Rainbow Dash slowly and painfully lifted her head. What happened?

She tried to move, but she couldn't. Every time she tried, a searing pain would shoot through her body, causing her to cry out in pain.

"HELP! Twilight!? Anypony?!" She yelled, hoping that somepony would find her.

She heard the clopping of hooves on the pavement, and a worried voice called out to her.

"Rainbow Dash! Are you ok!? What happened?!" Twilight Sparkle rushed to her friend.

Rainbow took a deep breath. "It's fine, I'm alive... But I can't... Move..." She winced.

Twilight stood up and looked around frantically. "Somepony call a doctor!" She yelled. "Please, we need a doctor!"

Dash lifted her head. "Did they get away?!"

Twilight gave her a confused look. "Did who get away?"

She tried to stand, but still couldn't move. "No! No! They got away, didn't they!"

"Rainbow Dash! What are you talking about?!"

"Twilight! I need you to do me a favor! Please, it's important!"

Twilight looked concerned. "Umm, sure?"

"Go to the Cloudsdale Weather Factory. Ask for Dr. Hide Atmosphere, and tell him that I'm out of action. Bring the message "they got away", and tell him to send reinforcements. He'll know what I'm talking about."

Twilight was confused. "What? Why?"

Rainbow narrowed her eyes. "Just do it. Don't ask questions, it's extremely important!"

"I have to wait for the doctors to get here! What if they don't find you?"

They were answered by the sound of sirens as an ambulance pulled up nearby.

"They're here! Go! Hurry!"

