“You will come back soon Dashie?” Pinkie locked Rainbow Dash in a tight embrace, a small quiver in her voice.

“I will try Pinkie.” Dash gently rubbed Pinkie’s back in attempt to soothe the distraught mare. Leaving Pinkie behind was becoming harder and harder for Dash to do. A few minutes went by before Dash had the strength needed to pull away from Pinkie’s loving embrace.

Pinkie gripped Dash’s foreleg desperately, a pleading look in her eyes. Giving Pinkie a sad smile, Dash kissed her gently. Pinkie pressed herself into the kiss, clinging to it and drawing it out as long as possible. When Dash went to move away, Pinkie moved with Dash until strong hooves managed to push her away.

“I will be back Pinkie. I promise.”

Nodding mutely, Pinkie pulled Dash into another quick embrace. Letting go, Pinkie smiled sadly at the cyan pony’s retreating form.

Rainbow Dash frowned, gliding above the clouds. "I.... Can't keep doing this. I didn't even want to leave...." She sighed quietly, shaking her head. "No no, c'mon Rainbow Dash, snap out of it!!"

She angled herself upwards, squeezing her eyes tightly. She felt the wind against her face, allowing herself a small smile. "It's time to go home..." She decided, halting her ascend.

She dove down, dodging her way around random trees. She grinned, seeing familiar buildings come into view. Feeling better for returning home, Rainbow landed carefully at the entrance to the camp and looked around gladly.

But what met her was not crowds of welcoming ponies and populated streets of military pegasus that valued the authority of the second in command. What she saw instead was an empty camp, vacant of ponies both weather and military.

Her eagerness to get back to training quickly became a look of confusion on her cyan face as she walked cautiously through the area, glancing around at the thick snow and cliffs that enveloped the base with raised eyebrows and a racing heart.

“Where is everypony?” Her eyes shifted from left to right, trying to find a reason for why there was an empty camp before her. She beat her wings and lifted herself into the air, looking across the field and facing Fluttershy’s home, situated beside the flower grove that she had imagined hearing Pinkie’s voice through the air.

She landed in front of the house, feeling oddly insecure about the situation, “Where did everypony go?” She didn’t know why; she felt like she was being watched from all around her, not being able to settle her nerves even as she reached the front step. This doesn’t feel right...

Stern sneering pegasi began filtering out toward Rainbow. The largest of the ponies holding heavy chains in their mouths. The pegasi formed a dome around Rainbow Dash, preventing any chance of escape.

“What the hay is going on here?!” Dash barked in a mixture of anger and fear. Refusing to back away from the advancing pegasi, she flared her wings aggressively and shifted into a defensive position.

Her defensive stance triggered the mob to rush her all at once. In a few short moments, a slightly bruised Rainbow Dash was being dragged by chains forcefully by several cut and bruised pegasi. Her wings had been tied down to her back with heavy chains. Her wing blades and foreleg blades were torn forcefully from her in the violent scuffle.

Gritting her teeth, Dash rose her head up to see where she was being led to. Seeing the military base emerge a cold fear settled heavily in her chest. An ominous and foreboding aura seemed to radiate off the building the closer she seemed to get to it. Refusing to let fear take over, Dash held herself in confidence and strode toward the building a defiant stare settling on her face.

Passing through the heavy metal doors Dash immediately locked eyes with Hurricane’s icy blue eyes.

A delicate whimper caught Dash’s attention. Turning her head toward the sound her face contorted in horror. A bandaged and bruised Fluttershy trembled in a heap on the stone floor. Fury roared through Dash, she shifted her blazing glare toward Commander Hurricane.

“I’m glad you finally made it...TRAITOR!” Hurricane’s voice held false cheeriness before it broke into a heated shout.

Cringing slightly, Dash attempted to maintain composure as she was brought face to face with her Commander. She focused on maintaining a stern expression as she glared at the enraged pegasi leader.

Hurricane shifted into a more relaxed state, “Your actions have cost you AND Fluttershy dearly...I hope you know this.”

Fluttershy was prodded forward with sharp sticks, making her cry out in agony before limping next to Hurricane. Dash’s tough expression cracked upon closer view of the yellow pegasus. Ugly purple welts shone brightly against her yellow fur. Her left eye swollen shut and dark, her snout had dried blood matting her fur around her mouth.

