Iron and Blood: From Ash to Dust

Jack stood before the entrance to the Cellblock Council meeting room on the fifth floor above the main entrance of the prison. He eyed the metal door blocking his path to the other side. He studied the light coating of rust across its metal skin with a scowl.

“Uh, prisoner?”

“Jack….” Jack looked to his left and saw a pegasus guard. His dark-navy-blue uniform contrasted against his cream-colored fur and black mane and tail. “Are you gonna need my number?”

“No….” The guard huffed. “Just wondering if you’re just going to stand there all day?” The guard tightened his grip on his pump-action shotgun.

Jacks stared at the gun. “Just gathering my thoughts.” He placed his hand on the door’s handle.

The guard rolled his eyes. “Humans….” He muttered under his breath. His wings twitched as he turned his attention back to the lobby of the panopticon.

Staring at the guard for a couple of seconds, Jack shrugged his shoulders and stepped inside. Entering the room, he saw Kingpin sitting at the head of a large oak table. On Jack’s right was Feather Gale, and on his left were the leaders of cellblock eight.

Jack noticed Feather Gale’s smug look and gave her a frown as he stood over her. She disliked his attitude and returned his scowl.

“Hello, Jack!” Kingpin laughed, holding up his cigar. “As you can see, I brought the cellblock leaders you asked for.” He puffed on his cigar. “But for what reason, I don’t know?” Cigar smoke left his nostrils as his bat-like wings twitched. “I need to know the reason for this impromptu meeting? Especially at five o’clock in the morning!”

“Shut it!” He glared at Kingpin as he returned his attention to Feather Gale. “You sad, sad excuse of a mare!” He placed his hands on the table and leaned his face closer to hers, getting intimate. “You told them to send her to your cellblock! Didn’t you?”

Feather Gale kept her eyes on her drink. “And what if I did?”

“Did you not?” He slammed the table with his left hand. The leaders of cellblock eight cowered slightly while Kingpin kept his composure.

She sipped her gin and glared at the man. “Yes, yes, I did.”

Jack glared at the leaders of cellblock eight. His grey-colored eyes were sharp as a razor’s edge. They looked away from the man’s harsh stare. “Why did you want her to kill Berry Punch? You son of a bitch!” He sent his ire Feather Gale’s way.

Feather Gale laughed.

“What is it?”

“Berry Punch? Berry Punch!” Jack, you buffoon! It was just a ploy! You of all ponies… I mean, people should’ve known that?” She finished her cup of gin. “Berry Punch is doing a fine job fucking herself over. I don’t need Derpy or Rainbow Dash for that.” She let out a little giggle. “Just needed a reason for them to enter my block. But apparently, my plan failed. She clamed up before she even stepped a hoof in my block.” She clicked her tongue in a cooing manner. “Jack, I’m very disappointed. I raised her better than that….”

“You’ve done shit!” He shoved his face against hers. “You’ve done enough damage to her that it took nearly two years to get her to where she is today, along with Derpy!” He slammed his hand on the table once more. “And she almost relapsed back into the puppet you made her into!”

She slightly lowered her head as her ears folded against her head.

Kingpin looked at the two, but his stern eyes were mainly on Feather Gale. She cowered even further and tapped her finger on the rim of her empty cup. “Feather Gale?” He took a puff of his cigar. “What did I tell you?”

She looked at the bat pony. “Leave Rainbow Dash alone….”

“Precisely.” He looked at Jack. “And Jack?” Jack turned his eyes to the stallion. “You may house Rainbow Dash in your block, but I am her guardian. I own her.” He placed his fingers together. “I guess this fight she participated in got out of hand.” He looked at the beings in the room. “Let’s move past this. The last thing we need is this prison to return to the guards.” He put out his cigar. “We worked so hard to get this prison back to the way things were after the riot three years ago, and I aim to keep it that way.”

Jack, Feather Gale, and the leaders of cellblock eight nodded.

Kingpin let out a sigh. “Good….” He stood up. “Now that’s finished, don’t forget we are getting a new batch of prisoners today.” He laughed.

“What kind?” Jack asked.

“From what I’ve heard, war prisoners.” Kingpin put his hand on the door handle.

“War?” The human leader from cellblock eight asked. “The Pegasin Union is at war again?”

“Sounds like it.” Kingpin opened the door. “Now, don’t let your grudges get out of hand!” He shut the door behind him.

