//------------------------------// // Ch.17 Finding the Rough . . . // Story: The Origin Chronicles Vol. 2 // by SmokeShadow95 //------------------------------// Rainbow Dash sat with her hooves across her chest. She and the rest of the ponies came back to Ponyville after their adventure in the desert sands. And quite an adventure it was. Pinkie Pie was found and came back to them seemingly unaffected by what had happened to her. She was happy, and bouncy, and smiles were going all around. And then they got another surprise. Rainbow Dash appeared out of nowhere! She woke up, healed and ready for a fight. She found them in the desert and fought with them, only to find that they still were not all together. Their circle still wasn't whole. One pony was missing. Now they sat in Twilight's castle in silence. Dash slammed her hooves down on the floor. “What in the world happened while I was out?” “Come on now, Dash. Calm down,” Applejack said. “Calm down?!” Dash slammed a hoof down again before facing her friend. “How am I supposed to calm down, AJ? HOW? I finally wake up from whatever coma I was in just to find that my friends aren't all here. Even worse, I get told that Rarity went willingly with the princess of the Mad Ponies. Oh yeah, I am going to be real calm after that!” “We know, Dash,” Twilight said with a sigh, “But getting angry isn't going to help her.” “Just shut up, Twilight. You have been doing nothing but moping since I woke up,” Dash turned her back to the Princess. She flared her wings out like she was about to fly off. “At least I am going to go and do something about this.” Fluttershy flew up to her friend with concern. She put herself between the window and the blue Pegasus, “Rainbow Dash, wait! You can't go all by yourself. It's dangerous.” “Move it, Fluttershy,” Dash commanded, “Somepony has to do something, and nopony here is lifting a hoof.” “Do you even know where to look for miss Rarity,” Discord asked. “If I keep flying, I'm sure I'll find her,” Dash said. She launched herself up and used a powerful thrust of her wings to cast both Fluttershy and Discord away from the window. She pushed it open and was greeted by a nice breeze blowing through her mane. “Rainbow Dash!” The voice echoed throughout the room. The words resounded off every wall and pierced the minds of the ponies. Spike quickly walked into the room. He had his head held up high and a face of deep annoyance. It was aimed at Rainbow Dash. She saw and put on one of her own. “About time you showed up, Spike. We were just talking about Rarity, and how she isn't here. Aren't you supposed to be this super powerful dragon with this really cool magic? How could you let this happen, Spike?” Dash flew away from the window and right up to Spike. She hovered just in front of him and looked him in the eyes. Spike could see deep into them. Her eyes held much anger, and also much concern and worry. She cared for Rarity, and was angry she was gone. “What were you doing, Spike? What have you been doing this whole time that Rarity could just walk away and you not notice?” Spike never even blinked as Dash yelled to his face. “It was me, Dash!” Applejack ran up to them both. “He was dealing with me. When I went Mad, Ebony Thorn pit me against Spike to distract 'im while she went after Rarity.” “It doesn't matter,” Dash said, “Spike is supposed to be able to handle these kind of situations.” “Enough, Rainbow Dash,” Spike said, “It isn't me that you're angry at, is it?” “What are you talking about now?” “Admit it, Dash. You're pissed because you were sleeping and couldn't defend Rarity. Your Mad that all this happened while you were stuck in a hospital bed.” “I'm pissed because you weren't there!” Dash screamed at the top of her lungs. She slumped down to the floor and look into the crystal at her reflection. “Back in Appleloosa, Spike. You weren't there when we needed you most. Look what happened. I ended up in a coma. AJ went Mad. And now Rarity is gone. It's all your fault.” Dash turned so that her back was to all of them. She hid her face from everypony. She didn't want them to see the tears that were slowly forming. She used a hoof to wipe them away, but they still were coming. She sat there for a moment in silence, and then she felt a something. A scaled hand on her shoulder. She looked up to see Spike standing beside her. “I know, Dash,” He said with a few tears of his own. “I know that I wasn't there. That's why I want to finish this so badly. To fix the mistake that got my friends hurt. Will you help me, please?” Spike took his hand off her shoulder and offered it to her to help her up. She