"I hope I get to know why you're 'threatening' me, Commander." Dash growled, glaring up at the commander. "Last I knew, you had given me time off."

Hurricane snarled. "You LIAR! I SAW you with that vile pink thing with my OWN eyes!"

Fear set deep inside Dash's mind. Oh no, she thought, refusing to show her panic. She grimaced, attempting to come up with a quick excuse. Unable to come up with one she resigned herself to admitting the truth.

"Fine. You caught me." She glared, refusing to listen to the shocked gasps echoing throughout the room. "You bucking caught me."

Hurricane paused quickly, confused. She wasn't going to deny it?

"I'm a traitor. There. You happy? I'm a traitor by dealing with ONE freakin’ earth pony. Not the whole bucking village. I'm the traitor who's trapped between two bucking loyalties. Happy with that, Commander?" Dash growled, looking up at the ice blue eyes of her Commander. "I'm not afraid of you. Do whatever the bucking hell you want. I'm. Not. Scared."

Rainbow Dash continued to glare keeping her eyes level. She felt fear swim up inside her, but not for her. She wasn't scared for herself.

If Hurricane saw me with Pinkie, Dash began thinking, then she knows where Pinkie lives..!

Hurricane regarded Rainbow Dash with hate. "Well, it's good that you admitted it yourself, Traitor." She walked forward slowly, glaring at the cyan mare critically. "I'm glad you did. Your punishment has been lessened....."

Uncertain relief flooded into Dash. She didn't relax, but felt relief.

"But."

Relief vanished. Dash put herself on edge, attempting to control a growl that was dying to escape her throat.

Hurricane spun on Rainbow Dash, connecting her hoof with the side of Dash's head. The helmet flew off, with Dash stumbling backwards. She felt dizzy, her mind woozy.

"WHAT THE BUCKING HAY?!" The cyan mare shouted, her rainbow mane falling over her magenta eyes, fury boiling inside her.

Hurricane regarded the furious mare with a cold glare. "You're excused, Rainbow Dash. For good."

Dash felt her eyes go wide. No, she thought. No no no!! "What?!"

"From the military, from the tribe, from this territory." Hurricane’s sharp voice cut into Dash. “Unless...”

“....Unless what?” Suspicion and frustration filled Dash’s voice as she eyed Hurricane distastefully.

“You kill this traitor,” Hurricane gestured to the trembling and whimpering Fluttershy, “And that filthy pink dirt pony.”

“I would rather die.” Dash spoke instantly, with an icy edge in her voice.

In a blind rage, Hurricane slashed Dash with her foreleg blade. Nearly blinding Dash’s right eye, she left a deep cut from Dash’s eyebrow down and across her muzzle. Gritting her teeth, Dash refused to cry out in pain.

“Take her to the edge of the pegasi territory and beat her.” revulsion oozed from Hurricane’s voice, “Take this traitor too.” With a growl, Hurricane grabbed the trembling yellow mare by her mane and yanked her to her hooves.

Lifting up Dash’s discarded helmet, Hurricane slammed it heavily onto Dash’s head, “Keep your tainted armor.”

Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash were swiftly led to the outskirts of the pegasi territory. They began tearing Rainbow’s armor off her body cracking their hooves against Dash’s firm body, bruising the unprotected flesh.

Four of the pegasi began forcing Dash onto her back, giving several swift punches to her gut and face in order to get the upper hand. Dash fought back as best as she could but found she was fighting a losing battle. A violent crack against her jaw made blood drip freely from her nose and mouth, disorienting her and making it easier for them to pin her.

One of the pegasi had brought Dash’s weapons. After securing Dash onto her back, the grinning pegasi began carving into her exposed flesh. Dash, refusing to allow herself to appear weak, growled furiously. Her mind whirled, feeling herself slowly slip into unconsciousness.

No! She growled at herself, determination setting inside her. I..... Have to save Fluttershy. Save her. Save Pinkie.... Pinkie.....

Rainbow Dash let out a furious yell, adrenaline aiding her to kick the Pegasus carving into her in the gut.

"GET OFF OF ME!" She screamed, letting her mind drift into the familiar territory of the instinct to fight. She couldn't see what they were doing to Fluttershy, concern settling into her heart.

