, taking in the frontier-scape ahead of her. A few stray cacti dotted the sands, with a few rock croppings and desert fauna mixed in as well. As they drew closer down the main road Rainbow saw ponies going about their business, hauling wagons and scurrying off deeper into the town.

As Applejack approached, the townsponies paused in their tasks to nod or wave in her direction. She returned each greeting with a nod or a tip of her hat, along with a bright smile and a shorty ‘howdy.’

Rainbow lay on her stomach, trying to shrink down onto the roof as if she could disappear. Her earlier anxieties returned with full force, as she scanned the crowd of strangers nervously. She felt as if each one of their eyes were boring into her soul, seeing her for what she truly was. A shiver ran down her spine at the thought.

A high-pitched whistle made her ear twitch. She glanced to her right and saw a pony in a brown duster trotting towards them. Rainbow eyed him warily as he made a beeline directly towards Applejack. “Howdy, cuz! Welcome back! How was the market?”

“Hey Brae,” Applejack replied with a smile. “It was just fine, sold all our crop.”

The pony nodded, adjusting his hat. “Great to hear… you reckon it’s gonna be enough?”

Applejack sighed, her smile faltering. “I dunno, Braeburn… I’m still behind on my market dues and Strawberry called me out for it. Says she can’t keep lettin’ me get away with it…”

Rainbow peered over the top of the wagon, furrowing her eyebrows. Something wasn’t quite adding up…

Before she could mull on the thought, Applejack turned around to face her. “Oh, before I forget. Rainbow Dash, meet my cousin Braeburn.”

“Howdy!” Braeburn said, tipping his hat at her. “Welcome to Aaaaaaaaaapleoosa!”

Rainbow blinked before offering a small wave. Her eyes locked onto the patches Braeburn had sewn onto his jacket.

“Braeburn’s a captain of the Rangers here,” Applejack explained. “Keeps the town safe.”

“Anythin’ you need, don’t you hesitate to ask,” Braeburn replied with a wink. “What brings you ‘round these parts?”

“Applejack offered me a spot on her farm,” Rainbow replied cautiously.

Braeburn blinked at her, tilting his head in confusion. Before he could speak, Applejack grabbed him and pulled him aside, whispering something in his ear.

“Well… if you’re sure,” Braeburn muttered to her, shooting a strange glance at Rainbow. “But I dunno if Mac is gonna be happy with this.”

“Let me handle him,” Applejack insisted. “Just… trust me on this one, Brae.”

Braeburn gave one last look at Rainbow Dash before he lowered his head and nodded. “I do, cuz. I do. Just… be careful. Please.”

“Always, Brae. Always.”

Rainbow pushed herself out a little farther onto the roof, squinting. Something seemed strange about Applejack, now that she thought of it.

Braeburn tipped his hat and trotted away, shaking his head and sighing to himself.

“What was that about?” questioned Rainbow. “Does your brother not like pegasi or something?”

“Nah, he just… ain’t keen on hirin’ outside help,” Applejack said with a breathy smile. Maybe it was the heat, but Rainbow swore that a line of sweat had formed on her brow.

“Uh… alright then,” she said, hopping off of the wagon and landing at her side. “If you say so…” Rainbow kicked at the dust beneath her hooves. “I mean, if it’s too much, I could go somewhere else, you know.”

“No, no!” insisted Applejack, tugging on her harness. “It’s gonna be fine, sugarcube. Come on, we’re almost at the farm.”

Rainbow watched as the wagon lurched forwards, before letting out a worried sigh and following behind.

Security

From below them a red flare spiraled up into the air, taking to the sky in front of them and burning brightly against the backdrop of the pale blue sky.

Wind Rider grunted, squinting and making out the forms of two ponies far below them. “Great. Let’s see what the locals want.”

Daring nodded, and the pair dived down towards the earth. Two earth ponies in matching hats and dusters were waiting for them. “Howdy, howdy!” called the lead pony. “What brings you two ‘round these parts?”

“We’re with the Second Division, out of Cloudsdale,” Wind Rider declared. “On the hunt for a rogue suspect.”

The lead pony nodded. “Second Division, huh?” she asked. “Yeah, I’ve heard of you. Apple Fritter, Appleoosan Rangers.”

“Have you seen this pony?” Daring ventured, fetching a wanted poster from her bags.

Apple Fritter took the poster, rubbing her chin. “Not recently, you folks are the only pegai I’ve seen in… must’ve been years now.”

“This is a matter of Equestrian Security,” Wind Rider huffed. “Any little piece of information could be crucial in our search.”

“Maybe you guys could keep an eye out?” suggested Daring. “Let us know if you hear anything?”

Apple Fritter nodded and tipped her hat at them. “Can do, no promises though. The south is a mighty large place.”

