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// Questions and Answers 
// Story: On Lightning's Wings 
// by Seawolf 
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Canterlot Station

With several piercing blasts from it’s whistle. The Friendship Express announced it’s arrival at Canterlot Union Station. The station as normal was packed with ponies, zebras, deer, minotaurs, and griffons were all going about their business. Some were rushing to catch their trains, others were running to catch carriages that to take them to various places throughout Canterlot. To add to the complexity of the problem, it was rush hour so there was at least double the usual number of passengers going about their business.

It was into this chaos, that the element bearers disembarked from the Friendship Express into. It was this chaotic hustle and bustle that made both arriving in and departing from Canterlot by train a real hassle, mainly because you could get turned around in the crowd and miss your train.

“This is crazy, I have never seen Canterlot Union Station like this before!” Rainbow said in a baffled tone as she had to step right to avoid getting hit by a minotaur.

“Me neither darling.” Rarity said as a gryphon just barely missed her and didn’t even notice her.

Somehow they managed to make it off the platform and to relative safety, for they weren’t in danger of getting knocked off the platform. But they still had the problem of trying to get out of the platform area and to the concourse. They had just managed to catch sight of the ramp that led up from the subsurface terminal with three platforms and into the concourse, when suddenly they nearly got bowled over by a trio of Minotaurs that came stampeding out of nowhere to catch the Silver Meteor that was giving its final boarding call before departing for Manehattan.

“That was unexpected, how are we going to be able to reach Canterlot Regional Medical Institute when everyone is running around like crazy?” Applejack asked.

“I don’t know, but this is crazy!” Rarity said.

“Aren’t you the element bearers?” A deep, male voice said behind them.

Every member of mane six jumped in surprise, although Fluttershy also squeaked. Twilight turned around and instead of a member of the faculty like she’d been expecting or even just a pony, minotaur, or gryphon who was simply being a good samaritan. Instead she came face to lower chest with a full blown horse, that made Twilight blink in surprise.

Outside of Princess Celestia, she didn’t know that many full grown horses, they tended to be nomadic and were scattered throughout Equestria, with the closest three to Ponyville living deep in the Whitetail Woods, with those three being Man o’ War, Brushup, and War Admiral.

Twilight didn’t recognize this horse however. He was easily taller than Princess Celestia by probably at least head if you didn’t count the horn. Like all horses who lived in Equestria he didn’t have a cutie mark or a stud stamp as it was called on colts and stallions. He had this absolutely gorgeous chestnut coat which just rippled with muscle, with the exception of his left foreleg had white socks whereas the left foreleg had the same gorgeous chestnut fur that the rest of the stallion’s body did, between his eyes was a simple white star and a thin white line. His brown eyes gleamed with intelligence, kindness, and a hint of devious mischief.

“And you are?” Fluttershy asked in a kind tone, but semi-nervous tone.

The big stallion -the mane six just couldn’t get over how big he was- smiled. “Just call me Red, the name is actually Big Red but I prefer Red.” Red said with smile.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you Red.” Fluttershy said.

“Likewise, never thought I’d ever met the Element Bearers. Particularly here at Canterlot Union Station during Rush Hour.” Red said in a calm voice as he neatly tilting his head to avoid a gryphon that went flying past them at roughly the level of Red’s head.

“Were trying to get to Canterlot Regional Medical Institute. Princess Celestia sent us a cryptic letter, but she did reassure us that she wasn’t sick or anything. But at this rate were going to be late.” Twilight said in an extremely nervous tone.

Big Red looked thoughtful for a moment. Let’s see from Canterlot Union Station to Canterlot Regional Medical Institute it’s roughly 40 Furlongs from the doors of the station to the institute, throw in an additional furlong for getting from the platforms to the doors. Plus Sham’s train isn’t due for another hour or so, I got time. He thought before adding haven’t gone all out in a while, this will be fun!

“I can give you a lift. I can probably carry Twilight, Rarity, Applejack, and, where the hell did Pinkie go?” Red asked, his ears flattening.

“Knowing her, she’s probably already at Canterlot Regional Medical Institute. Somehow.” Applejack said.

“Right. Anyway I can probably carry Twilight, Rarity, and Applejack on my back. Won’t be easy, but then again I am used to not easy.” Red said.