No, focus on driving them off..... Dash directed herself, fiercely punching the nearest pegasi in the jaws. She heard furious yells and words of hate yell at her, but she ignored them. I can handle this pain. I can't handle them hurting MY Pinkie. I can't handle that thought....

A quiet whimper of pain made Rainbow Dash aware of Fluttershy's pain. I most definitely WON'T stand for them hurting my friend!

"That's ENOUGH!" Rainbow growled, rearing back on her hind legs, holding her forelegs in front of her in defense. "You did your bucking job! No get back to your STUPID tribe and your STUPID commander!" She growled, authority firm in her voice.

Her former tribe members froze, backing off. She growled again. She may not belong to the tribe anymore, she thought, but I still know how to easily kill them with the flick of a tail. And they knew it.

The blood dripping from her chest gleamed brightly making Dash’s vision swim. One of the male pegasi noticed her suddenly weaker state and slammed his hoof directly into her right cheek making her fall heavily onto the ground.

“That’s what you get, Rainbow CRASH!” A deep, cruel voice washed over her.

Feeling the blood from the deep gash Hurricane left her with flow freely again, she looked up at the large pegasus, Dash’s eyes widened in recognition, “Dumbbell?”

“The one and only!” Smirking he smashed his large hoof against her chest, cracking a few ribs. Dash hissed in pain, glaring up at him.

“You need to learn your place Rainbow CRASH!” A sadistic grin grew on his face.

Horror filled Dash’s heart at the implications of his statement when a terrifying shout startled the attacking pegasi.

“YOU LEAVE RAINBOW DASH ALONE YOU BULLIES!” Fluttershy zoomed over to Dash and stood over her protectively. Her eyes held a piercing glare that bore into each and every pony’s soul.

Complying to the suddenly very formidable yellow mare, the pegasi dropped the chains and Dash’s weapons and bolted back to the tribe. One managed to drop their saddlebag in the haste to escape.

Fluttershy turned quickly to the cyan mare collapsed on the floor and crouched down in front of her, concern spread across her face, “Rainbow Dash, are you alright?”

“How... How did you... do that?” The pegasus struggled out, trying to stand and feeling a sharp pain rip through her chest. I can’t... let this happen... Pinkie...

“I... don’t know... It just happens sometimes... I don’t really have much control over it.”

Dash managed to smirk and look up at the timid pony, “Well I’m glad you did that... whether or not meant to use it.”

Finding the strength to stand on her hooves and ignoring the pain in her gut, Rainbow rose from the snow and stocked forward, “I need to get to Pinkie... right now... Fluttershy, stay here... I don’t want you to get hurt because of me. It’s my fight.”

Fluttershy shook her head, “No Dash... if you get hurt more, or anypony else, you’ll need my help.”

Dash opened her mouth to say something, but saw the intent look on the yellow pony’s face and nodded. Her legs buckled suddenly, the pain in them winning out and she fell to the floor again. She growled out in anguish at the damage down to her stomach as it contacted the snow covered ground.

“Oh my goodness, oh my goodness.” Fluttershy shouted as she attended to the fallen mare’s injuries with the gauze she had found in a saddle bag one of the pegasi had left behind when fleeing, “Rainbow, don’t move... you’re in no condition to be going anywhere.”

Rainbow groaned out and placed her hoof over the timid pony’s, “Make it quick, Flutter... I got... a pink mare to save...”

Fluttershy’s eyes began to water at the dedication the mare had to her partner; she nodded and placed some gauze over Dash’s right eye to soak up the blood dripping from the wound.

She cleaned the rainbow-maned pegasus’ wounds and wrapped the pony’s stomach in bandages, careful to allow Rainbow to breath easily and regain her strength. She tended to Dash’s bleeding mouth and nose, careful to avoid the forming bruise on her cheek.

A stinging sensation shot through the cyan mare and she stifled a groan. She cringed and thought of what was happening to Pinkie right now. She wouldn’t let her own suffering prevent her from protecting the one she loved.

She promised.
*****

Pinkie sat on the edge of the cliff looking out at her old home town, but this time she smiled up at the clouds above her. She was content to sit on her haunches for a moment before she went back into her house. For once her mind swam with happy thoughts of what she and Dash could do when she returned.

She heard rustling noises from down the hill and turned to it, hopping up; her smile widened at having another guest at her home.

