Chapter 13
Foul Play
Fluttershy was in Luna’s room faster than a manticore as she carefully checked Princess Luna's eyes, vitals, even asking her questions about nausea, dizziness, hunger, all that stuff. Everypony was either sitting in the room or standing outside listening to the legendary princess speak for the first time in centuries.
The Crusaders and Spike sat against the wall staring with shock. Raindrops and Blossomforth sat in the corner watching with diligence like trained soldiers as they waited. Derpy sat in another corner tilting her head to the side, watching. Daring and Twilight sat by the princess as Fluttershy continued her examination. Rainbow was outside the room leaning with her shoulder to the door frame, Applejack stood outside with Rainbow with her arm against the door frame leaning in to watch. Even Zecora took glances into the room to make sure everything was going alright.
Rainbow and Applejack turned and allowed Octavia to enter, bowing to her. Octavia gulped then walked into the room. Daring patted Twilight’s arm then the two bowed their heads. Raindrops tapped Spike on his shoulder telling him to bow. Spike sent the message to the fillies, who also bowed their heads upon Octavia’s arrival. The guards with Derpy followed suit. Fluttershy turned to Octavia then stood up to bow to her. Octavia nodded in return then turned to the princess sitting on the pallet in front of her.
Luna still looked like her young self with her magic still closed off from her body; a shaggy, light blue mane that remained uncut, her fur looked lighter, and everything about her looked innocent and frail compared to the pictures Octavia had seen in books when she was little. Octavia gulped and knelt down on her knees before the elder princess bowing her head to her. Princess Luna blinked looking around to see others with their heads bowed to her.
Octavia sat on her knees before her, the princess looked to her until she saw the glowing crystal guardian around Octavia’s neck. She quirked an eyebrow.
"Where did thou get that trinket?" The princess spoke weakly since she just woken up. Octavia looked at the guardian and held it in her hand.
"This is a crystal guardian highness," Octavia said carefully deciding to treat Luna as if she was a true royal and not a normal pony. After all she was ancient royalty. The princess stared at her.
"A crystal guardian?" She said a touch louder.
"Yes highness, but in my family, in your blood line, we called this guardian Luna's Tear."
Luna blinked at the confusion of it all. "Luna's Tear? We have never heard of such a thing."
"We?" Sweetie Belle asked getting looks from both princesses. She blushed. "We already know about Luna's Tear, mmph!" Apple Bloom thankfully grabbed Sweetie Belle's mouth to keep her from talking. Octavia smiled turning back to Luna.
"Your highness, I understand this is a shock to you but please listen to me. I am your decedent, Octavia, Princess of Canterlot and the ... was sixth in line for the throne." Luna stared at her bewildered. Octavia continued quickly. "This might also come as a shock to you but since you disappeared, things have transpired in the galaxy and I'm afraid we can't tell you everything yet until you have been rested." Octavia hesitated but then took Luna's frail hands holding them.
"But this is clear princess," Octavia said clearly and coldly. "Equestria is in trouble, royalty has turned against all ponies. And we need your help to set things right."
Luna blinked a couple of times looking at each face in the room as they look to her with hopeful or determined gazes. She turned to see Twilight looking at her with hope, then Luna turned to see Applejack and Rainbow with Fluttershy staring at her. Luna turned hearing Blossom and Raindrops stand up.
Blossom picked up her sword and drew it from it's scabbard in one fluid motion. She went down on one knee holding her sword in her hands towards Luna.
"Princess Luna, I, Blossomforth of the rebels for freedom and unity, will protect you and stand by you in battle." Luna blinked then noticed Raindrops kneeling on one knee bowing her head.
"Same here Princess, allow us to be your ambassadors into this war."
Luna blinked again then turned to the other ponies in the room. She turned to Twilight and pointed her finger at her.
"What is thou name, unicorn?"
Twilight gulped. "T-Twilight Sparkle, Princess, I was the late student to your sister, Queen Celestia."
"Queen?!" Luna stiffened. "Queen? Thou must be joking. We promise no sole power come to us even if one or the other is gone. We remain by the rank of princess to prove to our followers of no ill treatment to power!"
Everypony was silent hearing this revelation.
"Well that sucks dick." Scootaloo said dryly getting a slap in the back of the head by Derpy. "Ow! What?!" She exclaimed getting a glaring blush from Derpy. Octavia gulped staring at Luna to see her tilt her head in confusion.
"Sucks what?"
"Nothing!" Octavia quickly said shaking her head. After a second of blushing, Octavia cleared her throat. "Please Princess, more will be explained once you get your rest, I assure you are safe now. We saved you from ... Sombra."
Luna's eyes were wide, her pupils shrank to pinpricks hearing the daemon’s name. Octavia nodded placing her hand over Luna's chest and slowly pushed her back down on her pallet.
