Chapter 21- Ruin
“Hello there,” said Rainbow Dash to the green filly. She looked at the pegasus with frightened, sky-blue eyes.
“It’s alright,” Rainbow comforted. “We’re not going to hurt you.” She took a step forward, but the filly shrunk away.
“I’m Rainbow Dash. What’s your name?”
The filly hesitantly opened her mouth as if she were about to speak, but closed it again without saying anything.
“Come on, Rainbow. She’s probably traumatized after… whatever it is that happened to her on the train,” said Scootaloo who was helping hoist Queen Twilight’s unconscious body onto Shadow Flare’s shoulders.
“I guess so,” she said, conceding to her efforts.
Once Twilight was situated they began a trek through the winding hallways. The green filly followed a ways behind the others. But, she was following. That was good. It meant she at least halfway trusted them.
Shadow Flare must’ve been through here quite a few times as they had only gotten turned around once before reaching the more familiar parts of the castle. The ponies approached the door of the throne room. The guards, seeing Twilight, let them through without question. Shadow marched Twilight through the audience chamber and rested her at the foot of throne.
“Shouldn’t we put her in her bed or something?” Scootaloo asked.
Shadow shrugged. “I don’t know where her bedroom is.”
“You could ask somepony,” said Rainbow sarcastically.
“Actually,” Shadow shot back, “nopony knows where it is. It’s a closely guarded secret that only her elite guards know. It was a precaution she took when the other princesses disappeared a year ago. The logic being, nopony could come and attack her in her sleep.”
“Oh,” said Rainbow, feeling a bit awkward at being wrong. She didn’t like being wrong.
“Wait. She’s the queen?”
Rainbow, Shadow, and Scoots all turned to see the green filly, wide-eyed with wonder.
“Yeah,” said Scoots, “And she saved your life.”
“She did?” she asked, her voice soaked with awe.
“Yes. The queen killed that monster and you appeared,” said Rainbow. A dark expression crossed the young filly’s face. She shrunk to the ground, shivering.
“You okay, little one?” Shadow asked.
The green filly shook her head. “Th-the monster t-took me away from my mama when we on the train. I-it t-t-took me to this p-place where there was n-no light. Th-there wasn’t any l-light or sound or-or anything. J-Just blackness every direction. I-I was so scared,” she stuttered, shivering violently. A tear ran down her cheek.
“There, there,” said Scootaloo, “It’ll be alright.” She keeled next to the filly and wrapped her wings around her. The filly hugged her and began to sob.
“We’ll find your mother,” said Rainbow. The filly turned and gazed at Rainbow through Scoot’s sunset feathers. She looked thankful.
“Ugh…” came a voice from the throne behind them. Twilight blinked open her eyes and glanced around, as if she wasn’t quite sure where she was. “What happened? Did I get it?” She began to struggle to her hooves, stumbling.
“Careful,” Shadow warned, “You should just rest. That spell must’ve been extremely draining. Oh, and yes. The beast has been slain.”
Twilight sighed and sunk back to the floor, obviously too exhausted to try and haul herself onto the throne. “Who is that?” she asked.
“We don’t know her name,” said Rainbow. “She appeared when you defeated the Fallen. She’s the same one that was abducted when we were attacked by the Fallen on the train.”
“You were attacked? Why didn’t you tell me? I need to know these things,” Twilight said. Even though the queen was looking at Rainbow, she knew the lavender alicorn’s words were directed to her pupil. He must’ve realized too, as he held his head down the way one might after being admonished.
“So, what is your name?” Twilight addressed the green and pink filly.
“I’m Jade,” she replied.
“Nice to meet you, Jade. I’m Queen Twilight Sparkle. Now what’s your mother’s name?”
“Her name is Rose. She’s pale with a red mane and green eyes.”
Twilight nodded. “I’ve heard of her. She’s nice. Don’t worry Jade. You’ll be back at home with your mother before you know it.”
Jade beamed at the queen then let out an enormous yawn.
“I guess it’s time for you to go to bed, little one,” said Twilight, “It’s getting rather dark outside. Scootaloo, will you accompany Jade to the guest rooms? The guards will point you in the right direction.”
Scoots nodded, then turned to leave with Jade. “Now,” said Twilight, climbing into her throne, “We have some things to discuss.”
“Yes,” agreed Shadow. “It happened on our ride here this morning. We were on the train to Canterlot when the temperature began to drop. Then we heard screaming. The Fallen came into our car, heard Jade speak, and then teleported away, taking her with it.”
“Anything else?” Twilight demanded. Both ponies shook their heads in response.
“Well, then there isn’t much reason to fear it any more, now is there? But there’s one thing I don’t understand. Where did Jade go? And why did she come back after we defeated the Fallen?”
“There is one idea that comes to mind,” said Rainbow. “As I’ve been reading, I’ve been hearing a lot about this obscure place called the Void. I don’t know where it is, or what it is, really. The books don’t have much information on it.”
“The Void, huh?” the lilac queen pondered.
“I wish there was more to go off of,” Shadow stated. “It seems like when we get close to the answer, it slips further away.”
“I wish Celestia and Luna were still alive,” said Twilight, “They would know what to do.”
Rainbow looked at the forlorn queen. She sighed. She knew she would sound crazy saying this, but she had to comfort her queen… no, her friend. “The princesses aren’t dead. They are still alive.”
She looked at the blue pegasus quizzically. “I saw them in a dream. Luna came to me when I was dying and healed me. She also left me with a weird phrase: the key to the future often lies hidden in the past. I saw her again with Celestia on either side of this eerie throne.”
“Really? I can’t believe it! All this time I’ve been worrying and they’ve been alive and well!” Twilight exclaimed, wings fluttering in excitement.
