Praetorian

Darkness...

Rainbow Dash struggled to see in the pitch black rushing waters. She stuck out a hoof, in search of stable ground only to pull it back in shock as it dragged along the rough wall entombing her. Desperately she kicked out, trying to fight the unrelenting pull of the icy water. Failing this, she did the only thing she could.

Panic.

She struggled against the current, hooves flailing aimlessly as she put what little energy she could muster into fighting it. Just as she thought she had gained some semblance of control, the current shifted, slamming her against the wall of the tunnel. Winded, she opened her mouth to gasp for air but was instead greeted by the ice cold water surrounding her. She began coughing, trying to purge the water only to swallow more in the process.

Her lungs screamed as the icy water forced it’s way down her throat. Liquid fire spread throughout her chest as the mare struggled. Strength waning and unable to fight any longer, her body spasmed. Vision betraying her as the darkness consumed what little light she held onto.

An almost blinding white light danced across her eyelids as she gave in. She reached forwards, waiting for the pain to end.

‘So this is what death is like?’ she thought, ‘Twilight, Rarity, Applejack... I never got to tell the princess... I... I... failed.'

“Sweet merciful Celestia! Is that a pony?!”

A pair of limbs wrapped themselves around her torso, lifting her out of the frigid waters.

“ Goddess be praised,” the voice murmured before shouting, “she’s still alive! Somepony call a doctor!”

With that, Rainbow went limp. Unable to move, unable to breathe, the shadows once again reached out, lulling her into a deep, dark sleep.

Praetorian

By Mushious

Chapter One: Broken

The shadows writhed around them as Rarity cast a spell of illumination for the fifth time since waking up; which at a guess was around an hour ago. She paced back and forth constantly peering towards Applejack who knelt over an unconscious Twilight Sparkle.

“How is she now Applejack dear,” she asked, her voice rich with concern.

Applejack sighed, “for the tenth time Rarity, she’s still asleep.”

“I do hope she wakes up soon,” she complained, “this cave is dreadfully dirty.”

Applejack rolled her eyes and stood up, stretching her singed body, she turned to her friend and declared, “Ah’m going to try and get us some help. You stay here and watch over Twilight.”

“Why do you get to go?” Rarity asked, frowning at the thought of being left alone in the dark cave.

Applejack chuckled, “You have the light. As far as Ah’m aware, bats don’t like light and you don’t like bats.”

Rarity winced and ground her teeth, knowing she was defeated. “Very well. Do hurry though. Twilight could wake up any minute, she’s definitely in no condition to walk.”

Applejack nodded, “don’t you worry your pretty little head. Ah’ll be back in a jiffy.”

Cautiously, Applejack worked her way over the fallen debris leading to the cavern mouth, heading off into the darkness, leaving Rarity alone.

Sitting down next to Twilight’s still body, Rarity allowed herself the slightest whimper; almost certain she could hear laughter amidst Applejack’s fading hoofsteps.

--

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

“And there’ll be balloons and... and streamers!” Pinkie Pie bounced across the room wildly, “ooh, cake! I can’t believe I forgot cake!”

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

Fluttershy glanced nervously at the door, “um, Pinkie...” she mumbled, Pinkie’s incessant ravings drowning out her voice.

“But what to call it? The welcome-back-from-a-dark-scary-cave party? Hmmm... nah. Too long.”

“Pinkie!” Fluttershy called out once again, as loudly as she dared. They were indoors after all.

Pinkie Pie stopped mid bounce, “oh hey Fluttershy,” she grinned, “what can I do you for?”

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

“Um... there’s someone at the-”

“Hey! There’s someone at the door! Would love to stay and chat Fluttershy but I better get this.” Pinkie’s grin followed her to the door. Opening it, she stuck her head out, planting it firmly in front of a slightly alarmed guard.

Attempting to regain some composure, he cleared his voice, “Miss Pinkamena Pie, Miss Fluttershy, by order of Princess Celestia, I am here to escort you to the Royal Hospital of Canterlot. Any questions you have will be answered upon arrival.” He stepped clear of the door, allowing the mares to exist the room.

“Woo!” Pinkie cheered, “field trip! How soon do we leave?”

“Immediately.” Once the mares were clear of the door, the guard’s horn flared up. Golden threads lit up the corridor before exploding into bright light all but blinding the surprised mares.

When their vision finally cleared, they found they were no longer in the expansive castle corridor. In place of the long winding hallway now sat a wide open room, which on closer examination appeared to be the waiting room of a hospital.

After the last of the crackling subsided, Pinkie immediately started bouncing up and down shouting, "Ooh, ooh. We totally need that ride at my next big party, maybe we could get Twilight to...."

Fluttershy murmured something incomprehensible, trying to shake away the stars that danced across her vision.

The guard chuckled, “forgive me, I should have warned you to close your eyes first. Now, if you will please follow me, the princess is waiting.” Not needing to be asked twice, Pinkie and Fluttershy quickly fell in behind the guard as he led them through an entire wing that seemed empty save the distraught monarch of the sun.

Princess Celestia greeted them as they approached. “Girls, it is good to see you.” They bowed before her in unison.