"Don’t worry," Octavia said softly like the way her mother did for her when she was scared at night. "Sombra is gone, we made sure of that. He and everything he owned is now destroyed in a pool of lava on the crystal moon."
Luna slowly relaxed under Octavia's hand then sighed relaxing on the pillow. She nodded slowly closing her eyes. Octavia let out the breath she was holding then turned to everypony in the room.
"Everypony except for Twilight get out. Give her space." She ordered. Blossom and Raindrops nodded as they stood up. Blossom sheathed her sword and left the room with Raindrops close behind her. The crusaders and Spike ran out of the room, the fillies wanting to train again with Spike right behind them. Derpy left the room followed by Fluttershy. Daring patted Twilight on her shoulder and left her alone.
Octavia turned to Twilight. "Make sure she gets her rest and recuperates."
Twilight nodded flittering her fingers showing her magic. "I'll see what I can do." She paused seeing Octavia’s worry. "Go see Vinyl." Octavia nodded turning and left the room, leaving Twilight to do her magic. When she reached Vinyl’s room Zen was just finishing setting the second pallet by Vinyl's sleeping form. Zen bowed her head and left. Octavia looked down to find a water bucket with a rag already inside. She kneeled down on her pallet next to Vinyl. She reached for the rag, squeezing out the water then gently wiped off Vinyl's face.
Vinyl let out a groan opening her eyes turning to see Octavia smiling down at her. "Hey," Vinyl grunted turning over.
"Hello," Octavia whispered smiling softly at her wiping over her brow again.
"That feels good." Vinyl whispered closing her eyes.
"Good," Octavia said placing her hand over Vinyl's forehead checking the temperature on her cheeks then her forehead again. "Hmm, you still have a fever though, not as serious as before." She said softly as Vinyl smirked a touch.
"I've had worse. Much worse than this." Octavia frowned remaining silent. Vinyl opened one eye seeing Octavia worried. "Hey, nothing to worry about right?" Vinyl whispered frowning slightly. Octavia gave her a glare.
"No! Did you know how worried I was? It was my fault that you got hurt. I should have been in your place!" Vinyl blinked a few times seeing Octavia in tears. "You’re... my friend and because of me being in trouble you got hurt and ill-"
"Don't say that." Vinyl said a little louder grabbing Octavia’s hand squeezing it. "I took that blow because... you were important. Not only for the galaxy but ... you're important to me too." Vinyl blinked realizing what she just said, is she actually saying this to her now of all times?
Octavia looked down at Vinyl's hand then up at the unicorn’s eyes to actually see truth in those feverish eyes. Is Vinyl actually saying what Octavia thinks she is saying, or is this the fever talking?
Vinyl swallowed stroking her hand. "I believe you are more to me than well ... I like you ... a lot and I would do anything for you, princess."
Octavia was confused yet felt like crying even more. She just smiled in return. "I ... care about you too. A lot more than I should have with somepony like you." Octavia whispered. Vinyl smiled lightly squeezing her hand. Octavia smiled shaking her head.
"I guess ... destiny can be a funny thing." Octavia whispered chuckling. "For the longest time Vinyl, I-" Vinyl smiled nodding.
"Me, too." She whispered sleepily. Octavia laid down on her side next to Vinyl's cot holding her hand, not wanting to let go.
"Night, sweet cheeks." Vinyl whispered. Octavia smiled, it felt so long since she heard that ridiculous nickname. She closed her eyes feeling Vinyl tighten her grip on her hand.
"Good night, Captain Scratch."
♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫
Rainbow Dash stood by the entrance to the medical hall breathing in and out. She looked down at her messy shirt and trousers making sure her suspenders were on straight, then she fixed her messy mane. She groaned feeling how long her hair had grown since Octavia’s birthday, she has to cut her hair sometime soon. After her thought about her hair she made sure she was at least presentable. She looked down seeing part of her shirt hanging out of her pants and sighed. She tucked in her shirt then raised her hands in the air then lowered them back to her sides, making a nice tucked in appearance to her shirt.
Finally after putting it off longer than she should Rainbow turned the corner and head for the medical hall. Everyone is deep in sleep inside the cavern. Rainbow paid close attention to her steps wishing to use her wings to fly over the sleeping zebras but feared of waking everyone made her keep to the ground. She tip-toed past the sleeping zebras then reached the private hall. She snuck through and peaked into room one to see Octavia and Vinyl sleeping close to each other. Rainbow smiled sadly seeing this, she tip-toed away checking the other room.
Empty.
Room three. Also empty.
Then Rainbow checked room four and stopped before reaching the room, Princess Luna’s room.
"It's that simple?" Rainbow peeked in again to see that the first voice was Blossomforth. What is Blossom doing in Luna’s room?
"Yes, it is." The second voice replied, it was Twilight. "I'm serious."
"Wow and I thought that would ruin a good pistol."
Twilight chuckled silently. "I learned that from Applejack. She was better with weapons than any other pony I knew."