“What about us?!” Rainbow and Fluttershy asked in unison.

“You two are Pegasi you could simply fly after me.” Red said.

“Oh.” The two pegasi said in unison as Red crouched down in order for Twilight, Rarity, and Applejack to climb aboard. Due to space, they had been forced to sit up right, although Twilight made sure that she maintained a grip around Red’s neck as he stood up, effortlessly supporting the weight of the three ponies on his back.

Red in the meantime was coiling up for his run. He had an extremely powerful body and in order to keep in pristine condition would trot roughly ten miles twice a week or in this case gallop five miles. It was a little known fact but he was fast, really fast. He smiled when he heard a voice in his head that was distantly familiar, but to a former racer like him and what that memory entailed it was his “get up and go” memory. “I am sick of this dirt. Let’s get rollin’!”

Twilight had to admit she hadn’t been expecting for Red to suddenly explode into motion, it quite literally took her breath away. “Hoooooly!” Applejack cried in shock and Rarity screamed in surprise.

“Horseapples! Wait up!” Rainbow yelled and rocketed after the thundering stallion. Fluttershy right behind him, truth be told Rainbow was stunned that Red could move like he was. An extremely powerful gallop that put Applejack to shame and she was really the only athletic mare that could match her in a hoof race, and she had nothing on this guy.

Twilight after probably the first thirty seconds got over her terrified screaming and decided to watch, first of all she noticed that anyone who spotted Red or even heard him coming, mainly because his breathing was sounding like a goddamned train, instantly hit the walls or took to the air. Still the ride wasn’t the smoothest one that Twilight had ever been on.

Within probably a matter of minutes they had left the station and were now flying down an avenue. Canterlot Regional Medical Institute loomed in front of them. By this point Twilight had gotten over her shock enough that she actually let out a cry of joy. She knew that she was quick in terms of a gallop, but she had nothing on Red; the stallion was moving like an absolute machine, a machine of pure perfection.






Princess Celestia was waiting for Twilight Sparkle and the other element bearers in the waiting room for Canterlot Regional Medical Institute. But she was very surprised when Pinkie Pie suddenly came zooming into the room.

After she got over said surprise she greeted her. “Greetings, element of laughter.” she greeted.

“Hi!” Pinkie said in a loud booming voice.

“Be quiet! Ponies are trying to sleep!” A sharp voice said from behind the front desk and Pinkie’s snout despite being bubblegum pink somehow managed to turn a very bright and luminescent red with her blush.

That’s when Princess Celestia noticed that the other element bearers weren’t with her. “Pinkie, where are the other element bearers?” she asked.

“Oh, they are getting a lift from a horse named Big Red, although his actual name is Secretariat.” Pinkie said and to her surprise Celestia smiled.

“I know him, he’s one of the best athletic trainers in all of Canterlot. I first meet him in the year 985. He had just opened his gymnasium here in Canterlot and I heard about it and was a little curious, so one night I went to see what it was all about. I met him as he was closing up, he was rather surprised but got over it quick. He’s the kindest, sweetest soul you’ll ever meet and probably the biggest too.” Celestia said.

“Big is right, he makes Big Macintosh look like a filly!” Pinkie said and despite herself Celestia actually had to restrain laugh. Mainly because well Secretariat was taller than she was and heck even Lulu and the Royal Guard tended to get slightly uncomfortable around him, although Celestia figured that probably had to do with his size.

As if on cue the entrance burst and quite possibly the fastest stallion in all of Equis when it came to galloping burst into the room, right behind him came Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash, the former of which was panting heavily. Secretariat slowed and came to a stop, breathing heavily he then crouched and the other element bearers dismounted. A little dizzy from the ride but unharmed, after getting their bearings they all bowed deeply for a moment, after they all rose Fluttershy turned to the massive stallion.

“Thanks for helping us arrive on time Big Red.” Fluttershy said with a smile.

Red smiled in response. “No problem, anything to help a couple of bonafide national heroes. Next time though, try and time your train so you don’t arrive during rush hour. Anyway, I got to get going, promised a friend I would meet him at Canterlot Union Station.” He said and with that the massive stallion turned around and calmly strode out of the waiting room.

Twilight turned to Celestia. “Princess, you mentioned in your letter that something involving the Wonderbolts happened recently. But you were sort of vague on the details.” Twilight said.

