Chapter 12
Goldwing shifted on the marble floor and let out a low groan. Her entire body felt tired and had a burning sensation from being so sore. The most she was able to do was crack open an eye and take in her surroundings. She wished she hadn't.
Surrounding her were four pegasai and a unicorn, and they were all staring at her. She was afraid they were here to finish her off, but they made no move to do so. After several seconds being awake, they finally looked somewhere else. More specifically, a royal white Alicorn who was slowly walking toward her. She knew who it was. She stole her power after all.
The Princess stopped in front of the five ponies that surrounded the Queen and gave a brief smile to each of them. When she looked at Goldwing, her smile faded. Instead it was filled with a small frown, confusing Goldwing greatly. She expected the Princess to be furious or just kill her on the spot for her actions. What she did next caught everyone off guard.
"Take our guest to an empty guest room to rest," Celestia stated quietly. "She's to be treated like everypony else unless I say so. Is that understood?" One of the unicorns, who was dressed in tattered pieces of golden armor, saluted before lifting Goldwing up with magic.
She gazed back at the Alicorn as a blue pegasus flew above the others, yelling at Celestia. Celestia responded calmly, but couldn't make it out as she was too far away and tired to hear clearly. The last thing she saw were a pair of double doors opening and the archway above as she blacked out in exhaustion.
"What the hay, Princess!" Rainbow Dash yelled as she sprung into the air in anger. "Why did you do that? She should be getting her flank kicked for what she's done!"
"What is wrong with you? Did you forget who you're speaking to?" Twilight hissed at Rainbow for talking like that to the Princess. She stopped when Celestia cleared her throat softly.
"I'm sorry if my choice angers you Rainbow dash, but look at it this way. Would I be any better to kill her while she's in such a state? Would any of us be to lash out at another in anger?" Rainbow Dash slowly dropped to the ground and sat on her rump thoughtfully upon hearing this.
"N-no. I guess not," Rainbow stated bitterly. She really wanted to get her anger out on the queen, but also wished to not disappoint Celestia. "Then what are we supposed to do?" She added hopefully.
"One does not start a war without purpose, Rainbow Dash." Celestia replied. "Goldwing clearly wanted power, but I do not know fully why." Twiilght caught a hint at something the Princess said as her eyes widened.
"Excuse me, Princess, but what do you mean when you say 'fully'? Do you know something about her past?"
"I have seen fragments of her past when we connected while they drained my power," she admitted. "What I saw is possibly one of the reasons she is being spared. If you wish, I could share the fragments with you, but the images are not... pleasant.".
"I don't like to be left in the dark, so I will see these memories." Lightning Spark stated, with a hint of uncertainty. Spitfire, Mist and Derpy declined and stepped back while Twilight and Rainbow Dash stood with him.
Celestia smiled warmly at the three ponies' courage and lowered her horn. After a tap on their forehead, each pony fell to the floor, fast asleep
.
"Oh my, she has your eyes."
Rainbow Dash felt her head look up at hearing the voice. Two gryphons were looking back at her with tender smiles on their faces. She felt confused and very tired, yet her original mind was telling her she was Goldwing as a newborn. As quickly as the image appeared, it faded into another.
Her family had moved to Trottingham due to problems finding work in the Gryphon Kingdoms. The school she went to didn't seem to accept her race very well and gladly showed it as she felt herself get pushed over. Her beak hit the ground head-on, causing it to crack slightly as tears started to blur her vision. She watched two ponies walk by and they laughed as they passed.
"Stupid chicken, needs to watch where she's going." Rainbow picked herself up and sat in the middle of the playground, holding her beak in pain.
Another vision appeared. She was higher off the ground and Rainbow's mind guessed she was a lot older now. She was still in a school, but also appeared to be the only gryphon in sight. Her thoughts were drowned out at the feeling of giddiness as she spotted a pink note sticking out of her locker.
She had learned about most of the different holidays and traditions ponies had and at first didn't look forward to hearts and hooves day. This small note changed all of that. She was to meet a secret admirer after school under the bleachers. The thought of whoever this admirer had in mind made her blush under her feathers.
A part of her feared it was all a joke, just a way to get her alone. Her doubts were relieved when she met a pegasus who actually loved her. Rainbow felt it was the happiest moment of her life as the image faded of her hugging the pegasus.