“Please do not be alarmed by what I’m about to tell you. About two hours ago, one of my guards pulled your friend Rainbow Dash from the western river, at the time, she was not breathing. Upon administering CPR, she was rushed here.” Celestia’s face was distraught, pained emotion wearing away at her delicate features.

Pinkie Pie had stopped bouncing at the mention of Rainbow’s name. She drew Fluttershy in close, hugging the weeping pegasus for all her worth.

“Is she... will she be okay princess?” Pinkie asked, her lip quivering.

“Thankfully, they got her just in time. A minute more and the doctors may not have been able to revive her.”

They breathed a sigh of relief.

“I am just waiting on the doctor, you you would like to sit with me,” she gestured to a bench along the wall. Without needing to be asked twice, they scurried to the bench and sat down. Celestia joined them and extended a wing, pulling them in her warm embrace.

“Worry not, my little ponies. I am sure she will be fine.”

Mere moments after she had finished speaking, the door in front of them creaked open revealing a disheveled pony garbed in hospital greens.

“You can see her now,” she said before glancing at the princess, “please be gentle, she’s still recovering. Try not to ask too many questions.” She glared at Pinkie who was already bounding towards the door.

Celestia sighed in relief and nodded, “I understand doctor. At the moment, I just wish to make sure she is alright.”

With that, the doctor held the door open, allowing the mares access to the room.

The sight that greeted them brought tears to their eyes. Rainbow Dash lay in a cot in the center of the room, various tubes and wires clinging to her delicate frame.

Upon hearing the voices of her friends, she sat up, eyes welling up with tears. Her cheeks burned at the thought of making them worry, “h... hey girls,” she croaked, choking back tears, “princess...”

Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy rushed to the bedside, “Oh my gosh Rainbow Dash, are you alright? We were so worried! What happened down there? Where is Twi-”

“Girls!” Princess Celestia loomed over them, “you heard the doctor. Be careful, we do not need to wear her out.”

Rainbow chuckled, “relax princess. If it was anypony else I’d be just as worried.” She took a deep breath, relishing the ability to do so. “To be honest girls, I don’t know. All I remember is falling into the water and blacking out. The girls are probably down there looking for me. Trust my luck, I probably flew into something as stubborn as I am.” She laughed at the possibility.

Celestia grimaced, “As long as you are alright. I will dispatch my guards to go find the others.” She turned to leave.

“No need princess!” Pinkie called out, “Fluttershy and I will go!”

Fluttershy’s eyes flew open in alarm, “we will!?”

The princess stopped and asked, “are you sure Pinkie Pie?”

“Yes Pinkie, are you sure?” Fluttershy chorused.

“Sure I’m sure!” She confirmed, “come on Fluttershy, it’ll be fun!”

“Oh... okay,” Fluttershy whispered unhappily, defeated.

Celestia nodded, “Very well then, if you have any trouble or do not come out within the hour, I will have my finest guards come to your aid.” She stopped at the door, “rest easy Rainbow Dash, you need not worry any longer.”

Once the princess had left, Rainbow Dash turned to her friends. “Pinkie,” she called. The pink mare bounded over to her. “Please... be careful.” Her voice faded as she drifted back to sleep.

“Okie... doki loki,” Pinkie confirmed, slightly more confused than normal. She turned to leave, ushering a terrified Fluttershy out.

Pinkie Pie marched Fluttershy through Canterlot’s twisting streets until their goal was in sight. Scaffolding littered the rocky walls surrounding the city, a sharp slit in the rock, uncovered by recent construction lay before them. The pair clambered the steel jungle, awestruck by the sight that met them. What had appeared to be nothing more than a gap in the rock revealed itself to be a cavernous opening, wide enough to comfortably fit an apple cart or in this case, two mares.

With a gulp, they peered into the unforgiving dark. A sharp clatter echoed from within, startling Fluttershy. Moments later, Applejack blundered out crashing into the timid pony.

“Well, howdy!” She greeted them warmly, as she regained her footing in the shade of the cave mouth. “You’re just the two ponies Ah’ was hoping to run into. Twi’s got herself in a spot of trouble, care to lend a hoof?”

“T... trouble?” Fluttershy glanced around nervously, “we should tell the princess!”

“Eh, no need. Ah’ just need a hand lifting her out. You coming?”

Pinkie shrugged, “well okay... how did you get out anyway? It looks really really dark in there.”

Applejack fidgeted, kicking the dirt, “don’ you worry none, years of eating apples has given me great night vision.”

“Um... Applejack... isn't that carrots?” Fluttershy squeaked.

“Bite your tongue, you callin’ me a liar?”

Fluttershy shook her head, hoping to avoid confrontation. Not wanting to argue, they followed Applejack into the foreboding cavern, away from the light of the city.

From the balcony of her room, Rainbow Dash watched the entire encounter. She tried shouting out to them, her warnings falling on deaf ears. Pulling away the wires that kept her attached to the hospital equipment, she began climbing the balcony, only to be pulled inside by a nurse.

“No! You don’t understand! I need to warn them!” She cried out, struggling against her detainee only to be answered by the sharp prick of a needle followed by shadow.