//------------------------------// // Chapter 5: Working together // Story: A team effort // by remsaman //------------------------------// “Your family? But why would assassins want your family?” I released my grip on her, she didn't run, but was prepared to. “My family has housed the plans for Canterlot for generations. I didn't know why anypony would want them until the syndicate took my family..” Twilight caught up to us, surprised to see that the pony had stopped running. “Hey, what gives? why aren’t you stopping her from running away?” she asked, as if she WANTED to throw this pony in jail, or worse. “The assassins have more then fluttershy, twilight.” I gave her a worrying look. She understood. “They said that if i ever wanted to see them again, i had to help with what they were doing” “Well if we are going to save them both, we are going to need a few things..” I explain the plan to them both, and once again to the other four bearers of the elements of harmony. After collecting the supplies, i followed twilight towards the old castle of the pony sisters. “So, i never found out. What was your name again?” I asked the red mare, trying to be friendly and lighten the dark mood. The mare stopped. And with hesitation, turned her head and forced out the words. “My.. my name is Crimson..” She turned her head back towards the trail ahead. And continued her walk. “Alright. were here.” twilight said “Everypony get into position.” Crimson and the other 5 ponies hid behind rubble and trees. Twilights horn glowed and levitated a lifelike lookalike Celestia doll from the bushes. Rarity did a great job putting it together and making it look realistic. Twilight made the doll walk just as if it was the real celestia, looking regal. I walked into the castle remenants, with the celestia doll trailing behind. As if on cue, four ponies wearing hoods leaped down from above. One of them carrying a large Hessian sack. One of them removed his hood. It was a red pony with a unicorn horn. His voice broke the darkness. “Wise choice, sir. Now if you’ll leave us alone, you can have your girlfriend back.” He lifts up a hoof, and the assassin carrying the sack empties it, a crying fluttershy covered in bruises tumbles out. I did my best to contain my anger for them hurting fluttershy, i picked her up, as she was too weak to walk, and made my way out of the ruins. When i reached where twilight was hiding, i placed fluttershy on the ground while twilight did the best to use her healing magic. When that didn't work, i placed ointment on her bruises and did my best to comfort her. “Fluttershy, are you alright?” I hugged her, she stopped crying and opened her eyes. her face immediately was painted with a relieved smile and tackled me to the ground in a monster hug. “Dont ever leave again” was the only words she could manage. i smiled and hugged her back. After explaining the plan to her, i looked out and saw the doll celestia surrounded by assassins. each holding a weapon. The red unicorn walked out amongst the group, and spoke. “Princess celestia, you are hereby tried by the dark syndicate for banishing our bloodline over three hundred years ago. How do you plea?” Silence was met by the question, as it was only a doll. “Fine, then the jury hereby finds you..” he stopped as the rest of the assassins shouted “GUILTY” and each weapon pierced the dolls throat. Fluff spills out, and a chorus of gasps rises from the circle. The head of the doll falls off, and the entire thing slumps to the ground. “ITSA FAKE!” the red unicorn shouted “that’s our cue girls!” twilight motioned each of the ponies as they put on their necklaces, and twilight put on her crown. she turned to fluttershy. “are you going to be alright to do this? it can always wait until another time.” “N.... No.... Im.. fine..” She puts the necklace on and struggles to lift herself to her feet. “Fluttershy..” i interrupted “you don't have to do this..” i placed my hoof on her shoulder “I.. have to..” “If you say so..” I stood back, not wanting to cause any disturbance. Each of the six ponies walked out of their hiding places, in full sight of the assassins. One of them threw a spear at twilight, but it snapped in midair. A spark connected each of the six, as they rose from the ground. Their jewellery lit up, as light filled the area, as it had once before. A rainbow shot out from twilight, connecting her, rainbow dash, rarity, applejack, and fluttershy in turn. The rainbow closed in on the circle of assassins, then finally shot out and encased each one in a bright glow of the color spectrum. Yells and screams were heard as the hot rainbow lifted each of the ponies off the ground, and shot them into the vacuum of space, never to be seen again. The elements of harmony did what i read in the book, Purified. And these ponies were nothing but corrupt thoughts and ideas. The six lowered to the ground, their jewellery dimmed. A chorus of cheers rose up from them, as they gave each other a hug. I saw Crimson starting to walk away. “Hey Crimson, where are you going?” i asked, she stopped. “Im going home, now that the assassins are gone, i don't have a chance to find my parents. I was never shown their hideout, so i don't know where they are.” She starts to walk away again, but is interrupted by a familiar voice. “Crimson?” The red mare turned around, her eyes widening and a smile slapped on her face. There, in front of her, was two ponies, one red, the other a greeny brown. Crimson ran towards the two and gave them a large hug. I could only assume they were her parents. Tears were streaming down her smiling face. “I missed you so much... where did they take you?” she asked her parents “Im not sure, the last thing i remember was a unicorns magic surrounding me, now im here” her mother answered. Her father just nodded in agreement. Twilight walked up to the trio and answered “Brainwashing, i haven't seen it myself, but it could be the reason their bloodline