Wind Rider sniffed indifferently. “If you Rangers are as good as you say you are, I’m certain you’ll come up with something. Don’t bother trying to find us, we’ll come to you.”

With that, Wind Rider shot up into the sky again. Daring rolled her eyes silently and followed, leaving the two Rangers behind.

Apple Fritter watched them take off, rubbing her chin suspiciously. “Hm. Whaddya think about all this, Clyde?”

Clyde sighed, shifting a sprig of wheat in his mouth. “Don’t trust ‘em.”

“I feel ya there. Darned peagsi, can’t trust ‘em one bit.” She kicked at the dust in frustration.

“Reckon that’s our lot in life,” Clyde replied.

“Reckon so. Let’s go find Brae.”

Freedom is a Wonderful Thing

The town of Appleoosa carried with a strange sort of charm, one that Rainbow had a hard time placing. It made her nostalgic for something she had never experienced. Perhaps it was the painted wooden houses or the dusty paved roads, or the way the townsponies dressed and spoke. Whatever it was, it was almost enough to distract her from Applejack’s previous conversation.

“And that right there’s the Salt Lick, only waternin’ hole in town,” Applejack said, pointing out a well-worn building on their right. “If you’re ever lookin’ for somepony on a Friday night, chances are they’re there.”

Rainbow nodded, her head overwhelmed with street names and directions. “Uh… how much bigger is this town?”

“Don’t sweat it, sugarcube,” Applejack said with a hearty chuckle. “We’re nearly there anyways.”

Rainbow just shrugged, keeping pace with Applejack. “Looks like you guys have got a pretty nice thing going on here.”

“You could say that,” Applejack replied.

Soon, they found themselves on the town’s outskirts, following a dirt path leading towards a virtual forest of apple trees. “Woah. You weren’t kidding,” Rainbow marvelled, taking in the endless expanse of trees that stretched far into the desert.

“Welcome to Sweet Apple Acres,” Applejack said, sweeping across the horizon with her hoof. “Feedin’ Equestria for as long as it stands.” She flicked her tail and continued onwards towards the farmhouse. “Come on now, nearly there.”

Rainbow nodded, taking after her new employer with ease. She quickly recalled everything Applejack had told her about and what she’d be doing. “So… you guys run this entire place by yourselves?”

Applejack nodded, adjusting her hat. “Eeyup. Just me and my brother most of the year. Occasionally we’ll hire out help when we need it, but it’s mostly just the two of us. We get family in to help out at times too, but we get by.”

Rainbow let out a low whistle. “That’s… pretty impressive.” She caught a fleeting glance from Applejack in the corner of her eye. Applejack quickly averted her gaze and tugged her hat lower over her face.

“Did you… did you say something?” Rainbow asked.

“Nnope!” Applejack promptly replied, picking up her pace a little bit. “Nothin’ at all.”

“Okay,” Rainbow muttered. She found herself sneaking glances at Applejack, suddenly realizing that there was something about Applejack that captivated her. But what, though? Is it just because she’s been so nice to me this whole time?

Rainbow glanced behind her, searching for any signs of a purser. No, she suddenly realized, it’s trust.

The Second Division had taught her that there was nopony she could trust outside of her brothers and sisters in the Division. But yet here she was, putting her full faith in a random pony she had just met.

But strangest of all… Rainbow wasn’t concerned about it. I trust her. But why?

Rainbow glanced over at Applejack again, as she focused her gaze on the farmhouse. It’s something about her, Rainbow mused. That just… draws me to her? Is that the right way to put it?

An odd heat flushed through her system, making her shudder. She wasn’t quite sure what she was feeling, but she didn’t like it.

“Anyways, here’s the farmhouse,” Applejack said, pulling Rainbow from her thoughts. She unhitched herself from the wagon, gently lowering it to the ground.

Rainbow took in the farmhouse in front of her. It was a decent size, constructed with wooden planks and nails. Its walls were weathered and its windows stained, but it was still standing. A testament to earth pony strength, perhaps.

“Come on in,” Applejack said with a wave, trotting up the creaky stairs and through the porch. Rainbow followed seconds later, gently pushing open the screen door. The hallway she entered into was cozy, with a faded red carpet beneath her hooves and dozens of framed photographs staring at her from the walls.

Rainbow padded through the room carefully, following Applejack to the dining room. “Here, have a seat,” Applejack said, pulling out one of the wooden chairs.

As she eased herself into the chair, Rainbow looked around the room again. The sun trickled in through the dusty brown curtains, bathing everything in its golden glow. Across from the table was a cabinet bearing some more family photos and what appeared to be empty plate holders.

All in all, everything seemed cozy, but Rainbow couldn’t shake the feeling that it felt somewhat… empty.