"Hmph, I guess I should join her and Raindrops in target practice." Rainbow blinked then peeked further in and noticed how close the two were sitting close to each other. Strange. Rainbow shrugged and tip-toed away hearing the too mares snickering.
Room five was the last room to check. And Bingo! Rainbow can see Fluttershy sitting by a rock table on the floor with a lantern. Inside the lantern was a florescent plant of some kind glowing in a bright whitish blue light.
"Ahem." Rainbow said silently causing the other mare to turn to her.
"Rainbow," Fluttershy blushed and stood up. "Is there something you need? Are your bandages bothering you?"
Rainbow shook her head. "No, no, nothing's wrong."
Fluttershy blinked giving her old friend a scolding look. "Then why are you here?"
Rainbow blinked at the harsh bark she got from her. "I ... uh ... you see Fluttershy-"
"What? If it isn't dire I want you to leave."
Rainbow gulped with worry. This was her only chance and she's losing it to being afraid. She took in a breath closing her eyes.
"Can I talk to you please?" Rainbow asked softly. She opened one eye to see Fluttershy standing there glaring at her.
"We’re talking now." Fluttershy snapped.
Wow, when she did she start acting like this? Rainbow thought in surprise and hurt.
"No not like that ... please. I really, really want to speak with you and..."
"Spit it out, Rainbow, what do you want?"
Rainbow backed away and swallowed again. "I-I-I... I just..." She sighed bowing her head. "Forget it. It was a waste of time anyway." Rainbow said in defeat leaving the room. Fluttershy blinked a few times feeling guilt in her heart. She sighed and quickly followed her out into the hall. She grabbed Rainbow's elbow pulling her back.
"Wait," Fluttershy whispered. "Follow me," Rainbow blinked and turned to her. She smiled and followed her friend through a tunnel away from the medical hall. After a while of walking Fluttershy pushed open a large covering then the two ended up on the surface. Fluttershy climbed out looking around first, sniffing the air and swiveling her ears around and nodded.
"Alright come out. It’s safe." Rainbow crawled out of the hole and looked around her to notice that they ended up in a cave above the tunnels.
"Where are we?" She asked in awe. Fluttershy helped Rainbow out of the hole then placed the covering on top which was a carved wooden rock painted like a stone.
"Just in some caverns. The village is a mile walk from here."
Rainbow blinked. "Whoa," She whispered.
"For the moment it's empty. The Ursas and the timber wolves don't come here except in the wet months. We’re safe for a while." Fluttershy said leaning back against the rock wall looking at Rainbow with her arms crossed over her chest. "So, what do you want to talk to me about?"
Rainbow looked at her then felt a blush rising on her face. "I ... um." After a long pause Rainbow sighed. "I just don't know how to say this Fluttershy. So many things have happened to both of us and ... well before and after everything."
Fluttershy quirked her brow at her. Rainbow gulped scratching her head.
"When I learned what I did to you ..." Rainbow bowed her head turning away. "I... my words won't reverse anything but I am really, really sorry ... If I had any control of myself I could’ve stopped myself and kill ..."
"Enough," Fluttershy interrupted. Rainbow turned to see Fluttershy glaring at her. Her expression was brutal but her voice still remained soft. "Just stop talking Rainbow. Talking never did you any favors, not even back then."
Rainbow looked at her with hope. Fluttershy shook her head. Rainbow's expression fell seeing this.
"I can't forget Rainbow. And I can't forgive. You murdered so many even if you were in control you still did hellish things." Fluttershy blinked a few times. Rainbow looked at her to realize Fluttershy was crying. "I know why you want to talk Rainbow. But ... I don’t think we’ll put everything back together."
Rainbow's ears went flat on her head. Now she's getting scared. "Wait what… What are you saying?"
Fluttershy sniffed. "I can’t love you Rainbow. Not like before. I've changed ... so did you."
"B-b-but I can still be the same ‘Shy please," She whispered placing her hand on Fluttershy's shoulder. Fluttershy flinched stepping away from her.
"No ... no Rainbow. You're not the same. And you will never be." Rainbow shook her head.
"I can try!" She yelled. Her voice echoing off the walls. Fluttershy stared at her. "I can try! I can ‘Shy! I... For this long I thought you were dead. Applejack and Pinkie and every single one of you! I thought you were killed years ago and I was all alone. Alone, you hear me! I tried to kill myself five times in the rebellion knowing when I die I would be with you and the girls." She sniffed falling on her knees.
Fluttershy stood there staring at her with shock. "You mean ... that stunt in your cell?" Rainbow sniffed nodding.
"Damnit! I ... Graceful Luna! I can't take it anymore!" Rainbow pressed her hands over of her ears. "I'm a mess! They did this to me and I can't stop thinking about the dead!" She sniffed. "They haunt me in my dreams now. All of them." Fluttershy knelt down. "I even see Spitfire staring at me with disappointment ... I just don’t want to see that face any more!" She screamed crying now. Fluttershy grabbed Rainbow and shook her hard.
