//------------------------------// // Chapter 8: Fresh Wounds & Old Scars // Story: Treasured Moon & Stars: Vol. 2 Treasures From Mirrors // by TigerSwirl448 //------------------------------// Chapter 8 Fresh Wounds & Old Scars Octavia walked around with an escort of two guards as she reached an area underground where the air was stifling hot. She gulped rolling up her puffy sleeves as she looked around. It had been a week since she and her friends had been imprisoned by the shaman called Fluttershy. She seemed to be high enough to be in charge which worried Octavia greatly, especially since she did threaten her with Vinyl’s life. During the week of laying around in their room, Octavia was taught a lot form Applejack, especially things about Fluttershy. It was surprising to hear all these stories, even Apple Bloom was interested too. She never knew her sister was in the war. Octavia paid close attention to these stories, wanting to understand what had happened and maybe help her understand what Fluttershy had been through. Applejack never talked about the rebellion until Apple Bloom was asleep and then she'll tell Octavia in a hushed whisper about the rebellion and what the unicorns and pegasi did to her and Pinkie Pie. Not to mention the ponies that were branded as traitors. So it might be possible that Fluttershy was a traitor and was tortured. But why was she so hostile toward Captain Dash? Applejack knew but she didn't want to talk about it. Saying it was the past and she knew Rainbow’s head is on back straight. "Back straight?" Octavia had asked with confusion. "Look, I'm not going to talk about what I heard. If you want the true story ask Rainbow yourself." Octavia turned away and went to bed not wanting to have that option. The guardians in her head were telling her to find the truth, but how could she when she was scared to death, and not to mention resentful towards, the pegasus? Then another thought came through her mind. How can she bring back the Elements of Harmony together if they are either dead or they want to kill each other? Now after a week in the room Fluttershy seem to let the guard allow Octavia and Applejack and even Apple Bloom to see their companions. Fluttershy was there to say that they will be given a longer leash. But of course unicorns and pegasi will be truly under guard. Of course Blossomforth and Raindrops didn't object to having their wings tied to their bodies. Twilight made some silly little movement to what she said was a promise. That seemed to give Fluttershy ease but pain replaced that worry. Octavia blinked hearing a call as she watched a young stallion run past them and up the stone steps to the caverns above. Octavia gulped and continued following her escorts through the tunnel until they reached a hall where there were sounds. Sounds of talking, laughter, even crying. There was a smell of blood and bodies further up. She swallowed hard having horrible thoughts of where she was being taken. They turned the corner and those horrid ideas soon popped out of being. What she saw was a large cavern chamber filled with sick and dying zebras. Octavia covered her mouth to hide her shock as she looked around to see the horribly wounded zebras. She turned one way hearing a mare screaming. She could see the zebra mare actually in labor. She blinked several times watching a zebra mare wearing the same headband as Fluttershy quickly run to her aid. Octavia turned another direction hearing another cry and see a mare crying over a stallion, he looked horribly wounded and burned. He must have died. She can see a stallion walking over with a blanket to cover him and saying a prayer. Octavia continued to follow her escort up some steps to an area where there were stone rooms. The front escort stopped and pointed to the blanket covering the entrance. Octavia nodded with a bow then entered the room. She stepped in and gasped to see Vinyl sleeping covered in sweat on a pallet and covered in a thick blanket. Octavia was in shock seeing how horrible Vinyl looked. "Princess," Octavia turned and gasped to see Daring for the first time in a week. "Professor!" Daring stood up and hugged Octavia. "Thank goodness you're unharmed." Octavia sighed feeling happy to see the professor again. "Twilight was worried sick about you." "Ah, she shouldn't have." Daring said chuckling pulling away. "Please sit down with me, I was just finishing up my study here." "Study?" Octavia asked sitting by Daring looking down at Vinyl with sad eyes. "Why yes, I was learning from Shaman Zecora here about the zebra culture. Very interesting stuff here." Octavia turned to see the elder zebra making some sort of powder with plants. "How's Vinyl doing?" She asked reaching her hand to place it over Vinyl's chest. Daring quirked her eyebrow to watch Octavia close her eyes as if using magic. Daring