“So,” Applejack began, placing her hat on the table and sitting down across from Rainbow, “We’ve got a guest room upstairs you can use, right across from mine. It’s got a bathroom attached and a bed, too…. Er, hope it’s fine with you. I remember hearin’ peagsi like sleepin’ on clouds or somethin’.”

Rainbow waved her hoof dismissively. “I’ll manage.”

“Alright. It’s midday right now, so why don’t you get settled in and I can show you around the farm… better find my brother too,” Applejack said, getting up. “You need help finding your room?”

“Nah, I’m good,” Rainbow said, gathering her things again. “Thanks, though.”

“No problem,” Applejack said, heading for the front door. “I’ll be back soon.”

Rainbow nodded, slinging her small bag onto her back and exiting through the hallway. She made her way up a rickety staircase, passing more photos and framed memories, before coming into a hallway on the second floor.

She quickly navigated her way down the hall to the guest room as Applejack had instructed but hesitated. Instead, she went across from her designated room and gently pushed open the door to Applejack’s room.

The room was fairly dim, given that the curtain was drawn, but Rainbow was able to make out the forms of a bed, dresser, closet, and desk. The bed was tightly made, reminding her of the squared bunks at the Second Division barracks, and the closet door was shut.

The desk, however, seemed to be piled with folders and papers, in several large boxes. Squinting, Rainbow could make out the word ‘Financial Records’ scrawled across the side facing her. But other than that, the room seemed just as empty as the rest of the house.

Rainbow shrugged and shut the door, entering the guest room instead. The room was just as barren as the rest of the house, with an empty dresser, closet, bed, and desk. The layout, in fact, almost mirrored Applejack’s room completely.

She tossed her bag to the corner of the room and collapsed on the bed, grimacing a bit. Clouds were much softer than earth pony mattresses, but she didn’t think Applejack would take too kindly to her bringing a cloud into the house.

Rainbow sighed, crossing her forelegs behind her head and easing into her pillow. Naps were forbidden in the Second Division, but she always found a way. And now, with nopony around to stop her, Rainbow smiled as she closed her eyes.

Feels good to be free.

Gambit

Braeburn frowned, tapping his front hooves together. “I don’t like it, Fritter.”

“Neither do I, but what can we really do about it?” Apple Fritter huffed.

The captain leaned back in his chair, rubbing his chin in thought. “We don’t know a whole lot about this… Second Division, but I reckon they ain’t someone we wanna be fightin’.”

“I ain’t suggestion’ that we fight ‘em.” Apple Fritter tapped the poster on Braeburn’s desk. “But if we give ‘em what they want then maybe they’ll leave us alone.”

“You really think that these ponies are just gonna drop it like that?” Braeburn countered.

Apple Fritter shrugged. “I reckon they ain’t got a problem with us, only with this pony they’re after. We turn her in then maybe they leave us alone.”

“That’s the thing. We turn her in, who knows what they’ll do to her? Highly doubt they’re just gonna throw her a party and say ‘welcome home,’” Braeburn grunted.

“I know that, but honestly one pony shouldn’t be our concern,” Apple Fritter insisted.

Braeburn sighed, rubbing his temples in frustration. “Well, Clyde, what do you think?”

Troubleshoes considered the question in deep thought before he rumbled out his reply. “Well, I reckon Brae’s right. We oughta take the safety of this mystery pony in mind first. That’s our lot in life. We protect our own, sure, but I don’t see why we shouldn’t save others if we got the chance.”

Braeburn and Apple Fritter nodded, exchanging glances. “Wise words as always, Clyde,” Braeburn said. “But Fritter’s got a good point. I say we keep tabs on these two, if things get sketchy, we intervene.” He paused, nervously glancing out the window. “But Celestia, I hope we’re making the right decision.”

Academy Record

Rainbow was awakened by hushed whispering from somewhere downstairs. Her ears had been tuned to pick up the slightest sound, and Rainbow quickly hopped off her bed and made her way to the door.

The stairs creaked beneath her hooves as Rainbow lowered her form, slinking down towards the dining room.

As she drew closer, she could barely make out the hints of a conversation. “You don’t understand. That ain’t why I’m upset,” a deep voice rumbled out.

“Mac, you gotta believe me,” Applejack said. “I got a good feelin’ about her.”

“I don’t doubt that AJ,” the unfamiliar voice replied. “But you gotta see things from my point of view.”

Rainbow paused by the dining room’s threshold, ears perked up high.

“I know, Mac,” Applejack answered, sounding very tired. “But I had to take a chance.”

“Did you?” came a harsh reply. “AJ, I just don’t think you get it. We can’t bring her on. Not now.”