"Stop it! Stop it right now!" Fluttershy screamed into her face. Rainbow stared with shock and fear. "Stop screaming and listen to me. You must learn to let it go!"
"How?" Rainbow whimpered. "They won't let me go."
"Yes they can Rainbow Dash." Fluttershy said calmly stroking Rainbow's face, stroking her rainbow strands away from her face. "You just need to forget about it and learn to move on."
Rainbow sniffed bowing her head. "Ever since I remembered what happen to you… Luna what have I done!" Fluttershy wrapped her arms around Rainbow holding her tight. Rainbow went limb into her embrace crying into Fluttershy's chest. The two continued to sit like this for a while until Rainbow sniffed looking towards the cave entrance. Fluttershy stroked Rainbow's mane seeing how long it grew. She smiled slightly.
"You know Rainbow, this is the longest I have seen your mane."
Rainbow sniffed. "I didn’t like my hair in the way while training. So I just cut it short. Always had." She answered glumly. Fluttershy smiled leaning against the wall. She patted the dirt beside her. Rainbow at first was hesitant then she crawled on her hands and knees to Fluttershy's side.
"Come here," Fluttershy said softly wrapping her wing and her arm around Rainbow and pulled her close. Rainbow leaned into Fluttershy laying her head on her shoulder feeling suddenly at peace again. Fluttershy smiled.
"You like it?"
"Hmm? Like what?"
Fluttershy smiled. "I was working on a powder for the princess when you came to me. And I spilt some on me when I jumped."
"So?" Rainbow asked.
"It's a special plant that can make you calm. The scent of the flower would make you calm down and be at peace. I thought about holding you and I guess it worked."
Rainbow blinked a few times actually realizing she was calming down. "Wow ... didn't even notice." Fluttershy smiled sadly. Rainbow blinked remembering a memory. "You know I did this exact same thing to you."
Fluttershy smiled and nodded. "Yes, it seems our roles have reversed since we last saw each other."
Rainbow gulped. "Fluttershy, can you reconsider what you said before?" Fluttershy gave her a look. "Can you ever forgive me please ... and can we start over?" Fluttershy blinked turning away. "I mean you don’t have to answer right away ... it's just,"
"I don’t know."
"What?"
Fluttershy gave her a sad look. "Rainbow, I'm not sure. I don't think I can."
Rainbow sighed turning away hiding her tears.
"But there is one thing,"
Rainbow gasped turning to her. "Yeah?"
Fluttershy sighed. "I want to be your friend again and I want you to be mine. Twilight is right for one thing. We need to reunite the Elements of Harmony. Our friendship is the only thing that can stop this evil war that changed our galaxy ... and changed you." She whispered stroking Rainbow's cheek. Rainbow leaned into her soft hand. "I promise you this, I'll find the one that did this to you, Rainbow."
"Fat chance." Rainbow snapped grabbing Fluttershy's hand. "They'll murder you if they see you." Rainbow said with worry. She gulped thinking about what she was saying. "Fluttershy ... I can't risk you going out there. The galaxy, it's nothing like it used to be. It's not the safe haven we used to see while on the ships back in the war." Rainbow reached for Fluttershy’s second hand holding he hands tight.
"I ... I don't know what I would do if you get hurt." Rainbow hesitated at first but slowly reached up to touch Fluttershy face with her hand caressing her cheek softly. Without thinking Fluttershy leaned into Rainbow's hand feeling her familiar touch.
Rainbow felt tears coursing down her cheeks. "I love you Fluttershy. I can't lose you again. You're safer here. Hell, you were always safe here. When the Royal Guard or the Order learn about you... They'll do horrible things to you."
Fluttershy stared into Rainbow's eyes. "How do you know they'll do things to me?"
Rainbow blinked and turned away. "I've seen what they can do. When I tried to leave them they killed ponies I grew to love ... My parents." Fluttershy gasped covering her mouth. "They killed everypony I loved to make me crack. And they did ‘Shy, they did for a time until I finally left and joined the fight against the rebels. It was the only true peace and freedom I had from them." She sighed shaking her head. "It was like seeing Spitfire and the Wonderbolts dead all over again."
Fluttershy gasped again. "You ... seen them?"
Rainbow sniffled looking at her. Suddenly the cold words seeped into her mind. "Kill her for aiding the death of the Wonderbolts." Rainbow gasped shoving Fluttershy away from her.
"Rainbow?" Fluttershy asked in shock seeing Rainbow shaking her head hard. "Rainbow Dash?" Fluttershy called out running to her with fear.
"Stay away from me!" Rainbow begged sliding away from her now crying.
"Talk to me Rainbow," Fluttershy said walking closer to her. "Please."
Rainbow sniffed shaking her head. "What did you mean that I saw them? What did you mean?"