sighed. "What do you think?" Octavia didn't hear her as she soon felt Vinyl's weak magic tendrils toward her. She could feel the weakness in her body, her lungs are in bad shape, and she could sense darkness, a deep darkness. "She’s..." She whispered opening her eyes feeling tears as she curled her hand into a fist. "She is fighting. Soon she will be up as quick as lightning." Zecora spoke as she continued to beat the ingredients into a fine powder then dump the small wooden bowl into some sort of liquid as she stirred it. "But..." Octavia whirled sniffing, wiping her eyes. "She’s dying!" Zecora shook her head. "Unicorn body is strong. Nothing can do her wrong." "But how can you... She's-" "Octavia," Daring whispered grabbing her shoulder and squeezed tightly. "Zecora is a true healer, she and Fluttershy are using the most powerful and potent herbs and plants that can to heal Vinyl. She might look dead right now, but the herbs are fighting with her." Octavia blinked confused. "You mean she'll be fine?" Daring smiled sadly. "Applejack said that it'll take time, but Captain Scratch will come back to us." "How much longer?" Octavia asked turning to Zecora. "Possibly a couple of weeks." Everypony turned to see Fluttershy entering the room carrying a satchel with multicolored leaves sticking out. "It'll take a while for the Poison Joke pollen to work." "Poison joke?" Octavia asked. Zecora chuckled. "Its works like poison oak. But instead it turns you into a joke." "What?" Octavia asked with shocked disbelief. Did she heard that right? Fluttershy chuckled. "Poison Joke is a plant that has magical properties. If you enter a grove of them then the plant would turn you into something. Like me for instant, when I first came here I went into a full grove of them and then the next morning," Fluttershy chuckled. "I started talking like a stallion." Daring was chuckling while Octavia just stared at her with confusion. "How did you get rid of it?" Fluttershy turned to Zecora. "Zecora gave me this potion that I used in my bath and my voice turned back to normal. But even though Poison Joke can be a pain in the tail, the nectar is very important for our medicines." Octavia gulped looking at the pegasus. "So... this nectar will help heal Vinyl?" "The nectar in Poison Joke can be used as a repellant if mixed with the right amounts correctly, it can even be used to reference the effects of a disease we don’t know about. But missing the nectar in the right ingredients we can make a cure to help your friend fight off what the magic did to her. But she also has an infection, no?" Octavia nodded. Fluttershy sighed. "She’s like this because of the infection. We are giving her medication for the infection and for the magic that has clouded her lungs as you spoke of." Octavia sighed. "Will she make it? The infection I mean?" Fluttershy sighed. "Just as Zecora says, she's strong and very healthy. She’ll make it. It is the lung problem I'm not so sure about. Right now she's on the edge of death. It's up to the old gods to bring her back." Octavia gulped reaching her hand to Vinyl's head to swipe her wet mane aside. Fluttershy watched her closely to see how tender Octavia touched her and stroked her ear and head. Fluttershy blinked several times feeling anger yet sadness. "Shaman, I'll be back." Fluttershy said standing up to leave the room. "Don’t be too long, you take over after the gong." Octavia watched the pegasus walk away, she turned back to Vinyl stroking her face. Zecora got her attention by snapping her fingers. "You, help me lift her head. That way no medicine gets in her bed." Octavia nodded as she placed her arm around the back of Vinyl's neck and lifting her up quite surprised by her light weight. While lifting her up the blanket fell off a touch to reveal her ribs. "What's happening to her?" She whispered with shock. "The infection is strong, and with medicine she is losing muscle and fat." Daring answered sadly. "This sickness will take everything out of her if she lives." "If she lives, flying one?" Zecora said with a raised brow. "I believe she yet won." "I hope so." Daring answered seeing Octavia with tears now pouring down her cheeks. "I sure do hope so." Octavia hugged Vinyl to her nuzzling her cheek feeling helpless to help her friend in need. Later Octavia never left Vinyl's side for the rest of the day. She stayed in the room holding Vinyl to her or holding her hand, determined to stay by her side until the very end. When night came Fluttershy left her room then returned with a small pallet and set it next to Vinyl for Octavia to sleep by her. Octavia didn't ask why the pegasus did it, but the look in her eyes seem to answer her question. "Thank you," She whispered. Fluttershy nodded and silently left the room shaking slightly. Octavia laid in her pallet holing Vinyl's hand feeling her muscles twitch every so often giving Octavia hope that her friend is still alive. But sleep didn’t came easy to the fugitive princess as her hero continued to hang between life and death. ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ Rainbow was leaning against the wall in her room staring at the dagger laying in the center of the room. It had been a few days since she was given the dagger and since then Rainbow started to think. She closed her eyes remembering that moment of truth hours ago. She was kneeling in the center of the room with tears pouring out of her eyes from the memory backlash she felt. She grabbed the dagger from the wall and preparing to end it all. Placing the tip of the dagger above her naval wanting to end the suffering she caused to all ponies and herself. But something stopped her. A voice. A voice of a child. "Mimi!" ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ 12 years ago: Manehattan Palace "Mimi!" Rainbow Dash turned to see Little Octavia in her winter dress running from the corridor to hug Rainbow around her thighs. Rainbow just stared at her with shock. She looked up to see Prince Tick Tock and Duchess Sapphire Melody walk over smiling, their faces showing signs of the cold. "What's wrong Captain?" The Duchess asked scooping up Octavia into her arms and balancing her on her hip. Rainbow turned to Octavia with confusion. "What did you just call me?" She asked with a raised brow. Octavia giggled grabbing Rainbow's sleeve and tugged it. "Mimi!" she giggled again as Duchess Melody kissed her on the cheek. Rainbow blinked looking at the prince to see him smiling. "Highness, can we talk alone?" Rainbow asked dangerously getting surprised looks from the couple. "Of course, Captain." The prince said just as seriously, kissing Melody on the cheek and then tickled Octavia's chin causing her to giggle. As the two walked away Octavia was waving. "Bye-bye Daddy, bye Mimi!" Rainbow made a smile waving to the little princess as Melody quickly walked away already getting a look from her husband. "What the hell Highness!" Rainbow snapped. "What's wrong?" Tick Tock asked innocently. "What’s wrong?! I told you I can't be that close to her. Even now more than ever since everypony is watching her carefully!" Rainbow whispered angrily, poking him in the chest with her finger. The prince pushed the blue finger away with a sigh and shake of his head. "Rainbow Dash she sees you as her grandmother, you can't tell a child to not call you her grandmother when you love her as-" "Shut your mouth!" Rainbow hissed looking around. "I can't afford to do this sort of thing anymore." "What do you mean? You love her," "No, I..." Rainbow closed her eyes turning away. "I can't." Tick Tock blinked seeing the despair in his old friend’s eyes. "Why, Rainbow? Tell me," "No, I can’t tell you." Rainbow turned to see Octavia twirling in her dress showing it to the ladies at the fountain. They were all giving her horrible looks. Rainbow sniffed wiping her eyes. "Was it before you and I met?" Tick Tock asked softly placing his hand on her shoulder. "It was." She paused and sighed. "I was in love with a pony. I have this very horrible feeling in my gut when I think about this pony. I think I did something wrong and I can't remember what I did. But every time I think about her... I just know that everypony that I loved were hurt. I'm afraid to love again even if it was as harmless as that." Rainbow clenched her fists tightly. She leaned against the pillar covering her face to hide her tears. Tick Tock patted Rainbow on the back. "I understand. Those bastards took your loved ones away." He said harshly as he turned to watch Melody hug Octavia kissing her on the cheek. "I can’t say that I feel the same way Rainbow Dash. But love is all I can give to my family to protect them. But I do understand, you don’t want them to take away the source of your new found happiness." Rainbow sniffed with a sigh. "I'm sorry highness, I’m a disgrace." "No, never say that, Captain. Your have the largest heart of any pegasus pony I have ever met. And believe me when I say this Rainbow Dash, I love you as if you are my own mother." Rainbow blinked and turned to him to see him smile. "My mother disowned me after I told her of my plans to marry Sapphire Melody. Nothing is worse than having your own mother banish you and to never see her again. But you took her place and took me in your arms and held me like I was your own boy." Rainbow blushed as she wiped her drying eyes. "In a way I look at you as my own. I trained you hard, highness and I won’t let you die quick." The two chuckled at that as they stood still for a moment feeling the cool air from the corridor. "It will be hard for Octavia to understand." Tick Tock said sadly. "She loves you very much." Rainbow nodded biting her lip. "My loyalty still stands. I will be her shield and her protector. Just not like before. I can’t tuck her in bed anymore. I can't sing her any lullabies either. But I will take the stabs, the shots, even the kicks to protect her, highness." Tick Tock sighed seeing that she was getting better and returning to normal Captain Dash. He nodded his head once then turned. He stopped for a moment then turned to Rainbow. "I know you love her too, Rainbow Dash. You just don’t want to admit it." He walked away leaving Rainbow Dash to bite her lip, trying to keep from crying again. ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ Mimi! Rainbow dropped the blade, breathing hard, crawling back to the corner and stayed there hugging her knees to her chest, crying all over again. Octavia's voice continued to haunt her throughout the night her tiny voice giggling, crying, and even talking. I love you! Rainbow closed her eyes as she heard the voices yet again. "Stop it please!" She begged as visions sprout in her mind both bad and good. "Please!" She screamed out now holding her ears trying to get the voices out of her head. "Leave. Me. Alone!” One of the zebra guards looked inside to notice Rainbow acting strangely. He sprinted off down the tunnel to get help. ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ Octavia was watching Fluttershy doing a potion as the zebra guard ran into the room panting. He started speaking in rushed Zebrican pointing behind him. Fluttershy turned to him with shock. "What?" She asked in Equestria as the zebra spoke again. Fluttershy nodded turning to Octavia. "Stay here!" Fluttershy ordered running after the guard leaving the dazed earth pony alone running with the guard. "Go follow her, dear." Zecora said cryptically. Octavia looked up at the elder to see her nodding. "There is a truth you must hear." Octavia blinked once then stood up running after Fluttershy. Zecora sighed sadly sitting down by Vinyl as she finishes the potion. Applejack was whistling an old tune as she went off walking in the tunnels. She looked up seeing a zebra and Fluttershy nearing her. She moved to the wall watching the two run past Applejack, "Whoa. Hey ‘Shy, what's the matter?" "It's Rainbow Dash!" Fluttershy called out before turning the corner. Applejack stood there confused trying to process what Fluttershy said as Octavia ran past her. "Wait for me!" Applejack called out running after them. Fluttershy entered the room and gasped to see Rainbow curled up in a ball screaming out holding her head as if something was squeezing her. "Rainbow!" She yelled out running to her. Octavia stepped in and gasped. Applejack pushed past her to see the knife in Rainbow's hand. "Rainbow, don't!" Applejack called out running over. Fluttershy saw the knife and grabbed Rainbow's arm. "Rainbow, please!" Fluttershy begged now getting worried. What if Rainbow is going to kill her now? She looked into Rainbow's eyes to see guilt. "I'm sorry," She whispered. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Rainbow cried out fighting. Octavia went to the corner to watch what was going on. What did Zecora mean by hearing the truth? "Rainbow, stop!" Applejack yelled out now grabbing Rainbow and holding her down. "Are you mad?" Applejack yelled right before she felt a fist jab into her gut. With that moment of freedom Rainbow kicked Fluttershy away to release her arm. She placed the knife blade to her neck. "Rainbow, stop!" Fluttershy yelled out watching. "I will," Rainbow whispered crying. "I'm better off dead!" Applejack roared out tackling the pegasus to the ground wrestling her for the knife. Applejack grabbed Rainbow’s hand keeping the blade to the floor as the two struggled. "Rainbow Dash, you mean more to us alive! What’s gotten into you?" She yelled over Rainbow's Dash's cursing. "I'm a murderer, you earth bucking bitch! I'm a killer!" Applejack looked down at her with shock as they continue to struggle. Rainbow closed her eyes and began to go limp under her friend’s brawn. She shook violently as she cried. "I tried to kill Fluttershy." She cried. "I killed stallions, mares, and foals. Dammit, I killed hundreds of ponies that were innocent." Octavia gulped hard watching what was happening. Applejack closed her eyes at hearing this. "Rainbow," she started. "No!" Rainbow screamed. "I was supposed to protect them and now I'm just as evil as the ones that did this to me!" Octavia blinked watching how the captain of the guard, who was so strong and never revealed true emotion, was laying on her back crying like a filly. Applejack sighed loosening her grip on the pegasus. "Rainbow, we've all have been through woe and unforgivable things. Believe me, I know." "No, you don't know." Rainbow whispered harshly as she swings her hand to hit Applejack in the temple with the hilt of the knife. Applejack cried out hitting the wall next to them on the