Applejack’s head poked out from the cover of the snow on the ground and she tipped her hat at the pony, “Howdy sugarcube, just thought I’d stop by ta see how yer doin’. Did Rainbow show up agin ta cheer ya up?”

Pinkie bounced up to the cowgirl pony and nodded rapidly, “Yep. You just missed her actually! We had three whole days together ‘cause the pegasi gave her some time off.”

“Well that’s great ta hear Pinkie,” Applejack smiled gladly at the bouncy attitude that she had almost forgot the pink mare was usually bursting with. But a sudden thought occurred to her and she tilted her head to the side, worriedly, “Uh, Pinks... What are ya’ll doin’ out here anyway?”

Pinkie merely smiled back and sat down on her rump, “Oh, I just felt like sitting out and watching the clouds roll by. It’s... been a long time since I wanted to, but I can’t think of anything else to do.”

“Well... okay then. I guess.” Applejack shrugged her shoulders.

“Hey Applejack, can you come and sit with me? It’s much more fun to cloud watch when there’s somepony there to listen to you.” Pinkie smiled brightly at Applejack.

The orange pony nodded confidently, “Sure Pinkie, I’d love to. Been a long time since I had a chance to relax too.”

The two sat on the cliff, Pinkie dangling her hooves over the edge and rubbing her fore-hooves together silently and Applejack pointing out a cloud that looked to her suspiciously like a barn full of apples.

“When Dashie gets back,” Pinkie started, looking up at a fluffy cumulus cloud over head. She smiled softly and continued, “we should do this. I’m sure it’ll get her mind off being all worried too.”

“Ah hope so Pinkie. She’s not really one to... relax much.” She said, chuckling softly.
*****

“Are... Are you sure you’re ready to fly again? You should really...” Fluttershy stuttered as Dash struggled to her hooves once more, grimacing at the shock waves of pain spilling from her chest.

“There’s no time to take it easy Fluttershy,” She said sharply, interrupting the timid pegasus’ plea, “Pinkie’s, ugh, in danger... I have to get her out of here.”

Determined, Dash fought through the pain as she slid her armor and weapons back into place. Double checking everything, Dash spread her wings and gave a test flap. A minor twinge of pain shot through her but it was nothing serious.

“Ready Fluttershy?” Dash cocked her head toward Fluttershy, concern etched on her face.

Smiling softly, Fluttershy trotted up to Dash. “Ready.”

Both pegasi leaped into the air and began flying as fast as they possibly could toward Pinkie’s home. Dash blocked out her bodies protests of agony, determined to get to Pinkie no matter what it took.

After several excruciating minutes, Pinkie’s home came into view. Diving quickly, Dash noticed the pink earth pony sitting outside with Applejack. Hitting the ground hard, Dash collapsed heavily on the ground from the agony that rushed through her body.

“Careful Rainbow!” Fluttershy rushed to Dash’s side and inspected her bandages, making sure she didn’t reopen any of her wounds.

The commotion brought Pinkie’s and Applejack’s attention on the two injured pegasi. Horrified at their condition, the two earth ponies rushed over to the pegasi.

“Oh my gosh Dashie! What happened?!” Tears filled her eyes as she looked at the deep bruising and blood stained bandages of her fillyfriend.

Grasping Pinkie’s shoulders desperately, Dash began speaking in a panicked voice. “We need to leave now Pinkie Pie! The military... THEY KNOW!”

“Sugarcube yew two don’t look like yeh could stand on yer legs. Yew need rest!” Applejack was currently holding up a woozy Fluttershy. Her earlier adrenaline had run out and she was slowly fading out of consciousness.

“It doesn’t matter; Fluttershy is in no condition to fight, but... I need to get Pinkie out of here before the pegasi get here...” Dash shut her eyes with a sigh and looked down at her shaky hooves, “Hurricane... saw me with you Pinkie... it’s my fault, I told you I would protect you and...”

“No Dashie, if anypony should be at fault it’s me. I told you I’d be happy as long as I was with you and now all of my friends are paying for how selfish I was.” Determination set firmly on the pink mare’s face and she turned to Applejack, still supporting the trembling pegasus pony, “Applejack, you need to get Fluttershy out of here. She’s in no condition to be on her hooves so you need to get her somewhere safe. I have some medicine stuff you gave me a long time ago in the kitchen; she might be good with medicine, but she can’t bandage herself up to easily.”