Celestia sighed. “Are any of you aware of the concept known as war?” she asked. Truth be told, Celestia hated talking about war. The reason being was that war had given her memories that well were to put it in one way horrifying. She would occasionally have nightmares about it, even though the event that gave her those memories happened centuries ago.

The mane six shook their heads in response. “Princess, what is war? I’ve never heard of it before.” Applejack said.

“I am not surprised that you haven’t heard of it mainly because it’s so incredibly rare on Equis, but war is armed conflict between two or more parties and the reasons that wars breakout over can be seemingly petty whereas other times the reason is very much legitimate, and it’s one of the most hellish things you can ever go through. However, the last war that happened on Equis occurred nearly seven hundred fifty years ago against the Minotaurs, it lasted only ten months but it claimed the lives of at least fifteen thousand five hundred sixty eight ponies and twenty three thousand three hundred ten minotaurs. The majority of those deaths happened at the Battle of Marethon, where the main Minotaur invasion was soundly defeated. I was at the Battle of Marethon, personally leading both the Royal Equestrian Army and the Royal Guard into battle and to this day the sounds of it as well as my actions during it still haunt me occasionally in my dreams, even to this day.” Celestia said in a sorrowful tone.

“Princess Celestia, what do you mean that the sounds and your actions during the Battle of Marethon still haunt you to this day?” Twilight asked.

“I don’t like to talk about it for it drags up memories that I’ve been working to forget for centuries.” Celestia said with a deep sigh.

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to Princess.” Fluttershy said.

“I wish I could explain why I summoned you without dragging up those memories but it’s practically impossible.” Celestia said.

“What does this have to do with the letter you sent us Princess?” Rarity asked.

“More than you think. Twilight, I am sure you're aware of the interdimensional amulets that have been recently developed by the University of Califoalnia, Los Angevin School of the Arts, Architecture, and Magic?” Celestia asked.

“Yes I am, I read about them in the latest issue of Popular Magichanics. Hard to believe that they managed to get that to work without breaking the fourth wall or something.” Twilight said with a nod.

Well during testing, I had to respond to an interesting incident with two large autonomous robotic organisms that were rampaging through the city having a hell of a fight, dragged to this dimension thanks to the testing of those amulets, that wasn’t a fun day mainly because I’ve never been thrown around that much before. Celestia thought, suppressing a shudder expertly.

“Well, when Wing Commander Spitfire; overall CO of the Wonderbolts heard about the amulets. She requisitioned two, one for herself and the other for Squadron Leader Soarin. Despite the fact we have teams exploring some of these other dimensions, Spitfire was curious about using one of the various dimensions that we’ve discovered and explored somewhat as training grounds for the Wonderbolts. Because in her words “there is only so much that the Wonderbolt Academy and Cloudsdale Weather Factory can prepare you for.” and despite my reservations about the idea I approved her request.” Celestia said.

That’s when part of the puzzle clicked into place. “Wait a minute, Princess. So what you're saying is that one of these other dimensions that Wing Commander Spitfire visited was engulfed in war?” Rarity asked, understanding starting to dawn in her voice.

“The opening moves of a war, Rarity. The opening moves, in this case an invasion force deployed by heavier-than-air transport craft at least according to Spitfire. With the only thing to fight it off being five small and fast, single rider heavier than air craft.” Celestia said in a low voice.

“Something tells me that the bad guys besides having transports also had an escort, like whenever you or Princess Luna have to travel by carriagecade.” Twilight said.

Celestia nodded. “They did, however those brave defenders didn’t care. They had a job to do and they did it. However, superior numbers took it’s toll reducing the defenders numbers down to just two. Then to make sure that they couldn’t resupply after their sorties, the invaders completely destroyed their base with a heavy aerial attack. Yet those last two remaining defenders didn’t care instead of running away, they launched one final attack against the invaders. One that probably got both of them shot down.” She said.

The sound of something getting munched on caused everypony to look at Pinkie Pie who was eating a bag of popcorn that she had pulled from seemingly nowhere. “What? It’s a good story!” She said.

“No food allowed!” The Unicorn behind the front desk snapped and her horn ignited in a sepia glow and Pinkie’s bag of popcorn disappeared with a loud pop.

