Tense silence filled the air around the four ponies as they trotted through the jungle. Small raindrops had started to fall from the cloud-filled sky. Twilight lead the other ponies as she walked along with Applejack beside her, Rarity and Pinkie Pie followed closely behind.
“Where we headed Twi?” Applejack asked, hoping to start a conversation to get her mind off the guilt she was feeling.
“I…I don’t know.” Twilight admitted, her gaze locked onto the dirt floor beneath her hooves.
“Well, we’ll need a good vantage point if we are to find Rainbow and Fluttershy.” Rarity suggested.
“Vantage point?” Applejack asked with a confused look on her face.
“She means a really high place so that we can see the forest.” Twilight explained.
“Exactly. If we do find a vantage point, we would be able to at least see if we are even near Gryphus and if not, maybe we could spot for clues as to where those two Peagasi might be.” Rarity reasoned.
“Well, at least it’s a plan. Ain’t nothing we gonna do just by walking around this forest.” Applejack agreed.
“But where are we going to find a vantage point?” Twilight asked, her eyes looking around the forest but only trees were present.
“Pinkie, do ya have any ideas?” Applejack asked, turning to the flat maned pony trotting slowly with Rarity.
“What about there?” Pinkie lifted her left hoof and pointed at a towering structure in the distance. It looked like a pyramid except instead of ending at a point, it ended with a flat top.
“That’s perfect!” Twilight shouted with a smile.
“Nice eye, sugercube!” Applejack praised the pink mare but she merely responded with a quick smile which vanished almost immediately as she lowered her head down, continuing her slow trot to their destination.
----------
“Hey there, Fluttercry.” The familiar voice came from right opposite Fluttershy, standing all the way at the other end of the square area. Rainbow, as the yellow pony expected, was still wearing her Shadowbolt uniform, a large smirk on her face. “You actually made it. I’m surprised.” Fluttershy’s former best friend took a few steps forward.
“R-Rainbow! Who did this to you?” Fluttershy asked desperately but was met with a loud laughter from the six colored mare.
“You really want the answer to that? Fine. I did promise you that you’d get the answer to all your questions.” Rainbow let out a loud whistle which echoed into the sky. In mere seconds, a large, looming sillohoute started descending from the clouds above. Fluttershy immediately recognized the shape of the enigmatic figure. It was the same shape that she saw race up from the forest while she was trying to catch up to Rainbow hours ago.
As the figure approached the ground, his figure started to become crystal clear to the butter-colored mare. Fluttershy’s eyes widened when she saw that it was a griffin. However, what striked fear into her heart was when she recognized the armor the griffin was wearing. The shining piece of metal emblazoned with Gryphus’s coat of arms.
“Y-You! You were the griffin that attacked our carriage!” Fluttershy yelled out, fear and anger filling her heart.
“So, a pony smart enough to remember me eh? That’s a surprise. Call me General, it’s only fair I tell you how you should address the person that opened your friend’s eyes.” The griffin spoke with an arrogant tone. Lifting up one of his claws, he pointed towards the fear-filled yellow mare. “Rainbow. Do it.”
Without warning, Rainbow sped off, leaving only a rainbow colored trail as she flew towards Fluttershy. Fluttershy didn’t even have the time to react when she felt Rainbow hoof slamming into her face full force, causing her to tumble back. Her eyes filled with tears as she lifted herself off the ground.
“W…what…” Fluttershy could barely speak, looking up, she saw Rainbow Dash and her uniform. The small yellow lighting bolts that adorned the suit and the flying skull emblazoned on her flank. Rainbow landed on the ground, looking at the tearful Fluttershy, a huge grin on Rainbow’s face, showing absolutely no remorse whatsoever. “What have you done to her!?” The yellow mare shouted, her voice breaking from her tears.
The General’s loud, maniacal laughter resonated through the skies as he walked forward, standing beside Rainbow Dash.
