Iron and Blood: From Ash to Dust

Rainbow Dash sipped her coffee slowly as she stared into its black abyss. She sat around a large table in a cell converted into a restaurant. One of five restaurants in their cellblock.

Derpy and Quibble, who she sat in between, were sipping their own cups of coffee. Derpy looked calm as she hummed a soft tune to herself. Quibble, on the other hand, looked like his head would explode. “Gah, damn it….”

Derpy and Rainbow Dash looked at the colt. “What’s wrong?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Why did Coco call for a meeting this early?” He glared at the door. “And, of course, we’re the only ones on time!”

“She trusts us to get here on time. As for the others, she needs to gather them.” Derpy hummed.

Quibble groaned as he stared at her with tired eyes. Rainbow Dash looked at her boyfriend’s posture and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Everything will be fine. It’s just a meeting.”

Quibble sighed. “I hope so.” Hearing the cell door open, the trio looked up and saw their group of friends.

Coco looked over and waved. “I knew you’d be on time.” She looked at the others. “Take your seats while I order us some pancakes.”

Thunderlane, Lapis, Soft Paws, Jacky, and Thomas, took their seats at the table.

“How are you guys?” Rainbow Dash placed her head in her hands.

“Alright.” Thomas, a dark-skinned human boy, stated as he leaned back in his chair.

“So, is Coco in a good mood?” Derpy pondered.

“Um, sort of?” Thunderlane shrugged his shoulders.

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU NEED TO CHECK?”

The group of friends looked over at the irate feline.

“Come on, Dale! The guards just had a supply run a few days ago, and I bartered a lot of good shit to get you what you needed!” Coco leaned on the counter.

“Calm, child!” Dale shouted as he stepped out of the backroom with a bag of flour. “You’re in luck. You can have your pancakes!” He laughed. His wife, an earth pony mare working the stove, gave a chuckle at the two.

Coco pouted as she rolled her eyes. “Thank you, Dale….” She looked over at her friends and saw them trying to hold their laughter. “Hilarious guys!” She walked up to her friends, took her seat beside Thomas, and faced Rainbow Dash. “I’m glad you’d showed up.” She smirked at the prism maned teen, her canines showing as she smiled.

“Did I have a choice?” Rainbow Dash picked up her cup of coffee and put it to her lips.

“Yeah, you didn’t have to.” Coco crossed her arms on the table. “But Jack would be a little upset.”

“Jack?” Quibble raised his brow. “What do you mean?”

“We’re in deep shit!” Coco hissed.

“So that’s why you’re grumpy.” Soft Paws hummed with a giggle. Seeing the harsh glare Coco gave him, his ears and whiskers drooped as he cowered in his seat.

“Why are we in deep shit?” Derpy asked.

Before Coco could answer, a large plate of pancakes was placed on the table. “You kids enjoy!” Dale laughed as he gave each of them a plate. “Anyone wants coffee?” The others raised their hands. “Coffee it is!”

Taking a pancake, Coco let out a sigh as she poured some syrup on it. “Do you guys remember Dash’s fight with Nicholas the other day?” She stared at Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash returned her frown.

“Uh, yeah, it was badass….” Feeling the mood was stiff, Soft Paws lowered his head as he took a small bite of his pancake.

Coco let out a sigh. “Yeah, badass for our cellblock, but for cellblock eight, they’re fucking mad!” She took an aggressive bite of her meal. “Our relationship is now fully in the gutter!”

Lapis shivered. “Don’t tell us Jack has us on damage control?”

“He does,” Thomas stated as he took a sip of his coffee. “He wants us to send cellblock eight a care package of peace.”

Quibble felt his throat tighten. “We’ll have to double our morning's batch of willow!”

“Cellblock three is going to hate us,” Jacky mumbled as she nibbled on her piece of pancake.

“Jack has it under control.” Coco sighed, “And Sam knows already.” She stated, trying to calm the group. “He’s meeting with the cellblock counsel today.”

“How does Jack expect us to even enter cellblock eight?” Rainbow Dash rubbed her brow. “If they hate our guts?”

