Rainbow Dash has been acting strange ever since the Royal Wedding.
The night of the Canterlot Wedding. Everypony was happy. Dancing, singing, chatting, drinking, and lots more. But as the night draws to a close, something happens. Not good. Not bad...yet.
Twilight had her suspicions. Everypony else had dismissed it.
Everypony had thought it was over...but the battle has only just begun.
"Love is in bloom A beautiful bride, a handsome groom, Two hearts, becoming one A bond, that cannot be undone, because love is in bloom..."
The lavender unicorn sang into the microphone while the newly wedded couple danced outside. Everypony else were either dancing with them or simply chatting away. The bouncy pink pony at the far end of the garden, inhaled cake by cake, a pearl white unicorn was dancing with the well known Fancy Pants. A butterscotch pegasus mare sat with the animals and birds in the garden, swaying side to side to her friend's song. A southern amber earth pony danced along with three other fillies. And finally but not least, the vibrant rainbow maned pegasus was 'hanging out' with the Famous Wonderbolts.
"Omigoth! Thif if the bef party ever!" Pinkie shouted as specks of cake flew out of her mouth.
"Pinkie, be careful, dear. I designed that dress so that it can with-stand your....craziness and bounceness. But you are over doing dear." Rarity said as she danced along with the white unicorn stallion.
"You worry too much Rare! I mean, this party is the best! Why not enjoy it?" Pinkie bounced onto the table. "Besides I will be just fi-woah!"
Pinkie's hoof slipped, and the table broke in half, flinging pieces of wood flying.
"Pinkie!" Applejack came running over.
Rainbow Dash also can trotting over, but got knocked out by a piece of the flying debris.
"Rainbow!" Fluttershy flew over. Applejack turned and headed towards her fallen friend.
"I said, love is in bloom. Starting a life and ma-" Twilight stopped and so did the music.
Everypony halted and looked around.
Cadence and Shining Armour looked up.
"Oh my goodness! What happened?"
"Pinkie happened." Rarity said as she leviated the pony up.
"Rainbow! Mother of sweet Celestia! Say somthin!" Applejack shook the unconcious pegasus.
No movement.
"Ah, please Rainbow!"
Blood poured out of the wound upon Rainbow's head.
"Shy, can't ya do somethin. I'm ya'll a vet aren't ya? Thas tha same as a doctor."
Twilight walked over, and leviated some water over.
She poured the water on Rainbow's face.
"Errr..."
"Oh Thank Luna's moon, ya'll alive."
Rainbow began to sit up.
"Ah...Where am I?" Rainbow looked at the around. "What happened?"
"Oh dear, is she going to be okay?" Cadence asked.
Rainbow rubbed her head with her hoof. "Ow!" Then looked at herself. "Is-is that blood?"
"Ooo, you're bleeding pretty bad." Shining said as he brought over some hoof-kerchiefs.
Fluttershy took the hoof-kerchiefs and placed them on Rainbow's fore-head.
"Omigosh Dashie! Are you okay? You're bleeding! That's not good you could die and then I won't have a best friend!" Pinkie wailed.
"Woah woah! Calm down Pinkster. I'm not going to die, okay. I'll go and get cleaned up." Rainbow croaked as she slowly stood up.
"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?" Fluttershy followed.
"Shy, I'll be okay. I ain't gonna die. I'll be back in the minute."
"Take care of yourself, Rainbow." Cadence called.
"Thank you Princess."
Rainbow entered the mare's bathroom on the other side of the hall, in the Canterlot castle. As she shut the door, no noise could be heard. All was silent.
She turned on the tap and began to wash away her bloodied head. The water in the sink turned scarlet red from the blood.
She looked up at the mirror to see an ominious green glow from the far side of the room.
"Huh?"
Rainbow turned the tap off and walked over to the light.
"Is anypony here?"
"HAHAHAHA!"
"Hello?"
"Love is in bloom..."
"Show yourself! This isn't funny!" Rainbow demanded.
"Oh but it is, Rainbow Dash."
"Where are you?"
A green mist rose from the ground.
Rainbow ran to the door.
"Open! Why won't you open?" The frustrated pegasus shook the door.
"HAHAHAHAHA!"
"Somepony! Help!" She banged on the door, but nopony heard within the noise of the music and laughing outside.
The mist drew closer and the cackling got louder.
Rainbow coughed and wheezed before collasping to the ground.
"Rainbow has been an awfully long time. Do you think she is okay?" Rarity asked as she sipped at a cup of punch.
"Hey! Here comes Dashie!" Pinkie skipped over to the cyan pegasus. "Omigosh Dashie! You were so long! I missed you!"
"How is that possible? I was gone for a mere five minutes."
"Yeah, but you're, like, my bestest friend."
"Please, don't plague me with your mindless dribble." Rainbow snorted before walking away.
"What's wrong with her?" Pinkie sniffed.
"She's probably got concussion." Twilight stated.
"She'd betta get betta soon. I mean she's actin like Rarity, but more uptight." Applejack said.
Rarity stared daggers at Applejack, who in return nervously smiled back.
"She will be better by tomorrow. I hope."
"She's got to get better. We've got a load of pranks to do tomorrow." Pinkie moaned.
"I'll take her home. She could probably do with some rest." Fluttershy fluttered up to Rainbow.
The others watched in disbelief as Rainbow shouted at the shy pegasus mare.
Three weeks had past since the chaotic wedding at Canterlot. Three weeks had past since Cadence and Shining Armour have been together. Three weeks had past since Rainbow's unusual behaviour had begun.
"Dammit Rainbow! Can't ya jast be helpful fa once?" The amber earth pony yelled.
"Oh shut your trap, Applesnack! You'll do the whole of Equestria a favour by shutting up!" Rainbow stormed away, bucking the apple stall in the process.
Twilight and Rarity trotted up to Applejack, who was angrily muttering to herself while picking up the apples on the ground.
"Damn arrogant stack up mare!" Applejack picked up the apples.
Glimmers of pink and blue hovered the various apples and placed them back in some of the baskets that weren't broken.
"Cheers Twi, thanks Rare."
"What was that all about?"
"Ta be honest, ah don't know."
"She's been acting like this for ages." Rarity complained.
"I know. First she hates Fluttershy, and they've been friends for ever. I cannot believe that Rainbow can be so heartless."
"Ummm...I heard my name." Somepony whispered.
"Huh? Oh, Fluttershy! Are you okay?" Rarity asked in concern.
Fluttershy was pale. Very pale. Her usually yellow coat was near enough white. Her turquoise eyes were now bloodshot.
"I'm fine." She croaked.
"You definitely are not, dear. What happened?"
"Rai-"
"Rainbow! Ah ave had enough!" Applejack trotted away in rage.
"This is not going to end well." The unicorns looked at each before running to follow the angry earth pony.
"Don't worry. All is good. Everything is going perfectly. Once they hate me, nothing can stop us."
"Good."
"RAINBOW!"
"Mmmhahahoo! I see they really hate her. Go! Go and work some magic."
"RAINBOW! WHA'S YA DAMN PROBLEM?"
"Whatever do you mean?" Rainbow asked innocently.
"Tha's it!" Applejack leapt at Rainbow.
"Get off me you crazy mare!" Rainbow pulled on AJ's hair.
"Ow!"
"Serves you right!"
Applejack hit Rainbow in the eye.
"Ah!" Rainbow staggered up.
Reality hit Applejack hard. "Rainbow?"
She saw the blood on the cyan hoof.
"Oh my! Are ya okay?"
"Applejack!" Twilight shouted as she came running up along with Rarity.
They both halted as they saw blood pour from Rainbow's eye.
"AJ?"
Rainbow pulled her hoof away from her eye.
They all gasped.
Rainbow's eye wasn't only bleeding, but her iris was sickly green, while her pupil was thin.
"Wha?"
Rainbow quickly flared out her wings and flew away.
A couple of feathers floated down.
"What-why-..."
Twilight walked towards the feathers. They all did...
The cyan feathers were sizzleling, they glowed green before turning murky turquoise.
"Why do you think?" Twilight said sarcastically. "You saw those feathers."
"So, wha do ya think?" Applejack asked.
"Well, from books I have just read, there are different types of pegasi."
"Is that even possible?"
"Yes. But most of those types are extinct."
"So?"
"There used to be a type of pegasi, whose feathers turned transparent when removed from wings or the pony is dead."
"And is Rainbow this type of pegasus?"
"The answer is-"
BANG!
"TWILIGHT!"
"Fluttershy? Pinkie?"
The two panting ponies burst through the library door, before collapsing to the ground.
"Rainbow is making a storm." Fluttershy huffed.
"What do you do mean?"
"Big clouds....extra electrical charge....extra rain...lots of wind..." Pinkie coughed.
"Well, wha do ya expect? She's been like this far ages." Applejack said as she closed the door.
"We know Applejack."
Flash of light, followed by a loud bang.
"But..."
"But what, Twilight?"
"No not again. This can not happen again!"
Twilight ran to door. "I've got to tell Celestia!"
BANG.
"Oh, you're not going anywhere." A soaking wet Rainbow whispered.
Twilight remembered this from the wedding. The three bridesmaids that Chrysalis had hypnotised in the caves.
"Rainbow! Wha are ya doing now?" Applejack stomped over.
A green glow blasted Applejack back into the glass cabinet containing the Elements.