wiped the last remaining tears from her eyes and took Spike's hand. “So, Spike, where do we go from here?” “Dash, I'm gonna have to do something you might find uncomfortable,” Spike said as his eyes started to glow. ~~~ Rarity walked through the halls of the fortress. No, she didn't walk the halls. No pony walked here. The prisoners were dragged through these halls. The guards patrolled theses halls. The Mad ponies scurried about themselves. Ahead, Rarity saw the pony she came to see. Ebony Thorn. She sauntered through the halls like she owned not only the place, but everything that was in it as well. That included the lives of all the ponies. And Rarity herself? Well, she did something different. “Stalking the halls once again, dearest Rarity,” Ebony Thorn asked. “Just on my way to see you, Ebony,” Rarity replied. “I heard the time has come, and I intend to enjoy this day.” “Good for you! I am glad to see that you are feeling better.” “Indeed, I am. You brought me here to rid me of the pesky emotions dragging me down, and I must say that I have never felt better. This is euphoria!” “I am oh so glad to hear you say that, Rarity. I felt the same way when I first experienced the power of the ooze. Come now, the Mad King awaits.” Rarity actually squealed a bit. The thought of going before the King again made her feel all giddy inside. She had not seen him since the first day she arrived in the fortress. She was so terrified back then, terrified of everything. But not anymore. Now she was a changed mare. Ebony had opened her eyes. It was truly wonderful. Ebony lead the way back to the throne room. Rarity had been there for nearly two weeks now, but still she didn't understand the layout of this place. She was happy to follow her, though. Rarity thought the world of Ebony. They passed by a few familiar places as they went. One of which Rarity had actually forgotten about. She followed Ebony down one of the many hallways. As soon as she did her ears were bombarded by the sounds of many ponies whimpering, crying, and cowering in fear. She passed by the cages with her head high and a smile on her face. Her eyes passed over all of them as she walked by. “Rarity? Is that you?” A familiar voice. The same one that called out to her the last time she walked down this passage. Bon Bon. She had her face pressed up against the wall of her cage. She stared out at the two ponies before her. “No, not Rarity.” Another voice joined Bon Bon. Still familiar, but not from the fortress. This voice was also from Ponyville. Lyra Heartstrings. It would seem both she and Bon Bon remain together even now. HA! “That's not Rarity,” Lyra said, “Just a monster that took her place.” “Oh, such harsh words, Lyra,” Rarity said, “And yet I find them so complimenting. Hehehe.” Lyra took Bon Bon away from them both. Rarity giggled as she and Ebony continued on. Ebony complimented Rarity on how she handled that pony. Her way with words was extraordinary. Ebony's mind was racing. Never before had she encountered a pony like Rarity. Normally she just played around with the ponies until they broke, but Rarity was different. She was willing, and Ebony's mind raced with all these new thoughts on just how she could play with her. Their journey to the King was a short one after they left the cages. They came into the throne room once again. Still, Rarity was amazed by the grandness of it all. The high ceilings, the arches, the old and ancient architecture. It all amazed her. And dominating the room was King of course, sitting upon his throne of dark thorns topped with the bloody rose. The King himself was sitting at attention. His eyes immediately fell upon Rarity when she entered the room. “Ah, my daughter. You bring this beauty before me once again,” He hissed. Bloodthorn stepped down off his throne. He approached the pair of ponies, but Ebony stepped back and away. She knew well that the King wanted his space with Rarity. He came and stood before Rarity. She found him tall and imposing, yet still that was not all. “I see you have taken to the ooze well,” The King said. He started to circle around Rarity, eying her up and down. She followed him with her eyes as he moved. “It suits you. Almost as much as my daughter and I. Perhaps Ebony was right, and you will fit in quite nicely here.” “I have no doubts about that, King Bloodthorn.” “Ah, but there is more. My daughter has spoken highly of you, and I have come to agree with her words. You will not just become a member of this collection of oozed ponies, but a member of my personal court.” “Whatever do you mean, my king?” “Lovely Rarity, you shall become my bride.”