How the Tables Turn

When Ashes left the house, her eyes fell upon Phoenix and a dead pegasus guard. Phoenix held one serrated blade in his mouth and another in his hoof. He extended his neck forward in a gesture for her to take it. She obliged.

“Did you have to kill him?”

“Probably not, but wouldn’t he have done the same?”

Ashes rolled her eyes at his response. “That’s not the point. How do you know if he was even acting of his own volition?”

“What does that matter to me? What’s done is done. What’s with the necklace, anyway?”

“It was the last thing my father gave me. It’s part of my family’s tradition. Everypony in the family receives a necklace from their parents, a necklace forged from the essence of their identity. Look at the pendant. What do you see?”

“An emerald. With… ashes.” Emerald Ashes. “Huh. Makes sense.”

“The necklace is my identity, and my father’s last wish was that I wear it with pride.”

The two of them stood in silence for a moment, respecting the lives of those who couldn’t be with them. Phoenix came to his senses first. “Well, I guess there’s no point standing around, not when there’s a revolution going on.”

“You’re right. It’s time to move.” The two of them trotted down the hall to Phoenix’s door, and Phoenix opened it with a nudge.

Cloud Kicker and Sunbeam stood sentry in the living room. Phoenix and Ashes had left for the cafeteria moments ago, and they were trusted to guard Rainbow while they started the riot.

Sunbeam spoke up first, clearing the uneasy silence they had been in for the past five minutes. “So… How well do you think this will go?”

“Honestly? Terribly. Nothing ever goes to plan. Ever. No matter what you’re talking about.”

“Do you think Rainbow will be okay?”

“Depends.”

“Go on.”

Kicker sighed. “Well, first of all, it depends on whether or not she gets caught up in the crossfire. If we get out unhurt, then huzzah, but if she gets injured any further, chances are she won’t make it.

“It also depends on how long it takes to get her out of here. Blood poisoning acts quickly, and I’d have to see her wing to know how long she has left. Honestly, it could be a matter of days, or it could be hours.”

“Well, maybe you should go check on her, see if you can find out how long she has left.”

“Not till Phoenix gets back. I’m not leaving you here alone.”

“You’ll be one room away, and besides, when Phoenix gets back, we’ll want to… get… any reason you’re focusing on Phoenix?”

“The stallion’s been working out for five years straight. If anypony has a fighting chance against a group of guards, it’s him.”

“What about you and your Royal Guard training?”

“Why do you think I don’t want to leave your side?”

“Still doesn’t tell me why you focus on Phoenix.”

Kicker facehoofed. Hard. “I’m not attracted to him. For your information, I don’t even swing that way.”

“Oh… I feel stupid now. Anyway, you should still check on Rainbow.”

“Fine. This’ll only take a minute.”

Kicker trotted into Rainbow’s room and opened the door. She carefully and quietly strode in, trying, to no avail, not to wake Rainbow.

Rainbow’s eyes fluttered open and locked on Kicker's. “H-hey. What’s up?” Kicker had never heard Rainbow sounding so frail.

“I’m just here to check on your wing.”

“Okay.” Her head turned back to the ceiling, her eyes shutting again. Kicker tentatively reached out a hoof towards the base of Rainbow’s wing, brushed aside feathers, and looked at the skin underneath. Overnight it had gone from a dull pink to a crimson blaze against her sky blue feathers. She continued her eye along the streaks of red, which reached out in tendrils along her back, her side, and made their way towards her chest, finally dulling out to a soft pink and dissipating away at her ribcage. It was dangerously close to her heart.

“Maybe ten hours. Maybe.” She spoke under her breath to be sure Rainbow would not hear. She looked up to Rainbow’s pale face before reaching out to feel Rainbow’s forehead, but instead of the heat she had been expecting, it was cold as ice. She needs more blood in her body. Badly. She left the room, returning with a hot cloth, which she placed upon Rainbow’s forehead. Rainbow seemed to relax visibly. The corners of her mouth turned up into a serene smile in her sleep. Kicker turned to the door and trotted out. She closed the door behind her, but not before the sound of Rainbow’s strained voice drifted through.

“Thank you.”

The door shut, and Kicker let her head hang. She stared at the floor in outright depression. She stayed there for several minutes, letting thoughts of Rainbow’s condition wash over her.

The weakest voice she had ever heard. The streaks of crimson reaching towards her heart in an attempt to snuff out her life. The frightening lack of blood in her veins.

To say the least, the odds were against her.

Kicker let out a sad sigh before trotting into the living room. She raised her head, locking eyes with Sunbeam.

“Not good, huh?”

“Ten hours at best. Considering the blood loss, I’d actually say more or less eight.”

Sunbeam trotted over and wrapped Kicker into a hug. “No need to worry, Kicker. We’ll get her out of here.”

“And then what? It’s not like any non-guards in this place can fly. We’d have to move on hoof, and that could take way more time than we have.”

“We’ll worry about that when we get there. For now, let’s worry about getting out.” As if on cue, the door swung open, revealing Phoenix and a necklace-adorned Ashes. Ashes trotted past Kicker and instantly went for the bedroom, and Kicker joined her.

When Kicker trotted in, Ashes was already in the process of cocooning Rainbow in the blankets. Kicker lent a hoof in wrapping the blankets around her. When they were done, Phoenix strode in and crouched down. Kicker and Ashes gently placed Rainbow on his back. Kicker grabbed the now cold cloth and took it to the bathroom, reheating it, and returned, placing it on her forehead and tying it in back to hold it in place. Kicker saw that trademark sick Rainbow smile cross her face again. She moved in place alongside Phoenix and the three of them left the room balancing Rainbow on Phoenix’s back.

They reached the living room, and Phoenix continued by the plan, which was slightly improved with the arrival of wingblades. “Sunbeam, come here. Take Kicker’s place.” She obliged. Ashes handed Kicker the wingblades. “There’s a dead pegasus outside. Take his straps and put those on.” Kicker offered a militant salute and left the room to follow his command. The four of them followed suit, leaving the house behind. Rainbow began taking notice in what was going on.

“What’s happening? Are we getting out?”

“Yes.”

“What’s our plan?”

“There’s a full-scale riot in the cafeteria. We use it as cover to find the way out.”

“Sounds vague and full of holes.”

“Well, that’s all we’ve got, so let’s go.”

At this point, Kicker had finished strapping on the wingblades. She trotted up and took the lead, flaring her wings out in an offensive stance. The five of them made their way down the hallway, searching for the exit.