Twilight took one last look at the frantic Rainbow Dash, then unfurled her alicorn wings and took off, towards Cloudsdale.

~~~

I awoke to a loud screeching sound. I slowly lifted my head. What's happening?

The screeching got louder and louder, and suddenly...

BANG!

The entire train shook, and I felt it skid to a stop. On the other side of the car, Amber screamed.

I slowly stood up and looked out the broken window. The train hadn't even stopped at a station, it was just kinda sitting on the tracks in the middle of a field. What looked like a city was located on the other side.

Amber climbed up onto a box and joined me at the window. "That's Manehatten over there..."

"Manehatten?" I squinted at the city. "I thought we were headed for Canterlot..."

"We were," said Glaze, his tail still jammed in the door. "Didn't you hear the huge screech and the bang? The train is broken or something."

I sighed. "Great, just what I need. Whatever, at least we're out of Ponyville."

There was a ding, and a vibrating sound. Nothing happened. I looked curiously out the window. Ponies were pouring out of the passenger cars, looking around with confused expressions. I looked back at our door. It hadn't opened. Probably because we're in a cargo car... Or maybe the door broke when Dash hit it.

I glanced around. There was a door at the side of the car, that led to the next car. We can get out there.

I bucked open the door, completely ignoring the handle.

"Are you going to get me out of here?" Glaze called angrily.

I sighed. "Do I have a choice?"

"No."

"Mystery, just do it," sighed Amber. "You've tormented him enough already, don't you think?"

I growled and turned towards Glaze. "What's the magic word?"

He rolled his eyes. "Get me out of here please."

I glared at him for a second, then started looking around at the boxes. "This one's addressed to the Canterlot Spa," called Amber from across the room. "There's probably scissors in here."

I trotted over to where she was standing. "Maybe, but we need scissors to open the box..."

Amber pawed at the packing tape with her hoof. "Oh... Right." She began to scour the floor for anything that we could use to cut open the packaging.

I sighed and sat down in the corner, not feeling like helping. I've done enough for these two, haven't I?! They're not even grateful for what help I've given them, so why should I give them more?

I could leave right now. I could just walk right out that door, and leave these two stupid ponies behind. I could go and live a normal life somewhere in Equestria that's not anywhere near them. So what's stopping me? I honestly have no idea.

Finally Amber picked up a sharp piece of broken glass from the window, which had shattered when Dash crashed into the car. "Do you think this would cut it?"

I shrugged halfheartedly. "Worth a try I guess. What do we have to lose?"

My sanity, I thought miserably. One more day with these ponies, and I'm going to lose it. I should just leave...

There was a popping sound as the box ripped open. Amber began to dig through it, tossing out bottle after bottle of special ointments and various hair products. She reached in and pulled out a pack of scissors. "ARE YOU FREAKING SERIOUS?!"

I couldn't stop myself from laughing. The scissors were encased in packaging that could only be opened by scissors.

Glaze facehoofed. "Where are the unicorns when you need them?"

I sighed and walked out the side door, Glaze's question giving me an idea.

I came back a few minutes later, and spat a pair of scissors at Amber's feet.

She stared at them. "Where...?"

I rolled my eyes. "All I had to do was go outside where all those other ponies are, and yell DOES ANYPONY HAVE SOME SCISSORS!? A nice unicorn had a pair in her suitcase."

She stared at them, then looked back up. She glared at me, then snatched up the scissors and cut Glaze free.

The second he was free of the door, I left the train car and started off towards the town. The other two ponies quickly caught up.

"Where are we going now?" Asked Amber curiously.

"Well, first of all, I'm famished, so I'm going to find something to eat. Whether you're coming or not, is up to you." I said.

"Somepony's grumpy..." Muttered Amber under her breath.

I rolled my eyes. "I can hear you."

"You were suppose to..." She growled.

"How would we buy food? We have no money," stated Glaze.

I paused, suddenly remembering our lack of bits. "Oh... Right."

"I did have a few bits in the pocket of my labcoat, but nooo, you made me take it off!"

"It was Amber's idea, not mine!" I protested.

"Oh, yeah, everything's my fault!" She said mockingly. "Blame the poor defenseless filly who can't fly!"

"Well, that makes two flightless ponies, so that leaves Glaze. It's his fault!" I hissed.

"How does not being able to fly make you innocent?!"

"Who's Glaze?"

I facehoofed, realizing that Amber still knew him as Toaster.

"That's me!" Glaze said, annoyed.

"What?" Amber was confused.

"Oh, never mind!" I yelled, stopping the fight. "Who cares who's fault it is?! The point is, we don't have money, and we need food!"

"You don't say?!"

I sighed. "Are you going to listen to me?"

Glaze shook his head. "Why should I? You keep getting us into trouble!"

"I keep getting us into trouble?! Says the pony who got his own tail jammed in a door!"

Glaze glared at me, not sure how to reply. I took the chance to state my plan.

"I suggest we eat at a sit down diner. They let you pay the bill after you eat, so if we're fast, we might be able to book it out of there, and leave without paying."

Amber gave me a horrified look. "YOU WANT TO STEAL?!"

I shrugged. "Would you rather starve?"

"Yes!" She yelled stubbornly. "Stealing is horrible! You Rainbow Factory ponies are all the same!"

Half the ponies on the street turned to look at us. Wait... No, they're not looking at us...

A nearby stallion gasped and pointed into the sky behind us. I whipped around.

"Uhh..." I shook my head slowly. No. Nonono. No, that can't be..."

A team of Rainbow Factory guards were flying over the town, heading straight for us.

"How did they find us?!" Glaze exclaimed.

"I don't know... I..." I took a step backwards. Finally getting a hold of myself, I gestured for Amber to climb on my back. "RUN!"

I took off towards the nearest alleyway, not even checking to see if Glaze was following. I ducked into the space, and ran at full speed around random corners, frantically working to lose our pursuers.