“He said you would know-how.” Coco gave Rainbow Dash a snarky smirk. “Work that charm of yours.” She hummed a giddy tune.

“Me?” Rainbow Dash felt her chest get heavy. “Why?”

“Because he believes it will bring down tension.” Coco huffed. “I have no clue how it will work, given what you did, but he thinks if you go, it will help!” She looked at Derpy. “And he wants you to tag along with her.”

Rainbow Dash stared at her half-eaten pancake. “SHIT!”

“Well, we wouldn’t be in this situation if you hadn’t fought Nickolas in the first place!” Coca growled, her anger caused her fur to stand on end. Rainbow Dash growled right back. Coco stopped herself as she saw the hurt in her friend’s eyes. “Dash….” Coco settled down. “I’m sorry, I’m just frustrated for my dad….”

Rainbow Dash’s eyebrows tightened as she let out a huff. “So am I!” She mumbled as she took a bite of her pancake.

Her friends sighed as they slowly returned to their meals, hoping the quiet would bring a sense of calm to the group.

Swallowing her bite, Rainbow Dash stared at her pancake soaking up the surrounding syrup. She let out a soft sigh and rested her head in her left hand. Hearing someone enter the restaurant, she turned her attention to the door and saw a pegasus stallion take his seat at a table by the door. His grey-colored fur and black mane made him stick out like a sore thumb. But most of all, it’s his eyes that caused her to shiver. His bright white eyes stared back at her lovingly, like a father would to their child.

“Dash?” Derpy noticed her friend staring off into space. “Are you alright?” Not getting a response, Derpy looked at Quibble and gave him a frown. The colt held up his hands and gave her a shrug. Rolling her eyes, she placed her hands on her shoulders. “Dash?”

Rainbow Dash broke from her mindless haze. “What?” She looked over at the others and saw their worried faces. Feeling her cheeks blush, she looked down at their meals and saw that they had already finished them. Embarrassed, she quickly downed her meal, but not before looking at the stallion once last time…. Confusion racked her brain as she saw he wasn’t sitting at the table.

Derpy felt her throat tighten as she saw her friend’s hands shaking. Concerned, she looked at their friends, asking for an answer to her woes. They all shrugged and gave her looks of confusion. “Dashie?” Again, Derpy placed her hands on her shoulders. “Are you sure you’re alright?”

“Yep!” Rainbow Dash shoved the last bite of pancake in her mouth. “Let’s go!” She said through a full mouth as she left the restaurant. Nervously, her friends followed, concerned for her state of mind.

Rainbow Dash and Derpy walked along the fifth-floor catwalk towards the end of the cellblock. Nearing their destination, they entered a large corner cell. Within the cell are twenty children of varying ages and races working at two round oak tables, bagging white powder into small burlap pouches.

Off in the corner, a human female stood beside two children, one an earth pony filly and the other a human boy. The children stirred a white mixture simmering in large cast-iron pots.

“Yo, Sam!” Derpy shouted as she and Rainbow Dash neared the trio.

The human female turned around and stared at the two with her stern brown eyes. “Well, isn’t it Jack’s two little misfits?” She stepped up to them. “How are you guys?”

“We’re good.” Rainbow Dash replied.

Sam nodded. “That’s good.” She looked over at the crudely made vault in the lefthand corner of the room. “Here to pick up our ‘forgive us’ care package?”

“Yes.” Rainbow Dash placed her hands in her jumpsuit’s pockets.

“I hope this smooths things over.” Sam huffed as she tossed over the large duffle bag at Rainbow Dash’s and Derpy’s hooves.

“So do we.” Rainbow Dash and Derpy grabbed the bag and headed out of the room.

Walking out of their cellblock, Derpy and Rainbow Dash slowly made their way through the main floor of the panopticon. Above them on the fifth-floor catwalks are several pegasus guards watching the prisoners that mulled about on the main floor.

Rainbow Dash and Derpy weaved through the crowds that shopped at the many stalls that dotted the main lobby floor. Partaking in conversation with one another. Eating at restaurants along the panopticon’s wall. Playing and gambling with board games, and trading between the ten cellblocks.