“Beautiful isn’t it?” The General scoffed. The dark clouds had started to swirl overhead, thunder striking down from above.
“What-What have you done to my friend!?” Fluttershy cried out. She wanted an answer yet feared for what it might be. Again, the General replied her question with another laugh.
“I merely opened her eyes. She wanted her dream so badly, to be part of a Professional Flying Team but you and your ‘friends’ were always holding her back.” His tone was blunt and void of remorse.
“That’s….that’s not true!” Fluttershy shut her eyes as she spoke, shaking her head, tears continued to flow down her face.
“Oh is it not? Look at her!” The general lifted his hand, gesturing it to Rainbow Dash, who was in a position, ready to attack. “She’s part of the Shadowbolts now. Loyalty…gone.”
“That’s not true! Rainbow…Rainbow would never betray us like this! Never!” Fluttershy wanted to convince herself this was all true, that the Rainbow Dash she still knew was under that suit. Her left cheek was in intense pain but she didn’t care.
“Oh really? Rainbow…” The general stared at the Pegasus beside him.
“Yes master?” Rainbow asked immediately.
“M-m-master?” Fluttershy’s eyes directed upwards, staring at what she thought was an imposter. She knew Rainbow Dash would never abandon her and her friends… would she?
“Kill her.” With these words, the Rainbow Pegasus’s grin grew wider as he flew forward, leaving a trail of Rainbow light in his wake.
Before Fluttershy could react to what the General had just said, she felt a sharp pain in her belly. As she looked down, she saw that Rainbow had hit belly at full speed, sending waves of agonizing pain coursing through her body. She shut her eyes as tears of agony started to flow. After what seemed like forever, the hurt yellow mare finally landed on the floor, clutching her belly as she coughed and wheezed with tears of pain dripping down her face, camouflaged by the heavy rain that was pouring down.
“How weak!” Rainbow yelled as she watched the pink maned mare writhe in pain on the floor. “They were right about you. You’re just a useless, good-for-nothing Pegasus.” Fluttershy winced at every word. Each syllable was like a chisel, breaking away at her defenses one bit at her time. “All the times I defended you were such a waste…” The words the cyan Pegasus spoke were hurtful enough on their own but hearing them from the mouth of her best friend, it carried a different weight to Fluttershy all together. Rainbow approached the Pegasus with a frown.
“Killing you would be the best. For everyone.” Rainbow lifted her hoof high in the air, preparing to deal the final strike. However, just before she slammed her hoof down, Fluttershy felt something in her snap. She swung open her eyes just as the rainbow maned mare forced her hoof down, expecting it to end the butter-colored mare’s life but instead feeling it slam against the hard, wet floor underneath.
“What!?” Rainbow exclaimed in shock.
Fluttershy now stood a short distance away from her, managing to roll out of the way in the nick of time. The past tears she had shed stained her face, however, she cried no new ones.
“You…” Fluttershy’s eyebrows arched together as adrenaline and rage filled her body. “Rainbow Dash. You’ve been my friend since I was a filly. You stuck up for me when no one else in Equestria would. You’ve…” She turned her head up to stare her former best friend in her eye. “You’ve always been my best friend, Rainbow! Don’t you remember me!? Don’t you remember anything!?” She hoped that some of the words she spoke would get to the Rainbow Dash she knew.
“Of course I remember!” Rainbow Dash’s friendly tone sparked a fire of hope within the yellow mare. However, the fire was quickly extinguished. “It only serves as fuel for how much I hate you.” The words caused Fluttershy to take a step back, shutting her eyes and turning her head away. “I could have been great! If I wasn’t always sticking up for you and your pathetic self!” Rainbow shouted loudly, her voice overpowering even though of thunder. “So you useless mare. Are you gonna let me kill you easily or are you gonna try to resist?”