Pain. All Rainbow felt was terrifying pain jolting up her wings. She was in a hospital now, laying face-first on a table while a doctor inspected them. She felt her head twist to look up at her wings. If she had control of her jaw, it would've fell to the floor. Both of her wings were broken in several places and barely any feathers hung on.
Apparently several ponies didn't approve of Goldwing dating a pony and decided to do something about it. Rainbow Dash was thankful that that memory wasn't a part of the fragment she was now in. However, what happened next made both Rainbow's and Goldwing's face go pale.
"I'm sorry, miss, but we'll have to amputate both of your wings." He looked down at her with sadness in his eyes. I'm... so sorry."
"Rainbow Dash, wake up!" A commanding, yet serene voice yelled.
Rainbow jolted awake and snapped her eyes open. They zipped around, soaking in where she was. After realizing this wasn't another memory fragment, she laid back on the floor. Her eyes and face felt damp with tears from reliving Goldwing's past. She saw Celestia looking down at her with obvious worry on her face. Twilight and Lightning were already up, in the same confused state as she was.
"I'm deeply sorry for having you three experience that, Celestia apologized. Twilight ran up and gave her a hug, which she returned. Whatever tension she held started to melt away. "I can only hope it opened your mind as much as it did for me."
Before anypony could speak, another alicorn interrupted their conversation. "Sister," Luna began as she landed beside Celestia. "It is already getting late and you have yet to fully recover." She glanced at the group before her as she continued. "You all should rest your eyes as we have a big day planned tomorrow." With that said, she jumped into the air and left through the broken window she was tossed into earlier today.
Celestia slumped at bit, still feeling weak while nodding at Luna's words. "The wing where the guest rooms are located are over there," she pointed with a hoof. "They should be intact as they are located deep in the castle." Giving one more loving squeeze to the pony near her forelegs, she motioned for Twilight to leave her side. "I will see you all tomorrow when I raise the sun." She stated while turning around. Two pegasai joined her side and escorted her down a hallway, closing the door behind them.
Rainbow glanced around and saw the other ponies were slowly dispersing as well. With nothing else to do until morning, they left through the door where Goldwing was carried through. The hallway behind it lead deep into the castle and split into a cross section far ahead. Several inscribed wooden doors lined the halls, behind each held accommodations that would put a high-class hotel's efforts to shame.
The group decided to take the four doors nearest to the one's leading to the throne room. Derpy, Spitfire, and Rainbow Dash took a room for themselves. Lightning and Mist decided to share one, despite the suggestive look Rainbow was giving them.
"I better not wake up in the middle of the night hearing you both-"
"Knock it off, Rainbow." Mist said with a hint of agitation. "I'm not in the mood for your teasing and I'm definitely not in the mood for that." A barely audible "aw" came from Lightning, but she ignored it. "Now if you would kindly go to your room, we'll be going to sleep." She grabbed Lightning and pushed him inside the room before closing the door and locking it behind her.
Lightning got up from the floor and dusted himself off after being handled roughly by Mist. "What the hay!" he exclaimed before turning around. "At least warn me nex-" He didn't finished his sentence as Mist was close enough to his face that he could feel her breath tickling his coat. "Urk," he grunted, feeling a blush coming on.
"You do know I was lying about all of the things I told Rainbow, right?" Mist asked as she looked at Lightning with half-lidded eyes. Lightning blinked as he slowly registered where this was going.
"Oh... oh!" Mist stifled a giggle and nuzzled his chest. Glad that her lover was up to speed on the situation, she pressed herself against him.
"Took you long enough," she teased. Lightning rubbed a hoof against her cheek and slowly lowered his head to kiss her.
Just... a little... closer... He was practically an inch away, when the moment shattered instantly.
"What the hay did I just say!" A muffled voice yelled across the hallway, causing Lightning to accidentally drop Mist.
"I'm so sorry!" Lightning helped his lover up, but she lightly pushed him away and trotted to bed. He sat on the floor as he poked his hooves together nervously. "D-does this mean no-"
"Yes," Mist stated angrily and pulled the covers tightly around herself. Lightning hung his head and laid down on the other side of the bed. Unfortunately, Mist had grabbed all the covers, leaving him to sleep without them.
"Stupid Rainbow Dash," Lightning muttered before falling asleep.