Friendship is Magic

Celeste had been working incredibly hard to translate the entirety of the book she had found and, every day, I would wake to find more and more pages in my email in-box.  I, in turn, worked to learn to use the spells to their full effect and, as such, I now had several powerful incantations at my disposal.

I leaped into the air and threw out my hands, “Tempestatem caelestia!”

A fury of stars flew through the air and struck the ground where the Manticore stood.  The battle had been raging for some time, but the infuriating creature had managed to dodge all of our attacks.

As I began to fall, I noticed the manticore inhale sharply.  On the exhale, it breathed an inferno.  At the rate I was descending, I would land in time to be consumed by the flames.  I willed my direction to reverse, to fling myself into the sky, into orbit, beyond the galaxy, anything to escape being burned to a cinder.

“Murum lapideum!”

A massive wall of stone erupted from the earth and sheilded me from the attack.  Rarity stood just behind it, covering her face in a defensive gesture.  I landed behind her and fell back into the grass.

She glanced at me, “Pinkie and I can handle this.  Get Fluttershy to safety!”

“Wait a sec,” Pinkie squealed.  “I want to try something.”

“This isn't the time for experiments, Pinkie!”  I retorted.  We were getting our butts kicked and she wanted to play around with her powers?  Unbelievable.

“No!  Wait!  This is gonna work.”

Pinkie leaped into action, moving with blinding speed as she constructed something with ice.  I could see a trapizoidal base supporting a cylindrical object.  She straddled the cylinder as the vapor from her work dissappated to reveal a cannon made of ice.

“Party Cannon Freeze Beam!”

The frost-white shot that fired from the cannon arched towards the manticore, who tried to leap to safety.  However, the shot struck, encasing the creature in solid ice several feet thick.

Pinkie giggled, falling back into the snow and making an angel. “Yay!  I love snow!  This is fun!”

I stared out in amazement.  Not only had Pinkie's powerful attack subdued the creature, it had covered the park and much of the surrounding landscape in ankle-deep snow.

“It's beautiful.” Rarity whispered in awe.

“And very cold.” Fluttershy added.

“She defeated the manticore in just one blow.  Her power level has increased dramatically.”

Rarity turned to me. “I'm certain that thing has a Discord jewel in it.  We need to get it out.”

I nodded, “Agreed.”

Not so fast, Twilight Sparkle!

I froze in my tracks.  The voice sent chills down my spine and froze me in a way Pinkie's faux-winter never could.  I knew that voice.

We have only begun!

With a deafening crack, the manticore shattered its icy prison and was free once more.

“Hey!  That wasn't fair!” Pinkie cried, leaping to her feet and stomping her foot in a childish manner. “You broke my pretty ice cake!”

The realization of just who the voice belonged to hit me like a hammer. “Luna!  Celeste put a spell on you that keeps you from entering Ponyville!  How are you able to speak to me?”

Foolish girl!  While I cannot physically enter Ponyville, there is nothing that states that I cannot send my aura or one of my minions.

“It was you who turned that cat into this...thing?”  Rarity asked incredulously.

Apparently, they could all hear Luna's voice.  Good.  For a moment, I had thought I was going crazy.

All I needed was a shard of Discord and a bit of my aura.

“How did you make these creatures appear in Ponyville?”  Rarity asked.

Do you seriously believe that your horrible little cesspool of a city is the only place Discord sends his minions?  No.  These creatures apear all over you world.  The current incarnation of Celestia is responsible for stopping them.  I simply stole one of the Discord jewels and put it in that cat to renew the spirit of the Manticore that resides within.

“How...how could you be so horrible?”  Fluttershy cried.  I started a bit at the sound of her voice.  It wasn't quite a yell, but it was louder than she had been the entire day.  Honestly, I had forgotten she was even there.

I cannot believe that one as weak as you is a Bearer of an Element of Harmony.

I laughed and pushed Fluttershy away. “No.  Nonononono.  She isn't a Bearer.  She just wandered through and got caught up in the crossfire.”

Do you think I am stupid, girl?! I can sense the Element within her!  Manticore, kill the weak one!

At its mistress' command, the manticore leaped into action.

I threw up my hands, conjuring a shield to protect Fluttershy and I.  I hadn't had time to prepare it so it was weaker than usual.  It wouldn't stand long against the onslaught of the manticore's attack.

“Fluttershy, run!”

She nodded and took off, slipping and sliding in the snow as she fled.

“Bad kitty-cat!  You need to chill!”  Pinkie threw out a jet of water, made more powerful by the snow-covered ground, and knocked the beast aside.

Pinkie had adapted well to her jewel.  The ice cannon wasn't a simple spell like I had seen before.  It was a complicated elemental conjuring that had the added effect of blanketing the ground in frozen water.  Pinkie had given herself a decisive advantage.

Apparently, there was a great deal more to this girl than what she showed.  She was quite the strategist.

Manticore, Rain of Thorns

The creature leaped into the air and, with a single flap of its leathery wings, sent a shower of spikes down upon us.

“Scutum fictili!”  Rarity cried, raising the earth to cover us in a stone umbrella.

Manticore, ignore them and go after the weak one!

The manticore used Rarity's sheild as a launch point and leaped for Fluttershy, who stood frozen in terror.

“Fluttershy!”  I cried.

The manticore raised its paw, its massive claws arching toward the terrified girl.  I saw blood and gore splattered across the field.  Fluttershy would not survive.  It was only a matter of time.

A pink blur leaped between them, taking the blow for Fluttershy.  Blood flew as the claws raked across Pinkie's back.

“No!”  Rarity screamed.

“Pinkie!”