Seeming a bit shocked at first to be hearing orders from the pink pony, Applejack nodded once and let the wounded mare lean on her as she walked to the door.

Pinkie then turned to Rainbow and her expression softened; she leaned down and supported the cyan pony as she tried to lift herself up off the ground, “Are you okay Dashie?”

Dash stood up and let her head drop to the snow covered ground; she shook her head openly to the earth pony, “No Pinkie, but... I still gotta get you out. I’m not gonna let you get hurt... I made a promise after all.” She smiled weakly up at Pinkie and felt her shoulder seize up; she fell to the side heavily, unable to hold herself up.

Pinkie’s eyes widened and her ears perked at the groan of pain that escaped the pegasus’ mouth as she prevented her from collapsing to the ground, “Dashie!”

Dash grunted as she leaned against the pink pony for support, still keeping that small grin on her cyan face, “I’m fine Pinks. But if we don’t get out of here soon, I don’t think we’re gonna make it.”

“Come on Dashie, I know a place we can go that nopony else knows about. But we’ve gotta go fast, or we’ll lead them all right to it and it won’t be a secret anymore.” Pinkie’s eyes were wide as she spoke rapidly to the injured pegasus.

Rainbow went to comment again on how the pony didn’t seem to be taking this seriously again, but catching just a hint of fear in Pinkie’s bright cyan eyes Dash could tell she knew full well of the danger they were in.

Instead she nodded and started walking, “Let’s... go.”

Pinkie followed beside her, close enough to keep her from falling again if needed and she said nothing. A sad smile crossed her face at how determined she seemed to be to save her.

“Pinkie...” Dash started, curiosity and anxiety winning out as she wondered where Pinkie could be leading her, “Are you sure this place is hidden? I mean, we’ve got the whole pegasi military after us.”

“Of course silly, I never seen another pony down there before, and I don’t think anypony will be changing that... not even a whole TRIBE of pegasi.” The pink mare responded, letting Rainbow brush her side against hers before getting her stance back.

“W-Why?” She couldn’t help herself, the word spilling from her mouth as her stride lessened.

“‘Cause it’s in a freezy-weezy ice cage silly filly. Why else?” Pinkie giggled softly, “Nopony ever wants to be ponycicle, not even pegasi, and especially not you. But we don’t really have a choice, until we can figure out what to do about those meanie-pants.”

Even though she knew the pink pony was afraid about being seen, I mean what pony wouldn’t be... except herself of course, Dash still envied how calm Pinkie seemed to be about the whole situation. It kind of bugged her, but then she saw the pony’s ear twitch slightly and snapped out of it.

“Uh, yeah... we’ll figure something out.” A searing sensation ripped through her chest. She gasped out loudly, heat spreading across her body as she landed heavily on the cold floor.

“DASHIE!” Pinkie shouted crouching down and wrapping a fore-hoof over the cyan pony’s back, “Dashie, you’re hurt. You need to rest.” She cooed softly into her ears.

Dash gritted her teeth to erase the pain in her chest from her mind, “I... can’t... Whoa! What the?”

Pinkie buried her head into the snow and lifted Rainbow up onto her back, “Hmm... I haven’t done this in a while. Not since you were unconscious in the snow and I warmed you up.”

A blush formed on Dash’s cheeks and she turned away angrily, trying to hide her forming smile, “Sh-Shut up. You’re lucky I’m so injured already.”

The earth mare only giggled at the pony’s nervousness, “Oh? What would you do if you weren’t all injured Dashie?”

Rainbow opened her mouth to say something, but hesitated and rested her hooves drearily on Pinkie’s shoulders; she sighed softy and lowered her head down comfortably on her back, “Nothing.” She replied simply.

The pink mare smiled and trotted lightly towards the entrance of the cave.

“But don’t get any ideas.” Came a sharp grumble from Dash, but it held a joking tone that Pinkie picked up immediately.

“Who me?” She chuckled and rolled her eyes a little as she reached the cave, “Don’t be silly Dashie, you know me.”

Rainbow sighed again, “Yeah... I do.”

“Okay, I’m gonna put you down now. And then we’ll see about those owies.” Pinkie stated simply. She lowered her onto the ground in a patch of snow carefully and slipped her head out.