Fluttershy blinked a few time then sighed. "I was searching for you when you didn't return from the royal guard post. I assumed you might be with the Wonderbolts since you always talked about them during the war."
Fluttershy wiped her eyes. "I found the barracks where you used to live with them and they were empty. I heard sounds of fighting at the far end of the building. I walked down the hall and I saw an opened door and smelled smoke. Somepony was trying to burn the room. So I ran inside and quickly distinguished the flame." Fluttershy closed her eyes with a sniff. The past came back replacing the cave with what Fluttershy had seen in her memories.
♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫
"Help," A voice rasped. A younger Fluttershy gasped and stared at the carnage around her. They were dead, all dressed in uniforms or jackets that resembled the famed Wonderbolts. Blood was everywhere, on the floor and against the walls where the Wonderbolts laid. The voice came from a dying yellow pegasus mare. She had one hand around her throat and the other hand reaching for Fluttershy. Fluttershy gulped seeing the blood and wanted to run away, but if the Wonderbolts were dead then Rainbow might be there, too.
"Where’s Rainbow?" Fluttershy squeaked stepping closer to the mare. The mare shook her head and coughed, blood spilling out of her mouth. Fluttershy quickly knelt down to aid the mare, helping her sit up.
"I got you," Fluttershy paused to see the rank on the mare’s shoulder. "Captain, I got you ma'am."
"Rain... bow," She rasped choking.
"I got you, talk to me," Fluttershy begged trying to tear off her sleeve to use to help stop the rapid bleeding. She felt the captain's hand grab her wrist.
"Too late," She whispered swallowing hard, Fluttershy went pale seeing her dying before her eyes. "Dash," The mare whispered silently staring deep into Fluttershy's eyes. "Stop..." Fluttershy thought fast trying to think of ways to keep her alive until the words clicked into her mind.
"Rainbow? Stop what? Stop what?!" Fluttershy panicked, begging for more information. Rainbow must be in trouble and she had to know where to find her and what had attacked the Wonderbolts. The mare's head slowly lolled to the side. Fluttershy stared at her for a long moment shaking. She was gone.
Fluttershy sniffed and started to cry. Her only lead to where Rainbow was had just died in her arms. The only one who might have seen Rainbow last. Fluttershy continued to cry softly as she placed the dead captain on the floor. She placed the captain's hands crossed on her chest and said a prayer over her. She sniffed and looked down to see a beaded chain. Fluttershy sniffed again reaching her bloody hand into the captain's soaked shirt and snapped off the beaded chain to take the captain's dog tags. Fluttershy wiped the blood off the silver plates and found the mare’s name.
"Spitfire." Fluttershy gasped covering her mouth and started to cry, looking at the dead mare. "Oh Luna! You're Spitfire! Rainbow . . . Oh Graceful Luna why?!" Fluttershy cried. She sniffed with a hard swallow staring at Spitfire's opened eyes. She sighed and used her fingers to close Spitfire’s amber eyes. Fluttershy sniffed wiping her nose with her bloody finger and went over to place the bodies on the floor now in their moment of forever rest. At each body she found the silver dog tags and pulled them off. Rainbow would want them for a pegasi warrior funereal. She read each tag as she picked them up.
Fleetfoot, Rapidfire, Firecracker, Steam Gauge, Misty Fly, Snowflake, Storm Wind, and Soarin'.
After Fluttershy picked the last tag from a younger mare that just graduated from military academy, she looked at the dead Wonderbolts she placed on the floor with their arms crossed over their chests. At least some of them. She left the Wonderbolt barracks with hollow eyes and tears of regret. She had to find Rainbow Dash before something terrible happened to her too. But before she did that, she’ll have to wash off the blood from her hands, she just can’t seem to wipe them clean of Spitfire’s blood.
♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫
Rainbow stared at Fluttershy with shock. Fluttershy sniffed and reached into one of her pouches lining her belt. She pulled off a sack. Rainbow heard the sound of metal plates and stood up slowly shaking slightly. Fluttershy opened the bag and reached into it.
"I kept these ever since." Fluttershy whispered pulling out a blood stained tag. "I... I never cleaned them. Unsanitary of me to do so I know, but it just felt wrong to clean them after where they were." She held one in the air for Rainbow to see. Rainbow blinked a few times letting tears roll down her cheeks. She took the tag and wiped the old blood residue off of it.
"Soarin'." She whispered sniffling. Fluttershy nodded.
"I believe you know the older names. There were four younger ones with the dead. Just graduated into the team."
Rainbow sniffed holding out her hand. Fluttershy nodded and let the tags fall out of the old sack into Rainbow's hand. Rainbow bit her lip as she looked at the names, she read them all then she found Spitfire’s tag and couldn't help but break down crying falling to her knees again. The tags in her hands fell to the floor clinking one by one. Each clink she saw a face.
Soarin' grinning at her before getting whipped pie in the face.