was banished. it is a very evil magic to practice.” I left them alone to their reunion, and walked over to fluttershy. “You alright?” “I’m feeling much better. Thank you” she smiled. I wrapped my arms around her, i was so worried before, but now that the threat was gone, i hadn’t any more reason to worry. the love of my life was back, and no longer harmed. Her bruises were gone, a work done by the purifying magic of the elements of harmony. Fluttershy kissed me on the neck, i blushed. even if it wasn't on the lips i hadn’t been kissed before, save for my mother. I kissed her back. embracing the moment. I heard giggling and saw rainbow dash on the ground, laughing her flank off. Fluttershy shot her a glare and she immediately shut up. I looked over and see a few guardponies that twilight called for cleaning up the robes and weapons of the assassins. Good riddance i say. Twilight and the gang were waiting for rarity to stop crying over the celestia doll being destroyed(it took her a while to make it). I let go of fluttershy and gave her a nuzzle. she blushed. After a few moments of staring into eachothers eyes, we finally got a hold of ourselves and joined the others. After small conversations about what just happened, We start walking back to ponyville, i turn around to see Crimson walk away with her family. Her fake cutie mark now replaced with blueprints and a compass. I smile and walk away with the others. When we got back to ponyville, my houses door was open, everything had been repaired, and some ponies wearing hard hats walked out carrying boxes of tools and materials. Princess luna was acting as the foreman. I walked up to her and asked what was going on, “We are rebuilding your house, after some nutcase burnt it down.” “oh ok.. wait WHAT?” Me and the other ponies gasped, until Luna explained further “Some moron left the stove running with what seemed to be hay, apples, and carrots in a pot.” i facehoofed. “Justin” A yellow colt poked his head around the corner of the house “YES?” I pointed a hoof at the house with an angry glare “Ohhhh yeaaaah, you werent around and i got hungry, so i thought i would try cooking!” “you fell asleep didn't you” “yes.” I sighed and walked in. Luckily i always carry my backpack around, that was something i didn't want to lose. The house looked pretty much the same, except it wasn't destroyed. I asked Twilight to send a message to Celestia to tell her that the assassins were taken care of. She nodded and went back to the library, with the other ponies following behind. Fluttershy stayed with me and Justin, as her house was still a wreck, and she was slightly traumatised by what happened earlier. I cooked us all up a meal, including Luna(who left shortly after, thanking us and returning to canterlot). I told Justin what happened, he had no initial reaction, but offered to wash up(i was actually surprised by this). I went to my room, only to find that fluttershy had taken residence in my bed, and she was fast asleep. She looked cute when she was sleeping. I got under the covers and fell asleep. ______________________________________________________________________________ I woke up the next morning holding fluttershy with her head on my shoulder. Nothing happened, but i was sure glad to wake up next to her then by myself. I lay there for who knows how long before finally being woken up by Justin opening the door. He poked his head in “Psst, hey Rem, Breakfast maybe?” After what had apparently been his fault last time, i didn't want to take any chances(he could probably ruin cereal). I carefully left the room, so i didn't wake fluttershy. I got downstairs and pulled out a box of “Apple-Os”. Justin had gone shopping and already refilled the cupboards with food(if it was a good idea or not, ill have no idea.) I poured two bowls of cereal for both of us, and set them on the table. Midway through eating my cereal, Justin smiled. “So, i see you two.. you know.. had a little fun.” he gave me a nudge I turned bright red “No, Justin, we didn't.. ugh..” I just stopped bothering and started eating my cereal again. A few minutes after we both finish, i was reading a book i borrowed from the library, it was more about the elements of harmony. I was curious to know more about these symbols of magnificent power. I got about halfway through the book when fluttershy walked down the stairs. “Hey. You want something to eat?” i ask, glad that she was finally awake. “Im... fine thanks...” she was still tired, and i wasn't surprised. she spent the entire night tossing and turning and talking in her sleep. she lay down on the couch and started to snooze. Justin was out of the house, something about being bored and looking for something to do. I heard a knock on the door, expecting Justin, it was someone completely different. It was Princess Celestia! She thanked me for helping with the effort to stop the assassins. and asked to come inside. Not wanting to be rude, i let her in and made some tea. “So, you came up with the plan to stop the assassins, correct?” she levitated the cup to her mouth, taking a sip. “Yes, your highness.” “well it was a good idea. and i thank you very much for taking care of the problem. It was a pain not even being able to even eat without worrying about poison.” she laughed. “Of course princess, that would have been very inconvenient.” “Ah yes.. now what was i here for? AH yes!” she gave a little whistle, and a familiar red mare walked through the door. “Crimson!” i said “How good to see you!” I greeted her, closing the door when she was inside. “Now is there something i can do for you two?” “Yes. actually. there is something you might want to know” Princess celestia placed her tea on the table Crimson took that as her cue and spoke up “I have a way to return you back to your planet!” she cheerily said. I look behind them and see Fluttershy, awake on the couch, her eyes tearing up. The first tear hit the floor as she ran out of the house.