Rainbow Dash sat with her friends in the back corner of Dale’s restaurant. She crossed her arms as she laid her head on the table. She shivered as she stared at her hooves, watching herself scrape them across the smooth concrete floor. Her magenta eyes trembled, and her prism tail wagged back n’ forth.

Her friends studied her dull expression. Swallowing some of her watered-down orange juice, Derpy scooted closer to her sister. “Are you alright?”

Rainbow Dash stopped moving her hooves and lifted her head from the table. “No….” She rubbed her eyes as she leaned her head back. “Why did they want Berry Punch dead?” Tears fought to exit her eyes. “She’s a good pony!”

Derpy bit her lip as she ran her fingers through her canary-colored mane. “I don’t know, but I do know she would’ve wanted you to move on and stay strong.”

“Derpy!” Rainbow Dash huffed. “You of all ponies should care about this!” Tears poured down her face. “Berry Punch did so much of us!” She took a deep breath. “She did everything she could to protect us when we were in there….”

“Dash!” Derpy chastised. “Of course, I care, but we can do nothing about it without going back in there!” She placed her hand under Rainbow Dash’s chin and looked into her eyes. “And there is no way I’m ever letting myself or you back in that hellhole!”

“What the hell is going on in here?” Jack stood in the doorway and stared at the group of teens.

“She’s having another episode,” Coco stated.

Jack looked at Rainbow Dash and saw her shivering form. “Dash?” He walked up to her. He got on his knees and placed a hand on her shoulder. “What’s bothering you?”

Rainbow Dash looked at him with tired eyes. She studied the course hairs of his grey beard. The rough texture of his face, the dark rings under his eyes. His calming father-like aura. “Berry Punch….”

Jack sighed and patted her on the head. “You don’t need to worry about her.”

“What do you mean?” Derpy wondered.

“Feather Gale set the whole thing up. She doesn’t want her dead. She hoped you’d step into her cellblock, take her bait to make it easier for her goons to kidnap you two.” He glanced at the clock over the table.

Rainbow Dash felt a weight lift off her shoulders. “Thank goodness….” She let out a troubled sigh.

Jack looked at the teens with a smirk. “I want all of us to move on from what happened yesterday.”

“What?” Quibble growled. “They need to pay! Who said we need to move on? You?”

Jack glared at the earth pony colt. “No, not me, Kingpin.” He saw the colt cower a bit. “If you have complaints, talk to him.” He looked at the others. “Any other objections?” Seeing none of them responding, he let out a huff. “Then we are in agreement. Now let’s go. It’s a busy day.”

Exiting the restaurant, the group walked in silence as they made their way to the front gate of their cellblock.

“What are we doing today?” Lapis asked.

“You’re going to alert the cellblock and get it ready,” Jack stated flatly.

“Ready for what?” Soft Paws asked.

“For a batch of new prisoners, which are arriving today.” Jack stepped up to a group of prisoners acting as cellblock seven’s gate guards.

“Really?” Rainbow Dash’s ears perked up.

“Yes, really.” Jack smiled at Rainbow Dash. He looked at the group of prisoners. “I want you two to come with me.”

The two gate guards looked at Jack with wide eyes. “Understood. Where are we going?”

“To the main gates.” Jack made his way out of the cellblock.

“Can we come?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“No, I want to make this go by smoothly. Kingpin said it was first come, first serve during the last council meeting a few days ago….” Jack looked at the group of teens, but his attention was squarely on Rainbow Dash. “I want you to stay here and get things ready, understood.” The teens nodded their heads. Rainbow Dash looked down at the ground and let out a sigh. Jack smiled as he left the cellblock.

Rainbow Dash and her friends headed up to the fifth floor with a sigh. “Uh, Dash?” Quibble studied her demeanor. “Are you thinking about doing something you shouldn’t?”

“Yes!” She glared at her colt friend. “And you’re not going to stop me!” She crossed her arms.

“Why do you want to go out there?” Coco huffed. “Jack gave us orders.”

“Aren’t you curious about the new arrivals?” Rainbow Dash groaned.

“We’ll see them eventually.” Coco dully stated. “Besides, these past few days have been a rollercoaster for you, for all of us.” She placed a hand on her shoulder. “Lay low, will yah?”