Rapidfire reading a book, looking up and glaring at her for interrupting his peace.
Fleetfoot doing thirty lift ups with one hand with her wings for help, she got caught and was forced to have her wings tied to her back.
Misty Fly, cooking up some cookies, letting Rainbow have the bowl while Soarin’ was crying for the missed opportunity.
Spitfire ... Spitfire.
Rainbow couldn’t help it but cried harder. Fluttershy hugged Rainbow tight holding her crying with her. Rainbow sniffed. "She was like my big sister. She always took care of me during our training."
"I know," Fluttershy whispered. "I know."
"Please," Rainbow whispered squeezing Fluttershy's arms. "Did she say anything?"
Fluttershy blinked and shook her head. "I think... she wanted you." Rainbow covered her face with her hands. Fluttershy held her even tighter. "She said your name and to stop... I didn't know what she meant. I don't know if she wanted me to stop you or stop something."
"Stop what killed them?" Rainbow whispered harshly.
"I'm not sure, Rainbow."
Rainbow sniffed. "It must have been a while after you found them when... Lighting Dust showed me them." Rainbow blinked looking up at Fluttershy. "I did remember seeing them, laid there as if ready for burial... That was you." Rainbow said in surprise. Fluttershy shrugged.
"It just felt like the right thing to do." She said.
"Thank you," Rainbow whispered.
"For what?"
"For giving them dignity. You... I can't believe it."
Fluttershy now got concerned as Rainbow glared coldly at the wall. "What is it?" She asked.
"Lightning Dust," Rainbow whispered harshly. "She... told me that Earth ponies did it." Fluttershy shook her head.
"I'm afraid I don't know who would have don’t it, Rainbow. I came in too late. Spitfire was about dead and the one that did it, left out the windows. They were opened when I arrived. They were hoping the fire might destroy any evidence of their deaths."
Rainbow nodded. "But earth ponies couldn't set a building to blaze. Only somepony with the resources to make flame would be able to do it."
Fluttershy blinked and glared. "A unicorn perhaps?"
Rainbow blinked looking at her. "What do you mean?"
"There was unicorn doing dark magic on you."
Rainbow blinked and nodded. "Yeah... I thought I felt something moving in my head."
Fluttershy nodded. "But... the princess saw something."
"Octavia? What about her?" Rainbow asked. Fluttershy placed her hands on Rainbow's shoulders.
"When you were trying to kill yourself Octavia stopped you. She grabbed her pendent and... Her eyes actually widened like she saw something."
Rainbow nodded thinking. "But this unicorn? What can you tell me about her?"
Fluttershy thought for a second before speaking. "She did look awfully familiar though. I can't put my finger on it. Oh Luna, it was so long ago Rainbow."
Rainbow nodded. "It's alright. We can talk to Twilight about this tomorrow." She paused then turned to Fluttershy. "Lighting Dust... told me that you were with the ones that killed Spitfire and the others." Fluttershy stared at her with shock. Rainbow gulped. "And for some reason I felt this gut wrenching rage then I wasn't myself anymore. The only thing I can remember thinking was, Kill the murdering traitor. You." Fluttershy sighed and hugged Rainbow tightly.
"All this time... Let's go." Fluttershy said determined, standing up.
"What?" Rainbow asked.
"We have to talk to Twilight now and get this resolved." Fluttershy said grabbing Rainbow by her arm and pulled her up. "I'm not wasting another minute." Rainbow blinked and feebly followed. She gasped and stopped.
"Wait!" Rainbow pulled away and quickly grabbed the tags and the sack. She placed the tags into the sack then looked at Fluttershy. Fluttershy was smiling at her. Rainbow smiled in return.
"Come on, let’s get this mystery solved." Rainbow said with a determined smile on her face. Fluttershy smiled in return and moved the cover away and jumped into the hole to the tunnels, her friend jumped in behind her.
After Rainbow and Fluttershy told their story everypony stared at them with shock and sadness. Rainbow and Fluttershy decided to tell everypony everything. From Fluttershy’s discovery in the Wonderbolt Barracks to Rainbow’s attack on Fluttershy. Everypony went into Vinyl's room since Octavia didn’t want to leave Vinyl’s side while she’s still sick.
"Oh Luna ... That’s just terrible." Octavia whispered with shock. Rainbow shrugged not really making amends with Octavia yet. Twilight, Applejack, Daring, Blossomforth and Raindrops all looked troubled and sad.
"Wow," Raindrops said shaking her head. "Man that’s brutal."
“Shy, you actually kept those things?" Applejack asked in shock. Fluttershy nodded holding up the sack.
"At the time I was going to give them to Rainbow Dash but then things happened." Rainbow blushed at that.
"Rainbow, how could you?" Twilight asked with fear, still shaken by what Rainbow did to Fluttershy. Rainbow bowed her head with shame.
