Iron and Blood: From Ash to Dust

“NO!” Rainbow Dash screamed as her body jerked itself awake.

“Dash?” Steel Bit rubbed his forehead as he looked down at the shivering filly. He placed a hand on her back as he rubbed the base of her wings. She broke down and began to sob.

“Is she alright?” Lilly Drops asked as she rubbed her eyes.

“No….” Steel Bit sighed. “She’s running a slight fever.” He removed his hand from her forehead. “It’s been two weeks! When will her nightmares end?” He ran his hand through her mane.

“I’m sorry….” Rainbow Dash cried through clinched teeth.

“Dash, it's alright.” Steel Bit ran his fingers through her mane. “I’m not mad at you…. Just worried about you.”

Rubbing her eyes, Lilly Drops picked up the key-wound clock on her nightstand and read the time. The clock’s arms displayed 5:12 am. She got out of bed and walked up to the dresser with a sigh. “I’ll take her for a walk.” She threw on a simple black dress and a white vest jacket. “It will do her some good to get some fresh air.” She put on a black cloche hat.

“You think it’s safe for her?” Steel Bit asked.

“I thought you said your friends took care of it.” Lilly Drops looked at him with a raised brow.

“They did….” He sighed. “But still keep a look out.”

She rolled her eyes. “The cops don’t care about us lowlifes…. What is their saying? ‘A dead lowlife is a blessing.’”

Steel looked out their bedroom door as he scratched Rainbow Dash behind her ears. “Yeah….” He looked down at Rainbow Dash and gave her a goofy smile. “Have a nice walk with Lilly. I’ll be busy cleaning the pub for tonight’s poker game, so I want you to be ready to put on your game face when you get back.” He rustled her mane.

“Okay….” She giggled half-heartedly.

Steel Bit smiled as he patted her on the head. Walking up to Lilly Drops, he kissed her before walking down the stairs. Humming a tune, Lilly Drops looked at Rainbow Dash. “So, are you ready?” She asked as she tossed her a dress. Rainbow Dash held up the white dress and studied it. “I got matching hats too.” Lilly Drops smiled as she held a similar one to hers. Rainbow Dash smiled as she nodded her head.

Stepping outside, the cool morning air washed over Lilly Drops and Rainbow Dash. The feathers on their wings fluffed, and their spines tingled. Buttoning up their jackets further, they smiled at each other and held hands as they made their way to the eastern part of the city.

Rainbow Dash stared at the shops and homes they passed as they walked. She watched several mares hanging clothes on drying lines from the favela’s rooftops. She saw four children sitting on their balcony as they played a game of cards. She looked at another balcony and saw a stallion sitting in a chair, drinking his beer and ignoring his wife’s screaming.

Her mood began to sour. Thoughts of her mother entered her mind. Her lower lip stuck out as she kept her eyes on the cobblestone road.

Feeling a weight on her arm, Lilly Drops looked back and saw that Rainbow Dash was dragging her hooves. She put her free hand in her jacket’s pocket with a sigh. “Come on, Dash.” She shook her hand. “I want to see that smile of yours.”

Rainbow Dash looked up at her. “Why?” She asked, dumbfounded.

“Because I’m taking you to one of my favorite shops.” She hummed a tune. “And the owner doesn’t like sad fillies.” She teased. Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes, but she picked up her pace. Lilly Drops hummed as she swung their arms. “And you need to keep this a secret between us.”

“Why?”

“Well, if Steel found out, he would get fat.” Lilly Drops smirked. Rainbow Dash giggled at her words. Lilly Drops felt a weight lift off her shoulders. Even though it was a small laugh she got out of her, it was a laugh, and it was progress nonetheless. Turning her attention back to the road, she saw their destination a few feet away. “Well, we’re here.”

Rainbow Dash saw a small humble cloud-constructed house nestled between two cloud-brick constructed, four-story buildings. Hanging above the door was a wooden sign of a coffee cup and a round-shaped hard candy.

Stepping inside, roasted coffee beans and freshly made candies assaulted their senses. Rainbow Dash shivered from the cascade of flavors she smelled.

“Good morning, Lilly.” A pegasus mare called out from behind the counter. “I see you finally brought the filly you’ve been talking about.” She smiled at Rainbow Dash. “How are you two doing this morning?”