“I miss you…” Fluttershy muttered to herself under her breath, staring at the ground beneath her hooves. “I want you back, Rainbow!” Fluttershy darted her head upwards, her face flushed with anger. “I want my friend back!” She screamed and without any warnings, charged straight at Rainbow Dash. The cyan Pegasus was taken completely by surprise, not managing to react in time as the yellow mare pushed her on to the ground, forcing her body to slide against the harsh, slippery floor.
Rainbow pushed herself back onto her hooves, staring at her assailant, her nostrils flaring. “You were never my friend!” Rainbow yelled, “All you did was hold me back!” She screamed before flying straight back at Fluttershy, landing a forceful blow on her flank, just above her backhooves. The yellow Pegasus crumbled on the spot, the pain that filled her body was unbearable. So much so that she couldn’t scream out loud, only being able to release a small whimper from the edge of her lips before her hooves failed her, falling down on where she stood.
Fluttershy couldn’t move any of her limbs, the hunger, exhaustion and thirst had finally caught up to her. The adrenaline that allowed her to fight back had worn away and her defenses had finally fallen. Gazing up above her, she saw what was once her best friend. The same Pegasus she would laugh and talk with now lifted her hoof high in the air, ready to end the yellow mare’s life. She felt defeated as she laid her head down and shut her eyes closed. She wanted this living nightmare to end, for it to all go away.
Using the very last reserves of energy, Fluttershy started to sing in a soothing but torn voice, her sobs interrupting every few words that escaped her weak lips…
“Rainbow my dear
I cannot express my delight~”
Rainbow started to tremble, voices and memories had started flooding her mind. She couldn’t hear her own thoughts nor could she understand them. The cyan Pegasus started to lose her vision, her will and her strength. Slowly, she lowered her front hoof, the same hoof meant to take away her best friend’s life. Fluttershy opened her eyes, wondering why the death she was awaiting for never came. When she finally caught sight of Rainbow in her blurred vision, she saw her backing away, swaying from side to side before collapsing on the ground with her two forehooves covering her ears.
“What is the meaning of this!?” The General shouted as he flew towards the two ponies. “Rainbow! Get up and finish her!” He commanded but Rainbow forced herself onto the ground as she writhed in pain.
“There’s so many voices! Make them stop! Make them go away! Please!!” Rainbow begged with tear filled eyes. The storm had gotten even heavier with the winds blowing heavier than ever and endless lighting bolts struck the ground, sending the booming sounds of thunder echoing through the forest.
Fluttershy immediately picked up on Rainbow’s words, carrying on the song in her hushed tone, trying her best to hold back her tears and sing as loud as she possibly could.
“Its abundantly clear that somewhere out here
Is a pet that will suit you just right.”
The cyan Pegasus released a bloodcurdling scream.
“They’re growing! Stop them! Get them out! I’ll do anything!” Rainbow pleaded but there seemed to be no peace in sight.
“Stop it!” The General demanded as he stared at Fluttershy, still lying on the ground, motionless. The pink maned mare was weak but she knew it was working. Ignoring the General demands and her own pain, she continued singing.
“Rainbow have faith
You see I will bet you
Somewhere out her-”
The only sound that followed was the ear-piercing sound of Fluttershy’s screams. The General had kicked the yellow mare brutally on her underbelly with his talons, piercing her skin and causing crimson red liquid to flow from the wounds which were small and circular. The loud screams of anguish immediately snapped Rainbow out of her trance, ceasing the voices in her head as tears of sorrow had started to flow down her face.
“Get away from her!” Rainbow yelled, pushing the General away forcefully. “Don’t you dare touch her!” She yelled before bowing her head towards her best friend who was clearly suffering greatly. Fluttershy’s eyes were tightly shut with all her might, her hooves were brought up to her wounds, staining the yellow fur a sickly blood red. Her breaths were quick and short and her face was twisted in agony.
“F-Fluttershy…” Rainbow stuttered out. “I’m-I’m so so sorry… I knew what was going on I just…I was just…” She couldn’t continue through her weeps.