“My popcorn!” Pinkie cried in a shocked tone.

That resulted in a couple suspiciously timed coughing fits.

“Anyway, Wing Commander Spitfire and Squadron Leader Soarin rescued one of the pilots from their downed craft. They tried to help her escape on foot, but the arrival of enemy troops on self-propelled sleds forced the pilot’s hand. After telling Spitfire and Soarin to flee and that her fate was upon her, after that she engaged enemy forces.” Celestia said before stopping and taking a deep breath, some of the more unpleasant memories from the Battle of Marethon were bubbling up; to be more specific, ones during the second day of the battle where everything began to sideways when the Equestrian phalanx had begun to fall apart and everything started look to hopeless.

“But, thankfully for her. Spitfire and Soarin didn’t like be told off and while they were retreating. Soarin made the conscious decision to go and help, Spitfire followed because of training having told never leave your wingmate. Together with they working with the downed pilot accounted for two hostiles out of five, with the downed pilot before Spitfire and Soarin arrived having accounted for two as well.” Celestia said, pausing and taking a deep breath, almost failing to suppress a shudder as a new memory from the Battle of Marethon flashed across her vision an extremely … unpleasant one.

I am going to have to talk to Deep Relief later today or tonight, as much as I dislike him. He’s a shrink and thus incredibly useful. Celestia thought.

“But I am assuming something went wrong when trying to take care of fifth guy?” Rainbow asked.

Celestia merely nodded.






Sapphire gazed up at the unfamiliar ceiling. The ceiling was about as unfamiliar as you could get for a hospital ceiling. It was stark white and featureless, although it did seem like it was way higher than a normal ceiling that you would find in a hospital room or ward. This ceiling was practically a vaulted ceiling, she had never heard of such a thing in a hospital before. It was more than little surprising but she didn’t mind, a nice change of pace from the usual she associated with hospitals.

That’s when she became aware of a dull throb seemingly all over the place. She groaned slightly in pain, it seemed like everything hurt.

That’s when she heard a unique sounding clip-clop, as if it was on tile. She turned her head toward the source of the sound and was very surprised to see Spitfire walking toward her.

“Spitfire, well isn’t this an unexpected surprise!” Sapphire said in response, wincing as pain flashed across throat and mouth just from speaking.

“Yeah, it is. How do you feel?” Soarin asked, popping up out of nowhere.

Sapphire gave the blue pegasus a deadpan look. “I feel like I’ve just done a sparring match with the Incredible Hulk.” she said in a deadpan.

Soarin’s ears flattened. “The Incredible Hulk?” he asked confused.

“Basically The Incredible Hulk is a really smart guy, but if his heart rate gets above a certain number of beats per minute he transforms from a skinny guy that’s about five foot five into about a eight foot tall giant green rage monster that can eat 120mm HEAT rounds and just laugh it off.”

“Right, I’ll take your word for it.” Soarin said with confused expression on his face.

“Besides, I got to ask. Where the hell am I? I certainly can’t think of any hospitals with vaulted ceilings and I am certainly not in the middle of nowhere.” Sapphire asked.

Spitfire and Soarin exchanged a look. “Long story short, you're in Equis, which is our home dimension.” Spitfire said in a even voice, trying to make sure that the former human didn’t freak out.

Sapphire’s ears drooped and she blinked. “Didn’t expect that. Stuck in another goddamned dimension, I suddenly feel like I am in a Doctor Who episode. Well that’s one hell of a shock, anything else I should know?” She asked in a surprisingly neutral tone.

Spitfire and Soarin glanced at each other nervously. They wanted to tell her in a such a fashion that Sapphire wouldn’t freak out. But they couldn’t figure out how, eventually they just decided that it would likely be best to just be blunt on the matter.

“About that, do you remember anything strange occurring between Spitfire leaving and you waking up here?” Soarin asked in a semi-worried tone.

“Not really, well actually yes. Believe it or not when a human loses consciousness and I am not sure if it’s the same for ponies, but it’s actually possible to feel pain and I was wavering in and out of it. I remember picking up bits and pieces of a conversation then I felt like someone decided to set my nervous system on fire plus it also felt like my muscular and skeletal system during that time transformed into molten glass and got reform into a new shape, I don’t really want to experience that again.” Sapphire said, wincing at that unpleasant memory.