Rainbow Dash stared at the feline’s eyes. “I…. I…. I’m sorry!” She bolted down the stairs and out of the cellblock.

“Rainbow, WAIT!” Derpy chased after her.

“Aw, shit!” Quibbled huffed. “We’ll be right back!” He apologized as he chased after them.

Coco let out a sigh and crossed her arms as she stared at the confused cellblock guards.

“What’s gotten into her lately?’ Thunderlane pondered, scratching his head,

“I have no clue?” Jacky crossed her arms.

Rainbow Dash, Derpy, and Quibble wormed their way through the dense crowds congregating around the main entrance, many eager to see the new arrivals, while a hopeful few looked for an opportunity to escape through the gates.

Such a hopeless dream it was.

Not getting a good view of the entrance, Rainbow Dash got onto a table and stood on her tippy hooves. “Do you see them?’ Derpy asked as she stood beside her sister.

“No, not yet.”

Quibble let out a heavy breath and rested his hands on his knees. “You know…. If Jack finds out, he’s gonna kill us!”

“If that was the case, we should’ve been dead long ago.” Rainbow Dash teased as she flicked her tail in his face.

He grumbled as he pushed her tail away. “That’s not the point!”

“You didn’t have to come!” Her wings flapped from her frustration.

Quibble frowned as he looked at Derpy. “What do you think?”

Derpy looked at the stallion. She took her sister’s hand. “I’m with her.”

“Of course….” Quibble let out a long sigh. “What do you expect to see?”

“I….” Hearing the siren go off, Rainbow Dash turned her attention to the main gates.

“Prisoners of Morning Hollow Island, we are opening the gates! A new batch of arrivals will be calling this place home! Make it a warm welcome!” A voice over the loudspeaker laughed. Rainbow Dash eagerly eyed the gate, waiting for a glimpse of the new faces as they entered the panopticon.

Jack and the two gate guards of his cellblock stood by a table laid out for him. He crossed his arms as he watched the gate slowly open. He could feel the ocean air as it rushed into the stuffy prison. It’s been a while since he worked the iron mine outside the prison walls. The smell of salty air was a rare sensation for him. Being a leader of a cellblock kept him from working outside jobs…. He breathed in the fresh air and let out a sigh…. Oh, the days of being a pirate entered his mind once more.

“Enjoying the breeze?”

Jack’s smile faded as he looked to his right and saw Feather Gale and four of her goons standing at the other table a few feet from him. “Yes… Yes, I am.”

“That’s good to hear.” Feather Gale hummed as she crossed her arms. “I have to say I’m quite excited. It will be nice to freshen up my inventory.”

Jack stared at the mare. He ground his teeth softly as he turned his attention back to task and saw the first batch of prisoners slowly walking through the gates, with their hands bound by chains.

Feather Gale smiled as she scanned the prisoners. Her eyes widen as she’s drawn to a pegasus filly, no more than eight years old. The filly timidly approached the tables as her rich purple eyes darted around, scanning her surroundings. The way the filly walked was alluring for Feather Gale. ‘So, innocent…. So, perfect.’ She looked at one of her goons. “I want that one.”

Her henchman nodded as he made his way up to the filly. Seeing the guard approaching, the filly shivered as she tried backing away. She tensed up as he grabbed her chained hands. The filly stared wide-eyed at Feather Gale as the henchman dragged her to the table.

Feather Gale’s smile enlarged as she looked at the filly’s appearance. The filly’s frame was petite for her age. Her eyes were large and expressive. Her wings were tiny for a pegasus of her age. Her greyish-purple mane and tail contrasted lovingly against her light-gamboge fur that highlighted her fair complexion.

“My, aren’t you adorable.” Feather Gale hummed. ‘I found my Rainbow Dash substitute.’ She kept staring…. ‘Almost.’ Seeing the filly’s confused and flustered expression, she gave her another smile. “Don’t be afraid, little one. Behind me are some nice gentlemen that will take you to your new home.”

The filly cowered at her tone and eyed the scrawny earth pony and human male behind the mare. They gave her creepy smiles as they stepped up and dragged her into the panopticon by her arms.

Feather Gale hummed as she looked over at Jack. “Looks like my first pick was a good one.”

“You’re a sick fuck!” Jack frowned.

Feather Gale rolled her eyes. “We can’t deny the animals that we are.” She giggled. “I’m just fulfilling a need, is all.” Jack kept his scowl on her for a few short seconds before turning his attention back to the mass of new prisoners.

