Chapter Twelve – Rainbow Dash

It took Rarity three more tries to get the cloak right. The entire time, she would not stop talking. She rambled on about Frostburn's "physique" and how it was so uniquely built that she couldn't seem to get the right size. She prattled on about making sure the fabric would work to his movement while still keeping him modest. She even fussed on about the color. Rainbow had heard more about making a cloak than she cared to know. It was unbearable.

She also couldn't stop thinking about the comment Rarity had almost made about Frostburn. Rainbow Dash didn't like the idea of Rarity being attracted to Frostburn. She tried to convince herself that it was because he was dangerous, or it might jeopardize their escape from Ponyville, but Dash couldn't hide from it. She liked Frostburn too.

It was crazy, she knew. Liking a pony that had nearly killed her was ridiculous, but it was true. Dash had felt something when they had fought last night. She normally felt on top of everything, unable to be beaten. Invincible even.

And Frostburn had taken that away last night. The security that Dash had held onto was gone. She was no longer invincible. Now she felt as if the only one who could make her feel that way again was him.

But if Rarity liked him too, wouldn't that hurt their friendship? How would Rarity react if she knew how Dash felt?

Rarity mercifully settled on a disguise that she was happy with, allowing Dash to push away her confusing thoughts. The four ponies prepared to depart. Frostburn pulled the hood over his head as Pinkie opened the door. She looked in every thinkable direction before happily declaring it to be clear.

Dash hurried through the door, followed by an anxious Frostburn, and Rarity who took the time to lock up the Boutique. Now the four's only problem was getting to the Everfree forest before they would consider being safe, which was ironic.

Rainbow Dash took the lead, eager to be on the front lines if trouble appeared. Pinkie happily bounced in the middle of the group, not making much of an attempt to be sneaky. Rarity walked alongside Frostburn, Rainbow noticed she was close, but trying to be nonchalant about it. It made her feel... jealous. Dash turned her focus away.

It seemed the town was deserted on this side, until Cloud Kicker came running by, stopping in front of Dash. Frostburn was prepared to duck away, until he saw that Cloud Kicker wasn't even close to looking at him.

"Rainbow Dash, what are you and your friends doing out here?" She asked. "Don't you know Princess Celestia has called an emergency meeting in town square?"

This caught Rainbow Dash off guard. "Oh, well I…" She stumbled trying to think of an excuse.

Cloud Kicker hardly noticed. "Come on, we're already late." She began to trot off.

Rarity allowed herself a smile, and nudged Frostburn. "It seems my disguise worked out pretty good." Dash rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, but what happens when somepony actually looks at him?" Rarity frowned at her.

"You guys should go to the meeting to avoid suspicion." Frostburn said. "I'll go ahead to Zecorah's". Before anypony could agree, Cloud Kicker reappeared.

"Well come on you four." She said. Trapped, Rainbow looked back at Frostburn, who had now been roped into coming along.

"Okay then." Rainbow agreed. The ponies reluctantly followed Cloud Kicker to town square, Frostburn visibly tense the entire time. Dash herself was sweating with nervousness.

Upon reaching town square, they saw there was a mass of ponies gathered, all crowding around to get a better look at the Princess. Celestia herself was at the podium, flanked by several of her guards. To her right, Twilight, Applejack, and Fluttershy were all present, looking fairly nervous.

"Citizens of Ponyville." The Princess of the Sun spoke loudly. "It has recently been confirmed that the pony responsible for the destruction of your town has escaped from our custody." The audience neighed and whinnied very unhappily, some mad and other's surprised at what the Princess said. Dash wondered how the Princess had already found that out. Surely Twilight had come up with some plan. The Princess silenced everypony with the next part of her speech. "It has also been confirmed that this pegasus was responsible for an attempted assassination..."

"Accident," muttered Frostburn.

"… that occurred in years past. A search party has been sent out to find and apprehend this criminal. However I ask that each one of you do your part to bring him down." Celestia continued. "If anyone has knowledge of a blue pegasus with a red mane, please report it to a soldier immediately."

Twilight looked out into the crowd, and saw Rainbow Dash, Pinkie, Rarity, and Frostburn stuck between the masses. Her eyes widened in surprise and she motioned for them to move away. Rainbow gritted her teeth, unsure of how to get away from the crowd unnoticed. Ponies surrounded them on all sides, blocking a quick getaway. Of course she could fly out, but Frostburn was grounded unless they wanted another freak out.

"What do we do?" She asked the group. Pinkie Pie shrugged while Rarity put on a slightly overdramatic thinking face. Frostburn winced, coming up with nothing.

"I think I should just run for it." He said.

"No, that's ridiculous darling. Then they'll know it's you for certain." Rarity said.

"Well what do you suggest?" Rainbow asked her. Rarity bit her lip.

"I've got it!" Pinkie said. Before anypony could ask her what her plan was, Pinkie suddenly shouted over the Princess and the crowd. "Hey everypony!" She screamed. "I just saw the pegasus downtown making a run for it! Get him!"

The crowd reacted violently, beginning to run downtown in mob formation, shouting indecipherable threats. Celestia's guards split, half going with the mob to make an arrest, and half moving with the Princess as she left the stage.

"Go, get to Zecorah's!" Pinkie shrieked over the mob's cries. Ponies ran past Dash's field of vision, but she could clearly see that Pinkie was being swept up in the crowd. "I lead them out of here!" The pink mare yelled.

"But Pinkie," Rarity yelled. "This is mass hysteria! How will you lead them anywhere?"

"I specialize in the hysterical." Pinkie said. Dash watched stunned as her friend slapped on her fake mustache and disappeared into the crowd of raging ponies. The mob was passed its height now; only the late reactors were left, chasing after the crowd.

"We're doomed." Frostburn said.

Dash turned to him. "Hey, have a little faith in her." She said. "She's Pinkie Pie for pony's sake. She'll be fine." Frostburn did not look any surer. Fluttershy and Applejack came up when the mob died down.

"Twilight was swept away with the Princess." AJ said. "She told us to go ahead to Zecorah's place."

Fluttershy looked around. "Where's Pinkie?" She asked. Dash pointed toward the mob in the distance. "Oh my, will she be okay?"

"Yeah." Dash said. "But we should get moving." The group nodded, and everypony began a made break for the Everfree Forest.

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