This time when Spitfire and Soarin glanced at each other it was one of surprise. However when they turned their attention back to Sapphire they had sympathetic looks on their faces. They obviously hadn’t been expecting that.

“The thing is Sapphire, when you thought that your body was being forced into a new shape. Well it actually was.” Spitfire said quietly.

Sapphire’s ears flattened and she gave Spitfire a look.






“So let me get this straight, Princess!?!” Fluttershy said in a shocked tone, her love of life clearly taking over. “Against your better judgement, you decided to agree to save a life of a being from another dimension one that was on the verge of dying via a permanent transformation spell as well as medical magic just so that way Wing Commander Spitfire and Squadron Leader Soarin wouldn’t feel like failures?!”

“I explained all of the risks that such a transformation could have plus I told them that once done there was no going back and yet they were adamant! But you have got to remember that both of them were among the responders to the sinking of the Flying Goatstream and the Sun Valley Avalanche Disaster and how Spitfire blames herself for not being able to get the last three ponies off the Flying Goatstream before it sank and that their cries for help have haunted her ever since and that for Soarin she failed a filly because he couldn’t dig her out of the snow fast enough and wound up dying in his hooves. Neither of them wanted this impromptu rescue mission to fail, not after they had failed to save lives previously.” Princess Celestia said in a defensive tone, but it was clear in her tone that she still disagreed with it.

“So, what’s the darling’s name?” Rarity asked.

“Her name Rarity is Lisa Johansson; however she was in the military back in her home dimension as a member of the air force. Her military nickname is Sapphire. However from what I’ve managed to gather from both Soarin and Spitfire, she doesn’t really care if she’s called Lisa or Sapphire although you would have to ask her about her preference on it.” Celestia replied, forcefully shoving the bad memories that the conservation had dragged up earlier to the back of her mind.

“Wait a minute. Princess, why did you say that we’re going to have to ask her about her preference about being called either her nickname or her actual name?” Applejack asked.

“I only agreed to save Sapphire’s life if and only if it was decided that her naturalization and acclimation to her new life happened in Ponyville and that for employment she joins the Ponyville Weather Team.” Princess Celestia said.

The mane six looked at each other with surprised looks on their faces. “You can count on us Princess, we’ll get her acclimated with her new life!” Rainbow said after a minute.

“Rainbow, you do realize that this is going to be a first for us? We got almost no experience on this sort of matter.” Applejack said.

Rainbow’s ears flattened, she hadn’t thought about that aspect clearly.

“Well, first thing we could do is giving her flying lessons that and given her a place to stay.” Fluttershy said, looking thoughtful.

“I make something like curtains and the like for the darling’s house.” Rarity said.

“I could offer a place to stay until her house is completed, wouldn’t mind having a guest over. There’s gotta be so much to learn about her home dimension!” Twilight said.

“I could throw a ‘Welcome to your new home!’ party once her house is completed!” Pinkie said in an energetic tone.

“Just don’t overdo it on the invitations Pinkie, we don’t want to put the darling into an uncomfortable position so quickly.” Rarity added and while Pinkie’s expression did flatten a little she nodded.

“I guess while the house is getting built and Pinkie is preparing for the party. I could show her around town.” Applejack mused.

Celestia smiled, this was why she had decided to bring the element bearers into this. Because once they put their minds to something, they could easily think of a plan to overcome nearly anything. That and they were used to all of the strange that happened, particularly at Ponyville which just seemed to be the weirdness magnet of Equestria. If they could handle the strange that happened in Ponyville on a nearly weekly basis, then Celestia was certain that they could handle this.






“What do you mean by that?” Sapphire asked.

The two Wonderbolts once again exchanged nervous looks with each other.

Spitfire then sighed before explaining. “You were dying Sapphire. Me and Soarin could tell that you wanted to live, but we were in the middle of nowhere and couldn’t give you the aid that you needed.” Spitfire said sobbing slightly.

Mercifully for Spitfire, it was at that moment that Soarin decided to take over. “So, Spitfire wanting to see that you survived this ordeal came back here to Equestria. I don’t know how she did it, but she managed to convince one of the diarchs; Princess Celestia to do something rather drastic and-” Soarin said before Sapphire cut him off.