"AJ!"
Shattered glass covered the floor. Along with specks of blood.
"Now, going to ruin our plan, are we?"
"Trying to kill us, are we?"
"Being cocky, are we?"
"Using the are we thing against us, are we?"
"SHUT UP! THAT IS IT! I DON'T CARE WHAT MOTHER SAID, YOU ANNOYING PONIES ARE BEING JERKS!" Rainbow got engulfed by green flames.
Twilight recognised these flames.
However she was really expecting to see Chrysalis.
A shorter and thinner looking Chrysalis, stood in front of Twilight.
"Err...Chrysalis?"
"No! I am Princess Crystal! Daughter of Queen Chrysalis!" She boomed.
"Daughter?"
"Indeed. Fortunately, I was at the palace when my mother attacked Canterlot. So I wasn't harmed."
"So, I guess it's revenge, then? It always is." Applejack croaked, as Fluttershy and Rarity helped her up.
"Yes."
"Where is the real Dashie, then? Huh?" Pinkie yelled.
A green glow surrounded the pink pony.
"Woah! Put me down you gaint bug!" Pinkie demanded.
"If you say so."
Pinkie got flung to the overside of the library.
Books and shelves fell on top of Pinkie.
"How could you? How dare you!!!" Fluttershy yelled.
"Hmm." Crystal's horn began to glow.
The butter yellow mare began to choke and gasp.
"Goodness gracious! You un-hoof her, you-you bitch!"
"Ooo! Getting naughty are we, Rarity?"
Rarity also began to choke.
"Stop. Stop!" Twilight yelled.
Crystal smirked before throwing the two gasping ponies.
"What is it now, Twilight Sparkle?" She hissed.
"Why be like your mother? Evil and heartless."
"NO! MY MOTHER IS NOT HEARTLESS! SHE RISKS EVERYTHING FOR ME!" The changeling princess boomed. "Now, it's time for me to make up for her hard work. Life is too short to be all goody goody."
"But sure you sure you want to hurt other ponies? You do have a choice." Fluttershy croaked, but still sounded soft and sweet.
"Of course I do! I've killed a pony. Well, nearly."
While Twilight was trying to talk to Princess Crystal, the others huddled around each other. By the broken case.
Applejack was covered with her own blood as the glass buried itself in her skin. Pinkie had a bloodied nose and had bruises across her head and back. Fluttershy and Rarity both tasted blood in their mouthes.
As Rarity shuffled around, she yelped as something sharp pricked her hoof. She looked around to see the Elements of Harmony on the floor.
"Twilight, dear."
"Yes Rarity?"
"Can the Elements of Harmony break?"
"What do you mean?"
Rarity moved aside, revealing one of the necklaces.
Rainbow's necklace.
The gold was now dented and slightly darkened. But the what scared them the most was the ruby lightning bolt gem in the middle.
Red shards surrounded the area of the necklace. Now there was just an empty are where the gem should be.
"How can that happen?"
"Ha! Like a smashed window! Where's your loyalty now?" Crystal laughed.
"Where is loyalty? Where is Rainbow Dash?" Twilight stamped her hoof as she demanded for a response.
"Thought you would never ask." She whistled. "Oh my spectrum coloured friend! Your friends want to see you."
In a blast of green light, Rainbow appeared infront of them.
But she was held down in heavy, rusty chains. Her mane was riddled with dirt and dried blood. Her usually vibrant cyan coat, was now dull and grubby. She was covered in bruises and cuts and dried blood. Her left eye was instead of rosey hue, scarlet red. Blood dripped from her mouth and snout. Her wings hung limply by her sides, bleeding heavily.
Rainbow looked over at her friends, and mouthed 'Help me'.
"Rainbow!" They gasped. They could see she was in pain.
"How could you do this?" Fluttershy asked.
"Like I said, I need to pay my mother back. And I chose one of the most loved ponies. It's amazing how many ponies depend and love her. Especially the Element of Honesty." Crystal giggled.
Applejack's cheeks burnt as she blushed furiously.
"Let Dashie go!" Pinkie yelled.
"Why? I am laughing at you, Laughter. Is loyaltly willing to be loyal? Again?"
"What do you mean?" Rarity asked easily.
"Yes, Rainbow Dash, what do you mean?"
"Pl...ease...it....hurts....so...much." She managed to croak.
"Crystal! What did you do to my best friend?"
"Oh, not what I did, but what the guards did?" A sly smile grew on the changeling.
"Dashie..." Pinkie whispered.
"Please Crystal. Let her go."
"Might as well, she's no use anymore. Well, to me that is."
In a split second, the chains disappeared.
Twilight used her magic to hold Rainbow before she fell to the ground.
"I better be off then, buuuutt..." Crystal's horn lit up and so did the Elements of Harmony.
"Hey!"
In a flash of light...they were gone. And so was Crystal.
"No! The Elements!" Twilight wailed.
"Twi! We'll get them later! We need ta help Rainbow." Applejack held onto the pegasus.
"Okay." She muttered. "Don't worry Rainbow, we'll get you to the hospital."
"This is all my fault. If I told the others that I thought Rainbow was kidnapped, this could have prevented. I'm so sorry Rainbow. I'm sorry I wasn't there when you were always there for me."
Rainbow closed her eyes as she felt cold and dizzy, but as Twilight leant over to help her, she whispered in her ear. "It's o...ok-kay. It wasn't y-your fault."
"Lyra and Bonbon are together. And everypony loves them."
"But wha would ma family think? Ah am tha next owner of tha apple orchard. Ah am supposed to marry one of ma cousins, and carry on tha Apple name."
"That isn't very fair."
"Ah know. Ma cousin in Manehatten tried ta set me and Braeburn up."
"But why didn't you tell Rainbow?"
"Ah didn't want ta ruin our friendship."
Pinkie hugged Applejack.
"Dashie is your friend. And she would never leave a friend."
"Ah-hem! Miss Twilight Sparkle!"
The five mares looked up to see a white pony with pink hair, wearing white nurse uniform.
"Yes, Nurse Redheart. Is she okay?"
The pony shook her head.
"We don't know. She's in an unstable condition."
Applejack burst into even more tears.
"Can we at least see her?" Rarity asked.
"Of course. This way."
The girls followed the white mare to a blue door.
On the door it read, Critical Care Unit
Nurse Redheart knocked on the door. "Doctor. Doctor Stable."
"Yes yes yes. I'm here, Redheart."
The door opened revealing a caramel brown unicorn wearing a white jacket.
"Doctor Stable. Is it okay that the girls see your patient?"
"Yes, of course. But Nurse Redheart?"
"Yes."
"You go in with them. I've got to tend to my other patients."
"Okay."
The mares walked into the room.
"Oh, Dashie." Pinkie gasped.
Rainbow laid on a white bed. Her eyes were shut, and bandages covered her damaged wings. A clear mask was placed upon her snout. Wires and tubes draped her delicate body. Her chest barely raising. Scars, cuts and bruises painted over her cyan blue coat.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
A heart monitor sat next to her bed.
"Poor Rainbow." Fluttershy stroked her friend's prismatic mane.
B-Beep. Beepbeep. Beepbeepbeeeeeep.
Nurse Redheart ran over to Rainbow, and the others huddled into the corner.
She attempted to fiddle with the equipment.
"Doctor!! DOCTOR STABLE!!!" Redheart yelled.
"Yes! What is it?!" Doctor Stable
"We're going to lose her. Shall I-"
"No! We can't. Her injuries are to severe. I need another unicorn." He looked towards Twilight. "Twilight, quickly. I need your help."
The purple unicorn nodded frantically.
"Redheart. Get the others out. This is very tricky."
The nurse pony pushed the girls out.
Applejack tried to fight back, but a gave up as a white hoof rested on her shoulder.
"Let them help her, Applejack." Rarity soothed.
Applejack took one final glance before the door was slammed shut.
It was at least an hour before Twilight came out.
Rarity walked up to her.
"Is she-"
"She's okay. For now."
"But."
"But, she's too weak to support herself. And the life support machine isn't enough."
"Isn't there anything we can do?"
"We need Celestia. Or Luna. Or somepony with strong enough magic."
"But what about you?"
"I can only support her for so long."
Applejack trotted over.
"Can ya at least tell me wha her conditions are? So tha I know wha she was put through." Applejack sniffed.
Twilight sighed.
"We believe she was tortured. But we don't know how. We only know her injuries."
"And they are?"
"Well, erm, both her wings are badly damaged, her left lung is punctered, her right foreleg is broken, her diaphram has collasped. And her heart has been jolted."
"Oh the poor dear."
"And she has also been...."
"Twilight?"
"She has also been...sexually....abused."
"Oh sweet mother of Celestia!"
"Dashie...was....hurt....badly...Dashie...is going to die." Pinkie, or now Pinkamena as her hair was flattened and dull, started hyperventilating.
"Aww, Pinkie. She is not going to die."
"That's what she said before. That's what she said before she was taken." Pinkie rocked back and forth.
"There was nothing you could have done to save her."
"I could have. If I didn't jump onto that table, I wouldn't have hurt her."
"Pinkie, you didn't know this would have happened."
"But I did! I felt twinges! My Pinkie sense told me something was wrong." Tears flowed freely as the usually bouncy pony yelled. "Something told me that was something wrong with her."
