//------------------------------// // Sleepless Night // Story: Crime: The Beginning // by WwolfJade123 //------------------------------// On their way home, they did nothing but stay silent. Each was a little hung up over what will happen when Twilight is banished. From the looks of it, Twilight was still crying, she was gritting her teeth and was saying something under her breath. 'How could I have been blamed for that kind of a crime, I even helped the guards find the real impostor' The air shifted and became cold as the clouds darken. It was going to rain, yet the creatures in the carriage didn't seem to care. Rainbow Dash looked around and saw nothing but sadness in their eyes. She was sad too, yet a side of her wanted to be strong in front of every creature. She wants them to know that she'll be there for them at their hardest times, now was a great time to show that kind of confidence. Twilight was suffering the most, she is the one being banished from the land she loves. Rainbow just wanted to hug her, wanted to make her feel comfortable for what time they had left. A few moments had passed and not a single word has fallen upon them. Eyes were focused on the ground, not wanting to look up to see the sadness in each other's faces. The silence started to bother Rainbow Dash. This silence and sadness that was going around in the air was killing her. She sat straight and faced every creature, building up the courage to say something helpful, "H-how are you all holding up?" None answered. They were all holding back a few words. She flattened her ears and lowered her head as she sat down defeated. How can life be so cruel to them? "You know," Twilight started, "Trust takes a long time to build up and seconds to break. Just from a single misunderstanding to a horrible disaster," Twilight looked up to the group, her eyes had a tint of hope as it watered, "Do you all still trust me?" She asked with a crackling voice, soft but was heard. Those words took them by surprise. They looked up at the purple alicorn. Confused on how she said those words, in such an unusual way it disturbed them. Twilight looked back down, even her friends don't trust her anymore. They all wondered a little hesitant with their answer. Well... not all of them. "Of course WE do!" Rainbow said without hesitation or even the presence of regret from her voice. She stood up from where she was seated and smiled at Twilight. Her face was still wet from all the crying but the tears that were falling stopped, "Why wouldn't we? We're your friends remember?" Twilight looked up to the pegasus. She saw her reassuring smile. She saw how her mane and tail were flowing with the wind. She dashed up to the pegasus and hugged her tightly as she cried on her shoulder, "T-thank you..." Her grip tightened after saying those words. Rainbow hugged her back. Not a little longer she could feel hooves being wrapped around her, comforting her. Rainbow opened her eyes and looked at the alicorn, "We'll never leave you..." Tears of joy flowing from her eyes. I promise... The group wiped their tears away as the carriage landed. They took a last glance at each other before they walked out of the carriage. Rainbow gave them the biggest smile, reassuring every creature. As they walked out of the carriage, it quickly flew away leaving the seven of them. Walking through Ponyville, Twilight noticed something quickly as she scanned her surroundings. Her pupils dilated as she saw how the ponies that lived there was in terror seeing the princess that they thought that had killed and burned hundreds of houses and ponies. She lowered her head and flattened her ears as tears started to build up. Rainbow took a glance on her surroundings and saw some ponies gossiping looking at them back and forth. She puffed her chest and gave them an angry glare, those ponies saw it and immediately walked out of the scenery like nothing ever happened, sweat dripping off their forehead. Fluttershy saw what Rainbow just did, a small smile crept on her face. ''Loyalty'' She thought. Rainbow looked at her right and saw Twilight almost bursting into tears. She wrapped her wing around the alicorn and pulled her closer. Twilight was taken by surprise on what Rainbow just did. She looked at the pegasus and saw her left wing move closer to her, wiping away the tear that had fallen. She smiled and continued walking. Rarity smiles maliciously at the two. "Look at these lovebirds they are, oh, so CUTE together, I just want them to kisssss," She made goofy faces as she thought the two kissing each other. Spike noticed Rarity's mood and walked up to her, he saw how into she was on what she was thinking. He giggled. A drop of something wet from above made the main lookup and frowned. Applejack was the first one to actually break the silence around them, "Well gotta go! Ah promised Applebloom that I'de help her with a project tomorrow at school," With those said she hugged her friends and took off. "Oh no, their's gonna be a storm?" Fluttershy said. A nod from Rainbow Dash answered her question, "Well I better get going too. Angel and the other animals need a place to say for the storm, I'll be busy this whole afternoon," She said walking out. Spike and Rarity followed the canary pegasus, "We'll help you too. We know how hard it is to gather all the animals to their shelter before the storm," Spike said as Fluttershy smiled and nodded. The three walked off to the distance leaving Rainbow with Twilight. The two continued walking, "You can go home too, Rainbow. You don't need to accompany me home," Twilight said with a dry voice. "Oh c'mon, Twi! You aren't going home alone! Because you'll be, uh, alone..?" Rainbow rubbed the back of her head recollecting what she said a little confused. Twilight looked at the pegasus and chuckled at her own confusion, "My point is, I don't want you to be alone at the castle after that incident at Canterlot," She added reassuringly. Twilight looked back at the pegasus, "You really don't need to do that, Rainbow. I'll be fine on my own, the castle is actually peaceful when I'm... Alone," She looked at the ground, "Ever since Starlight moved back to her hometown and Spike being asked by the Ponyvillians on some tasks that only him can handle. I've gotten used to being alone," Rainbow frowned, "Well now you aren't," "Huh?" "I'll be staying with you for the whole week! We'll be having tons of FUN!" Rainbow darted and hovered above the alicorn, "We'll be having awesome games every day this week! Read a bunch of Daring Do books, eat food until we're full! Hell, I'll even help you with the last princess stuff you need to