Shadows in the dark

Chapter 9

As soon as the train pulled up in the Ponyville train station, Rainbow Dash's heart clenched when she spotted Little Strongheart standing amongst her friends outside the station. Rainbow Dash swallowed dryly. Quickly looking away from the window to sigh heavily. She turned to Star Knight, who gave her a small smile. She managed a small smile back.

"Well. It was really great meeting you." she said.

"Same here." Star Knight nodded. "We should hang out again, sometime."

"Yeah." Rainbow Dash agreed.

The train came to a halt and the doors opened. Rainbow Dash stepped out first and was greeted with bear hug from Pinkie Pie. "DASHY!" she squealed as she hugged her in a iron-clade grip.

Rainbow Dash gagged a bit and managed to say, "I-I've only been gone for two d-days, Pinkie!"

Applejack tapped the pink mares shoulder a few times. "Uh, Pinkie Pie? You're gonna suffocate her to death if ya don't stop hugging her.
Pinkie Pie immediately released Rainbow Dash and giggled playfully. "Sorry." she said, "But this calls for a celebration!" In the blink of an eye the pink mare speedily brought out a cannon. She pulled the string and confetti and streamers blew out. Raining over them. Rainbow Dash groaned softly and got back on all fours.

"S-so how did it go? What did you see?" Fluttershy asked nervously.

"Yeah!" Little Strongheart walked up to Rainbow Dash. "Did you find out what happened to my herd?"

Rainbow Dash sighed before she gave the buffalo calf a sad smile. "I think it would be best if I tell you someplace private..."

...

By the time Rainbow Dash had finished, Little Strongheart was crying in Pinkie Pie's arms. Pinkie Pie, too, was crying. Their sobs filling the barn in Apple Acres farm. Both Rarity and Fluttershy had shocked expressions on their faces. Spike looked horrified while Applejack's nostrils flares with rage.

"That son of a BITCH!" she roared. Angrily pacing back and forth. "THAT FUCKING SON OF A BITCH!"

"Applejack!" Rainbow Dash snapped, "Language! We have a calf here!"

AJ narrowed her eyes angrily. "I don't give a two-bit fuck right now! That son of a bitch had his men slaughter an entire herd of good buffalo and destroyed a town my cousin and his friends worked hard to build! What's worse I don't even know if my cousin is still alive! I swear if I see that stallion fucker I'm going to tie him to a tree and-"

"Stop it, Applejack!" Fluttershy cried. "Just stop it! Can't you see what Sombra is trying to do to us? First he took Twilight from us and now this! Just please! Stop!" the yellow pegasus buried her face in her hooves and proceeded to weep quietly.

Applejack's face softened and she started to calm down. She slowly approached the crying pegasus and gently hugged her. "I'm sorry, Fluttershy." she said sadly, "I'm so, so sorry. It's just that I don't want to lose anyone else. Especially somepony from my family..."

"We're all upset, AJ." Rarity said softly.

"If only we knew where Sombra is hiding. Celestia and her stallions have been searching all over Equestria for him! How could he stay hidden so easily?" Spike added.

"He's a unicorn, that's why." Rainbow Dash groaned. "He knows magic. Plus he can turn into shadows."

Little Strongheart sniffled and gently pushed herself out of Pinkie's arms. Slowly walking up to Rainbow Dash with wet eyes. "W-what's going to happen to me then? Where will I go?"

"Is there another herd that would welcome you?" Fluttershy asked after her hug with Applejack.

"Yeah. But they're gone for the year." Little Strongheart replied. Sniffing.