Applejack hugged Pinkie as they both shared their pain for the vibrant pegasus.
Then, something clicked in Twilight's head.
"Celestia may not be able to help us, but we know somepony else."
"Who?"
"Who is the guardian of the night sky?" Twilight smirked.
"But I thought you said we can't contact anypony, since that horrible bug put a shield on Ponyville."
"I said that we can't contact Celestia."
"What's the difference?"
"Luna is immune. She was locked on the moon. So the changelings haven't created a spell to repel her."
"But how can we contact her?"
"With the Elements!"
"But we...don't have...the Elements." The others said confusingly.
"Of course we do."
"What?!"
"Us!"
"What?!"
"Us! We are the Elements of Harmony! We are laughter, honesty, kindness, generousity, loyalty and magic!"
The girls began smiling along with their unicorn friend.
"But what about Dashie?"
"I'm sure we could create a beacon. Without her."
The girls began to exit the hospital.
"Don't worry Rainbow Dash. We will be back."
"Okay girls. Just think of an event of where you have acted out your element."
The mares nodded.
The rest of the Elements of Harmony stood in the middle of Ponyville. Ponies gathered round to see what the girls were going to do to release them from their prison.
Twilight's horn lit up, and so did Rarity's.
The girls began to glow furiously.
Different colours of blue, purple, orange, pink and indigo shimmered off the ponies.
The towns-ponies winced from the bright light.
"Celestia! We must do something!"
"Luna! For the last bloody time! We can't we are helpless!!"
"Please calm down."
"The changelings are destroying Equestria and we're watching it without helping!"
"I can't do anything! I can't even leave this room!"
The two royal sisters yelled at each other while their niece and her new husband tried to calm them down.
"Oh Shining. What can we do?"
"I don't know." Shining Armour just stared and smirked at the elder sisters.
"Don't even think about bringing that up!"
"What's the matter Tia?! To pink for our tastes!?!"
"Oh shut it! You and your stupid Royal Canterlot voice! Art thou loud enough!?"
Luna was about to reply when the room lit up.
The basic shape of five mares appeared in the light.
"Wait...is that?"
"Twilight?" Shining said.
"But-but the Elements were taken." Celestia stuttered as she rose from her throne.
"Luna! We need your help! Rainbow Dash is dying!"
"What...how..."
"Luna! You are immune from the changelings magic! We need you to help Rainbow! Please!"
Luna nodded sternly. "I'm coming."
The night princess ran over to the window.
"No! Luna! Don't you even dare!"
Luna grinned before kicking the stained glass window.
"Sorry sister! Duty calls!" She spread out her wings as she jumped out.
"Scootaloo. Ah couldn't believe when tha doctors and Twi said she migh not make it. But she is alive. Why do yah tink Princess Luna is here?"
Scootaloo looked up at the night princess.
"You can see her in the minute." She gently smiled.
"You can see her now." Doctor Stable stated. "She's waking up. However, you must be gentle around her."
"We understand."
Scootaloo looked up at Applejack and Twilight, who were both heading towards the room that Rainbow was in.
"Rainbow? Rainbow?"
"Mmm..." Rainbow slowly fluttered her eyes open.
"Dashie?" Pinkie whispered.
"Urrr...m-m-m..." She lift up her hoof and removed the mask on her snout. "W....where...." She rasped.
"You're in the Ponyville Hospital. Don't worry, darling. You're safe now."
"I-I-I...hu...rt."
Fluttershy stroked her friend's prismatic mane.
"Rainbow. What happened?"
"Fluttershy. Wait for the questions."
"Okay." She whispered.
"Rainbow Dash?" Scootaloo hopped onto the chair next the bed.
"H-hiya...Sc-c-coots."
Scootaloo didn't say anything, she just dove into a hug. And cried into her idol's shoulder.
"It-It's o-o-oka-ay. I'm h-here." She winced as the filly leaned on her sore and aching ribs.
"They said you were dead. I didn't want you to die. I don't want to lose you." She muffled as she choked on her tears.
"N-Now, wh...y would...I die? Th-ey can't k-kill off t-he fast...fastest pegasus in Equestria." She grinned to the little filly. "Don't worry...Sc-Scoots. I will never l-leave you." Rainbow slowly moved her hoof to Scootaloo's face, and wiped off the little filly's tears.
"I love you Rainbow Dash!! You're the best!! I'm going to make you the bestest get well card...ever!!" Scootaloo jumped down. "Come on girls!! It's card making time!!" The three fillies cheered as they left the room.
The mares turned back to the injured pegasus.
"Are ya really okay?" Applejack was unconvinced by the her friend's excuses.
"No...I'm n-not. I-I ache all over."
"What did they do to you?"
"I don't....want to t-talk about it." She croaked.
"That's okay. But you must tell us soon. We're your friends." The girls smiled.
"Umm...Rainbow? I brought you some of your stuff from your house." Fluttershy held a set of saddle-bags with a lightning bolt badge on it. She trotted over with the bags in her mouth. But she tripped over her rose pink hair. Throwing the bags onto the floor. "Oh dear! I'm so sorry."
Everypony stared at the bag, that had now split it's contents. But they weren't looking at the toothbrush or the hair conditioner. They were looking at a very big book and a set of square white glasses.
Twilight used her magic to levitate the bag up, and placed them neatly by the bed. By she hovered the book and glasses over.
"Cal.cu.late's Encyclopedia Version 1? This is about International Congress of Mathematicians! Why are reading this?" Twilight demanded.
"Twilight, darling calm down. It's just a book."
"No! It's not just any book!! It's the book!! There is only two in the whole of Equestria!! And one was burnt three hundred years ago!! Not even my library or the Canterlot Archives have this book!!" Twilight muttered manically.
"Calm down!! For Celestia sake Twilight!! It's a book!! She can read!!" Fluttershy yelled.
"Please. Stop f-fighting. Please. I'll tell you why I have that book. Just stop fighting." Rainbow begged.
The two yelling ponies stopped. They lowered their heads in shame.
"I'm sorry, Rainbow. I didn't mean to break out like that. Especially since you've been through so much."
"Rainbow? What's wrong with ya eye? One is red and one is pink."
The pegasus sighed. "I was born with one red eye, and one rose eye. My father thought it was unique, but my mother thought I would get picked on for being different. So, I had a rose contact for my red eye. Hiding it."
"What about the glasses?"
"I-erm...."
Fluttershy smiled and nodded to her friend. "You can trust them."
"I used to be...an egghead. I loved reading books. I had top marks in all my tests. I studied, and I loved the library. I was also the teacher's pet in my classes. My mother loved the idea of having a intellectual daughter, with a higher IQ than others. But my father thought differently. He didn't hate me for being smart. Just the fact that I never used my wings. I hated flying."
Everypony gasped.
"You...hated flying?"
Rainbow nodded. "I would have preferred to be an earth pony. Or an unicorn. So I could hover my books and read several at a time. But one time, when me and Fluttershy had become good friends, we went to library.To get loads of books for our test for the next day. You see, Fluttershy wanted me to help her in her studies. That's why we went to the library. And after it closed, we walked into some bullies. They yelled at us. Saying we were both filly-foolers, and nerds. Then one of them knocked me over. Knocking my contact out. They saw that my other eye was red, and not pink. So they began to beat me up. Calling me a freak, a nerd, a weirdo...pathetic. Saying what's the point of a pegasus that doesn't want their wings. When they left, my eyes was bleeding badly. I was bleeding everywhere. Fluttershy helped me to the hospital. After a couple of hours, and when my parents came, the doctors told them that my vision had been badly damaged. That I would need glasses from then on. They asked about surgery, but the doctors said that my eyes were now too delicate to operate on. So I wore the glasses. And I picked on even more. Every day was worst than the other. With the insults and the beatings. Then one night, I snapped. I got rid of the glasses, the books, everything. Then I decided to try flying. I became a natural. Ponies adored it. I gave up the teacher's pet and egghead title. I never wore my glasses again. Even though I couldn't see, I rejected them. That's why I crash so much."
"Why don't you wear your glasses? I mean, now?"
"I wouldn't! I didn't want to bullied again. I hated it. I don't get how knowing complicated chemical equations meant getting thrown into a locker. I just didn't want to be picked on at Ponyville."
"Awww, Sugarcube. There ain't nothin' ta be scared of. Ponies love ya for who ya are."
"Yeah!! You can still be cool and smart!" Pinkie sang.
"I don't know." Rainbow sulked.
"Can you actually see us right now?"
"Not very clearly. Right now, you're just a bunch of blurry blobs. I mainly use them to read." Rainbow admitted.
A blue glow surrounded the white glasses.
"Well, let's see how you look in these glasses, dear." Rarity smiled as she placed the glasses delicately onto Rainbow's nose. Everypony gasped as they saw Rainbow.
"You look so cute!" Pinkie giggled.
"Excuse me?" Everypony turned to a nurse in the door way. "Rainbow, as your injuries are quite minor. We are releasing you...today." She said as she read the clipboard.
Rainbow's grin grew.
"However, you are now to wear your glasses. Your eyesight has now been very damaged. And you will be not be able to see without them."
Everypony watched as Rainbow's expression dropped.
"Okay." She whispered. Comparable to Fluttershy's.
The pony left.
"Well, that was quick. You've only just woken up."
"Yeah."