Lilly Drops smiled as she offered Rainbow Dash a seat at the bar. “Doing okay, Golden Breeze.” She took a seat herself beside Rainbow Dash. “Just out for a morning stroll with Dashie.” Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes at the nickname Lilly had given her.

Golden Breeze smiled at Rainbow Dash’s expression. “So….” Her smile faded. “How is she holding up?”

Lilly Drops looked at Rainbow Dash and saw her mood turn dull right before her eyes. “She doesn’t talk much….” She ran her fingers through the filly’s mane. “It's still a lot for her to take in.” She rubbed one of Rainbow Dash’s ears. “But we’re taking it day by day.”

Seeing the hurt in Rainbow Dash’s eyes, Golden Breeze hummed softly as she wandered up to the back of the bar. “Well, I think she deserves a special brew.”

Lilly Drops’ ears stood erect. “You mean…. You have those beans? How?” She leaned on the bar’s countertop with excitement. Rainbow Dash looked at her friend with a raised brow, her own curiosity getting the better of her.

Golden Breeze smiled. “My cousin and his ragtag of wannabee pirates happened to successfully raid a bat pony cargo ship heading for the southern Pegasin port towns.” She pulled out a cloth duffle bag containing the beans. “The upper class of pegasus society thought they could keep these all to themselves!” Lilly Drops, and Rainbow Dash smiled at her words.

With a hum, Golden Breeze poured the beans into a grinder. Cranking its handle, the metal teeth quickly turned them into a fine powder. Filling the cup with the right amount, she walked up to a French press and poured the powdered coffee in. Taking a pot of hot water off the gas stove, she poured it into the French press and let the coffee simmer for a few minutes.

Lilly Drops laid her head in her hands. She breathed in the aroma of the beans as Golden Breeze pressed down on the French-press’ plunger. She let out a giggle as she licked her lips. Rainbow Dash watched with wide eyes, her curious mind eager to taste this new experience.

Taking two cups out, Golden Breeze placed them in front of the duo, plopped caramel cubes into their cups, a bit of dark chocolate, and then poured the coffee. “Here you go, the special brew.” She pushed their cups closer to them. “So, tell me what you think?” She asked as she leaned on the counter.

They picked up their cups and put them to their lips. Lilly Drops slowly sipped her drink. A large smile adored her lips as she swallowed. “Damn…. Good like always.” She looked at Rainbow Dash. “You just going to stare at it or drink it?”

Rainbow Dash blushed as she took a sip. Her eyes go wide. The creamy, hazelnutty, toasted, chocolaty, and caramelly flavors assaulted her taste buds with sensory overload. “Woah….” Licking her lips, she took another sip, but this time even more than the last. She hummed as she swung her legs and wagged her tail.

Lilly Drops looked at her friend. “I think that did the trick?”

“I think so….” Golden Breeze looked out her door. “What is that?” She walked over to the door. Lilly Drops and Rainbow Dash looked at each other. Their ears swiveled to the source of the noise. Getting up themselves, they exited the shop and stood beside Golden Breeze.

“Brothers and sisters! Have we had enough with the oppression of our so-called divine emperor?” A stallion shouted out. A crowd of pegasi had gathered around to hear what he had to say. “He expects us to fight in this war alongside the wretched horned freaks of Unicorpia!” He stood on a crate to stand above the crowd. “Have you noticed our Emporer uses us lower classes to fight? He sends us like lambs to the slaughter! While the upper classes watch our sons bleed for a war we never wanted!”

Some in the crowd began to agree with his words.

“I say no more!” He shouted. “What are we fighting for? More land to spread our kind? Or more land to ship the unwanted out of the heart of our emperor’s failed empire!” He spat. “This is our homeland, not his alone!”

Lilly Drops placed a hand on Rainbow Dash’s shoulder. “We should get out of here before things get out of hand.” Rainbow Dash looked up and nodded.

Steel Bit stood by the back wall that housed his collection of liquor bottles. The cigar resting on his lips bopped as he whispered the counting of his inventory. Hearing the bell over the door ring, he looked over his shoulder, curious as to who would be entering his pub in the early morning. Seeing a pegasus mare in her early fifties, he frowned as he crossed his arms.