“Want to go back?” Derpy asked, noticing her sister’s bored expression.

“No…” Rainbow Dash sighed.

“What were you expecting?” Quibble wondered.

Rainbow Dash stayed silent. She wondered the same. “I don’t know, I guess….” Her mouth hung agape as she eyed a pegasus filly no more than eight years old, being led by two males.

The longer she stared, the filly’s appearance slowly morphed. Her light-gamboge fur slowly turned into a light-cyan color. Her greyish-purple mane and tail color turned into a reddish-orange with purple ends. Her eyes, those rich purple eyes, looked directly at her. No, they were a rich crimson; those crimson eyes stared right back at her.

‘Juniper….’

Rainbow Dash blinked several times and rubbed her eyes, but the filly’s appearance morphed back to her original state when she looked at her. She felt a strong shiver throughout her body as she kept her eyes on the filly. Her wings twitched as old memories flooded her mind.

“Dash?”

Jerking, Rainbow Dash looked at her sister and Quibble and saw their worried eyes. “Yes?”

“Are you alright? It looked like you’ve seen a ghost?” Quibble asked as he placed a hand on her forehead. “Damn, you’re clammy!” He looked into her eyes. “What’s wrong?”

Rainbow Dash tapped her fingers as she stared at the filly once more. Her blood ran cold as she saw the males were taking her to cellblock five. “Shit! Shit! Shit!” She took off running into the crowd.

“What the hell!” Quibble and Derpy gave chase. “What is she doing?”

“I have no idea!” Derpy yelled as she picked up her pace.

Rainbow Dash flapped her wings and took off into the air. Scanning for someone she desperately needed, she cursed under her breath until her eyes locked on the person she was looking for. Diving down to the ground, she ran like she'd never had before. Seeing him walking to the guard’s quarters, she picked up her pace, but she ran too fast to stop herself from crashing into him.

“What the hell, who ran into me…. Dash?” The young stallion looked down at the teen filly with a confused stare.

“Soarin!” Rainbow Dash fought to catch her breath. “I need your help!”

“Whoa, calm down….” Soarin saw Quibble and Derpy approaching. “What’s going on?”

Quibble stopped in his tracks and glared at the stallion. “I don’t fucking know!”

“Love the tone there, bud.” Soarin returned his glare.

“You’re shitting me?” Derpy glared at the two colts. “We’re focusing on Dashie and what’s gotten into her, not you two love birds!”

They stared at the crossed-eyed filly, dropped their charade, and looked at Rainbow Dash. “Are you alright?” Soarin asked.

“No….” Rainbow Dash took a deep breath. “It’s a filly. She’s being taken to cellblock five!”

Soarin ran his hands through his navy-blue mane. “Dash, what do you want me to do about it?” He studied her wide eyes. “Wait a minute, isn’t she one of the newcomers?” Rainbow Dash nodded her head vigorously. “Dash….” He sighed. “It's first come, first serve.”

“Soarin, please!” Rainbow Dash grabbed onto his dark-navy-blue uniform. “I need to save her….” She felt her throat tighten up. “My little….” She whispered as she buried her face into his chest.

Soarin blushed as he looked at Quibble and Derpy with his hands up, unsure of what to do. “What’s gotten into her? She wasn’t like this a few days ago?”

Quibble glared at him. “Is that so?” Soarin glared right back.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake!” Derpy shot daggers at the two. “She’s been having some issues lately!” She barked at Soarin. “And she doesn’t need this dick measuring contest from you!” She sent her ire Quibble’s way.

Quibble backed off and lowered his head. “Fine….”

Derpy nodded as she turned her attention to her sister’s defeated demeanor. Seeing her lips were moving, she read them as she placed a hand on her sister’s back…. Her eyes went wide as she made out what she was saying.

“What is it?” Soarin asked.

“I know why she’s acting like this.”

“Then what is it?” Quibble huffed.

“I can’t explain right now!” Derpy gritted her teeth. “Soarin, you better help her, or so help me!” She got in his face.

Soarin let out a sigh. “Being friends with you is going to get me in trouble….” He let out a sigh. “I’ll help, but I swear, I hope you know what you’re doing?”

Hearing his words, Rainbow Dash let go of his uniform and stared directly into his green-colored eyes. “I know exactly what I am doing!”