"It's probably the author's fault." Pinkie bounced around.
"What?"
"The author. They want to quickly finish the chapter, so they made Dashie leave early."
"Pinkie? What are you on about?"
"Twi. Jast leave her. It's her fourth wall thing again."
"Oh. Okay."
"I don't know about leaving girls. I'm scared."
"Come on. We'll go to library and we can help you."
"Oh that's too easy! That's Euler's formula for polyhedra. It describes a space's shape or structure regardless of alignment. It was first described by Descartes, then refined, proved, and published by Leonhard Euler in 1750. It's fundamental to the development of topography, which extends geometry to any continuous surface. An essential tool for engineers and biologists. And topology is used to understand the behavior and function of DNA."
"Wow. Errm.....this one?"
"That defines the standard normal distribution, a bell shaped curve in which the probability of observing a point is greatest near the average, and declines rapidly as one moves away. The initial work was originally by Blaise Pascal, but the distribution came into its own with Bernoulli. The bell curve as we currently comes from Belgian mathematician, Adolphe Quetelet. The equation is the foundation of modern statistics. Also, science and social science would not exist in their current form without it. It is used to determine whether drugs are sufficiently effective relative to negative side effects in clinical trials."
"Rainbow Dash!! You are amazing!!" Twilight squealed.
"Quite impressive darling! I've never heard anypony to describe those equations as good as Twilight dear."
"Thanks...Rarity." Rainbow muttered as she lowered her head.
The six mares sat in the Golden Oaks library. With there injured pegasus friend in the middle. The night princess performed a spell over Ponyville to stop any changelings attacking....for now. And the towns-ponies had hidden inside their houses. In fear of an attack.
"What's the matter Dashie?"
"Nothing." She mumbled her reply.
"Rainbow? What is it? Is it this whole 'egghead' thing? You don't have to worry-"
"No, Twilight. It isn't."
"So, wha is it then?"
Rainbow sighed. Keeping her eyes on the floorboards.
"I don't get it."
"Don't get what, darling?"
"I don't get how you didn't realise that it wasn't me. That the changeling...wasn't me."
Twilight trotted over to her distraught friend.
"I knew. Well, kind of. At the wedding, after you got yourself cleaned up, you yelled at Fluttershy. Saying that she was pathetic and that you didn't want to know her anymore."
Rainbow's head shot up.
"No! Nonono! I would never say that to Fluttershy! She's my closest friend!" She shook her head frantically.
"I know. That's how I knew it wasn't you. But then I was stupid. Instead of telling the girls or Princess Celestia that I believed that you were kidnapped by the changelings, I didn't say anything. I didn't want to believe that it was true. Oh Rainbow!! I'm so sorry!! It's all my fault!! I could have saved you but I didn't!!" Twilight wailed as she hugged the pegasus.
"Twilight. It wasn't your fault, dear." Rarity soothed.
"Yeah! It was those 'orrible changelings!" Applejack stated.
"B-But...if I did something about it, you wouldn't have been so close to death." The unicorn blubbered.
"Yes. But...you did save me."
"How? You nearly died."
"If you didn't find out soon, then I wouldn't be here."
"What do you mean?" Twilight sniffed.
"I was to be executed on that day. But then you brought back here."
"Executed?"
Rainbow nodded.
"I didn't know the changelings could be so brutal. Despicable creatures." Rarity spat.
"Me neither."
"Rainbow. What did they do to you?"
The pegasus looked around, at her friends. All of them radiating comforting smiles.
She hesitated before replying.
"...T-They...threw me into a cell, where they chained me up. I was completey restricted of any movement. There they tortured me in any way possible. I never got any food, I rarely got clean water, There was no sunlight and the cell was filthy. Every single day, the beatings became more frequent and more painful." Rainbow paused as she choked on her tears. "They forced me to swallow glass shards. They mutilated me by slicing and breaking my wings. The cut crosses on my cutiemarks." She pointed at the usually bright tri-coloured lighting bolts, that now had two red gashes across them in form of a cross. "I couldn't sleep, they attempted to abacinate me. They chained me to a table and electricated me. They tried drowning me...and....they...they...."
At this point, Rainbow Dash burst into tears.
The girls hugged her and attempted to calm her down.
"Shhh. It's okay, Rainbow. You're with us now." Twilght soothed as she gently stroked her friend's mane. She glanced at Rainbow's wings. Although they were all bandaged up, she could still see how badly damaged they were.
"T-they...they...r-r..." She stuttered, but more tears fell from her rose and red eyes.
"It's okay, sugarcube. They told us tha ya had been..."
"Sexually assulted." Rarity finished.
"Every....every day....and every night....they came...At first, I tried to fight them back....but they were too strong...I felt so weak and helpless....I feel so used...I couldn't sleep. I was too scared...I'm...so...scared." She wailed. "I'm scared."
"At least she's finally asleep. She needs her rest."
"I agree darling, but what I'm worried about is her having night terrors and relapses. She won't be able to sleep very well then." Rarity pointed out.
"Wha are we gonna do?" Applejack asked. "Tha Elements ave been taken."
Twilight's eyes lit up.
"Not all of them though."
"Oh yes. Rainbow's necklace is still here." Fluttershy squeak.
"But isn't it all...smashed-y-doodley?" Pinkie pondered.
"Yes. Yes it is." Twilight hovered over the golden necklace, along with the ruby shards. "But I still don't understand how this broke."
"Can we still use it?"
"I don't know."
Then, everypony's eyes set upon the shards.
They began to glow and sparkle. They hovered slightly in the air. That was before they started to spark.
A bloodcurldling scream was heard from the other room, and the shards smashed to the ground.
"Rainbow!!" The mares ran in to see the pegasus huddled at the far side of the room.
She had her head in her hoofs, and her tears drenched her face. Rainbow's hair stuck to her face.
"Make them go away! Make them stop!! It hurts!! It hurts so much!!" She cried.
Fluttershy quickly trotted over and hugged her friend.
"Shhhh. It's okay, Rainbow. We're here for you." She soothed as the pegasus cried into her shoulder.
"Rainbow Dash. I know you've been through a lot, but I'm going to ask you a couple of questions. Is that okay?" Twilight asked.
Rainbow nodded. "Ask away."
"Before you woke up, and screamed, what were you dreaming about?"
"...err...being...in the cell....crying...and hoping that you would help me. I knew that you help me, because your my friends. And friends stay loyal to each other no matter what." At that moment, the shards began to glow yet again. But only for a short while. However, the glow was brighter than before. The girls shared a look of confusion as they looked at the shards. Instead of them looking like broken glass, they were shaped as five different objects. A butterfly, a diamond, a balloon, an apple and an eight pointed star. All red and made from the shards.
"Art thou sure that this shalt work, Twilight Sparkle?"
"I'm sure. We were able to get you without the Elements, but we are not strong enough without them. However, I believe Rainbow's Element may react as a magnet. That or she maybe be able to connect to the other Elements from here." Twilight explained as she walked into the town square with Princess Luna.
The night princess's horn glowed musk blue as she held up a shield over Ponyville. Twilight knew she had to hurry. As powerful as Luna was, she was could not hold up the shield much longer. The changelings were now using more powerful magic than before, as they raveshed Equestria of it's love and harmony.
"I hope you are right, Twilight. Equestria is in great danger." They both stopped as they met the others in the middle of town. And some of the townsponies gathered round. To witness what their savouirs might do.
"Are you sure you can do this, Rainbow? You are still weak."
"If it gets the Elements back and saves Equestria, then I will do anything." Rainbow smiled as she pushed her glasses back onto her snout.
Luna trotted up to Rainbow.
"You can do this, Rainbow Dash. Loyalty is the strongest Element."
"Pardon?" Twilight asked abruptly.
"You didn't know that? I thought sister would have told you. Well, most of the magic from the Elements comes from loyalty. To be more precise, the Element of Loyalty gives out...about 70 to 75 percent of the magic. While Generousity, Laughter, Kindness and Honesty only give out less than 10 percent each. The Element of Magic however, is more of a filter of the magic, and concerntrates it. Otherwhise, the magic will become too great and will create havoc among Equestria. Loyalty is everything. Without loyalty, there is no respect."
Twilight stood there gobsmacked.
"Is that why Rainbow's Element is still reacting to the others?"
Luna nodded before screaming out in pain.
The shield around Ponyville rippled and sparked.
"Rainbow!! We must hurry!! Luna's magic won't hold out much longer." Twilight galloped to her pegasus friend, and hovered the empty golden necklace onto her neck.
The others placed the now newly shaped shards around Rainbow Dash.
"Just let your mind be blank. And concerntrate on the happy times. On our happy times together." Her friends grinned as Rainbow's necklace lit up. She closed her eyes as memories of picnics and pet play days popped up. The shards began to brightly glow and spin around Rainbow. White and red light started to radiate off the pegasus.
The girls' ears twitched slightly as they heard voices.
"You're my bestest bestest bestest bestest bestest friend, Dashie!!"
"Well hold it righ' there partner! Anypony kinda enough ta help us ou' is certaintly ma friend."
"Oh darling. I must say thank you. If it weren't for you helping me with those boxes, my materials would have been ruined."
"Thankyouthankyouthankyou Rainbow Dash!! I know you don't think you helped, but really did!! You're my best friend. My sister."