Applejack sighed, and Rainbow backed up a bit on the stairs as a set of hoofsteps drew closer. “Then what do you want me to do, Mac?”

“You dug this grave, sis,” the voice replied. “Best if you get yourself out of it.”

Before Rainbow could retreat further up the stairs, Applejack rounded the corner, nearly colliding head first with her. “Oh! Sorry, sugarcube, didn’t see you there,” Applejack said, backing up and adjusting her hat.

“No big deal,” Rainbow replied, steadying herself. “What’s happening?”

Applejack led her into the dining room, where a large red stallion was sitting. “This is my brother, Big Macintosh. This is the mare, Mac. Rainbow Dash.”

Big Macintosh raised a hoof in greeting before shooting a strange look at Applejack.

Applejack didn’t meet his eyes and awkwardly cleared her throat. “Uh, yeah. We run the farm together, although Mac tends to take care of the more… financial side of things.” She coughed before adjusting her hat again. “Let me show you around the orchard.”

Rainbow nodded, noting the suspicious glance that Big Mac gave her. She followed Applejack out the back door, into a dusty orchard with apple trees stretching into every direction. Rainbow let out a low whistle as she surveyed the land. “Even more impressive up close.”

“Eeyup. Acres on acres of the good stuff,” Applejack answered, trotting down the path. “Only grow the finest here.”

Rainbow followed her down the path before Applejack stopped at a random point, veering into the dirt. “Spend most of our days harvestin’ these apples. We line ourselves up against this tree and give it a good old buck.” Applejack kicked her rear legs outwards, striking the tree easily and shaking apples into the buckets below.

“Impressive,” Rainbow replied, sizing up the tree. “But doesn’t that hurt your legs?”

“Not if you do it right,” Applejack replied. She tapped the bark of the tree lovingly and Rainbow noticed the faint indentations of hooves in the trunk. “And we Apples know how to do it right. You can bet your wings on that.”

Rainbow nodded, leaning against a tree. “Well, I doubt I’d have the strength to do that.”

“Reckon not, but we can build you up right easy. ‘Course, it could be hard if you’re a lazy kinda worker,” Applejack teased.

“Lazy? You haven’t seen nothing yet,” Rainbow remarked, puffing out her chest.

She hopped up and beat her wings, taking to the air quickly. Rainbow took a second to breathe in the dusty forest air, instinctively adjusting for the different levels in altitude.

It didn’t take her long to get a good height above the orchard. With a cocky smile, Rainbow pulled down her flight goggles and dived downwards.

The wind rushed past her face and through her coat. She relished the roaring in her ears and the way the world blurred around her. She made out the shades of brown and green below, and the vague tan form that was Applejack. Rainbow grinned wider and put on another burst of speed.

She whipped through the orchard, sending gusts of wind surging through the trees. Branches, leaves, and apples tumbled out and to the ground, pouring into buckets and onto the floor.

Rainbow cackled before executing another loop through the air, coming to land right next to Applejack. “Well? How’s that for efficiency?”

Applejack swatted at Rainbow with her hat playfully. “Not bad, but it ain’t hard to improve on garbage, sugarcube.”

Rainbow balked at that. “Garbage?!”

Applejack laughed again, before bending down to pick up an apple and toss it into a nearby basket. “You’re an easy one to get, Rainbow.”

Rainbow rolled her eyes, moving to help her with the fruit littering the ground. “So…” she began. “What were you arguing with your brother about?”

Applejack’s face fell again and she quickly dropped her gaze to the basket below. “It was nothin’ you gotta concern yourself with.”

“Are you sure?” Rainbow asked.

Applejack looked up to meet her eyes. She seemed to waver for a second, before she offered a faint smile and took a deep breath. “Yeah. I’m sure. Everythin’s gonna be fine, Rainbow. Trust me.”

I do, thought Rainbow. Even if I don’t know why.

Chance

The sun had long since set over the orchard by the time Applejack’s tour had finished. Rainbow stifled a yawn, nodding along as Applejack ranted on and on about some distant relative that lived in some place Rainbow had never heard of.

“See, the Apples are mighty proud of that crazy pony,” Applejack finished. “Even if he don’t want nothin’ to do with us anymore. But I reckon that’s just the way it is sometimes.”

“Crazy,” Rainbow replied idly.

“Very,” agreed Applejack. “Anyways, bet you’re plum tuckered out.”

Rainbow’s eyes lit up as she realized they were back at the farmhouse.

Big Macintosh was waiting on the porch. He regarded Applejack with a suspicious gaze, one that seemed to make her falter.

“W-why don’t you go on in, Rainbow?” Applejack offered.