attend! I'll make sure that you'll be comfortable with your last days here with us. Plus, I'll be your new Spike," She said as she landed next to the alicorn and quickly draped her wing on her back. Twilight managed a small laugh, "I'd appreciate that, Rainbow," Their conversations were full of laughter and joy. Every time Rainbow made up a joke Twilight would start cracking up with laughter, and while Twilight was laughing she made a joke of her own and made Rainbow Dash crackling with laughter. Rainbow was true at her promise. After she promised, Rainbow quickly landed the laughter with all of her boastings and complaints. They walked up to the stairs and stopped at the castle doors finishing up some few sentences before Rainbow Dash grabbed the handle, "After you, M'lady," She said with a grin. "Gladly," Twilight walked inside holding a burst of laughter. As her whole body stepped inside the castle she breathed in. The cold breeze was as relaxing as always a good way to clear a busy mind. She looked down and saw her reflection on the crystal floor, moving her eyes from left to right she saw a Rainbow Dash making googly faces at the crystal floor. Twilight couldn't hold herself and burst in laughter. Rainbow stood straight and giggled on what she had did and on Twilight's reaction, "Am I a great friend? Or not?" She asked as she puffed her chest and inhaled like it was her last breath. Twilight took a moment to answer her question and realized something. She slyly smiled, "You know that your gonna be the one scrubbing the floors while Spike's gone," The pegasus' eyes dilated as it stretched as wide as the dinner plates. She paused for a moment. Twilight saw Rainbow's lifeless reaction on what she said and bust in laughter again. Her hooves even failed to carry her as she continued her laughter. It took a few moments for Twilight to stop laughing and Rainbow Dash thinking of how she could scrub the floor of the whole crystal palace. A few giggles were still present from Twilight's voice as they were walking down the hall to the throne room. They were finishing up the last princess duties Twilight will have until her banishment. As they entered the room, they saw a shadow figure reading the papers from the table. Rainbow quickly flew towards the figure and wrapped it around with some papers. Twilight teleported to her room and quickly grabbed the horn braces from her cabinet. When she teleported back to the throne room she quickly equipped the braces to the unicorn from afar and switched the lights on. She froze on what she had seen. A stallion with a white coat and blue colored mane, eyes were as royal as his title. Twilight's eyes started to water, "B-brother?" She asked. Rainbow softened her grip on the unicorn enough to let him speak, "Twilly..." He said looking away from the alicorn as tears from his own started to fall down, "I-I heard the news..." There was something in his voice which made Rainbow Dash not let her guard down around this very stallion. "You can let him go now, Rainbow," She said as she took a step forward. Rainbow hesitated at first but when she saw how serious this was on Twilight's eyes, she let go. Slowly but surely she softened her grip around the stallion until he was free. Shining Armor ran as fast as he can to his sister hugging her when she was at her reach, "I'm happy you're alright. I was worried," Shining said as he hugged his little sister tighter, almost choking her. Rainbow gritted her teeth as she circled around the two. She reached Shining's face and saw his hooves trying to get the horn braces off of his horns with an angry face. Her eyes dilated as she saw Twilight fell down from her brother's grasp, fainted. She charged at him when Twilight hit the ground. Her brain quickly made a plan. She smirked. Shining's horn brace broke. He guards for a defense he was waiting from the pegasus. He quickly teleported away from the pegasus and reappeared behind her. He raised his hoof up high and smashed it on Rainbow's back. She screamed in agony. Shining armor charged for a big kick on Rainbow's diaphragm. As he hits, Rainbow blocked his move she flapped her wing carrying Shining on top of the castle's ceiling. Halfway there, Rainbow swiftly and easily flapped her wings again but now Shining Armor was on top. Her speed was incredible, as Shining Armor hit the ceiling he was knocked unconscious. They fell on the crystal floor as it made a mini earthquake. Rainbow was on top of the unicorn and panted. She slowly walked towards Twilight, subsiding the pain from her back. She nudged Twilight with her head. She didn't wake up. She sighed and went underneath the alicorn and moved her slowly on her back, she winced in pain as Twilight laid on her back. She subsided the pain again and walked Twilight to her room. Rainbow entered Twilight's room and opened her lights. She quickly smelled the lavender scent coming from the room. She walked up to Twilight's bed as she carefully laid and tucked the princess to bed. She walked away turning the lights off and closed the door behind her. She flapped her wings and flew away going back to where Shining Armor was last seen. "Tsk," She said as she stood in front of Twilight's older brother. She bit his tail and dragged the unicorn to the bathroom. Entering the bathroom, she wiped the sweat that had formed on her forehead and pushed him into the bathtub. In the cabinet, she saw a fist aid kit and a rope enough to tie Shining for the night. She walked outside the bathroom carrying the first aid kit and flew to the kitchen where she got a pack of ice. She put the ice pack on her back where the bruise was. She winced. A few minutes had passed and she wrapped the bandage around her bruise. She heard a scream coming from upstairs. Her pupils dilated as she subsided the pain of the bruise and dashed upstairs a rainbow streak following her trail. She kicked the door open revealing herself to the alicorn inside. She scanned her room for any bad guy that was trying to kill or harm her. She scanned Twilight and saw no bruises from a creature. She dashed up to the alicorn and hugged her, "What happened?" Twilight's breathing was unstable. She breathed in and out a couple of times before she spoke, "Shining Armor, injected me something... It was painful a-and sc-scary..." Rainbow tightened her hug, "It's alright," She frowned. How could her own brother do something like that? Her focus went back on the alicorn on her grasp and saw how broken she was on the fact that her one and only brother tried to kill her. She closed her eyes and let the alicorn lean over her, "Don't worry... You're not alone..."