Finally, just as I thought we had lost them... We hit a dead end. I looked around for an exit... Nothing.

I turned back towards the alleyway and saw the guards come around the corner and advance on us.

A red-coated scientist pony made his way to the front. I scowled at him.

"Dr. Atmosphere."

He ignored me, instead turning to one of the suited ponies and saying something that I couldn't make out.

Dr. Atmosphere shot us an evil smile and spoke. "Take them back to the factory. They can be recycled."

Amber shook her head violently and backed into the corner, the fear obvious in her eyes. Glaze stayed expressionless, though I'm sure on the inside, he was freaking out. I just sighed. I knew we wouldn't make it. This was all a stupid idea. I never should have left...

The guards advanced towards us. I watched them carefully, wondering why they were allowed out of the factory, when normally no workers other than Dash and Atmosphere were allowed to leave. Is it because of us? Are they taking risks because they think we'll rat them out? All I wanted to do was get out of that horrid place, I was never planning on telling anypony what went on in there!

I glanced over at the other two ponies nervously. What do we do?!

I racked my brain and finally realized something. I facehoofed. "We have wings. We can fly over the wall."

Glaze sighed and took off.

"Glaze wait!" I called. "You have to take Amber! I can't fly with her on my back!"

He stopped on top of the wall, and looked back at us. He grinned. "Good luck with that then." And with that, he left us there. I stared after him. No way.

Fortunately, a few of the guards took off after him, lessening the number against us.

I sighed. "Amber, climb on my back, I'm going to try to fly."

It was our only chance. If we want to survive, we have to get over that wall. I might not be able I fly with a pony on my back at this time of day, but I have to try.

She did, and I took off. "Hold on tight..." I instructed. I felt her grip tighten.

I braced myself against the wall, using all of my strength to lift myself up. One of the guards began to take off, but Dr. Atmosphere gestured for him to stop.

"Just wait a second. I want to watch this." He said with a laugh.

I turned my eyes determinedly to the top of the wall. He doesn't think I can do it. I'll show him. I'll show them all.

I flapped my wings harder, and threw my front hooves over the top of the wall. I can do this.

Dr. Atmosphere watched me carefully. "She's... Actually going to make it..." He breathed. "Get ready to take off," he barked to the guards.

The moment I got a third leg on the wall, he ordered the guards forward. No taking chances, I guess.

I lost my footing and scrambled frantically with my back hooves to get over the wall. "Hold on tight Amber..." I warned.

She yelped as one of the guards flew towards us. I brought my hoof back and kicked him in the head, sending him falling towards the ground. With my last once of strength, I launched myself over the wall.

Amber screamed and toppled off my back as we fell. I landed hard on my shoulder, sending a jolt of pain through my body.

"Come on, get up! Get up!" I yelled to Amber, who was lying beside me. I took off down the alleyway, quickly ducking into a building and slamming the door.

I breathed a sigh of relief as I heard hoofsteps pass by our hiding spot. We lost them... For now.

I leaned up against the door, out of breath. "That... Was a close one..."

Amber collapsed onto the floor and nosed her injured wing. I could see now that it was bleeding again.

"I landed on my wing when we fell off the wall..." She sighed. "I don't know what I did to it, but it hurts like hell..." She tightened the bandage with her mouth.

I shrugged, not knowing what to say. "Blame Glaze. None of this would have happened if he had carried you. And he calls me the useless pile of manure..."

As if on cue, the door opened, and a yellow Pegasus slipped inside and collapse on the floor panting. He looked up at me. "You're welcome."

I stared at him for a second. "You're welcome. YOU'RE WELCOME." I seethed. "And in WHAT UNIVERSE SHOULD I BE WELCOME?!"

I stomped my hoof on the ground. "I can't believe, you have THE NERVE, to come back here, after what you just did!"

He glared at us. "I was leading the guards away! I was trying to save you!"

I opened my mouth, then closed it. "I... I... TRYING TO SAVE US?! MORE LIKE TRYING TO KILL US! YOU KNEW I HAD VERY LITTLE CHANCE OF GETTING OVER THAT WALL WITH AMBER ON MY BACK! EVEN DR. ATMOSPHERE DIDN'T THINK I COULD DO IT!"

"THATS THE POINT! I BELIEVED THAT YOU COULD DO IT, THAT'S WHY I LEFT YOU BEHIND!"

"OK, NOW YOU'RE JUST SUCKING UP TO ME SO I WONT BE MAD AT YOU." I yelled. "IF YOU REALLY WANTED TO 'SAVE' US, YOU SHOULD HAVE TAKEN AMBER JUST LIKE I TOLD YOU TO!"

He didn't say anything, just scowled at us.

I shot him a glare of pure hatred. "Now you're a traitor AND a liar. Why am I not surprised? You were never aiming to save us. You only cared about saving yourself. And now you're trying to tell me that you did it to help us? You've got to be kidding me. GET. LOST."

He turned towards the door. "Fine, I won't help you!"

"Help? You've done nothing but harm us this entire time!"

He turned back and looked at me. "So have you."

I glared at him, but couldn't find anything else to counter that argument. I guess it's kinda.... True.

I sighed. "What's the REAL reason you came back?"

He looked at the ground. "I came back because I have nothing better to do. I don't even know where to start with this new life thing... I guess it'll be a lot easier once all of this nonsense blows over, and the Factory starts leaving us alone."

I narrowed my eyes. "Don't you get it?"

"Get what?"

"They're not going to leave us alone! That would be taking too much of a risk that were going to tattle on their stupid Factory! We're never going to be able to live normal, happy lives! The Factory will ALWAYS be after us! They won't stop until were DEAD."

He sighed. "Then why did you leave in the first place?!"

"Because I wasn't thinking about what would happen afterwards!" I hung my head. "I know, it was a mistake, but at the same time I don't regret it. No, I don't regret it one bit. And now that it's done, there's only one way to get them off our trail."

"And what would that be?"

I smiled, holding my head high in defiance. "We're going to have to shut down the Rainbow Factory. Once and for all."