Rainbow hesitated. Something felt off between the two siblings. She hadn’t sensed this much tension since Spitfire had stood up to Wind Rider years ago. But Applejack jerked her head towards the house and Rainbow reluctantly entered.

As soon as Rainbow shut the door she pressed her ear to it, but Big Mac spoke in low, grumbly tones so that Rainbow couldn’t hear him.

With a frustrated huff, Rainbow quickly perked up as she remembered something. Hurrying over to the kitchen, Rainbow gently pushed open the window, almost cackling in glee at her own genius as their conversation carried through the mesh.

“You daft or somethin’?” Big Mac was saying. “How many times do I have to say it to get it through that darned head of yours?”

“You don’t get it Mac,” Applejack answered. Rainbow’s ear twitched as she noticed the concern in her voice.

Big Macintosh muttered something under his breath, and Rainbow felt a rising anger building in her throat. How dare he be so mean to the pony who offered to help her? “Really now?” he asked. “What, pray tell, don’t I get?”

“She needed help, Mac,” Applejack muttered. “I saw it in her eyes. It was the same look I had myself all those years ago…”

Rainbow was surprised at that statement. What could Applejack have seen in her? What had she been through? Rainbow shook her head, realizing that she had zoned out.

“Don’t accuse me of not havin’ empathy,” Big Mac was saying.

Applejack groaned in frustration. “Then what was I supposed to do? The mare needed help.”

“And how are you gonna help her? How are you gonna pay her?”

Rainbow’s heart skipped a beat at that.

“I don’t know,” Applejack whispered. “I’ll figure somethin’ out.”

“Figure what out? Applejack, we’re months behind on payments. Strawberry can’t give us anymore leeway and without that market--”

“I know!” Rainbow recoiled at Applejack’s shout. “I know,” she said again. “But…”

Big Mac was quiet. “You gotta tell her,” he insisted finally. “If she needs help, it’s gonna have to be someone else. We can’t afford to pay, house and feed her.”

Rainbow fell onto her haunches. The world collapsed around her, her dreams of safety and the future dissolving.

She was a fool to trust Applejack.

A wave of red hot shame washed over her.

“Sugarcube?”

Rainbow didn’t turn around. She heard Applejack scuff her hoof against the wooden floor. “I… I’m sorry.”

“You should be,” Rainbow spat, whirling around to face her. “What the hay were you thinking? Why did you offer me a job if you can’t even pay me?”

Applejack flinched. “I-I’ll work somethin’ out, I promise! You just gotta stick with me.”

“Stick with you?” Rainbow growled, flicking her tail. “Why would I stick with someone who betrayed my trust?”

Applejack’s face fell but she reached a hoof towards Rainbow’s shoulder. “Look, you needed help. I saw it when we first met.”

At those words, Rainbow’s vision turned red, anger and frustration finally bleeding out. “Don’t pretend to know me,” Rainbow snapped, pulling her hoof away. She stormed for the door, huffing in bitterness.

She was a fool to think that she could trust anyone but herself.

She was a fool to think she could pull this off.

She was a fool for thinking that she belonged here.

Rainbow bit down hard on her lip as a twinge of sadness shot through her veins. With an adamant shake of her head, she forced it out, letting the anger flood back through her body. Applejack is just as much of a fool as I am, she thought.

As she entered the foyer, her trot slowed as she heard voices from the foyer.

“Nope,” Big Mac said, his voice barely above a growl. “I ain’t lettin’ you do this.”

“I’m afraid it wasn’t a question.”

Rainbow froze.

“Now then,” Wind Rider was saying. “Where is this fugitive you’re hiding?”

What If

“What if he doesn’t come back?”

Spitfire glanced up from her lunch. “What?”

Fleetfoot shrugged. “I said, what if he doesn’t come back.”

“You mean Rider?”

“Yeah. What if he… I don’t know, gets lost or something?”

Spitfire set down her fork, glancing up and down the mess hall. “... well, I guess someone would have to go find him, then.”

“But… would we want to?” Fleetfoot asked.

“Well of course not,” Spitfire scoffed. “We probably couldn’t find a volunteer in all of Cloudsdale to go search for him.”

Fleetfoot tapped her chin in thought, and Spitfire could practically hear the gears in her head turning. “So… chain of command means you’d be in charge, right?”

“If Wind gets declared MIA, then yes,” Spitfire answered, cocking an eyebrow. “But… why are you asking this?”

Fleetfoot shrugged again, poking at her food. “Just… speculating, Sarge.”

Spitfire blinked. “Fleety… what do you know that I don’t.”

“Nothing,” Fleetfoot replied with a bored wave of her hoof.

“Fleetfoot, if you keep playing games with me you’re on bathroom duty for a month.”

