Chapter 22:

Rescues In The Flood

The Unusual Mane 5 quickly hurried down the slope, following the path to the cave.

The flood grew closer every second as it soon swiftly washes over the ravine they were at yesterday, plowing over everything in its' path.

The Unusual Mane 5 kept running as the flood soon reaches and washes over the geyser fields as the geysers continued going off as the water washes over them, stopping them from exploding.

When they were a few meters away from the cave, Twilight, Trixie, and Starlight kept running until a boulder almost hits them and hits the ground in front of them forcing the Alicorn and two Changelings to stop. Twilight then sees the blocked cave is only a few meters in front of them and then the floodwaters crash over the rocks as Twilight watches it coming over, the force of it caused her mane to flow in the winds.

Twilight, Trixie, and Starlight then took off running towards the cave as the full flood came. As Twilight and the two Changelings hurried to the cave, the flood hits the rock arch they were on as it broke apart and they fell in, screaming.

Pinkie and Rainbow Dash were forced to stop by the edge as some rocks fell off and they watched the flood rushing by while looking for their friends. This was truly a tense situation.

In the cave, Flash gasped and watched as water started flowing in as he was up to his ankles in water and was beginning to wonder if he would make it out alive.

Outside, Trixie and Starlight managed to transform into otters and swam to a nearby tree as they transformed into squirrels and got onto its branch as the current was too strong for them to maintain strong swimming forms.

Nearby, Twilight soon surfaced from the water and gasped for air, catching her breath. She was luckily okay. Her mane was just wet. Twilight then sees the cave close by and the rock blocking it as broken trees and debris float by. Twilight knew she couldn't move the entire rock all by herself, but then, she saw a log floating in the water near her.

Swimming over and grabbing it with her magic, Twilight then heads over to the cave and as she was close enough, Twilight slams the log into the gap between the rocks and shouted, "FLASH!".

In the cave, Flash was pushing against the boulder when he heard Twilight's voice and said, "Twilight?".

Twilight then used her magic and started pushing the log, trying to use it as a lever to get the boulder loose…

Meanwhile, Trixie and Starlight were still on the branch in their squirrel forms until a piece of bark hits the tree, and the two Changelings held on.

"Help!" Trixie cried.

"I'll save you!" Pinkie cried as she jumped off the rock and dived down, only to hit an ice floe. Pinkie was a good friend, but didn't always make the best choices. It was honestly a little embarrassing.

The ice floe broke into two pieces as Pinkie lands in the water on her back and went completely unconscious.

"Great, who's gonna save her?" Trixie complained as Pinkie floats towards them.

Trixie and Starlight then transformed into opossums and grabbed Pinkie by the mouth. Trixie grabbed ahold of Pinkie's mouth with her tail while Starlight grabbed it with her hands.

"You sure ate too many sweets," Starlight commented, smelling the pink mares' breath.

Back at the rock, Rainbow Dash, though reluctant, saw that her best friend and new friends are in trouble. And the branch was too small for her to get close enough to fly and grab. Rainbow Dash soon thought of the only option and rushed to the edge, only to halt for she has never swum before.

"Okay. Okay. Okay, Rainbow Dash. Jump in…Now," Rainbow Dash said as she hesitates and groaned.

"Come on, Fraidy Dash, come on! You can do this. You can do this. You can do this," Rainbow Dash said, encouraging herself further.

Trixie and Starlight tried pulling Pinkie Pie on the branch but the pink earth pony slipped.

"No!" Starlight cried as Trixie grabbed Pinkie's mouth with her hand and the branch with her tail.

"Trust my instincts! I must attack the water! I am not afraid! I am not afraid! I AM NOT AFRAID!" Rainbow Dash shouted, building up her confidence before jumping off the edge and screaming.

Soon, Rainbow Dash hits the water and sank down as she struggles to swim upwards. Rainbow then surfaced and still struggles to stay afloat…

Meanwhile, back inside the cave, Flash was still trying to move the rock with his magic before he groaned for he is now up to his knees as the water continues rising.

Outside, Twilight was still pushing the log with her magic, trying to pry the boulder loose.

Back with Starlight and Trixie, the two transformed Changelings were still hanging onto the branch and Pinkie Pie but they were losing their grip on the branch.

Nearby, Rainbow Dash was still trying to swim over to them but is having difficulties staying afloat.

"No. Uh-huh, attack the water, chasing the cloud. Hoof and Kick. Even babies can do it, come on! Hoof, Kick, Hoof, Kick. Hey, I'm chasing the cloud!" Rainbow Dash said as she straightens out and swam over to the others. Part of her was wondering what in the world of Equestria she had been afraid of.

The water level was almost over the branch as Starlight and Trixie held on, but they lost their grip on the branch as they and Pinkie Pie were being carried off with the flood. But Rainbow Dash managed to quickly catch Trixie's tail and held onto the branch with her back hooves.

Trixie held onto Pinkie Pie but soon lost her grip and Pinkie and Starlight plunged into the water.

"Starlight!" Trixie cried as she climbed onto Rainbow Dash's head and the two dived down after them.

Pinkie sinks down while Starlight turns into an otter and tries to help her get back up. Luckily, Rainbow Dash appeared and grabbed her friend as they swam back up to the surface.

Soon, Rainbow Dash grabs ahold of a ledge and they climbed out of the water. Starlight and Trixie jumped off Rainbow Dash and transformed back to their real appearance as they lay on the rock exhausted with spluttered coughs and sighs.

Rainbow Dash then brought Pinkie out of the water and lays down exhausted as Pinkie woke up.

"You did it, Dashie. You showed the water whose boss," Pinkie said with a proud smile.

"Well, it's something a funny but wise pony once taught me: Most creatures can swim as babies," Rainbow Dash said with a smile.

"Well, I sure am glad I have a student to teach her that," Pinkie said, feeling greatly proud.

Rainbow Dash stared at her for a moment with a smile on her face, for she realized what she meant…

Author's Note:

Looks like Twilight, Pinkie, and Rainbow Dash have decided to stop running from the flood and face it, especially when it comes to helping Trixie and Starlight rescue their brother from a cave. Unfortunately for Twilight and the Changelings, the flood has already arrived and they have fallen in screaming. Luckily, Twilight and the Changelings were alright, but while Twilight is busy trying to get Flash out of the cave before he drowns, Trixie and Starlight are trapped on a branch and need help.

Pinkie was about to save them but she accidentally hits an ice floe and became unconscious. Starlight and Trixie transformed into opossums and managed to grab her but they won't hold on for long.

Which means it's all up to Rainbow Dash to save them. After self-debate and encouraging herself, Rainbow Dash faces her fear and jumps into the floodwater. Although she was having a bit of a swimming struggle at first, Rainbow managed to get the hang of it by remembering what Pinkie has taught her. Thanks to her newfound swimming abilities, Rainbow Dash was able to save her friends from drowning and brought them to a nearby rock ledge.

Pinkie was proud of Rainbow Dash facing her Aqua phobia and so was Rainbow Dash herself, which means she wasn't a scaredy pony after all.

Well, Trixie, Starlight, and Pinkie Pie are saved from drowning, thanks to Rainbow Dash.

But there's still one more member of their band to save in the next chapter.