"Hey, Dash. Thanks for lending me your books. I didn't know you kept these type of books though. Oh, they were your mother's books. Well, that's makes sense.
The girls smiled as they remembered their memories with Rainbow Dash. The days they first met their colourful friend.
A powerful wind began as the shards shone brighter.
Carts and loose wood flung around the same town.
Then, everypony turned towards five objects fading in and out.
"The elements!" Twilight shouted over the howl of the wind. The towns-ponies standing outside, gasped and stared as the four golden necklaces and crown appeared. The purple unicorn galloped towards the Elements.
"Twilight!! Stop!!" Rarity yelled.
The mare stopped in her tracks as she looked towards the others.
"Twilight! Wait! Wait before getting the Elements!" Fluttershy shouted over the wind.
Twilight nodded, but remained in her spot.
The shards around Rainbow span quicker and quicker. Rainbow Dash opened her eyes, revealing bright white light. Then, the shards burst.
"Eep!" Rainbow squeaked.
The light dispersed and the wind stopped abruptly. The Elements fell but Twilight grabbed them with her magic before they touching the hard muddy ground.
Fluttershy and Applejack quickly trotted to Rainbow before she collasped.
"I've got them!! We've got the Elements!!" Twilight cheered.
"Well done, Miss Twilight Sparkle. But without the most important element, they're useless." A voice hissed.
Everypony turned to the voice.
"P-Princess Crystal?!" The girls stuttered.
"But how did you get through Luna's shield?"
"As you can tell, I was dragged by the Elements. Messed up my hair though." She grumbled as she flicked the dirt out of her hair. Luna dragged herself towards the changeling.
"Oh, Princess Luna. How nice it is to see you, instead of your...domianting state. How is Nightmare Moon?" She smirked.
The blue alicorn growled as her horn lit up.
"Oh shut your trap, you ungrateful swine!"
"Mind your language, Luna! I am shocked! Now, what would your sister say?"
"What have you done to Tia?!" Luna demanded, her horn lighting up by the second.
"Nothing special, just stripping her of powers and imprisoning her."
"What?!"
"She's just a simple unicorn...in pain and agony." Crystal began to cackle. Luna's horn dimmed as she began to break down in to tears.
"Why? What have we done to you?" Luna cried.
"Nearly killing my mother and our subjects."
"B-But, she kidnapped Princess Cadence, hypontised the Captain of The Royal Guard, tried to kill my sister and the Element of Loyalty."
"Yes, but you nearly killed my mother! My mother!! The one pony who protects me, looks after me and loves me. She's now bedridden until her body is fully healed! She nearly died!! She's the only one I've got!!" Crystal screamed as her eyes filled with water.
Rainbow pushed the two ponies holding her, and slowly trotted to the young changeling princess.
"Crystal. We understand your point. We understand that you want to make your mother proud, we all do. I remember trying to make my mother proud. But, you've got to know is that no matter what you do, your mother should be proud. She should be proud of you. And killing, attacking, ponynapping and raining havoc among Equestria is not a way to do anything." Rainbow smiled to the changeling.
"B-But...how would we feed our subjects?"
"By living peacefully among us. If you and the other changelings stay in a pony form, and live with us. By being friends and creating families with us, you would be able to create your own love. And to feel love."
Crystal stepped back as the pegasus gave a rather good plan. "Changelings don't make or feel love."
"So the love for mother isn't real, then? If you didn't love your mother, you wouldn't have done all this." Rainbow pointed out.
Crystal fell to the floor crying.
"I never wanted this to happen!! I never wanted hurt anypony!! But I did!! I thought that it would make my mother proud!!" She wailed as she cried into her hooves. Rainbow trotted over and stood by the alicorn.
"How can I ever repay you?" Crystal sobbed.
"By releasing your prisoners, reform Celestia and stop your subjects from attacking us."
Crystal nodded.
"Also, tell your mother the plan. And most improtantly, become our friend."
"What?!" The others yelled in confusion.
"Y-You want me...to be your friend. Even though I ponynapped you, and had you totured. Why?" Crystal looked up with sorrow filled eyes.
"Because, my element is loyalty. And I am to be loyal to anypony. As everypony will be friend, as long as they respect me and others. As I will respect you." Rainbow Dash held out her hoof towards Crystal.
Crystal looked at the hoof, before looking at Rainbow. The pegasus beamed a smile to Crystal. Although she had been through the most horrific of pain, she managed to smile. Crystal lifted her hoof and placed it on Rainbow's. The alicorn lifted herself up.
"Thank you....friend....I'm sorry for all my doings."
"CRYSTAL!!" A voice boomed. The ground shook and the shield rippled.
"Oh no. Oh nonononono." Crystal panicked.
"What? What is it?" Rainbow asked.
"CRYSTAL!! HOW DARE YOU!!" The voice again screamed.
"CRYSTAL!" Queen Crysalis' voice boomed like thunder. Many pony's heads whipped in all directions trying to locate the changeling queen. When nopony could spot the evil queen they started to panic.
"Crystal where is she?" Rainbow asked also trying to find her.
"I-I don't know." The changeling answered scanning the area for her mother.
"I'm right here!" The Queen answered as a bright green lightning bolt lit up the night sky and stuck the force field shattering it like glass.
Before the bright light was even gone like a swarm of wasp there where changelings everywhere assaulting and harassing all of Ponyville. Ponies where running all over the place trying in vain to escape the changeling invasion. When the flash of bright light dissipated Queen Chrysalis was standing right in front of her daughter and the three ponies.
"Mother what are you doing here"? Crystal said in shock.
"Finishing what you could not." The queen answered laughing evilly, then firing bolts of magic at Applejack and Fluttershy sending them flying backwards towards Twilight, Luna and the others. As Rarity and Pinkie helped AJ and Fluttershy to their hooves Chrysalis fired another bolt of magic at Luna and before the princess of the night could react she and the other five ponies where trapped in a force field. Luna tried to dissipate the field with her magic but nothing happened.
"WHAT HAS THOU DONE TO US!" Luna demanded when her magic did not work.
"It's an M.S.F. or magic suppressing force field. Nothing inside that force field can use magic not even myself." The evil changeling answered laughing evilly again.
"YOU FIEND! RELEASE US AND MY SISTER AT ONCE!" The night princess demanded again try again to use her magic to no avail.
Her request demand was ignored.
The ponies attention was torn form the evil queen when Rainbow suddenly collapsed and Crystal went to her aid.
"Twilight what's wrong with Rainbow?" Applejack asked with great concern. The unicorn thought for a second.
"It's the force field!" Twilight exclaimed. "It's blocking Luna's magic she can't support Rainbow Dash anymore!" The five ponies and Luna were shocked when they all came to this terrifying conclusion and Applejack started to panic.
"No Rainbow, we have't help her we have't do somethin!" The farm pony shouted and started bucking wildly at the force field causing it to do nothing but ripple. "We have to help her."
"Applejack calm down there is nothing we can do from in here." Twilight said trying and failing miserably to quell her country friend.
"Ah can't Twilight ah don't want to lose her, Ah gotta do somethin now" AJ said continuing to buck the magical barrier.
"None of us do darling but Twilight is right dear there's nothing we can do but hope for a miracle." The white unicorn spoke trying to make the best of an impossible situation.
"Ah know Rarity Ah know." AJ Said as she was forced to watch as Chrysalis approached the fallen pegasus. The changeling queen neared downed pony and her daughter with a wicked grin her on face her horn lit up and Rainbow Dash was surrounded by a green aura and she was lifted from the ground.
"Mother stop this insanity, we don't have to do this we can live among them and create families and make our own love stop this madness." Crystal yelled at her mother glancing around at all the chaos and destruction the changelings were causing. Ponies were running around screaming searching for their little ones, fillies and colts were crying and searching for their parents, houses were burning, with her new found perspective on life Crystal knew this wasn't right.
"Mother please stop this, this isn't right!" The changeling princess tried reasoning with her mother but was shocked when a green aura surrounded and lifted her off the ground parallel with Dash.
"Mother what are you doing?" Crystal said in disbelief at her mother's abrupt actions as were the other ponies.
"SILENCE!" Chrysalis yelled. " You have failed me, daughter letting this little pony corrupt you with her petty lies!"
"No mother! They aren't lies this pony speaks the truth." She glanced at Rainbow." We can change we don't have to do this." She shouted back.
"I'm disappointed in you Crystal thinking we could co-exist these inferior ponies and speaking of this pony." She turned her attention to Rainbow Dash.
"If you had gotten rid of her like I told you she would not have twisted your mind with her lies."
"Your daughter is right you know, you can change it doesn't have to be this way." Rainbow said weakly.
"SILENCE YOU WORTHLESS PONY!" She shouted at Rainbow. "I made my minions torture and abuse you until you gave me info about the elements but you would never talk no matter what they did to you, so I have no further use for you." The queen stated pointing her horn at the magically suspended pony.
"I would never sellout my friends, that's what loyalty is about but I can forget about that if we can co-exist." Rainbow tried to reason with the evil changeling again.
"Mother please she is right we don't to do this anymore don't do this!" Crystal pleaded with her mother.
"SILENCE BOTH OF YOU!" The Queen shouted. "MY. PEOPLE. WILL. NOT. CHANGE!" She shouted again fuming with anger. The changeling queen took a breathe then formed green ball energy at the tip of her horn and aimed at the rainbow mane pony again.