"It wasn't her fault." Fluttershy said quickly wrapping her arms around Rainbow. "All this time... I never really linked the two things until now. Rainbow was controlled by a unicorn."
The mares gasped in shock. "A unicorn?" Blossomforth asked bewildered. “How is that possible?”
Vinyl, still laying in her pallet, had a thought. She tugged on Octavia’s sleeve to get her attention.
“What is it Vinyl?” She asked causing the others to look to her.
"It could be possible." She said quietly, still tired and weak. "There are crazy unicorns that can control animals in the streets making them attack nobles or vendors so they can get food or money. But I've never heard of a unicorn using that power on another pony. It's unheard of." Twilight shuddered, Blossom looked to her with sorry.
"That is dark magic." Twilight said with another shiver.
"Dark magic?" Raindrops asked. Twilight nodded.
"Yes. Dark magic is easy to use but devastating to who it's cast on to. Dark magic can be used in many ways. Just like what Sombra did to Luna. He used dark negative magic to make a copy of Luna and changed her appearance into Nightmare Moon."
Rainbow blinked turning away. "All I remember is feeling so much anger and hate ... then Lightning Dust told me to kill Fluttershy." She turned to Fluttershy to see her on the verge of tears. "She ordered me a few times and I was fighting it. But then..."
"She placed the Wonderbolts death on me." Fluttershy finished as Rainbow turned away again covering her face with her hand. The group went silent. Vinyl sat up with difficulty, Octavia helped her sit up.
"I remember the stories that were told about the Wonderbolts. You were one of them?" Vinyl asked pointing a shaky finger at her. Rainbow nodded.
"Was. I was transferred by the queen to be the Element of Loyalty." Rainbow smiled at her friends to see them smile in return. "I hated it for a time but Spitfire ... Spitfire told me to suck it up and go. I'll always have a place in the Wonderbolts when I get back."
"I'm sorry, Rainbow." Applejack whispered. "Damn, if I would’ve heard about a plan I would have told you straight away or even better, stop it myself." Applejack said pointing her thumb to her chest. Rainbow smiled.
"I know but you were in jail remember?"
Applejack shrugged. "Still I would have." Applejack blinked then turned to Rainbow. "Wait were those two pegasi that were with you…"
Rainbow nodded. "Spitfire and Soarin'. They were with me to try and set you free." Rainbow sighed. "Spitfire told me to play along. The Wonderbolts were one hundred percent on our side."
Applejack nodded. "Yeah, I remember now."
Rainbow smiled. "Then I left to go 'Join' the Order. Then they were dead."
Daring sighed sadly. "I remember them well. Good ponies all of them."
Fluttershy turned to Octavia. "And you, you saw something when Rainbow was not herself." Octavia jumped looking at her.
"I might have-"
"You saw something," Fluttershy snapped interrupting her. "Tell us what you saw when Rainbow was on top of you." Rainbow blushed at that feeling horrible for jumping Octavia like that. Octavia was hesitant, she looked down at Vinyl. Vinyl smiled taking her hand and squeezing it. Octavia sighed squeezing back she turned to her friends and nodded.
"I felt a power radiating from Captain Dash and decide to check it. I held on to the crystal guardian and I saw Rainbow glowing in a unicorn’s magic aura."
"What color?" Twilight and Blossomforth said at the same time. The two looked at one another with blushes and sheepish smiles.
"Well," Octavia said without really seeing the exchange. "It was a very pinkish color. That's all I know." Fluttershy nodded.
"Yes, you were covered in a pink magical aura when you were um ... executing that pegasus."
Rainbow blinked hard for a moment holding her head. Twilight stiffened feeling a new change in the room, it felt dark and it made her skin crawl. She turned noticing that the dark feeling was coming from Rainbow.
"Rainbow?" Twilight called out noticing Rainbow Dash blinking fast turning her head left and right, her hands clenching to fists.
"I'm fine," Rainbow snarled suddenly, shaking her head hard and rubbing her temples.
"Octavia, now!" Daring ordered crawling over in case she was needed to hold Rainbow down. Octavia quickly grabbed the crystal and held it in her hands and gasped at what she saw. Rainbow was glowing in a pink, fiery aura. The fire seemed unstable, growing and shrinking as Rainbow snarled and shook her head.
"What?" Vinyl asked staring grabbing Octavia’s hand. Suddenly she saw the pink fire and gasped in awe. Twilight saw Vinyl staring in shock.
"What's wrong?" Twilight asked.
"She's on fire," Vinyl whispered watching in stunned silence. Twilight blinked staring at Vinyl then back at Rainbow.
"Fire?" Twilight asked with shock and began thinking fast. After a moment she gasped with an idea. "I got it!" She exclaimed standing up and rushed to Rainbow. "Step aside," She ordered Fluttershy, kneeling down in front of Rainbow. "Octavia, Vinyl I want one of you to tell me if this works, understand?" Twilight ordered readying her fingers with a spell.