“Then fine sounds good enough for me.” Soarin rubbed the back of his head. “Go to your cellblock. I’ll get some of my fellow guards to help. When I have her secured, I’ll bring her to you.”

“Thank you!” Rainbow Dash giggled as she kissed him on the cheek before running to her cellblock.

Derpy smirked at Soarin’s blushed face. Giggling, she gave him a wink and ran after her sister. Quibble glared at the stallion and gave him an ‘I’m watching you’ motion before following after the two.

Soaring felt a twinge of pain dance across his brow. He mulled over Quibble’s obvious threat and chewed his inner cheek. Shaking off his discomfort, he chalked it up to the young stallion being cocky and took off to his task.

“Where is he?” Rainbows Dash panicked as she paced around the gate to their cellblock.

“He’ll be here.” Derpy cooed to rid her sister’s worry.

“If he does.” Quibble grumbled. Derpy shot him a look. Quibble just rolled his eyes as he leaned against one of the pillars holding up the second-story catwalk. “What?” He groaned as Derpy kept glaring at him.

“Could you at least be somewhat supportive?” Derpy huffed.

“I am being supportive! I just hope this doesn’t start something that will get out of hand!”

“It won’t!” Rainbow Dash hissed. Feeling a shiver run down her spine, she dropped her scowl and sighed into her hands. “Quibble, I’m sorry, I’m just….”

“Hey, don’t worry.” Quibble’s ears laid flat against his head. “Whatever you saw in that filly, I’m right behind you, one-hundred percent.”

“Same.” Derpy smiled.

Rainbow Dash smiled at her friends and let out a heavy sigh. “Thanks….” Seeing two figures approaching, she ran up to the gates. Seeing Soarin and the filly, she giggled. “You made it, thank goodness!” She stared at the filly. “How did you?”

Soarin laughed as he pulled out a set of keys. “It was easy. Those two were not all there in the head.” He unlocked her cuffs and gently pushed her toward Rainbow Dash.

One of the gate guards stopped the filly. “Who is she?” He stared at Rainbow Dash. “Does Jack know of her?”

“She’s our newest member, and if you say anything about her to anyone, I will kick your teeth out!” Rainbow Dash spat. The guard cowered and backed away. Tearing her eyes from the gate guard, she looked down at the filly, who stared back at her with wide eyes. Realizing what she did, she blushed and got down to her eye level. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

The filly blinked before looking at Derpy and Quibble. Looking back at Rainbow Dash, she timidly stepped up to her and offered her hand.

“Looks like she trusts you?” Soarin crossed his arms.

“Looks like it.” Derpy smiled. The filly looked at her and returned the smile, be it, very shorty, before she hid behind her short bangs.

“Let’s go to our room before Jack gets back.” Quibble sighed as he headed up the stairs.

Rainbow Dash looked at Soarin. “Could you get her a jumpsuit?”

Soarin nodded. “I’ll see what I can do….” He blushed as Rainbow Dash gave him a hug.

With a giggle, Rainbow Dash grabbed the filly’s hand and guided her up the stairs. Derpy smiled at Soarin, “Thank you.” She hummed as she followed after her sister.

Soarin got control of his flustered emotions and waved goodbye. He slowly dropped his wave when he saw Quibble glaring at him from the third-story catwalk. He stared at the earth pony’s scowl and gave him one in return. Quibble bit his tongue, pushed himself from the catwalk’s railing, and disappeared. Clinching his hands, Soarin let out a sigh and left the cellblock.

The filly timidly peeked her head into the cell. She scanned the items within. A worn and tattered wooden table rested under the slit widow. To her left was a bunk bed. The bottom mattress had sheets that laid haphazardly on top of it. The top bunk was bare and void of extra comfort. Over on her right was a trunk containing extra clothes and jumpsuits as well as a sink.

Letting out a soft sigh, the filly walked up to the bed. Jumping on the mattress, she pushed herself against it, testing to see if it was to her liking. Rainbow Dash, Derpy, and Quibble looked on from the doorway, watching the curious filly.

“Why is she on our bed.” Quibble mumbled.

“She just checking things out.” Rainbow Dash replied as she fidgeted with her fingers.

“Where is she going to sleep?” He asked.

Rainbow Dash looked back at her boyfriend. “With us.” She looked back at the filly. “On the top bunk.”