Dash stared up at her weakly, feeling insecure suddenly about the pink pony touching her, “Pinkie you don’t...”

“I wasn’t there for your other ones Dashie.” Pinkie spoke quickly, interrupting Rainbow with a stern look on her muzzle, “I wanna be there for you this time.”

Dash opened and shut her mouth dumbly before swallowing and nodding quietly, her fear subsiding.

Pinkie checked her bandaged up eye first, gently placing a fore-hoof over the wound on her muzzle. She removed it quickly, seeing the worried expression on her fillyfriend’s face and she moved to her chest.

As the pink mare cared for the injured pegasus, the cave grew colder. Ice encasing the ceiling of the tunnel and rapidly flowing down to the floor. A mist formed in the air just above the pair of ponies and it lingered, as though testing whether or not they could fight back.

The ice reached the floor and crept along it in silent malevolence, surrounding the preoccupied mares in a perfect circle of frost. An icy cold hoof reached out from the mist and shot into the ground, forcing the ice to speed towards Pinkie’s hind-hoof.

But as it reached its target, the ice melted and flowed over her hoof, stopping its deadly intent in its tracks. The rest of the floor dissolved into the warm liquid and draped itself along the two ponies, gaining the attention of the pink mare.

She looked down at her wet hooves and around her, taking in the spectacle before her. She turned to face Rainbow and smiled softly, “Dashie look... its trying to help. Cave water is super useful for scratches.”

“I think I have a bit more than a few scratches... but... I gotta say it feels nice.” Dash found herself grinning back at the earth mare and she managed to stand herself up, feeling better from her long needed rest, “Now come on Pinkie. We need to help the others. They couldn’t have gotten far with ‘Shy’s wounds.”

“Wait Dashie. I need to re-bandage your wounds!” Pinkie grabbed the discarded gauze and quickly cleaned them in the clean cave water that flowed freely around them. Wringing out the bandages she carefully reapplied them to Rainbow’s injuries.

Dash had laid back down while Pinkie was carefully cleaning the bandages. A soft loving smile on her face as she watched Pinkie gently wrap the bandages around her wounds again. Once Pinkie finished with the last of her exposed wounds; Dash darted forward and gave Pinkie a soft kiss.

Pinkie blushed slightly at the contact and smiled hugely, “What was that for?”

“For... everything, Pinkie.” Rainbow smirked, leaning back and rolling over onto her stomach.

Lifting herself up carefully, Dash smiles at the increased steadiness and strength she had gained during her short rest. A sudden wave of fear washed through Dash, “What if the military finds Applejack helping Fluttershy? They might kill them!”

Shock rushed through Pinkie at Dash’s words, “We should go help them!”

“NO! Not you...They will kill you if they see you...Please, stay here.” Dash spoke in a worried yet commanding voice, her stance rigid.

“But...Dashie...”

“NO BUTS PINKIE PIE! I...I can’t lose you...” Dash began trembling, her tough front cracking slightly. Without a backward glance, Dash rushed out of the cave. She was nearing Pinkie’s home and spotted Fluttershy being helped out of the home with Applejack carefully supporting her.

Dash relaxed slightly when the sound of several beating wings filled the area. Blind terror filled Dash’s heart.

“I didn’t realise you had a dirt pony of your own Fluttershy! I knew there was something unnatural about your love of pitiful dirt creatures, it was only a matter of time before you attempted to be with a filthy dirt pony!” Hurricane’s cruel voice echoed loudly as she quickly descended, a small group of military pegasi in tow.

Applejack stood protectively in front of Fluttershy, whom had crouched low to the ground in fear. “Now hang on jis a darn moment! Me and this here pegasus aint in a relationship!”

“How dare such trash speak to me in such a way!” Hurricane moved to strike the orange mare when a cyan hoof collided with the side of her face; blood splattering everywhere as she stumbled backward.

Collective gasps of horror came from the small group of pegasi as they witnessed the spectacle.

“Leave them alone Hurricane! I’m the one who caused all this.” Dash snarled ferociously, her wings spread aggressively. The wing blades gleamed dangerously in the light.

Hurricane slowly turned her head back toward Rainbow Dash. A sinister smile on her face as blood slowly dripped from her mouth. Her eyes glinted with deadly intent.

“You just signed your death wish, Rainbow Dash.”