The morning broke the same as always. The moon dipped below the horizon and the sun sprang up into the sky. Rainbow Dash had been waiting for this moment for nearly twenty minutes already. She didn’t want to be rude, but the sunrise gave her a reason to finally wake her sleeping friends. She turned away from the glare of the sun and floated down to where Fluttershy lay on the ground below.
Fluttershy yawned as Rainbow Dash gently brushed her mane. There may have been a little hint of sisterly affection in the way Rainbow helped straighten the long flowing hairs of the recovering mare’s mane. She would never admit to that however – instead she would say she was simply removing a twig and a few leaves that were caught in the strands.
“How are you feeling, Fluttershy?” asked Rainbow Dash as Fluttershy came around. “Do you think you might be up for a little flyin’ this morning?”
Fluttershy stood up and spread out her wings as best she could. They were still somewhat bound in a soft gauze wrapping near the base. She gave them both a little shake, but quickly stopped as the pain became too much to bear still.
“I’m sorry, Rainbow,” winced Fluttershy as she hung her head. “I don’t think I’ll be able to just yet. The swelling is still a bit much.”
“Well, I hope you’re feeling better at least,” sighed Rainbow Dash. “I guess we’ll still need Gilda’s help to get you to Canterlot – at least.”
The two ponies glanced over to the spot where Gilda had just recently been sleeping. A patch of matted down grass and a few broken twigs were all that was left.
“Gilda?” called out Rainbow Dash before turning back towards Fluttershy and muttering, “Now where could that Griffin have gone?”
“It’s ok, Rainbow,” replied Fluttershy. “I think the favor was just too much for her to handle. She probably didn’t want to hurt our feelings and just went home.”
“Well, that’s certainly not what a good friend would do – just leave without saying anything?” retorted Rainbow Dash.
“What do you mean?” came a voice from the tree behind them. Gilda sat perched on one of the higher branches. “Who said I was leavin’?”
“Well…. Uhh…” stammered Rainbow Dash – a little bashful about leaping to conclusions. “I thought you may have just given up and, uhh, maybe didn’t want to tell it to our faces.”
“I thought you knew me better than that, Dash.” Gilda hopped down from the tree leaping a few branches at a time. “I just woke up and took off for a little wing stretching exercise. Carrying Flutter here is quite the workout.”
“I’m sorry to be such a burden, Gilda.” Fluttershy felt pretty embarrassed for not being able to fly under her own power.
“Not a problem, Shy.” Gilda pumped her wings. “I may just have to put something like this into my normal workout routine. It really works my wing pectorals.”
Rainbow Dash flashed Gilda a friendly smile. “Enough showing off, G. We need to get to Canterlot, pronto.”
Gilda helped Fluttershy onto her back as Rainbow Dash gathered up the last of their gear and threw the saddle bags over hers. In just a few minutes, the group was airborne once again. The overnight rest had served them well and they made good progress over the next hour. With only about thirty minutes more flight time, they would be in Canterlot.
As they approached, the gleaming spires over Canterlot Castle were still a good distance away. Rainbow Dash happened to spot a guard pony flying toward them. He flew straight for them and joined formation with the team as he swung around and flew alongside.
“Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, I presume?” asked the somewhat confused guard. “I’m sorry I don’t know your name miss, uh… Giffin.”
“That’s us, and that’s Gilda” replied Rainbow Dash pointing at her friend without breaking stride in her flap count.
“I-I’m sorry, miss, uhh, Dash, but it was my understanding you wouldn’t already be this close to Canterlot. I expected you to be in Griffin’s Nest.”
“Been there – done that,” replied the ever casual Rainbow Dash.
“Did someone send you to find us?” called out Fluttershy as she continued to struggle to hang on to Gilda’s back.
He replied, “I was sent from Canterlot by order of Princess Celestia herself.” The guard looked perplexed and continued, “Could I, uhh, help you carry something?”
“Sure, be my guest,” puffed Gilda as she once again was struggling to fly in a straight line with the shifting weight of Fluttershy threatening to roll her over at any moment.
It was a bit tricky, but they managed to coax Fluttershy into letting go of her grip on Gilda’s neck plumage and let herself slide off her back and onto that of the guard. He had a considerably easier time managing the load of the somewhat smaller Fluttershy than compared to the almost equally sized Gilda carrying her.
Rainbow Dash carried on with both packs as the group made their final approach into Canterlot. The guard pony guided them onto the upper balcony of Canterlot Castle, just outside the private quarters of Celestia. They all touched down gently and were glad to be done with flying for at least a few moments. Princess Celestia was notified of their arrival by her guards and came out to meet them shortly after they landed.
“That has to be a record for the shortest reconnaissance mission ever,” chuckled Celestia. “Thank you sir for your service.” She bowed her head to the guard and he saluted in return before taking off from the balcony and resuming his normal duties. “Now what have we here?” she continued.