“You have to be kidding me….” Quibble looked down and saw Rainbow Dash’s hand over his lips.

“I’ll be right back….” She stepped into her room and walked up to the filly.

Quibble rubbed his lips as he grumbled to himself. “She has to be kidding. She has to be?”

Derpy looked up at the colt and raised her brow. “Where will the filly sleep if not here?” Quibble grumbled as he leaned against the door.

“Filly? Sleep?” What are you two talking about…. Holy shit!” Coca’s mouth hung agape as she stared at the filly. “What is that?”

“A filly.” Derpy hummed as she gave the cat a smirk.

Coco’s whiskers twitched as she ran her hands over her face. “You…. You know what I meant. Who is she?”

“Not sure, but Rainbow Dash stole her from Feather Gale.”

“Wait! What?” Coco felt her chest get tight. “Didn’t Jack say it was first come, first serve?” Derpy nodded. “Oh, hell, does Jack know?” Derpy shook her head. Coco’s pupils shrank into slits as she tried to calm her breathing.

“I still don’t know what Dash sees in her?” Quibble let out a sigh.

“I do….”

Quibble looked at Derpy with a raised brow. “Then what is it?’

Derpy crossed her arms as she thought back on Rainbow Dash’s mannerisms in the panopticon. The way she clung to Soarin. ‘My little….’ She felt the back of her head tingle. ‘Could it be….’ She squeezed her lips as she rubbed her brow. “That filly reminds her of herself….”

Quibble looked back at the filly. “I guess….”

Seeing Rainbow Dash showing the filly several knick-knacks on her nightstand, Derpy smiled as she grabbed Quibble’s and Coco’s hands. “Let’s give them some space. It will be a good idea to alert the others so they’ll know not to spill the beans.” Quibble looked back at Rainbow Dash and the filly and sighed with a nod as he followed Derpy.

“This is a doll that I used to play with.” Rainbow Dash hummed as she gave the toy to the filly, unaware that her friends had left them alone.

The filly smiled as she picked up the doll. She grabbed its wings and moved them to simulate a flapping motion. Rainbow Dash smiled as she got into a more comfortable position on the floor. “What’s your name?”

The filly felt her cheeks get warm. “Um, Scootaloo.” She held the doll against her chest.

“Scootaloo.” She smiled. “That’s a cool name. My name is Rainbow Dash.”

“Thanks.” The filly giggled at Rainbow Dash’s playful smirk. “Your name is cool too….” The filly looked down at the doll. “Were you really rescuing me?”

Rainbow Dash nodded. “Yeah, those bad guys were taking you to an awful place. It’s the only place in this prison you stay away from.” Scootaloo nodded her head to confirm she understood. “Where are you from?” Rainbow Dash smirked.

Scootaloo looked down at the doll. “I came from Wingthington….”

Rainbow Dash’s ears twitched. ‘She’s from the frosty swamp lands….’ She wrapped her prism tail around herself. She saw that the filly did the same. She felt her chest get light. ‘Copycat….’ She placed her hands on her knees. “Did Pegasin Union soldiers take you from your mommy?” Scootaloo shook her head. “From your daddy?” Again, she shook her head. Rainbow Dash gave the filly a knowing nod as she opened her nightstand dresser and pulled out a pin.

“What’s that?” Scootaloo asked.

“Oh, Soarin, that nice pegasus that saved you, he gave this to me.” She gave the pin to her. “It’s a thunderbolt with wings.” Scootaloo held the pin in her hands, gawking at the bright simmering silver and gold that made up its construction. “You like it?” The filly nodded. “That thing will remind you that you will have nothing to fear as long as you’re with me.”

“Really?” Scootaloo smiled.

“You bet, squirt….” Rainbow Dash’s happy expression faded as thoughts of Steel Bit entered her mind. ‘Squirt….’ She could still hear his deep voice in her mind.

Scootaloo tilted her head. “Are you alright?”

Rainbow Dash broke from her haze and looked at the filly. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

Scootaloo looked at the doll resting by her side. “How long have you been here?”

Rainbow Dash played with her tail. “Six years.”

Scootaloo played with her own tail. “How did you end up in here?”

Rainbow Dash stared at the multicolored hairs of her tail. The sounds and smells of her world faded as her mind thought back to that time of her life…. Such an awful time….