Fleetfoot shoved aside her food tray before leaning in to whisper in Spitfire’s ear. “Look, I heard a thing from Daring before Rainbow took off. Apparently, Rainbow wanted Daring to come with her.”

Spitfire raised an eyebrow. “So you think Daring might try and bail?”

“Wouldn’t you?” Fleetfoot asked.

“Fleety, you know if Wind even gets a hint that she’s going to run, he’ll drop her like a sack of potatoes.”

“I know, Spits,” Fleetfoot replied, “but… what do you think their odds are? Y’know, that they’re gonna get away with this?”

Spitfire glanced down at her food before shoving it aside. “Honestly? Not good. Wind might be a stuffy LT, but he’s good enough to hold his own. Even then, you know that command has resources. It wouldn’t be hard for them to send a hunting party no matter what I do.”

“I mean… when you put it like that, sure. But wouldn’t it be fun to dream?”

“I don’t know, Fleety. I don’t know.”

Charged

“No.”

Rainbow froze in place as the hallway seemed to grow in length ahead of her.

Wind Rider’s voice was like thunder, and the walls and ceiling like storm clouds. Everything began to crash around her, like waves against the shore or a sea of leaves falling to the forest floor.

“No.”

She needed to run. But her body had locked up, her right foreleg half-bent and suspended in the air as fear seized her system.

Move! You need to go! Run!

Rainbow gasped, heart pounding out of her chest and a bout of dizziness hitting her full-on.

“Rainbow? What in tarnation is goin’ on?”

She whipped her head around to see Applejack lingering in the doorway, staring down the hall with a raised eyebrow.

“Apple--” Rainbow coughed, shaking her head vigorously. “Applejack, you said you wanted to help me? You can help me right now!”

“Sugarcube, what’s goin’ on?” Applejack asked again.

“There’s no time, you gotta keep those ponies away from me,” Rainbow whispered as the voices from the door grew in volume.

For a scant second, a hint of fear flashed through Applejack’s eyes. But she inhaled sharply and the look was replaced with a steely resolve. “You can hide in the loft,” she whispered. “Head out the back but be careful now, that door’s squeakier than a mouse in a box of cheese.”

Rainbow nodded and headed past her, to the back of the house.

“Mac, who is it?” Applejack called, before glancing back at Rainbow. “Be safe,” she whispered.

“I’ll try,” Rainbow answered through gritted teeth.

Every step on the floorboard seemed louder than a firework. Rainbow held her breath, easing one hoof onto the ground in front of another as stray muffled words filtered in from the doorway.

“We don’t want any trouble,” another voice said from the door.

Rainbow growled. Daring Do, one of the best trackers the Second Division had to offer. Of course they had brought her in… but how could she betray her like this? Daring was one of the few ponies Rainbow considered a friend, and here they were. On opposite sides of the door.

That’s why you don’t make friends, Rainbow, she chided herself. You’re in this alone. Always have been.

But what about Applejack?

Rainbow paused as her right hoof hit the ground. Wasn’t she putting an extreme amount of faith in her now?

She couldn’t afford to dwell on it. Right now, she had to get to safety, and that barn was probably her best bet.

After a few more lethargic steps, Rainbow found herself in front of the back door. As she raised a hoof to unlatch it, she noticed that it was trembling. Rainbow gulped, trying to stabilize herself with a breath.

“Easy, Rainbow. Whatever happens, happens. You’re the fastest pony in Equestria. They’re not going to catch you.” With a slight nod, Rainbow pulled the door open and surged forwards. “Gah!”

She recoiled, feeling her face collide with something. Quickly gathering herself, Rainbow groaned in disgust. “Stupid screen door.” With the problem located, she opened the second door and glided outside.

The warm glow of the sun bounced off of her coat, but Rainbow couldn’t take the time to enjoy it. A quick cursory scan of the nearby buildings told Rainbow that the large red structure on her right was likely the barn Applejack was referring to.

Rainbow sprinted towards it, heart pounding in her chest as she tore down the sleepy dirt path. She skidded to a halt in front of the large red doors and yanked on the handles, only for it to not budge.

“Locked?! You gotta be kidding me.” She glanced up, noticing a wooden sliding window near the roof. With a quick hop she soared up to it, yanking it open. Thankfully this door moved, and Rainbow squirmed her way through the hole.

She appeared in a loft, with bales of hay stacked around the sides. Dark shadows draped across them, shades of black on yellow, offering plenty of places to hide. The ceiling was slanted, and thankfully high enough so Rainbow could still stand. She whirled around and pulled the door shut, just in time to see the backdoor open.

Rainbow dove away from the window for the nearest bale, pushing it aside slightly to make a hole large enough to hide in. With that done, and Rainbow about as hidden as she could get, she held her breath and waited.