“Let me guess, she did something to transform me into an equine like you guys so the docs could patch me back together.” Sapphire stated.

Spitfire shuffled her hooves nervously. “More than that Sapphire, you see due to the extent of your injuries, no transformation spell that Celestia could think of would last long enough for your wounds to fully heal before you changed back, which would bring us back to square one.” Spitfire said in a low voice.

What? Oh please don’t tell me! Sapphire thought.

“Which means that I am stuck like this?” Sapphire asked, dread beginning to seep into her voice.

“Yeah, it does.” Spitfire whispered.

“I never did ask for this. I wouldn’t have minded dying, we all make it eventually. But now the life that I knew is gone, my friends are gone, my family are gone, my colleagues are gone, I am in a entirely different dimension for Christ Sakes! I just don’t know where my life is going to take me now, everything is so different that who knows what I’ll be able to apply my talents as a fighter jock too if at all. Just why?” Sapphire said in sorrowful voice.

“I wish I knew why all of this happened Sapphire. But I just don’t know why! You just got to roll with the punches now and handle what life gives you.” Spitfire replied trying to cheer the mare up.

“You didn’t leave a loving mother and father behind in your home dimension who will be told by the military that their beloved daughter had been killed in action over Canada when in all actuality she’s still alive! You haven’t lost all connections to the dimension that you lived in before! I have!” Sapphire said starting sob.

Soarin looked at Spitfire who was wearing a worried look on her face, they needed to get Sapphire out of this spiral. “About that, it was a pain but I managed to convince the docs to save your flight suit, although they insisted on throwing out part of the leggings. We also still got your helmet and survival vest, couldn’t find the knife though.” He said and Sapphire perked up.

“You did?” she croaked, but sounding hopeful.

“Yes, I did. I’ll got get them, the docs cleaned them of blood to the best of their abilities but I wouldn’t recommend wearing it because it’s pretty torn up and plus who knows what it’s contaminated with.” Soarin said, putting his forehooves on the bed.

Sapphire reached forward suddenly and gave him a hug. Soarin, not expecting it blushed in surprise. “Thank you, Soarin! Thank you so much!” She said her voice full of emotion.

“No problem!” Soarin grunted out and then realizing she was squeezing a little too hard. Sapphire released the Squadron Leader, that’s when she noticed she had something else beside being an equine.

She was actually a pegasus which meant that her flying days weren’t over. Although she’d have to go through flight school again in order to learn how to use them. She was so enthralled with them that she didn’t that Soarin had grabbed a large ziplock bag with her things until it was deposited on the bed she was laying on.

Inside was her helmet, the remains of her Flight Suit, and most importantly her U.S. Senior Pilot Badge better known as Pilot’s Wings. She didn’t mind the fact that the docs had thrown out the g-suit, it was something that was worn over the leggings of the flight suit after all. Still it was something to cherish and hold dear.

“Hey Sapphire, before I forget I wanted to give you something as well. Me and Soarin are going to be leaving soon, we got to get back to base and start planning our next training session at the Wonderbolt Academy.” Spitfire said.

“Wait, your military?! Why the hell did you not mention that! Had I known I wouldn’t likely be in this situation to begin with!” Sapphire snapped.

Soarin and Spitfire glanced at each other an “Aw shit!” look on their face.

“Uh, crap. You're right, but to be fair we had never been in that sort of situation before and it slipped our minds!” Spitfire said hastily.

Sapphire’s anger drained away in an instant. “Point, if our roles had been reversed with me your shoes err hooves, I would’ve likely forgotten as well. It happens to the best of us.” she said rubbing the back of her head with a hoof.

“No problem. But anyway, here’s the thing I wanted to give you.” Spitfire said as she held out her wing. Sapphire looked at it and was amazed, despite the edges being the slightly charred, it was the picture of her family that she had taped to the inside of her cockpit, the image was only 2 inches by 3 inches in size, but that single 2 inch by 3 inch picture held enough emotion to bring a teary smile to Sapphire’s face.

“Thank you.” she said, teary eyed.

“Your welcome. I hope you can handle crazy.” Spitfire said as she and Soarin walked out of the room.

She’s hoping I can handle crazy? The whole situation that I am in right now is crazy. Still I wonder what she meant by that. Sapphire thought, the occasional tear still sliding down her cheek.