"Sure," Vinyl answered. She turned seeing Octavia in paralysis. "Tavi, you alright?" Vinyl asked worriedly. Twilight turned to Fluttershy to see worry on her face.
"What are you going to do, Twilight?"
"If this is what I think is happening now then this spell should work." Twilight said quickly as she grabbed both of Rainbow’s shoulders and held her tightly, Rainbow jerked trying to push Twilight away from her.
"No, let me go!" Rainbow screamed out shoving Twilight but the unicorn held on tight. "I'll hurt you too!"
"No, Rainbow. Relax."
"Relax?! How can I relax!?"
"You're angry!"
"No shit, Sherlock!" Rainbow snapped harshly shaking her head, feeling dark thoughts trying to bubble up, making her see red with rage.
"It's getting stronger." Vinyl said with fear. “Whatever that magic is, it’s trying to control her.
Twilight gulped. "Rainbow Dash, listen to my voice." Twilight said calmly and slowly as she began to glow in a deep magenta color of her magical aura. Daring pulled Fluttershy and Applejack. Octavia slowly blinked and shook her head now out of her sudden blackout and watched what was going on.
"Can you hear me?" Twilight asked, her voice sounded amplified somehow. Blossomforth looked outside the room to see nopony woken up by the magic. She turned back into the room seeing Raindrops watching with awe.
Rainbow was struggling against the magic, shaking her head. The pink fire was soon visible for everypony in the room to see a frightened Twilight. Something was very wrong if the magic was showing. "Rainbow Dash, can you hear me?" She asked as calmly as she could.
"No," Rainbow snarled in a dark voice that caused the hairs on the back of Twilight’s neck to rise. She concentrated hard on the spell trying to keep the dark magic contained and figure out a way to free Rainbow Dash from this dark spell.
“Whatever you are, your time in Rainbow Dash has come to an end.” She started firmly. "Your dark magic must leave now!"
"I have to kill," Rainbow snarled. "Finish the job... Kill the traitors and the earth ponies." The group went deathly quiet from the horrifying sound coming from Rainbow’s voice. Rainbow was struggling trying hard to keep herself from falling away again.
"Twi?" Applejack asked with fear seeing that the pink fire was getting larger and fiercer. "What's goin’ on?" Applejack asked looking at Fluttershy to see her look of fear. Twilight concentrated harder trying to connect to Rainbow’s mind to try and find a weakness to the darkness clouding her mind. She gasped feeling something grab hold of her and transferred a magical pulse through Twilight’s mind.
What Twilight saw was a memory from Rainbow’s past. The memory shown a younger Octavia running to Rainbow hugging her legs with a beaming smile. "Mimi!" Octavia cried out giggling. The memory flashed away.
Twilight gasped opening her eyes blinking, what was Rainbow trying to show her? Or was this Rainbow at all? The magic that caught Twilight’s attention was an older and stronger magic, a familiar force Twilight hadn’t felt in so long. Was this the Element of Loyalty trying to tell her something? She gasped again holding on to Rainbow’s shoulders trying to regain control of the magic. Rainbow was now struggling against whoever is controlling her rage and trying to push Twilight away.
"Octavia! I need you now!" Twilight cried out, her magic was being pushed away by the dark magic.
"What?" Octavia blinked staring at her. "Why me?"
"Right now!" Twilight screamed out struggling. "I can't keep this contained much longer. I need you." Octavia looked at Vinyl with worry. Vinyl gulped and pointed at Twilight, telling her to go to her. Octavia sighed and crawled over to Twilight.
"What do you want me to do?" Octavia asked.
"I want you to hold on to Rainbow." Twilight said grabbing Octavia and placing Octavia's hand on Rainbow's shoulders. "Hold her steady."
"What? Why?!" Octavia exclaimed with shock. Before she got the answer Octavia felt the strong dark power crawling up her arms into her mind. She gasped noticing she was being consumed by the pink fire.
"Tavi!" Vinyl gasped. Daring rushed over to push Vinyl back down on her pallet to prevent her from running to Octavia. Vinyl glared coldly at Daring. “Let me-"
"Watch," Daring said quickly. Vinyl blinked and turned to see Octavia had her eyes squeezed shut, showing that she was in pain. Vinyl turned to see Twilight biting her nails watching worriedly.
"What going on?" Vinyl called.
Twilight gulped. "I think Rainbow Dash gave me a clue to save her."
"Huh? How?" Vinyl asked curiously.
Fluttershy thought for a moment then gasped in realization. "Of course, Octavia snapped Rainbow Dash out of her last episode. But do you think sending Octavia into a magical situation like this, might work?" Fluttershy asked. Twilight gulped seeing Octavia slowly began to relax, being connected with Rainbow’s mind. Twilight smiled slightly seeing this good sign. Octavia’s magic is connecting with Rainbow’s mind now.
"Let’s hope it will."