"Now pony, you will be an example of what happens when somepony disobeys me!" Chrysalis said in an evil tone glancing at her daughter, the ball of energy on her horn grew slightly larger.
"NOW DIE PONY!" Chrysalis shouted.
"NO MOTHER DON'T!" Crystal shouted back as loud as she could. She fired, the ball energy turned into beam and there were multiple screams from multiple places. Five ponies, one alicorn, and one changeling watched in horror as a bright green beam struck Rainbow in the left side of her chest then tore through her back. Crysalis released her from her magic with an evil cackle. Rainbow's body went limp and her glasses shattered upon hitting the ground and blood immediately began to pool around her. All she felt was pain then nothing at all. The last thing she heard was Applejack screaming her name.
Everypony was nearly frozen with fear, shock, and sadness at the murder they had just witnessed. Applejack was completely distraught crying and screaming Rainbow's name but the pegasus didn't so much as twitch. Rarity and Fluttershy tried their best to calm AJ, but they were almost as upset as she was. Pinkie's hair had gone completely flat and dull, and Twilight was in shock. Not just because her best friend was killed right in front of her, but almost immediately afterwards the elements had turned to stone.
"No if the elements are dead, that means Rainbow is..." Twilight couldn't finish her sentence as she fell to her haunches and started crying as did her other friends. Luna just stood their glaring daggers into queen.
The queen laughed evilly."Now she will never corrupt you with her lies ever again." She laughed again staring at her daughter.
"Mother! How could you!" Crystal screamed tears running down her black face. "She was trying to help our kind, she showed us compassion and love that nopony else would even after you made your followers torture and rape her!" She screamed at her mother again.
"You're wrong, child. They are tricking you! All they want is to destroy us!" Chrysalis shouted back at her daughter.
"No Mother. You are the one that is wrong!" The changeling princess replied loudly sending a bolt of magic from her horn at her mother.
Chrysalis never expected it and had no time to react to the sudden attack. Taking a bolt of magic to face, she stumbled backward. Freeing Crystal from her magical grasp before regaining her hoofing. The ponies and Chrysalis were shocked at her sudden attack. Once freed from her mother's grasp she immediately stood in a protective stance in front of Rainbow's still body.
"YOU DARE ATTACK YOUR MOTHER AND QUEEN, CHILD!" The changeling queen said with intense anger coating her voice
"You maybe be my mother but you are no longer my queen!" The queen's daughter said with great intensity and passion. "I will stop you and save our race from this fate you have sentenced them to!" She shot another bolt of magic at her mother.
This time she saw it coming and dodged easily before taking to the air and firing back at her daughter knocking her off her hooves only for her to get right up.
"HOW DARE YOU SHOW SUCH INSOLENCE TOWARD YOUR QUEEN!" The changeling spoke thoroughly enraged by her daughter's actions and words. "I DO NOT WONT TO HURT YOU, BUT I WILL DO WHAT IS BEST FOR MY HIVE!"
"You do not know what is best for our hive any more mother!'' Crystal lunged at her mother in the air who again dodged with relative ease.
"WHY MUST YOU FIGHT ME CRYSTAL? YOU WONT WIN!" The queen said swatting her rushing daughter out of the air who again got right back up.
"Because I want to bring peace between our hive and the ponies and other species something you could never do!" She shouted firing multiple beams of magic at her former queen who then avoided them all. Crystal knew that even in her weakened state her mother was much stronger and more than a match for her but she refused to give up.
"FOOLISH CHILD!! THE PONIES WILL NEVER ACCEPT PEACE WITH OUR KIND THEY HATE US!" Chrysalis shouted back shooting several bolts of magic at her daughter which she barely managed to avoid them.
"You made them hate us and you never even considered peace!" The smaller changeling said dodging magical bolts from her mother. "And because of that our race is dying!" She continued her heated battle with her mother.
The five ponies and the princess watched helplessly as the two changelings battle each other. Their emotions were running wild as they watched the battle and the motionless pegasus lying only feet away from them a pool of blood under her body. Applejack had broken down sobbing loudly covering her freckled face with her stetson. Her friends tried their best to comfort her knowing she had stronger feelings for the rainbow mane pegasus. At this point nopony knew what to do, they felt helpless. Rainbow was gone, citizens were under attack, Ponyville was burning and two powerful changelings were locked in a fierce battle in the canter of town. Nopony knew what to make of the dire situation unfolding in front of them, all hope seemed lost.
"Twilight, what are we going to go?" Rarity asked feeling helpless.
"I-I don't Rarity. I just don't know." The lavender unicorn said sadly staring Rainbow's unmoving body.
"Surely there has to be something we can do darling." The fashionista questioned following the unicorn's gaze to her fallen friend.
"As long as where are in this force field we are as helpless as little fillies." Twilight answered wiping tears from her eyes as she watched the battle unfold.
"I will protect my race and the ponies from you mother!" Crystal said striking her mother with her magic but was shocked when she brushed it off like it was nothing.
"HOW DARE YOU PROTECT THE ONES WHO SHUNNED US!" The queen shouted knocking her daughter out of the air with her magic.
"You forced them to shun by striking fear in there hearts!" Crystal shouted getting back to her hooves. "Look into your heart mother it is not to late to change."
"I HAVE NO HEART!" Chrysalis said darkly landing on the ground firing a continuous beam of magic at her daughter. Crystal reacted swiftly and fired an identical beam back at her mother. The two beams collided in mid air creating a mini shockwave as they tried pushing each other in opposite directions. Both changelings fought back against the other but Chrysalis was quickly overpowering the younger shapeshifter pushing her back toward the six imprisoned ponies, but she dug hooves into the ground and refused to give up.
"Why does thou fight for us?" Luna asked the battling changeling in front of her. "I do not understand your actions."
"YES!! TELL ME WHY YOU PROTECT THESE WEAKLINGS!" The queen commanded of her daughter, putting more power into her beam pushing Crystal closer to the ponies.
"Because Rainbow showed me that we were wrong and that we could change for the better." The changeling princess answered. "She died believing that and I will fight for what she and I both believed in!" She yelled with great passion struggling put as much as magic as possible in her beam to combat her mother. The six ponies were shocked at her answer and the stone elements started to glow including the one around the dead pegasus' neck. Twilight noticed this immediately.
"YOU WILL NOT WIN, DAUGHTER!" Chrysalis yelled at her child increasing her power.
"I. WILL. NOT. GIVE. UP!" She struggled against her mother's power. The elements glowed brighter.
"RESISTANCE IS FUTILE!" The changeling queen hollered.
"I WILL AVENGE HER!" Crystal shouted back.
The elements glowed brighter still.
"GIVE UP!" Chrysalis demanded.
"Never!" Crystal refused.
And brighter.
"SHE CORRUPTED YOU CRYSTAL!" The queen continued her verbal battle.
"No mother it was YOU that corrupted me!"She yelled back at her mother. And brighter.
"She saved me and our race from you!" She yelled at her mother again as loud as she could. The six brightly glowing stone elements came together. The stone shell surrounding them burst into pieces revealing six golden elements glowing with a golden aura. What shocked everypony the most is when Crystal started glowing. The same colour as the elements and her green beam turned golden as well.
"Luna what happening with the elements and Crystal?" Twilight said completely stunned by the turn of events.
"The elements are giving her power they believe she is pure of heart." Luna answered just as stunned. Crystal could feel powerful magic flowing through and quickly used it to her advantage. Chrysalis quickly realized something was wrong when her daughter started pushing her back and she could not stop her.
"W-WHAT IS THIS TRICKERY?! THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE!" The queen screamed, her magic still being pushed back.
"This is the power of love and friendship mother!" She said confidentially pushing her magic to the max. Quickly overwhelming her mother. "I'm sorry it had to be this way but you have to go!" Crystal's golden beam of magic over took her mother's body in golden light and cracks of light started appearing all over the queen's body getting wider and longer.
"NO NO NOOOOOOO!" Chrysalis screamed the cracks continued to get worse as the golden light got brighter and brighter. "DAMN YOU DAAAAMN YOOOUU!" With one last burst of magic Chrysalis' body exploded into dust with a blinding flash of light. When everypony could see again Queen Chrysalis was no more and Crystal was standing victorious and she ordered the changelings to stop their attack which they did and everything was calm for the moment. Rainbow Dash still laid motionless on ground.
Crystal Stood in the middle of Ponyville just having destroyed her mother and stopped the changeling invasion. She felt relieved having defeated her and avenging her newest friend. She turned around to see the sadden expressions on the faces of the ponies still trapped inside her mother's force field. She lower her horn to field and dispersed it. As soon as the force field disappeared Applejack immediately rush full speed to Rainbow Dash's body. Once she arrived she held the pegasus close and started sobbing again.
"Please Rainbow say somethin', anything at all please." She pleaded with the rainbow mane mare. She didn't respond, Applejack's sobs got louder and more frequent as she held her best friend close to her body not caring about the blood leaking all over her orange fur. She looked into the pegasus' eyes, they were dull and void of life she was just staring off into space. Her chest didn't rise her heart didn't beat. Applejack knew the love of her life she would never get to confess to was gone forever but that didn't stop her from holding Rainbow's head close to her chest and crying her name over and over again. The farm pony felt herself being hugged by four other mares as her friends did their very best to comfort each other mourning the lost of their rainbow mane pegasus and the element of loyalty.