head and was knocked out. Fluttershy gasped leaping forward only to be kicked in the gut. Fluttershy hit hard on the hard ground, holding her stomach from the kick. Octavia gasped seeing Rainbow Dash panting hard with tears streaming down her face. She stared at the blade and sighed placing the blade to her belly again. "Forgive me my friends. I'm better off dead." STOP HER! The Guardians screamed through Octavia’s head. With no thought of delay she followed the command. She ran forward and tackled the pegasus to the ground. As Rainbow got the air knocked out of her, Octavia grabbed the knife and threw it to a corner. She felt hands grab her and flipped her to her back. Octavia gasped looking up into the fierce eyes of the guard. Octavia's brain suddenly started to work again and she gasped with surprise. Even Rainbow was surprised. She blinked several times panting looking down at the princess under her. "Princess," She whispered with shock. Octavia reached up to her chest where the Luna's Tear sat and held onto it tight. She blinked again and discovered something was wrong. As she held the jewel she could see something strange. Rainbow was radiating some sort of soft glow of pink magic. The magic was heavy and dark. A heaviness that seemed to have more weight than the captain straddling her. Rainbow blinked and suddenly the magic seem to fade away. "Princess, forgive me." She whispered blinking hard, shaking her head. Rainbow slowly moved away from the princess breathing hard, holding her head. Fluttershy sat up after witnessing what had happened. She quickly crawled to the knife grabbing it. Rainbow sighed sitting on her pallet against the corner breathing hard. Octavia slowly sat up breathing just as hard. What did you make me do? She asked mentally to the guardians. She must not die. If one Element dies then the magic will sever and the Elements of Harmony will never be used. You need them to fulfill your mission. Octavia swallowed, staring at Rainbow as she covered her face with her hands. Octavia sighed. So what? What if this harmony thing doesn't work? She asked resentfully clenching the Luna's Tear tighter in her fist. Then you won't stop the corrupting government for killing you. The Elements of Harmony are a powerful weapon that can destroy all that is against the magic of harmony. Octavia sighed sensing the guardians leaving her mind. She let out an annoyed sigh as she turned to realize Rainbow Dash was staring at her. Octavia blushed turning away she crawled to Applejack and patted her cheek and shake her shoulder to get her to wake up. Fluttershy crawled over to check Applejack's wounds. "Hmm, nothing serious, she'll have a big bump on her head for a while though." Fluttershy turned to Rainbow to see her still staring at Octavia. "Rainbow," Fluttershy whispered gently sitting by her being careful. Rainbow blinked and looked up at Fluttershy then turned away. "I mean what I said," Rainbow whispered with a sniff. "I'm sorry... I wasn't myself." She sniffed again rubbing her eyes. "I never knew what happened until you... Fluttershy," Fluttershy placed her finger over Rainbow's lips to keep her quiet as she used her other hand to stroke Rainbow's messy mane. "You need rest." She pulled Rainbow forward then untangled Rainbow's arms and legs. She lightly pushed Rainbow down to her back. "Sleep," She whispered. Rainbow turns away. Fluttershy sighed shaking her head reaching into her robes and pull out some kind of small vial with a tiny strand of a plant inside. She popped the cork of the top and waved the tube under Rainbow's nose. Rainbow sniffed the scent and blinked. Her eyelids grew heavy and then her eyes went shut. Fluttershy sighed as she corked the vile and patted Rainbow's shoulder. She turned to see Applejack coming to. "What happened?" Applejack asked. "Captain Dash hit you hard in the head." Octavia whispered. Applejack nodded as Octavia helped her stand up. Fluttershy sighed standing up. She walked to the outside and spoke to the two guards. The two zebras walked into the room and lifted up Rainbow then carried her away. "Where are you taking her?" Applejack asked rubbing her temple wincing feeling the slight pain that gave her. "She must be watched for a while." Fluttershy said sadly. "I'll be checking on her later." She turned to Octavia. "You saw something didn't you?" Octavia gulped clenching her stone. "I might have seen something." Fluttershy and Applejack looked at her for a moment. Applejack cleared her throat. "That stone she has in her hand, she could see things like we did with our medallions." Fluttershy looked at Octavia's clenched fist thinking for a moment. "We shall talk later, I must tend to Rainbow Dash and make sure she's not suffering from any delusions. She might have brain damage without even knowing." She left the room leaving the two Earth