//------------------------------// // Chapter 5: May She Be Worthy of the Name // Story: Crusader Ponies (Romance of the Six Counties) // by swirlstar //------------------------------// May She Be Worthy of the Name Rainbow Dash yawned contentedly as she reclined on top of her cloud. Desert clouds were few and far too wispy for her liking; this extra-fluffy one had been specially imported from the Everfree Forest. So soft…so sleepy… The prismatic mare was tired, but there was good reason for her to be. Rainbow Dash smiled as she reviewed her week’s worth of success. Pinning the bars on graduating cadets of the West Phalia Military Academy. Feasting on the finest papsalums with the desert merchants of Saddle Arabia. Leading the newly-formed ‘Storm Chasers’ regiment against a tenacious bunch of oasis rebels - by Celestia, that dive right into the keep courtyard was nothing short of spectacular! “Wow... that really was a lot of stuff,” the pegasus thought out loud. She allowed herself another yawn: she had done so much…so, so much… and now so, so sleepy… Less exhilaratingly, but perhaps most importantly, Rainbow Dash had finally gotten off her flank and had written that letter to Twilight concerning what the pegasus (with some literary assistance from Res Publica) had dubbed the ‘Fluttershy Question’. Dash’s mind drifted off to those opening sentences, those that she had reviewed again and again before sending them off to Twilight. My liege, I have decided to write this letter in light of recent developments concerning the County of Fluttershy… Dash couldn’t help but smirk at the thought. Yeah, no way is Twilight going to believe I wrote that by myself! By now, no doubt, Twilight would have read the letter. But how would she react? Well, not like Applejack; that bit Dash was certain of. But what else? The rainbow pegasus scratched her head as her mind began its speculatory journey. Will Twilight go into one of her egghead speeches? Will she be happy that I’ve finally found the answer to everypony’s problems? Or will she just hand everything over for Celestia to solve? Well, whatever Twilight’s internal monologue, Rainbow Dash knew that the purple mare was one for reasons. And the pegasus had compelling reasons. Rainbow Dash knew that whatever her personal inclinations regarding Fluttershy, loyalty to the Duchy had to come first. And she took pains to demonstrate in her letter. “Firstly, Fluttershy’s county occupies a central position in the Duchy. Two of the three roads for communication (and thus also invasion) cross her realm. It is therefore evident that peace within the Duchy depends, to a large extent, on peace within Fluttershy’s county. “Secondly, recent events both justify the above and also point to the existence of chronic instability in Fluttershy’s county. In the past month, we have recorded no less than 20 trans-county clashes involving inhabitants of Fluttershy’s county. Of these, at least half were serious enough to merit intervention from either my or Applejack’s forces. (See Addendum for further details).” “All this suggests that Fluttershy’s county, in its present state, poses grave risks to the Duchy. Moreover, a further reason justifies my current proposal. My county and Applejack’s county are collectively responsible for the northern defense of the Duchy. Should Fluttershy’s lands be divided between us, our defense becomes more secure and our peace becomes more lasting.” Rainbow Dash, her body sinking further into the vapor, half-mulled these reasons. They were good reasons indeed: good social, political and military reasons, reasons that benefited everyone, reasons that found their basis in the very purpose of the Duchy… Satisfied with her train of thought, the pegasus began to doze off, the world around her blurring and turning into a purplish hue - Wait, purple? Rainbow Dash’s eyes snapped back into focus as a magenta halo manifested itself around her own body. “What the hay?!” The prismatic mare had barely any time to process her thoughts before the halo morphed into scores of magical bonds. Before she could even put up a fight, Rainbow Dash was all trussed up, her wings pinned tightly against her body. This could only be the work of - “Twilight!” she yelled as the another violet aura surrounded the pegasus and rolled her off the cloud. Twilight Sparkle, perhaps deliberately, had neglected to place any cushioning at the point of impact. “Oof!”Rainbow Dash instinctively tried to massage her aching head, before realizing that that wasn’t possible under the circumstances. “Ugh,” she mumbled, opening her eyes to see a pair of purple, bloodshot eyes come slowly into focus. “What. Is. THIS!” Twilight Sparkle screamed, shoving Rainbow Dash’s letter into the pegasus’ face. “W-what- Twilight! Calm down!” “No! I will not calm down! What. Is. This, Rainbow Dash! What are you planning!” Rainbow Dash had never seen Twilight this angry before. The lavender mare’s cheeks were bright red, steam was coming out of her nostrils, and Rainbow Dash swore that she smelt the acrid fumes of burning hair. But still, it was probably just a typical overreaction on Twilight’s part. “Didn’t you read the letter?” “I am not going to let you two do this!” the unicorn shouted. “You two have gone absolutely, totally crazy!” “Twilight -” “You’re stealing! That county isn’t mine, isn’t yours, isn’t Applejack’s! It’s Fluttershy’s! You have no right to be doing this to her!” “But Fluttershy doesn’t want it!” Rainbow Dash protested. "Isn’t this like, totally obvious?" “So?” “…so?! If she doesn’t want it, she will give it to us?” “But you’re doing all this without even asking her!” Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. This again. “Obviously I'm gonna ask Flutters beforehand. I just don’t want to get her hopes up just yet!” The prismatic mare squirmed around, attempting to escape her bonds to no avail. “Twilight, get these off of me!” “No.” “Please, let me go!” “No, Rainbow Dash, not until you abandon this ridiculous plan of yours!” “Twilight! Can’t you get it into your egghead brain that Fluttershy doesn’t want the land?” Rainbow Dash could feel the adrenalin bubbling and pulsating within. “Doesn’t. Want. Land,” the pegasus re-emphasized her point. “Wants. To. Give. It. Away!” “That’s not relevant!” “What do you mean, 'it’s not relevant'?!” Rainbow Dash said, her inability to make sense of Twilight increasingly translating into an inchoate rage. “The land is Princess Celestia’s! She gets to decide who gets to rule what! She,” Twilight jabbed at Rainbow Dash’s chest for emphasis, “Not. Ponies. Like. You.” “Well, that’s stupid! Celestia clearly gave you the power to decide whatever happens within this Duchy- ” Twilight huffed. “And I am so glad you recognize that. And now I forbid you from doing this.” Argh! What’s wrong with her! Rainbow Dash simply couldn't understand Twilight's obstinacy. Doesn’t she care about Fluttershy at all? “Twilight, come on, why aren't you letting me do this? Is this all just stupid rules and laws to you? Can’t you see that Fluttershy is really unhappy? Can’t you see that I’m trying to help her?” “No. All I’m seeing is somepony who isn't satisfied with what they have already; somepony who doesn't even care if it’s her friends that she’s betraying -” “What!” Rainbow Dash could feel her jaw drop in amazement. The prismatic mare could understand Applejack being skeptical about the whole endeavor, but Twilight? That most 'reasonable' of ponies? After all that time Rainbow Dash put in to justify every action in the interests of everypony? She read the entire letter and still saw it as bad? As betrayal? From the pony wielding the Element of Loyalty, no less? Betrayal? With every repetition of Twilight’s accusation in her mind, the prismatic mare's fuse shorted by an extra inch. Betrayal? How could she? How dare she? “- you are still Rainbow Dash, right? The one who wields the Element of Loyalty? Or are you a spy?” Oblivious, the unicorn continued mocking the cyan pegasus, seemingly determined to touch a raw nerve. “I AM the Element of Loyalty!” Rainbow Dash suddenly roared, causing Twilight to lose control of her binding spell. Now Rainbow Dash lunged straight into Twilight, sending the unicorn reeling and pinned onto the wall. Now it was payback time. “Look, egghead,” she said, knocking on Twilight’s skull with her hoof. “You’re the one who’s being disloyal here: who’s the pony who’s gotten so used to playing Princess that she doesn’t even care about how her friend feels? Who’s the pony who wants to force Fluttershy into something that she doesn’t want? Are you even Twilight Sparkle? The wielder of the Element of Friendship?” “Let go of me!” Twilight snarled, her horn glowing. Rainbow Dash, mindful of the unicorn’s magical abilities, obliged. Twilight fell to the ground with an audible thud. She refused to meet the pegasus’ gaze. Rainbow Dash’s face showed her smug satisfaction. “Well?” “Grrr…” In a fit of pique, Twilight’s mind had made itself up. “Rainbow Dash, I don’t know what your reasons are and I don’t care either. I rule on Princess Celestia’s behalf in this Duchy, and I forbid you from doing any of the things you wrote about in your letter. Even with Fluttershy’s permission. That’s it.” “But -” “No buts. And don’t you dare betray your friends like this. Ever. Again.” The pegasus' smug demeanor disappeared in an instant. “Anyway, I’m leaving now,” the unicorn said matter-of-factly, still refusing to meet Rainbow Dash's gaze. “You have a pegasus carriage to fly me back? Coming over here to deal with you has drained all my magic reserves.” “Oh, sure.” Rainbow Dash unenthusiastically scribbled out a note for the castle guards. Despite everything, Twilight’s still my friend, I guess. Rainbow Dash put on a forced smile as she handed the note over to the purple unicorn. “You want me to see you off, Twilight?” “Don’t bother,” came the curt response, already halfway down the hallway. “Twilight -” “Just shut up and think about what you've done.” Rainbow Dash's smile faded as the purple mare was escorted out of the castle by the pegasus’ personal guards. And in a fit of pique, Rainbow Dash's mind made itself up as well.