The Free Skies

Twilight was on the bridge when they came within sight of the Everfree Agri-flotilla, having been kicked out of the hold after re-sorting the ship’s supplies for the fourth time. The fireworks on the horizon caused confusion to go through all three mares before the radio crackled and a female voice said, “WTC Cloud Surfer, please dock at Bay 01.”

“Welp, I’ll make sure the ship doesn’t get stolen until you get back,” Tempest said, looking at Rainbow.

Rainbow leaned her head back and groaned. “Nooooooo.... Another race?”

Looking confused, Twilight asked, “What’s so bad about the Death races?”

Rainbow sighed as she guided her ship above the flotilla, fireworks going off around them as spotlights turned to follow them. “It’s not the race itself, it’s who I gotta work with. I mean, he’s kinda cute, but definitely not my type and he keeps hitting on me.”

Tempest smirked at the comment and gave Rainbow a teasing look. “Yeah, everyone knows your type is the awkward, bookish kind that likes pranks.”

At that Rainbow would splutter some and give Tempest a blushing glare. “No, it isn’t!”

“Tell that to your red face~”

Unable to help it, Twilight let out a small giggle at the rainbow-maned mare’s expense, causing said mare to groan in embarrassment as she lowered the ship into its spot. “To be honest, you do have a sort of roguish beauty about you that I kinda like,” Twilight teased, yelping in surprise as the ship jerked to the side and scraped the low retaining wall around the landing platform as Rainbow turned to give her a red but surprised look.

Quickly turning back to the controls, Rainbow corrected her mistake and set the ship down fully before running out of the bridge.

“.... Wow, didn’t think someone like you would have that in them,” Tempest said, staring at Twilight with an unreadable expression.

A red tint came to Twilight’s cheeks as she said, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Tempest chuckled and shook her head. “Nevermind. We’re here so you can go and do what you want.” With that Tempest followed after Rainbow, heading out of the ship.

Taking a few seconds to calm herself, Twilight followed after Tempest, coming out just in time to put up a barrier to stop a stun spell thrown by a unicorn guard aimed at Rainbow. “Stand down now,” Twilight demanded, glaring at the guards who were in a half circle around the end of the gangplank.

The guard who threw the spell quickly removed his helmet, revealing him to be Shining Armor. Spotting Twilight just through her shield he called out, “Twilight! Thank goodness you’re okay!” His relief turned to confusion as Twilight didn’t lower her shield. He was about to ask a question before Twilight interrupted him.

“The victim doesn’t want to press charges.” She inclined her head, “And to be honest, this has brought to light some problems; we don’t have time to waste here.”

Shining frowned, “They still-”

A male voice interrupted him, a turquoise-blue, slender stallion pushing through as he said, “Whatever it is can wait until after the race. You all know that Racers are exempt from most laws when it’s this close to a race.”

Pausing for a moment Twilight gave this new pony a once over; noting how his mane and tail looked messy and like they were nothing more than a bunch of hay he had glued to himself. His cutie mark, a blue breeze under a feather, his chin and jawline a darker color than the rest of his coat.

“Zephyr, keep your mouth shut,” Rainbow said with a growl.

Shining’s expression turned dark at that. “I don’t care that there’s a race starting. She could be Spitfire for all I care and I’d still insist on her facing her punishment.”

Twilight takes a step forward and interjects, “Then it’s a good thing the only punishment they’ll face is a fine.” She continues as Shining turns to her, “You know as well as I do that the first time someone is caught stealing that they only pay for what they stole and a fine. Seeing as I went through all of their supplies several times and saw nothing stolen, they only need to pay the fine,” She finished matter-of-factly.

“.... There’s still the fact that they have a count of breaking and entering.”

“That’s still only a week in jail and a fine.”

At this Rainbow spoke up, “And hey, didn’t us getting away alert you to those others? I’m pretty sure I heard weapons firing as we left Canterlot.”

Twilight glanced at Rainbow for a moment before turning back to her brother. “You know that will sway any jury to give them the lightest of sentencing, if any.”

Shining growled and pawed at the metal floor, muttering to himself just loud enough they could hear, “Yeah, they would get away with it....”

“Then why is there a problem with letting them in the race for a few hours?”

Shining huffed and paced some, staying silent for a long while before sighing. “Fine.” He turns to the greenish stallion and points to him. “But you will be detained in their place.”

Rainbow stepped forward and put a hoof on Shining’s shoulder. “Hey, he’s my mechanic for this race! You can’t take him without the race being considered void!”

Giving Rainbow a dark look, Shining pushed her hoof from his shoulder. “Then there will be six guards watching him until the race is over. Once it is, he’ll be arrested and charged for the same crimes.”

Twilight frowned and spoke up, “You know that isn’t fair, Shining.”

“I’m not going to let them have a chance to escape, Twilight.”

“Then keep her ship swarming with guards, not taking an innocent pony captive!”

Shining stopped at that and his face seemed to clear some. “You’re right.... That isn’t the way of the Guards.” He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Alright. Then the unicorn will be taken into custody and the ship will be impounded until this has been resolved.”

Twilight sighed but nodded. “I’ll need you to come with me, though.”

“Why is that?”

“I need to talk with the head bosun here and investigate why this happened.” At that she turned and started towards one of the local guards.

“You mean their claims that things aren’t fully making it here?”

“I don’t think they’re just claims.” Stopping in front of the guard she said, “please take me to the head bosun’s office.”

The guard saluted and in a mare’s voice said, “Yes, ma’am.”

The three of them left, leaving Rainbow and Tempest with the guards. “Well, that seems to be settled. Let’s go join the partying,” Zephyr said, putting a hoof around each Rainbow and Tempest.

Rainbow pushed Zephyr off and gave him a glare. “You don’t even care that you almost got dragged into this!”

“Aw ‘cmon, rainbows, I know you’d have my back if I did.” Zephyr took a step away from Tempest as the guards moved to restrain her. “Just like I know how you won’t just leave her to face everything.”

Rainbow would punch Zephyr’s shoulder at that. “You of all ponies know I’m not that reliable!”

Zephyr turned to Rainbow, a frown on his face. “You know that was my fault. I was the one at the controls. I was the one that opened that door. I am the one responsible for her-” He stops to take a breath, tears in his eyes as he looks away. “I was the only one at fault there, you did what you could to save her but...it was my carelessness that killed her.”

Rainbow’s expression softened and she put a hoof on his shoulder. “You’ve kept that all this time...?”

Zephyr stayed silent, walking away.