"A-Ah never got to tell her how I felt about her." AJ sobbed harder. " And now ah never will." Her body was racked with sobs so her friends held her closer.
"It's not fair she didn't deserve this." AJ held the cyan pony tighter. "Oh Rainbow why you."
"Nopony deserved what she went through." Twilight said her face soaked with tears. "Nopony should ever be tortured like she was."
"She was a great pony" Pinkie sniffled tears streaming down her face, her mane and tail hanging straight against her body.
"Yes she was." Crystal said walking up to the grieving mares along with Luna. "I know it probably doesn't mean much but I would like to apologize on behalf of my race for everything we have done including Rainbow's death." For a few tense moments everypony was silent, the changeling princess stood there waiting for their reactions but the reactions she got she never expected.
"Ah forgive you Crystal." Applejack managed to say between her sobs.
"I do to." Twilight said.
"Me to." Pinkie added.
"As do I." Rarity said.
"I forgive you to" Fluttershy said quietly. Crystal was stunned, she could not believe how fast these ponies gave her their forgiveness. After everything that had happened today and over the last couple weeks from ponynapping an element wielder to imprisoning their princess of the sun they did not even hesitate to give her their forgiveness. She was completely bewildered.
"You forgave me so quickly even after all the hurt I have caused you" Crystal stop to take a breath. "I don't understand, why?"
"It's simple." Twilight said whipping tears from her eyes only for them to be replaced with fresh ones. "If Rainbow believed in you then why should we?" The mares all nodded in agreement as did Princess Luna. Crystal was overwhelmed with emotions as tears of joy started running down her face again.
"Thank you so much all of you." The changeling said whipping her face free off tears then turned to Luna. "My mother's magic should have worn off your sister should be back to normal by now."
"Thank you Crystal and thank you for protecting Ponyville." Luna replied her cosmic mane following in the gentle breeze.
The two princess turned back to the group of crying mares. Applejack was still clenching Rainbow close to herself refusing to her let go.
"Applejack?" Crystal asked bending down to eye level with weeping apple farmer.
"Yes?" AJ said look up at the changeling, her eyes were bloodshot.
"I can never make what happened today right but I want to try by telling you something." Crystal said in her most comforting voice. "I read your mind that's how I knew you had strong feelings for her." She paused. "I read her mine as well and I want you to know that her feelings for you were just as strong as yours."
"Really, do you really mean that?" The cowpony's face lit up as bit.
"Yes I do, she loved you as much as you loved her." The changeling said softly bringing her face a little closer to the orange pony. " And because of my mother's and I's actions you will never be able to express your love for each and for that I'm truly sorry."
For the second today Crystal was bewildered as Applejack gently laid the deceased pegasus on the ground then turned to her and embraced her in a warm hug and for the third time today tears ran down her cheeks. These ponies were so quick to give forgiveness and share their love even in the face of tragedy. It was all so new to her didn't quite know how to react so she did the only thing she could think of. She hugged back. She felt another pair of hooves hug her.
And another.
And another.
And another.
Soon five pairs of hooves were hugging her and for the first time in a very long time is felt happiness. These ponies were so kind she could not help but cry.
"I-I'm so sorry for everything I have done." Crystal said tears streaming down her face. "I'm so sorry I never meant for any of this to happen, I just want to save my race."
"Crystal, you said your race was dying is that true?" Twilight asked with concern releasing the changeling from her hug as did the others.
"Yes my mother was not able to supply us with a sufficient amounts of love because of her evil ways." She answered sadly. "Now the changelings in Cantorlot and the ones here in Ponyville is all that is left of of us." Twilight thought for a moment. "That's only a couple hundred!" The unicorn said shocked at Crystal's statement and whipping away fresh tears.
"Yes that is correct, Twilight." The changeling replied whipping tears of her own. " I only wish I could have saved them and not have caused all this chaos and destruction."
"It's not your fault Crystal." Twilight said glancing at Rainbow, the dear friend she had just lost. "Just live among us in pony form like Rainbow said and share our love." Twilight said with a slight smile.
"That would be wonderful but I don't think the rest of your kind is as accepting of us as you are." Crystal said glancing around the town seeing all the scared looks the townsponies were giving her and the rest of the changelings scattered about.
Twilight was trying to think of a solution to this problem wanting to help the changeling since she had slain her own mother to save them and Ponyville . She glanced around seeing all the scared face of the townsfolk, the crying fillies and colts, and the Changelings standing around them thought most of the ponies had ran away form them after they stopped attacking but a few brave ponies still lingered around. As she continued to glance at some of the changelings closer to her she began to notice something disturbing. The changelings were all scrawny and weak looking.
"They are dying." The unicorn said stunned at her discovery.
"Twilight!" Rarity said in surprise gaining her friend's attention. "The elements!"
The lavender unicorn quickly followed the white mare's gaze to where the elements were. They elements had levitate about thirty feet in the air and they were still glowing bright gold but what took everypony and changeling by surprise was the cracks that had formed in them much like they had in the evil changeling queen when she was defeated.
"Luna what's going on with the elements?" The studious mare asked with concern.
"With Rainbow Dash gone." Luna said looking sadly at the fallen pegasus who's side Applejack had returned to. "The element of loyalty can not hold its magic and neither can the other elements so they must be discharging it by releasing their physical form." Luna explain.
"You mean they are going to explode?" Twilight asked still soaking in Luna's explanation.
"Yes." Luna answered staring intently at the cracking elements. Just moments after the night princess answered and before the stupefied unicorn could respond the elements shot into air and then one by one they burst like fireworks bathing the town in a golden snow fall of magic. One after the other the elements detonated showering the town magic until only the element of loyalty remained. As the golden magic rained down something unexpected happened, the changelings started to glow with a golden aura.
"Crystal what's happening to you?" Twilight asked the glowing changeling not having the slightest clue what was going on.
"I-I don't know." Crystal said looking over her glowing body. She was just as confused as everypony else. "I feel all warm inside."
"Luna do you know what's happening?" Twilight asked the blue alicorn who looked just as confused as she did.
"I have not a clue Twilight." The princess of the night said shifting her gaze between the glowing changelings and last remaining element.
The element of loyalty started glowing brighter and brighter so much thought you couldn't look at. Then finally as did the rest of the elements it exploded. A sonic rainboom rippled across the sky with blinding prismatic light. Crystal was enveloped in golden light so bright the ponies had to look away or cover their eyes. When the light finally subsided what they saw in front of them left and completely and utterly speechless.
Standing there was beautiful black alicorn with a green mane and tail.
"Oh my Celestia!" Twilight said in pure unrefined shock. "I can't believe it!" In all her years of studying and reading she had never seen or heard of anything like this before. The ponies were staring dumbfounded at Crystal. Though Applejack was aware of what had just happened she had returned to Rainbow's side and was struggling to hold back fresh wave of tears.
"She beautiful!" Rarity said almost at a loss for words.
"What is it, what happened?" Crystal asked just as confused as the ponies who eyes where glued to her. "Why is everypony staring at me?"
"Crystal you're a- you're a PONY!" The purple unicorn said with astonishment.
"WHAT!" Crystal could not believe her ears so she immediately started to examine herself. She looked all over herself and found a beautiful black coat. Beautiful black feathery wings replaced the translucent material and she could feel each feather ruffle in the breeze. She ran hoof through her mane and tail full of green silky smooth hair feeling each individual strand. Her horn was straight cylindrical her fangs were gone and not a hole to be found and to top it all off a crystal star on her flank.
"I-It's a miracle." Crystal said tears freely flowing down her now furry cheeks. "I do not feel the hunger for love anymore I feel hungry for hayfries and hayshakes, I feel hunger for food!" The changeling turned pony said overcome with joy as did a few twirls.
"That's great darling." The alabaster unicorn said excited for the new alicorn. Before she could even respond to Rarity, Twilight had called her name snagging her attention away from the other unicorn.
"Crystal look!" Twilight said pointing to other changelings that were standing around. Crystal followed the unicorn's hoof and what she saw filled her heart with joy all over again. Changelings all over town were becoming beautiful mares and handsome stallions, earth ponies, unicorns, and pegasi of all shapes, sizes and colours. The ponies still around to witness this truly magical event stared on in ah.
"I don't believe it it's truly a miracle." The new alicorn said tears still streaming down her cheeks as she witness the saving of her race.
For a few moments nopony knew what to say too much had happened in such a small period of time it was too much to take in especially the for the five mare who just lost their dear friend right in front of their eyes.
"I still don't see how this is even possible." Twilight said still looking at the new alicorn in front of her. "Do you know Princess Luna?"
"I do not Twilight." The lunar princess answered. "I have never seen any like this before.
"It's simple." Crystal said quoting Twilight words from a few minutes ago. "It's Rainbow's gift to us." She said looking at said pegasus, she hadn't moved an inch since her mother she struck her down.
"What do you mean Crystal?" The studious unicorn asked questioning the black alicorn's explanation.
"Think about it, Rainbow Dash wanted us to be able to live together It was her element that saved us and the rainbow light it gave off when it did considering all that." Crystal said. "I would like to believe it was Rainbow's last gift."
"I think thou as a reasonable explanation." Luna said seeing all the rejoicing ex-changelings and their happy faces they wore as they examined themselves and each other.