“Oh, just your normal everyday heroes is all,” said the ever quick to boast Rainbow Dash. “Fluttershy was a real trooper.”
“Oh dear!” Celestia gave a little gasp upon noticing the injured mare before her. “Are you hurt?”
“It’s really not all that bad,” replied a bashful Fluttershy. “It only really hurts when I try and flap my wings.”
“Well, we must get you to the doctor pony right away then.” Celestia turned to the guard over her shoulder and called for his help. “Would you please assist this lovely young pony and get her inside?”
The handsome guard snapped a hoof to his forehead and responded, “Yes, your majesty!”
With the help of the guard, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Gilda joined Celestia in her bedroom just off the landing outside. Celestia ordered Fluttershy to lay on her own bed while they summoned a doctor to take a look at her injury. She also sent another guard off in search of Twilight to give her the news of her friends’ arrival.
It wasn’t long before the gathering in Celestia’s quarters grew by a few more ponies. A doctor and nurse pony had arrived to inspect Fluttershy’s wings. A few more guards had come and gone as they gave regular reports to the Princess on the progress of their search in and around the castle. Eventually, the crowd reached its maximum as Applejack and Pinkie Pie burst into the room.
“Well, I’ll be – if it isn’t miss Rainbow Dash and Gilda as well.” Applejack brushed off a guard as she hopped through the door and into Celestia’s bedroom.
Right behind her zipped in Pinkie Pie and a very embarrassed guard pony. He bowed deeply as he made his apology to the Princess, “A hundred pardons, your highness. I was not able to keep these two from charging in.”
Celestia gave a little chuckle as she watched the two additions to the pony gathering bounce around the room hugging the others already there. “That’s quite alright. These ponies are welcome to be here with their friends.”
The guard straightened up, saluted, and resumed his post just outside the door. Applejack and Pinkie Pie had just got done with their welcomes for Rainbow Dash and Gilda and were just now approaching Fluttershy.
“What happened?” questioned Applejack suddenly taking a much more somber tone as she realized that Fluttershy was currently being examined by a doctor. “Are you alright, sugarcube?”
“Oh, it’s nothing.” Fluttershy brushed off the gravity of her situation. “I’ll be fine with a little rest – I probably won’t be flying very much for a little while though.”
The doctor looked up from the re-bandaging job he was performing. “You certainly have that right missy. I recommend you take at least a week and rest those wings of yours. You’ve done quite a bit of damage here, but I believe you’ll be fine if you keep to the ground for the time being. Doctor’s orders!”
Fluttershy replied, “Thank you, Doctor. I’ll be sure and follow your advice.”
“Look, Applejack!” sang Pinkie. “She’s got a glowy gem thingy like both of us too.”
Pinkie pointed at the glowing butterfly gem hanging around Fluttershy’s neck. Celestia noticed it too; she also noticed the gemstone around Applejack’s neck as well.
Celestia spoke, “I see the both of you have acquired something very important. Would you two please come with me so we can talk privately for a moment?” She motioned to Applejack and Rainbow Dash. “And would you two stay here with Miss Fluttershy and keep her company?” She signaled to Pinkie Pie and Gilda.
They all nodded their heads and Rainbow Dash and Applejack followed Celestia into a small study located off the bedroom where the rest of the group remained. After the three of them entered the smaller room and closed the door behind them, Celestia put on her serious face. She then addressed them both:
“It is very good to see you all have made it this far. It seems that the journey has proved to be more dangerous than you may have expected.”
Rainbow Dash interjected, “nah, Fluttershy just got a nasty case of saddle burn, but she pulled through it.”
“I’m glad to hear that is all it was. The quest given to you by Discord is not one that can be taken lightly, however. There are very dangerous beings that would give anything to possess the power of the Elements of Disharmony. It is good you have been able to collect three of the elements thus far, but I fear that as you reach the end of your quest, things may not be as simple as they seem.”
“I thought all we gotta do is gather up the elements and hand em over to Discord,” said Applejack. “Are you sayin’ it’s not as easy as all that?”
Celestia continued, “All I meant to say is that the Elements of Disharmony themselves represent the chaos that acts as a balance to the Elements of Harmony. In the hands of someone like Discord, which they were meant for, that balance can be maintained. If they were to fall into the hooves of somepony else…”
Celestia trailed off as the two ponies contemplated the possibilities of her fears. Applejack thought a little harder about it than Rainbow Dash, who pretty quickly and confidently stated:
“Well, you can count on us, Princess. We won’t let you down.”
“I’m sure you won’t, my little ponies.” Celestia gave them both a smile. “But you should remain vigilant and let me know if anything seems – well – off.”
“We certainly will, your highness.” Applejack tipped her hat to the princess. “I’ll keep this little beauty under constant guard.” She reached up and tapped the gem held in her necklace. It gave off a little pulse of light but the essence still remained contained within the gem itself.