“Actually, I’m not sure if they’re all that well,” Rainbow stated, a little guilty at having to bring the queen’s spirits down. “You see, Luna said that they were banished to a realm beyond time by some dark force and await the day they can return. And that all depends on me…”
“Oh,” said Twilight. “But hey. It’s enough to know they’re alive.”
A heavy silence followed for the next few minutes. It was broken by Shadow. “So, what are we going to do about that Fate Stone?”
“If the watch was indeed the Fate Stone, then it could be anywhere in Equestria by now. A lot can happen in a year,” said Twilight.
Rainbow thought hard. Where could the artifact be? That’s when an image popped into her head.
The key to the future often lies hidden in the past…
It was a dark and stormy night. Rainbow was bleeding to death on the ground as rain fell around her. Then Chrono appeared to stop Dash from striking the final blow. He was wearing a helmet and…
“…a golden watch,” Rainbow whispered to herself. She turned to the other two ponies, who were discussing other, rather unlikely possibilities.
“I know where to find it!” said Rainbow.
“Well, let’s hear it,” said Shadow, “Your clairvoyance has yet to fail us!”
“Chrono has it. He always seems to be holding all the cards. He probably knows we came out here to search for the Fate Stone, so he’ll be expecting us to come back searching for him.”
“So, what do you suggest?” asked Shadow, running a hoof through his scarlet mane.
“What else? Find that time-twisting bozo and teach him a lesson!”
“What if it’s a trap?” the black unicorn asked.
“Of course it’s a trap!” said Rainbow, “But no mouse ever got the cheese without setting off the trap.”
“Are you sure, Rainbow?” There was worry in Shadow’s green eyes.
“Of course. You and me make a great team! Together with Scootaloo, we are unstoppable!”
“I hope you’re right, Rainbow Dash.”
“I guess you’ll be leaving soon,” said Twilight. “Feel free to stay the night. Ask the guards, and they’ll tell you where Scootaloo and Jade are staying.”
“Thank you,” said Shadow, bowing his head. Rainbow imitated his gesture and followed him out of the room.
It was not long before they had reached the room where Scootaloo and Jade were curled up, asleep on the same bed. Rainbow climbed into the second bed and Shadow found some spare blankets and set up a sleeping place on the floor.
An hour had gone by when Rainbow realized she couldn’t sleep. She got out of bed and crept out of the room. She navigated her way through the few hallways that led to the exit of the extravagant castle. Once outside, Rainbow took a deep breath. The starscape above her stretched far and wide, ruled by a brilliant crescent moon. This whole adventure was beginning to wear her out. She wanted to go home, yet she had begun to grow attached to this time. She wished she could go back to where she belonged, but have Shadow with her. It was crazy, she knew, but she wanted him to be there. He was a friend she could trust. Even though he didn’t speak much, there always seemed to be something going on behind those brilliant green eyes. It was funny that, despite their differing personalities, they could be so close. It was a connection she shared with very few. Yet, when she left, Rainbow would never see him again.
“Why is life so unfair?” she asked the moon. There was no reply. The white crescent simply kept casting its silvery aura onto the land of Equestria.
That’s when she saw it. A dark figure crept along the shadowed streets outside the castle. Rainbow followed the pony as quietly as possible. The figure trotted down the street heading towards a building Rainbow knew all too well. It was the tower in which the Elements of Harmony were kept. Since the princesses had entrusted the Elements to Twilight ten years ago, the purple alicorn probably would’ve returned them upon moving to Canterlot Castle. The Elements of Harmony were the weapon that defended Equestria from destruction. Rainbow and five of her other friends used them to keep the evil at bay many times before her departure. Each of them represented an Element: Twilight, the Element of Magic; Applejack, the Element of Honesty; Rarity, the Element of Generosity; Fluttershy, the Element of Kindness; Pinkie Pie, the Element of Laughter; and Rainbow, the Element of Loyalty. Without these Elements, harmony in Equestria could easily be shattered. That’s why Rainbow had to follow this intruder.
The mysterious pony entered the building, leaving the door cracked open behind her. Rainbow followed the figure inside. The inside of the building was dark; no light could be seen. Except for the place where the five Elements were shining on their pedestals. The sixth Element was in Twilight’s crown so it was never kept down here. Suddenly, one of the five lights vanished.
“Hey!” Rainbow shouted into the darkness.
Rainbow felt the intruder rush past her with incredible speed. The pony stood in the doorway to the building. The light of the moon revealed the features of the black pegasus that antagonized Rainbow the most, now wearing the Element of Loyalty around her neck.
“Good night,” Dash said with a smirk.
The doors crashed shut, leaving Rainbow in inky black darkness. She fumbled around the room until she located the door. Locked from the outside. Rainbow was trapped. The cyan pegasus hung her head. Dash was not going to stop torturing her until she either died or left, was she? But what was most disturbing was that what had originally been a lie was now true. All of Dash’s friends did reject her in favor of Rainbow. Had Chrono somehow known that was going to happen? Did he plan for it to happen? Either way, Rainbow knew Chrono was the real enemy here, not Dash. It almost made her sorry for her future self. Almost. Dash would have to be dealt with sooner or later. But Chrono? He was a monster that wished for the end of the world for no apparent reason. He had to be stopped first.
Rainbow curled up on the ground and closed her eyes. If she left and time was set straight again, what would happen to Chrono and Dash? What would happen to Shadow Flare? Would it be as if she had never been there? The thought that Shadow wouldn’t remember her hurt worse than any torture Dash could inflict upon her. She blocked out all of her thoughts until sleep claimed her once more.