“Hello, Steel Bit.” The mare hummed as she walked up to the bar. Her cane made a loud snap with each step she took. “How are you this morning?” She asked as she sat at the bar.

Steel Bit let out a sigh. “I’m fine, Feather Gale….” He leaned on the countertop. “How are your whores doing?”

“They are referred to as ladies.” She scolded him. “They are higher class compared to the filth wandering the streets.” She looked over at the piano in the corner by the stairs.

“Yeah…. Keep telling yourself that.” He laughed. “So,” He frowned. “Why are you here?”

Feather Gale smiled. “I’m here to congratulate you on what a fine job you did.”

“A fine job?”

“Don’t play stupid, darling. I have to say burning down several buildings to cover up a murder is impressive.”

“How do you know that?” He frowned.

“Come now…. I keep track of my ladies who don’t live at the brothel.” She hummed as she pointed at a glass cup. “Gin, please.” She smirked. “On cloud ice.”

Steel Bit glared at her as he walked to the right side of the bar and stuck his hand into a small dark icy cloud. Pulling out four airy ice cubes, he dropped them in a glass cup and poured some gin over them. “Is that it?” She looked up and gave him a questioning hum. “You just came here to say a good job?”

Feather Gale smiled. “You’re a smart one, aren’t you?” She took a sip of her gin. “I also came by to see if Rainbow Dash was here.”

“Why?”

She let out a sigh. “She belongs to me now.” She gave him a sly smirk. “And I need you to hand her over.”

“Fuck that!” Steel Bit spat through clenched teeth.

Feather Gale frowned. “Darling, please, language.” She placed her elbows on the bar’s countertop and rested her head in her hands. “She is my harlot now since her mother is no longer working for me.”

“In your dreams.” Steel Bit crossed his arms. “She is not going with you, and there is nothing you can do about it.”

Feather Gale sipped her gin slowly. “Oh, on the contrary, my dear.” She pulled out a piece of paper. “It's in her mother’s contract.” She gave it to him. “Her mother put her down as collateral in case she’d quit or, you know, died before her contract was up.”

Steel Bit's eyes narrowed as he saw Rainbow Dash’s name listed as collateral, and her mother’s sloppy signature at the bottom of the page. He stared at Feather Gale who was giving him a shit-eating grin. “Like I said,” He crumpled the paper and threw it at her face. “Fuck no!”

She gritted her teeth as she picked up the wadded-up paper. “Well then….” She fixed the paper and folded it neatly. “Looks like we’ll be doing this the hard way.” She finished the last of her gin. “Looks like she’ll become another missing filly, joining the countless faces on the news boards….” A knife came down in front of her. She jumped back and stared at the stallion with wide eyes.

“I wouldn’t do that if I was you!” Steel Bit spat.

She glared at him. “You think you can protect her?” She laughed, putting a hand to her lips. “Darling, I know ponies. I have the knicks to manipulate anyone!” She rubbed her fingers together. “I always get what I want!”

Steel Bit gritted his teeth as he pulled out the knife from the countertop. “So do I!” He pointed the knife at her. Its tip was a few millimeters from her snout. “And all of them hate you!” He gave her a sly smirk. “Your days of extortion and child kidnapping burned many bridges, you bitch!” He brought the knife closer, causing her to lean back in her chair. “Don’t you lay a finger on Dash, or I’ll gut you! Understand?”

Feather Gale regained her composure and handed him her glass. “Oh, I understand, but you think you haven’t burned bridges?” She laughed. “You and your wannabe revolutionaries planning from the shadows. Upending the status quo.” She stood up and walked to the front door. “Now understand this! Rainbow Dash will belong to me one way or another!” She hissed as she stepped out into the streets.

Steel Bit gritted his teeth as he picked up a bottle of whiskey. He opened the bottle and took several large gulps before slamming the bottle on the countertop. “Bitch!”

Rainbow Dash and Lilly Drops sat on the edge of a fifteen-foot cliff, watching the waterfall across from them crashing into the lake below. The mist spraying from the waterfall’s epicenter reflected the sun’s light, casting a rainbow across half the lake’s surface. Rainbow Dash watched the rainbow shimmer as the mist moved through it.