The injured Pegasus managed to force open her eyes slightly, a soft smile appearing on her lips. “I forgive you. I’m just happy you’re back,” The weak, soft voice was heartbreaking to listen to for Rainbow as Fluttershy recoiled in pain. “Just….run….” Her voice faded away softly as her hooves went limp. Rainbow watched in horror as her eyes closed shut and her warm smile faded away before her own eyes.
“F-Fluttershy!? Fluttershy! Answer me!” Rainbow had started to fear the worse but calmed down slightly when she saw the yellow mare’s chest rising and falling slowly. “Fluttershy! Please ans-” but before she could finish her call, she felt a sharp, burning pain underneath her left wing. Turning to look what had happened, she saw the General had sliced a deep wound just below her wing with his razor sharp talons. The cyan Pegasus screamed as loud as she could. She wanted to fight back but each movement seemed like an obstacle on its own.
She wanted to stand and fight, she wanted to protect her closest friend but she knew she couldn’t. She could barely stand, much less fight. Fluttershy’s last words hung in her head, “Just…run…..” Rainbow’s mind was in a mess, her heart racing. Glancing one last time to the unconscious Pegasus, she turned around before spreading her wings and taking to the skies. Her left wing sent pulses of torment through her but she knew there was no other way. She knew that flying as far away as she could would be her best chance of surviving.
“Oh no you don’t!” With a snap of his talons, two griffins appeared behind the General. Immediately, they soared through the sky, bringing a large, black cloud in their talons and positioning it ahead of the escaping mare. When Rainbow crossed under the cloud, the two griffins gave the cloud a swift kick which sent two scorching white bolts of lighting towering downwards, striking Rainbow Dash’s wings and charring the top half of them jet black.
Rainbow crashed hard into the ground, the black Shadowbolt suit providing no protection against the rough, wet stone floor. The suit tore quickly when her right hoof grazed against the ground, tearing it and causing blood to flow from the wound. The sharp sting of the wound made the Pegasus want to cry out but she couldn’t find the strength to do so.
‘Just…run…’ the words kept replaying in Rainbow’s mind, echoing off invisible walls before returning again. She lifted her front left hoof, the only hoof she could even manage to control. She inched closer to the steps not far away from her, the same steps Fluttershy ascended mere minutes ago. Each grab brought her closer to her goal, the unrelenting rain pouring on her as she desperately moved towards the temple steps. Her mane had fallen straight and her tail seemed inanimate. It lazily rested on the ground with no signs of movement whatsoever. After a few small grabs and drags, she felt herself being pulled up into the air. She didn’t need to turn to see who it was.
“You want to run? You want to leave your best friend here? Then go. Look, I’ll even help you!” The General marched towards the temple steps, the multi colored mane mare in his claw. When they were finally there, the General lifted Rainbow Dash and lowered his mouth towards her left ear to ensure the next few words would be embedded in Rainbow’s mind. “You were never loyalty.” He tossed Rainbow over the edge as she rolled down the stone steps.
Rainbow didn’t resist, the final specks of will to live she had left were destroyed at the General’s lost words. She allowed herself to roll down the rough stone steps, every so often a sharp piece would rip a small wound in her already injured body. However, she couldn’t feel anything. No pain. No joy. No sadness and no fear. The only emotion that remained in her empty heart was guilt. At the foot of the steps, she landed in a pool of soft mud, covering her near lifeless body in a coat of wet dirt.
‘He’s right…’ The cyan Pegasus thought to herself. ‘I’m hopeless. I was weak. I hurt Fluttershy then abandoned her.’ Rainbow closed her eyes for what she thought would be the final time, her mind reciting her thoughts. ‘I’m no ‘loyalty’. I’m not even a friend…’ The final sounds her ear caught were the faint rustling of the bushes behind her. Thinking it must be the griffin to ensure she was dead; she let her body fall limp and prayed for a quick death…