Placing the duffle bag on the ground, Derpy wiped her brow. “You, okay?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Derpy nodded. “Yeah, just catching my breath.”

“Have you been exercising like I’ve been telling you?” Rainbow Dash raised her brow.

“Sort of….”

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes as she looked around at the entrances to the other cellblocks.

She saw several police guards standing at the gates of cellblock one. Through the gate’s iron bars, she could see the lavish space the prisoners within lived. The concrete walls were painted a brilliant white. Even the polished concrete floor shined like a mirror.

Over by cellblock two, she saw several residents putting on puppet shows and or playing musical instruments. Derpy also looked over at cellblock two and smiled as she noticed a puppet show her mother would take her to see when she was younger.

Both Rainbow Dash and Derpy groaned as they looked over at cellblock three. Their disdain grew as they saw a teen female fox with orange-red fur standing outside her cellblock with a duffle bag in hand. She stood beside a bat-pony stallion with black fur and bright blue eyes. The bat-pony noticed them and showed them his teeth with a snarl. The fox also turned her attention to them, and her eyes went wide when she noticed their duffle bag.

“Looks like Rexy is more shocked than mad.” Derpy quipped.

“Wait for it….” Rexy’s expression soured. “There’s the Rexy we know and love.” Rainbow Dash teased as she grabbed her side of the duffle bag. Derpy rolled her eyes as she picked up her side and continued on their way. Nearing cellblock eight, they noticed a mare standing outside the cellblock’s gate.

“Hold it!” The mare spat as she noticed them approaching. “State your business!”

“We’re here to fix tensions.” Rainbow Dash replied with a dull tone as she opened the duffle bag to show the many pouches of willow.

The mare whistled and nodded her head at the gate. “Fifth floor back of the cellblock, they’re expecting you.”

Entering the room specified by the mare, Rainbow Dash and Derpy found themselves standing before a large oak table. A human male, an earth pony stallion, and a male fox sit around the table with Nicolas and one of his friends sitting on the left side of the table.

Nicholas stared at Rainbow Dash and glared daggers at her.

Rainbow Dash winced at his swollen face.

Derpy gave the leaders of cellblock eight a small wave. “Um…. Hi.”

Nicholas growled through swollen lips. “Bitch….”

“Nicolas, shut your mouth!” The feline hissed.

“You guys look like you’re in a peachy mood.” Rainbow Dash hummed a little tune.

“Already acting like a smart ass, are we?” The fox gave a smirk. “You’re in no position to be talking shit!”

Rainbow Dash gritted her teeth as she and Derpy tossed the duffle on the table. “Let’s get this over with!” She spat. “Here’s your stupid gift!” She unzipped the bag.

Cellblock eight’s council members looked at the bag of drugs with wide eyes. Composing himself, the human let out a sigh as he leaned back in his chair. “Good, very good.” He took out a bag of coins.

Rainbow Dash raised her brow. “What’s that for?”

“It’s for you.” The human smiled. Nervously Rainbow Dash approached the man, but before she could grab the bag of coins, the human raised it over her head. “There is something I need you two to do for us.”

Rainbow Dash felt a little nauseous. “What?”

Derpy shivered. “What do you want us to do?”

The human gave a low, raspy hum. “We want to add one more thing to the deal.”

Rainbow Dash’s eyes go wide. “Fuck no!” She gritted her teeth. “We aren’t doing that!” She took a protective stance in front of Derpy.

The fox rubbed his brow. “Not that you imbecile!” He sat up and walked up to them. “If Jack found out we forced you to have sex with us, he’ll have our heads!” He placed his hands on their shoulders. “Instead, we have a job for you two.”

“W-What type of job?” Derpy wondered.

“Oh, a simple one….” He scratched the back of their ears. “We have someone skipping out on paying their debts.”

“You want us to collect what’s due?” Rainbow Dash played with her tail.

“Yes, the feline replied. “But we’re not interested in money….” He ran a finger along his neck like a knife. “We want her dead.”

“Her?... Who’s the target?” Derpy and Rainbow Dash looked at one another with concern.