Every noise seemed to be amplified in the damp barn. The structure creaked and groaned, but every miniscule squeak sounded like Wind Rider’s voice, taunting her. I’m coming for you, Rainbow. And I’m going to make you pay.

Rainbow squeezed her eyes shut and started counting, eager to do anything to block out the awful silence.

Her thoughts ended up turning to Applejack.

She wondered what was happening in the farmhouse no. Was Wind Rider threatening them? Would he arrest them and drag her back to Cloudsdale? He probably didn’t have the technical authority to do so, but Wind Rider was never one to let details stand in his way.

And instead of helping her, Rainbow was hiding in her barn.

Rainbow felt a twinge of guilt in her stomach. Coward, hiding there while Applejack sticks her neck out for you…

She gritted her teeth. Why was she feeling guilty? Applejack had lied to her, hadn’t she?

But even then, was she really going to sit aside and go down hiding like a mouse trapped by a cat?

Rainbow slowly rose to all four hooves, adrenaline still coursing through her veins. But it dissipated quickly as there was a large click from the front of the barn.

She slinked back into the shadows, eyes widening as the barn doors were pulled open. Please be Applejack, please be Applejack… please be Applejack, here to get me because they’re gone…

“Take the top, I’ll take the bottom.” Rainbow’s hopes died in her throat. “I want to get out of this horrid little place as soon as possible.”

“Y’all can’t do this!” Applejack shouted.

“Stand aside,” Wind snapped as two forms entered the barn.

Rainbow pulled her head back into the bales, biting down hard on her tongue. She tried to remain as still as she could, listening as hoofsteps and muttering reverberated throughout the barn.

The steps drew closer and closer, along with the shuffling of straw as one of her pursuers began poking through the hay bale next to her.

Then, they moved over to Rainbow’s bale. Rainbow tensed, firing off a quick mental prayer to whatever angel she had left, and coiled herself like a tiger ready to spring.

A hoof began shifting through the bales in front of her, when it suddenly stopped. “Rain--”

Rainbow leapt out of her hiding spot, wings flapping furiously to give her a boost. She smashed into the pony, and with a startled yelp the two flew off of the loft. Even with the pony underneath her, Rainbow winced at the hard impact. But she couldn’t rest for long.

Quickly Rainbow rolled onto all four hooves, giving a glance at the pony she had tackled. Daring groaned, clutching her chest in pain as she looked up at her, eyes wide with shock and betrayal.

Rainbow could only spare a second to feel guilty, because Wind Rider had whirled around to face her. His shock quickly gave way to a sneer as he dropped to a fighting stance. “Finally showing your face, traitor?”

“Nice to see you missed me that much,” Rainbow spat back.

Wind Rider straightened himself, flicking out his foreleg and extending his baton. “Surrender, idiot,” he demanded.

Rainbow responded by flinging a ball of mud in his direction.

With a furious roar he lunged at her, closing the distance in a matter of seconds.

“Bring it!” Rainbow dropped right, but not fast enough to fully dodge Wind Rider’s swing. The baton came crashing down upon her right foreleg, drawing a cry out of her. She hissed and made a quick spiral up into the air.

As she glanced backwards, the pain shooting through her body was finally enough to overwhelm the adrenaline. Her foreleg screamed and a warm sensation shot all the way up to her wingtips, increasing tenfold with each flap.

She cursed herself, knowing the Wind Rider had to be on her tail.

Glancing backwards she kicked at him, forcing Wind Rider to weave a bit, but her former lieutenant recovered easily, a swing of his baton narrowly missing her.

Rainbow ran through her options quickly. For all his arrogance, Wind Rider was still scarily effective in hoof-to-hoof combat, and the crackling of electricity from his baton reminded her that it would most certainly not be a fair fight.

So her best option, as usual, was to keep running.

But as she mentally braced herself to put on another surge of speed, she glanced down at the ground and saw an orange form staring up at her.

Applejack.

Rainbow hesitated as she looked at the mare far below her. But her mental lapse quickly dissipated when she felt a painful surge of electricity against her leg.

The pain was searing hot as it shot through her body. Rainbow’s wings locked up and she plummeted towards the ground.

She never registered the impact.

When Rainbow blinked again she was flat on her back, eyes facing the sky. A silhouette descended with the sun behind them.

Rainbow tried to move but her body refused. She gasped for air, forelegs writhing uselessly against the dirt.

As the smell of grass and dirt filled her nose, Wind Rider stood over her, sneering. “I’ve changed my mind,” he said, voice dripping in malice. “I might just take you back dead after all.”

Rainbow wasn’t sure how much time passed. All she knew was the pain flooding through her system. All she heard was the blood roaring in her ears as she writhed in pain. But somehow, Rainbow Dash didn’t scream.