"I only wish she could see what has done for me and my race." The black alicorn said looking sadly at the lifeless pegasus and the apple farmer holding her. "I will never be able to express my gratitude to her."
"Ah can't believe she is gone." Applejack said unable to hold back a fresh wave of tears as she again cried for the lover she would never get to have. "A-Ah loved h-her so m-much and Ah wanted t-to tell h-her so badly but now Ah can't." She said braking down in sobs again.
"We all loved her very much Applejack." Rarity said rubbing the farmer's back with her hoof as she cried. "She is in a better place now."
"Ah know Rarity a-ah know." AJ continued sobbing. As if the changelings turning into full fledged ponies wasn't enough of a surprise the arrival of Princess Celestia moments later was.
"Princess Celestia!"Twilight cried running to her mentor and embracing her in a hug, tears running down her face.
"What is wrong my faithful student did you not win the day?" The princess asked puzzled by the unicorns tears.
"Yes we did, but-" Twilight said sadly her tears intensifying.
"But what my child?" The regal mare asked. "What has you so up set?"
"Rainbow Dash is dead and the elements are gone."Twilight said pointing to the grieving mares and the bloody pegasus for whom they were grieving.
Celestia took a few moments to process this information. "That is most troubling news." The princess said softly surprised by her student's answer. "I'm truly sorry for your loss Twilight Sparkle how did this happen?"
"My mother, Queen Chrysalis murdered her without hesitation." The black alicorn said as she walked up to Celestia. "I tried to stop her, I'm sorry."
Celestia studied the new alicorn for a few brief seconds before she came to the conclusion that the same thing that happened in Canterlot also happened here in Ponyville.
"I see the changelings here have also become ponies just like in Canterlot." Celestia said still looking over black pony.
"Yes they did I think it's a miracle." Crystal said noticing that Celestia was looking over her new body.
"It would seem that way." The princess responded. "Where is your mother now?"
"She's gone, I destroyed her to protect Rainbow's friends and your sister. She trapped everypony but Rainbow in a M.S.F as soon as she arrived." She answered the taller alicorn. Again the sun goddess was surprised that a changeling would fight her own mother to protect ponies that was unheard of.
"Luna is this true?" Celestia asked her sister not quite believing her ears.
"Yes sister, she speaks the truth" The night princess said backing Crystal words. "She fought bravely for us."
"Well then, thank very much for protecting them." The tall regal mare said showing her gratitude to Crystal.
For a few moments there was silence as Celestia assessed the situation. They may have won the day but it was a bittersweet victory losing a best friend and an element barrier and the elements themselves was a huge blow but right now the elements did not matter right now what did matter at the moment was Rainbow Dash. For awhile nopony spoke until Twilight saddened voice broke the silence.
"Celestia, is there anything you can do Rainbow Dash?" The lavender unicorn pleaded with her mentor.
"I'm very sorry Twilight the only thing I can do for her is give her a proper a funeral which I assure you she will get." The princess said sadly. "My sister and I will go back to Canterlot with Rainbow and prepare her for the funeral and have it held here in Ponyville tomorrow."
"Okay princess thank you." Twilight said using her hoof to brush away fresh tears as she looked at the ground she was crestfallen and so were her friends.
Celestia was also crestfallen to see her faithful student like this but there is nothing she could do. Over the thousands and thousands of years of her life she had hundreds for ponies ask her to save somepony dear to them but every time she would have to say no and she dreaded the day she would have to say no to Twilight.
"I'm sorry Twilight, I truly wish I could help Rainbow but I can not." The princess said to crying unicorn.
"W-What about the e-elements?" Twilight asked trying in vain to hold back her tears.
"Do not worry about them now Luna and I will deal with that when the times comes." Celestia answered her crying student. "Come Luna lets return to Canterlot and prepare for the funeral.''
"Wait Celestia before you go if I may request something of you?" Crystal asked her fellow alicorn.
"I'm listening." Celestia said.
"Rainbow Dash was the first pony to offer me friendship even after all the torture she was put through." Crystal said.
"She died believing that my race could live peacefully among the ponies and as respect to her I would like to honor her belief and live among you."
Celestia looked around Ponyville at the many ponies that stood around as she considered this. Some ponies were still confused the nights events but there also ponies that were welcoming the ex-changelings and being nice to them and that was enough help her make decision.
"Yes you may live among us." Celestia said with small smile as she saw black alicorn's face light up.
"Thank you so much Celestia." Crystal said with joy, all the ex-changelings rejoiced.
"Would you like to come back to Canterlot with us to spread news?" The princess of the sun asked.
"Yes I would like that thank you." Crystal replied.
"Well then let us return to Canterlot so we may honor Rainbow's life tomorrow." Celestia said. As three alicorns prepared to leave Luna used her magic to levitate Rainbow's body but as she started to lift her Applejack refused to let go forcing her to release her magic.
"Please don't take her." AJ begged holding on to Rainbow for dear life as she sobbed. "Please don't take her."
Everypony was sadden by this the apple farmer was obviously taking it the worst as she grieved for the pony she would never get to share her love with.
"Applejack dear please let her go she is in a better place now." Rarity said rubbing the farmers back again, her mascara had long since run down her face from her constant tears . "There is nothing we can do for her." Slowly but surely Applejack let go of the cyan pegasus. Her friends embraced her in a hug and cried with her after she let go and Luna levitated Rainbow again to herself and the other two alicorns.
"We must go now we will return in the morning and again I am truly sorry for you loss she will be missed by all." Celestia said as her horn lit up with a golden light. Her horn grew brighter and then there was a flash of light and just like that the three alicorns were gone leaving semi-destroyed Ponyville, no elements and five grieving mares.
"So what do we do now?" Pinkie said finally speaking up her mane and tail still flat and the cheerfulness gone from her voice.
"Lets go to the library you can all stay there tonight." Twilight said as she slowly started toward her home as did her friends except Applejack.
"Come now dear lets go cleaned up." Rarity said looking at the blood covering most the farmer's underside, Rainbow's blood. Pulling AJ to her hooves the two started walking after their friends to the big oak tree. The night went by relatively quick and uneventful and nopony really slept all that well after the tragedy they were forced to watch and all the craziness the day before. The three alicorns had returned around noon in town square with a beautiful silver coffin with a multi-colored lightning bolt on top and multi-colored flowers surrounding it.
Many ponies attended the funeral to pay their respect for Rainbow and to give their condolences to her closest friends. When all was said and done ponies lined the dirt roads of Ponyville as Rainbow's five friends carried her coffin slowly through town to Ponyville cemetery once there they gently lowered her casket into the freshly dug grave and buried her. Eventually only the princesses and her five friends were left.
"I-It ain't the s-same without her and it n-never will be." Applejack sobbed into her hooves.
"You're right Applejack. Pranking wont be as fun anymore." Pinkie said tears streaming down her face and her mane was still flat. "I'm going to miss her every minute of everyday."
"It j-just ain't f-fair." Applejack said trying to control her sporadic breathing. "She didn't deserve this."
"No Applejack she didn't." Twilight said rubbing the farmer's back with her hoof. "She really didn't."
"She was such a loyal pony never hesitating to help a friend in need." Rarity complimented the deceased pegasus, her mascara had run again as she placed bouquet of seven different color roses on her friend's grave.
"S-She was t-the very f-friend I ever m-made." Fluttershy said quietly sobbing behind her light pink mane. "I-I don't k-know what I am g-going to do w-without her."
"It will be okay Fluttershy we will get thought this some how." Rarity said copying Twilight's actions trying to soothe the crying pegasus by gently rubbing her back.
The eight ponies sat at Rainbow Dash's grave for what seemed like hours mourning their friend, telling stories about her life and just overall trying to cope with losing their best friend. Soon the two sister alicorns had to return to Canterlot to raise the moon and lower the sun. One by one they left their dearly departed friend's gave until only Applejack and Crystal were left. The cowpony had sat there all day reading the headstone engraved with the cyan mare's cutie mark over and over again.
Rainbow Mariam Dashery The Element of Loyalty And a great friend to all 1025-1056
The two sat there for awhile in silence staring at the final resting place of their friend until Crystal spoke up.
"I'm so sorry, Applejack." Crystal said whipping her eyes free of tears.
"For what?" The orange earth pony questioned her eyes bloodshot.
"For everything, for Rainbow, for- just for everything!" The black alicorn blurted out as she started to cry again. "I never wanted for anything of this to happen none of it!"
"It's ok sugarcube it's not your fault." Applejack said taking her turn to comfort a pony today by rubbing her back.
"I never wanted for any of this to happen." Crystal repeated. "I never wanted to watch her be beaten or abused I wanted to help her so bad but I couldn't." Crystal sobbed. "I knew what they were doing to her was wrong but I did nothing in fear my mother would shun me out of disappointment for helping a pony."
"It ain't your fault what happened to her and it never will be." The farmer said taking her signature stetson off her head.
"I just didn't wont ponies or other races to judge us or hate us for my mother's actions." Silence returned to the duo for a long while as they watched they sun go down lost in their own thoughts most likely some fond memory about Rainbow Dash. Applejack was the first pony to break the silence this time.
"If Ah learned anything form this whole awful experience it was what Rainbow taught me." AJ paused.
"What did she teach you?" Crystal said intrigued as she wiped tears from her eyes.