ponies alone. Applejack sighed picking up her hat, pulling it on her head. She turned to see Octavia staring at the floor. "Look, Princess, Thanks for stopping her." Octavia looked up and turned to the Earth pony. "What do you mean?" Applejack sighed. "Back then I was so strong I could lift Rainbow off the ground by the collar of her jacket. Now I lost all my strength and I can't fight anymore. I was reduced to no more than a simple slave." Octavia turned to see Applejack reach to her back gently rubbing her back closest to her side. Octavia turned away. "I've got to go." Applejack nodded. "Same here. I have to go see Apple Bloom." The two Earth ponies walked together for a time and then took their separate paths. Octavia headed to the infirmary cavern while Applejack took another tunnel leading her to the other shipmates. ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ Rainbow slowly opened her eyes groaning from the pain in her head. "Where am I?" She asked. "Safe for the moment." Fluttershy said sourly as she stamp hard into her bowl pounding some powder. Rainbow blinked and felt something. She looked down and gasped to find herself tied to the ground. "What is this?!" "Stay your fears." Fluttershy said softly. "It's for your protection." Rainbow snorted. "My protection, or everypony else's?" Fluttershy sighed, turning to the tied down Rainbow Dash. The ropes were uncomfortable, but they made sure that she wouldn't try to killing herself again. Rainbow looked up at Fluttershy, from the top of her head to the end of her braided pink tail. "You have changed." She murmured. Fluttershy heard that and turned to see Rainbow stiffen and blush. "What was that?" Rainbow cleared her throat. "I said you have changed... since the last memory I had of you." Fluttershy closed her eyes returning back to her powders. "What was that last memory? Of me crying under you when you tried to murder me with your sword?" Rainbow's ears went flat on her head as she closed her eyes. "For the longest time, my last memory of you was... that last night we had together." Fluttershy's hand went still. Rainbow sighed. "Before everything went to hell… it was after Rarity's birthday and we both had too much to drink, remember?" Fluttershy swallowed hard, not answering but Rainbow kept going. "That was my only memory I always seem to see when I think about you. Not only that but, your gentleness, your bravery. Mostly I just missed you, but every time I thought about you I guess my conscience would keep telling that something had happened that made me believe that you were dead. That same hollow feeling stayed with me long after Spitfire was... murdered. Fluttershy placed her hands on the rock, biting her lip as she remembered the first time she heard about Spitfire. "I heard about that," She whispered, "You were always gone and I wasn't there to help you when you needed it." Rainbow turned to see Fluttershy's shoulders shaking. "I searched for you, even when Rarity told me not to and to just stay away from you. I searched for you even after what happened to us." Rainbow bit her lip and closed her eyes. Fluttershy continued to talk anyway as tears ran down her cheeks. "I kept getting word that you were with the other pegasi so I snuck to the compound and I heard you voice... and I saw what was happening and you..." Rainbow sniffed. "I know what I did now. She was a good friend and I killed her." "You were fighting it, I saw it." "Fighting what?" She asked confused. "There was a unicorn there and she was standing by that horrible pegasus and she was waving her hands around and performing this spell that sent shivers down my spine. You were being controlled." Rainbow groaned. "Man... Man, oh man, oh man." She whispered sniffling. "I'm such a mess!" Fluttershy turned and kneeled by Rainbow Dash to stroke her face. "It'll take time but with this herb I'm mixing with your food, this should stop all magical influence on you." Rainbow blinked staring up at her. "You mean... you will help me? Even after what I had done to you?" Fluttershy sighed trying hard not to cry. "I won't forgive you for what you had done, but I can’t turn my back on ponies that need me, not to mention friends. My true friends." Rainbow closed her eyes letting the tears fall as she smiled. "I could care less about that, but hearing that you will help me as my friend... that means a lot to me." She paused for a moment to try and regain herself but couldn’t help it. "I thought you were dead a long times ago, ‘Shy. Just like Pinkie Pie." Fluttershy nodded slowly. "I know." She whispered stroking Rainbow's face. Rainbow leaned into her hand crying silently. "I know," she whispered again. "The princess?" Rainbow asked silently. "She’s fine. A little shaken but fine." Rainbow sighed closing her eyes. Fluttershy smiled stroking her mane with her other hand.