Lilly Drops watched the waves crash onto the sandy-dirt beach. “So, this is your favorite spot?”

Rainbow Dash swallowed the candy she was chewing on. “Yeah.” She said as she kept her eyes on the rainbow.

“You hang out here with your friends from the orphanage?” Lilly Drops leaned back. Rainbow Dash nodded as she plopped another candy into her mouth. Lilly Drops hummed as she swung her legs over the cliff. “You, um, did you ever bring your mother here?”

Rainbow Dash felt her chest get heavy as she stared at her lap. “No….” Tears began to form around her eyes. “She never wanted to come.” Her tail wrapped itself around her. Her wings twitched from the frustration that was building up inside her.

Lilly Drops sighed as she looked at the rainbow. “Well, your mother missed out on a wonderful view.” She ran her fingers through Rainbow Dash’s mane. “I’m glad you brought me here.”

Rainbow Dash smiled. “Thanks…. I just wished mommy wanted to do things with me….”

“Well, you have me.” Lilly Drops stood up. “Do you want to go for a swim?”

Rainbow Dash looked up at the mare. “But we didn’t bring our swimsuits?”

“We have our underwear?” Lilly Drops laughed. “And I don’t see anyone else.” She gave her a smile. “I’ll race you. The last one in the lake is a rotten egg!” She jumped off the cliff and glided down to the lake.

“Hey!” Rainbow Dash flew after her.

Landing on the lake’s beach, Rainbow Dash met up with Lilly Drops, who was undressing by a log. “Hurry up! You’re going to lose!” She ran to the water’s edge.

Rainbow Dash’s completive nature kicked in as she threw off her dress and gave chase. Her depressed mood leaving during this moment of joy. “You’re the one who’s going to lose!” She shouted as she entered the water.

Getting waist-deep in the lake, Lilly Drops turned around. “I win!” She splashed water at Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash giggled as she jumped on Lilly Drops, pulling her underwater. “DASH!” Lilly Drops shouted before her head went under.

Coming up for air, Rainbow Dash’s mane covered her eyes. The multitude of colors that made up her mane mixed, creating a chaotic mess of hues.

Lilly Drops rose from the lake. Her long red mane covered her face minus her snout. Rainbow Dash tried to hold back her laughter, but she failed as she found Lilly’s new look amusing. “Come here you!” Lilly Drops laughed as she gave the filly a mischievous grin.

Rainbow Dash giggled like a mad man as she swam to safety to the cliffs near the waterfall. Lilly Drops followed close behind as she swam with long strokes. Getting to the staggered cliffside, Rainbow Dash lifted herself onto their shores and climbed up to the tallest part of the cliff that towered eight feet above the lake. “Watch me do this trick!”

“Watching!” Lilly Drops sat on a semi-submerged bolder.

Smirking, Rainbow Dash stepped back from the ledge and pressed her back against the cliff wall. Letting out a cheer, she ran full tilt and jumped. Thrusting forward, she began the first roll of her front flip. Making three complete revolutions, she dived into the water.

Lilly Drops cheered. “Very cool, Dash!” Her clapping slowed when the bubbles on the water’s surface simmered down until none appeared. “Dash?”

Rainbow Dash shivered from the calm current of water flowing around her. Opening her eyes, she saw the vast black abyss. Above her, the sun’s light shimmers above from the waves on the water’s surface. “?” An object in the water caught her eye. She squinted her eyes, making out the object’s features. Her body goes stiff as the object neared.

The object is a mare. Her short scarlet-orange mane floated around her face. Her eyes are closed, and her limbs are still as she floated up to her. Rainbow Dash felt her throat tighten as she stared at the mare’s blood-stained nightgown. Panic overtook her as the mare’s snout was inches from hers.

The mare’s eyes opened wide, revealing them to be crazed. “Dash!” The mare yelled, causing bubbles to exit her mouth. Rainbow Dash tried to swim away, but the mare grabbed her wrists. “DASH! WAKE UP!” The mare pulled her closer and grabbed her neck. “DASH! YOU HAVE TO GET UP!” The mare smiled menacingly as he saw Rainbow Dash struggling to breathe. “YOU NEED TO GET UP!”