Rainbow Dash and Derpy stood a few feet away from cellblock five. Sweat coated Rainbow Dash’s body as she stared at the scantily clad females and males standing around the gate. One lonely red lightbulb hung above the gate, flickering haphazardly.

“Oh, shit!” Derpy hissed under her breath. “Don’t tell me we have to go in there?” She looked at her sister and saw that she was trembling. “Dashie, are you alright?”

“Wha….” Rainbow Dash whipped her head around to face Derpy. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she tried to speak. “Um…. I…. Fuck!” Her cries echoed off the walls of the panopticon. Several prisoners and guards looked over at her with confused stares.

“Dash! Keep your voice down!” Derpy grabbed her by the shoulders and sat her down at one of the many benches dotting the floor.

“Is this some sick joke?” Rainbow Dash spat. “Why would they send us here!”

“I…. I don’t know?” Derpy whined. “Just calm yourself, please!” She began to rub her back. “You know what happened last time.”

“I…. I can’t….” Rainbow Dash struggled to catch her breath.

“I know! I know!” Derpy tried to fight back her own tears.

“You can’t? What on earth do you mean by that, dearie?” A calm, soothing voice asked. Derpy and Rainbow Dash whipped their heads and saw Feather Gale standing behind them. Their hearts skipped a beat as she sat between them. “So, what are you two doing near my cellblock?”

Rainbow Dash felt herself go numb. Her voice was stuck as her mind raced a million miles a second. Derpy, however, kept her cool somewhat. “We, uh, can’t tell you?”

“Oh, what a shame. I would like to know…. But,” Feather Gale gave them a sly smirk. “Let me take a guess…. You’re here to try out some new merchandise? Or maybe you’ve got an itch that needs to be scratched? Or maybe, just maybe….” She laid her arms around their necks. Both fillies cowered under her embrace. “You finally saw the errors of your ways and want to….”

“NO!” Rainbow Dash shouted, pushing the mare away. She quickly stood up, brandished a shank, and pointed its tip at the mare’s face. Some prisoners nearby looked on. Some were concerned, while others hoped for a fight. The guards on the catwalks looked down at the scene with mild interest.

Derpy panicked and jumped to her sister’s side and grabbed her offending arm. “Dashie, please….” She whispered.

Feather Gale took a deep breath, gently pushed the blade to the side, and stood up. “You should listen to her, Dashie.” She placed her hand under Rainbow Dash’s chin. “You’re such a mess.” She scratched her chin. Rainbow Dash lost her resolve from the mare’s affection. “What did they do to you?”

Derpy growled at the mare. “Stop it!” She pulled her sister away from the mare.

Feather Gale looked at the crossed-eyed filly. “You were always stubborn.” She sighed as she stood up and leaned on her cane. “As you wish, Derpy….” She walked towards her cellblock. Before she got too far from the fillies, she gave them a sly smirk. “Just remember who you truly are and where you belong.” She stepped into the cellblock and faded into the darkness.

Derpy glared at the gate, but she broke her gaze as she felt Rainbow Dash go limp in her arms. “Dashie?” Her sister began to sob uncontrollably. “Shh… We need to get home….”

Getting to Rainbow Dash’s cell, Derpy helped her sister get to her bed. But before she had the chance to set her down, Rainbow Dash broke out into intense shakes and shivers. “Dash?” Derpy looked down in a panic. Rainbow Dash’s only response was choked, gurgling as her body jerked violently. Scared, Derpy gently laid her on the ground and bolted to the door. “JACK!”

“She should be okay….” Dr. Hooves sighed as he rummaged through his bag. “Give her this if she’s still disoriented.” He handed Jack a syringe with a white-colored liquid.

“Thanks….” Jack stared at the syringe.

Quibble laid by Rainbow Dash’s side. “Why would she have a seizure?” He growled. “I thought she got over them?” Her friends sat around her. Looks of concern coated their expressions.

“It’s my fault….” Coco growled. “I should’ve gone to confront them myself!”

“No one knew that they would demand that of her!” Soft Paws stated, giving her a glare.

“I think they did it as payback,” Jacky commented with a huff as she sat beside Derpy, looking down at her friend.