No matter how much Wind wanted it.

“Come on!” he shouted, ramming his baton into her chest, the electricity crackling in the air. “Scream, damn you! Beg!”

“Go to hell,” Rainbow spat, as hot tears trailed down her cheek.

As she turned to look Wind in the eye for the last time, she barely registered an orange blur coming up behind him.

Wind Rider whipped his head around at the last second, only to be tackled head-on by Applejack. The two went flying to the ground, the electric baton flying out of Wind Rider’s hoof.

“Maybe I wasn’t clear, but you ain’t welcome here!” Applejack spat, raining down punches on Wind Rider’s face.

“Applejack,” croaked Rainbow as she tried to sit up.

“You pig!” snarled Wind Rider. “You’ll die like your friend then!”

As Applejack threw another punch Wind Rider blocked, leaping back to his hooves. Applejack responded by spinning around and delivering a powerful buck, driving both rear legs into his ribs.

Wind stumbled backwards, but as Applejack charged forwards he scrambled for something in the grass. Just as Applejack reached him, Wind jammed his baton into her side and charged it.

“No!” cried Rainbow.

Applejack screamed, collapsing onto the ground.

Wind Rider stood over her triumphantly, spitting blood onto the grass. “I hope it was worth it, scum.” There was a crackle of electricity, and Rainbow squeezed her eyes shut.

Her heart stopped beating.

The ground beneath her fell away, leaving behind a void as if the world were holding its breath.

There was one question left in Rainbow’s mind: why?

“Hey.”

Rainbow registered Daring’s voice and opened a bleary eye.

Daring stood over Applejack, a foreleg extended in her direction.

Applejack blinked wearily but accepted it. As Daring pulled her to her hooves, Rainbow summoned up the last of her strength to sit up.

She saw another baton in Daring’s wing, and she saw Wind Rider crumpled in a heap on the ground.

Daring smiled tiredly at Rainbow. “You good Rainbow?”

“W-what happened?”

“Come on, Dash,” Daring laughed. “You didn’t think I was really gonna go back to Cloudsdale, did you?”

Escape

“Come on, Daring. Trust me. This might be the only chance we ever get!”

Daring glanced at the door, as if any second Wind Rider would come barging in. “Rainbow, this is ridiculous!” she hissed.

Rainbow tugged on her shirt sleeve, holding her in that steely-eyed gaze she always seemed to have. “Come on, Daring! Don’t you want out of this? Aren’t you tired of it?”

Daring pulled away, trotting over to her bunk. “Maybe I am, but what do you think’s going to happen? You think they’ll just let you walk away?”

“Who cares? You think they’ll catch us?” Rainbow floated over, dropping her voice to a whisper. “Have you seen how big the south is? There are millions of places to hide. They’ll never catch us!”

“Shut up!” Daring hissed, holding up a hoof. From outside their door, the two could hear the clopping hooves of a sentry passing by.

“Look,” she continued, facing Rainbow. “If Wind so much as hears a whisper of you deserting he’s going to skin you alive. Think of what he’ll do if you actually try and do it!”

Rainbow scoffed. “Come on, Daring. We have to make a stand and put up a fight against them. This life isn’t what either of us wanted!”

“But it’s what we signed up for,” Daring grumbled, lowering her head. “Because we didn’t have a chance. And I still don’t think we have one now. Even if you get out there, what then? You think anyone’s going to hire some random pegasi from Cloudsdale? Especially when the Second Division comes for you?”

Rainbow huffed, slamming a hoof to her forehead. “You really want to stay here for the rest of your life?”

“That’s not what I’m saying! I’m saying we don’t have a choice, Rainbow.” Her ears drooped as she spoke. “I want out as much as you do, but… I can’t. I can’t leave it all behind like that.”

Rainbow’s glare softened. “I… I get it. Sorry, I know it’s a lot to ask. I just… I can’t stay here anymore, Daring. I can’t take it.” She slowly sank down to the floor, falling on her haunches. “I can’t sit here and watch as Wind Rider sits there and beats us. I want out, but I want to take you guys with me.”

Daring sighed, glancing at the door again. “Rainbow… I don’t know how you can possibly save everyone. But if you could, I don’t think you could do it from here.”

Rainbow looked up at her, confused. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying… I’m saying that you’re probably the best bet to get away, Rainbow. You’re fast, strong, you know how to fight… For me? I’d be dead the minute I left Cloudsdale. But I think you’ve got a chance,” Daring said, offering her a smile.

“So… you’re saying that…” Rainbow trailed off, eyes widening.

“I’m saying that if you do, don’t forget us,” Daring said, putting a hoof on her shoulder.

Rainbow cracked a smile. “I never will, Daring. You’ve got my word on that.”