“Bastards!” Quibble hissed.

Jack looked at the teens and gave a low sigh. “Give her some room. She needs to rest.”

“But!” Derpy whined.

“But, nothing, now all of you get!” Jack demanded. “There’s still work to be done.” The teens piled out of the cell and down to the first floor.

“I take it you want me to sleep somewhere else tonight?” Quibble asked.

“No…” Jack replied. “She’ll need you tonight, besides….” He checked his watch. “It’s only four pm. I think she’ll be fine by nightfall.”

Quibble nodded and headed out. “Are you coming?” He asked as he stood in the doorway.

“No… I’ll stay here until she wakes up.”

Rainbow Dash gagged at the aftertaste of bile lingering in her mouth. With a groan, she woke up to a severe migraine that pulsed across her skull. She hissed as she rolled over, huffing as she got into a comfortable position.

“You’re awake.” Jack hummed softly.

Hearing his voice, she looked at the end of her bed and saw him sitting there, his back leaning against the wall. “Jack?”

“Hey, kiddo, you doing alright?” Jack took one of her hooves and rubbed it.

Rainbow Dash tried to sit up, but her limbs struggled to lift her. “Damn it….” She laid back down. “No…” She whined. “What happened?”

Jack let out a long breath. “You had a seizure about twelve minutes ago.” Rainbow Dash looked around in confusion. “Feels like a long time, huh?” She let out a huff. Silence filled the room as they sat staring at the wall directly in front of them. “Who was the pony or person they wanted dead?” Jack finally asked, breaking the silence. Rainbow Dash pulled her blanket closer to her chin, trying to hide from the world. “Dash?” He asked again. “Who is it?” She moaned. “Is it someone you know?”

Rainbow Dash felt tears roll down her face. “Yes…” Her eyes went wide as she saw three dark figures standing behind Jack. Their eyes were a bright white. She couldn’t make out their features and only saw their silhouettes.

“Dash? Are you ok?” Jack scooted closer to her, shaking her.

She kept her eyes on the figures as they stepped closer. Their features came into focus. Her spine shivered as her limbs went numb. The figures were a pegasus stallion, and pegasus mare who held a pegasus foal no more than a year old. “Mom… Steel.…” She stared at the infant with tear-stained eyes. “Juniper….”

Jack turned around and looked at the spot she was staring at. He saw nothing and stared at her with a dull expression. Looking at the syringe, he huffed as he stuck it in her arm. She squirmed at the sting, panicking as she felt the drug enter her bloodstream. But soon, a sense of calm overwhelmed her. Her mind’s wild thoughts faded away. He scooped her up and carried her out of her room with a sigh.

“Where… Are we… going?” She slurred.

“To be with your mother, Dash,” He replied softly.

Lilly Drops laid in her bed, reading a book. Candlelight flickered next to her, giving her cell a calm, inviting ambiance.

“Hello, Lilly.”

Lilly Drops looked up from her book and saw Jack standing in the doorway. A chill ran down her spine as she stared at her adopted daughter in his arms. “What happened?”

“It’s alright.” Jack calmed her woes. “She had a seizure.” He walked into the room.

“What caused her seizure?” Lilly Drops asked. She watched Jack set Rainbow Dash on her bed. She set her book down and pulled her daughter in an embrace.

“It’s my fault….”

Lilly Drops felt herself go numb. “What did you do?”

“I had her go to cellblock eight to help mend our relationship….” Jack leaned against the wall. “They told her she had to do a hit job for them.”

Lilly Drops frowned. “Who is it?”

“Berry Punch.” Jack sighed.

“Cellblock five!” Lilly Drops growled. “JACK, YOU SON OF A BITCH!”

“Lilly!” Jack grimaced, “How the hell was I supposed to know they’d do that?!”

“You’re part of the damned council!” Lilly Drops glared at him, her eyes full of tears. She let out a moan and looked down at Rainbow Dash. Her quivering hand stroking her mane.

Jack looked away and gave a long sigh. “I’ll make it right.”

“You better…” Lilly Drops whispered with a hiss, her gaze still on her daughter.