Pinkie slammed into the ground with a sickening thud, tumbling like a rag doll before sliding to a halt, leaving a smear of blood in the grass.  Fluttershy rushed to her side

Robbed of its origin, the field spell vanished.

Now, Manticore, use your inferno!

The creature spread its jaws and exhaled, the air igniting with green flame.

Immediately, Rarity threw up another stone barrier, which I reenforced with my sheild magic.

“Rarity, you need to help Pinkie!  Use your healing spell!”  I shouted.

“Are you mad?  You can't possibly hope to hold off this thing on your own!”

“I can hold it off.” I assured her.  “You need to help her.  She'll die.”

“You'll die!”

x----x

“Hold on.”  Fluttershy took Pinkie's hand and held it tightly. “Just hold on.  We'll find some way to help you.  You're going to be okay.”

Pinkie gave a weak giggle. “I suppose...that wasn't such...a good idea.”

“Why?  Why did you do that?”  Fluttershy could feel her tears trickling down her cheeks.

Pinkie smiled.  Already the light in her eyes was dying. “That's what...friends do...for each other...and you're my...friend.  You're already...part...of our...family.”

“Pinkie.  Hold on just a little longer.” Twilight called out.

Enough of this nonsense!  Manticore, finish them off!

The creature took to its wings and soared high into the sky before doubleing over and descending, building speed until it was engulfed in flame from the friction of its passage.  It slammed into the barriers that Rarity and Twilight had erected and shattered it, sending both girls flying.  It landed softly in the grass, quietly stalking the helpless Fluttershy.

“It defeated them,” Fluttershy whispered to herself, “and I'm next.”

A hard stone of fear locked her throat as her vision blurred with tears to the point that she could barely see the beast.

Cryin' ain't good for nothin'

Her eyes instantly cleared as she remembered Applejack's harsh, but true, words.

What'll you do if, one day, the people you love need your help?

She glanced back over her shoulder at the barely-breathing Pinkie. “You're suffering for my mistake.”

She locked eyes with the Manticore and noticed a tear slowly leaking from its eye.

“I don't want...”  She felt anger fill her.  Anger at the world for the suffering within it, and at herself for doing nothing to stop it.  “I don't want anybody to suffer anymore!!!”

An overwhelming power filled her.  She was suddenly aware of the life around her, filling her senses with their presence.  A sharp pain eminated from her shoulder blades as something grew from her back.  A weight was placed upon her brow and she knew she could do anything.  She was no longer the weak, helpless, shy, little girl she once was.  She was a being of true power and she would prove it to the world.

x----x

I sat up and rubbed at the sharp pain in the back of my head.  I was covered in dust and debris from the shattered barrier.  The realization that the manticore had broken through hit me like a blow.  If it had gotten through...

I turned to see it standing just beyond us and, practically beneath it, lay Pinkie, but Fluttershy was nowhere to be seen.  Immediately, my blood ran cold.  How long had I been out?  Had the manticore killed both Fluttershy and Pinkie and was merely waiting for its meal of timid girl before starting in on the second course?  I barely suppressed a scream as my mind conjured unwelcomed images of Fluttershy being devoured.

“Twilight, look!”  Rarity urged, pointing into the sky.

I followed her arm and saw something beyond amazement.  Fluttershy was flying, held aloft by great golden wings.

“Incredible,” Rarity uttered.

“She looks like...an angel.”

Damn this!  Manticore, eliminate her!

The manticore opened its mouth and prepared to fire again.

“Stop!”  Fluttershy barked.  She gave a single beat of her powerful wings, sending a ferocious gust at the manticore.  Immediately, the creature closed its mouth.

What are you waiting for?  Kill her!

“I feel your pain.”  Fluttershy told the creature.  “I can see into your heart.  You're not evil, but you feel compelled to do this monster's bidding.  It pains you like a thorn in your paw.”

The manticore closed its eyes and whimpered.

Fluttershy closed her eyes and folded her hands, seemingly, in supplication.

The grass beneath the manticore shifted and changed, growing into thick vines that wrapped around its limbs and torso.  The manticore roared as it tried to free itself.

“Now, Twilight!”  She commanded.

I immediately began to grope for the Discord jewel and draw it from the manticore.

Fool!  You think your powers are enough to free this beast from my spell?  You're still too weak to defeat me!

“You're wrong, Luna.  I'm no longer that girl you met in the park before.  I now have a power far beyond anything you could command.”  I felt Rarity take my shoulders as she lent her energy to me.  “I have the power of Friendship.”

With a mighty mental yank, I snatched the jewel from the manticore.  Its power taken, it returned to the feline it once was.

While Rarity and I rushed to our fallen friend, Fluttershy landed and knelt to pick up the cat. “Are you okay, little kitty?”

Carefully, I rolled Pinkie onto her side and gasped as I got my first real look at the wounds she had suffered.  The three gashes had carved deep into her sides and back, shredding muscle and exposing bone.  She was barely breathing as I felt for a pulse, which throbbed weakly against my fingertips.

“Rarity, you have to heal her!  We're running out of time!”

“That battle took most of my energy,” she confessed.  “I might not have enough left.”

“Well, do something!  Anything!  We can't just let her die!”

Rarity nodded and held out her hands, whispering her healing incantations.  The emerald aura surrounded Pinkie's body, but it was weak and kept flickering.

“Keep trying, Rarity.”  I urged.  “Put more power into it.”

Rarity's face screwed up and sweat broke out across her brow as she strained to put everything she had into healing Pinkie.  Slowly, I could see the wounds begin to knit shut.

“C'mon, Rarity.  You're doing it.  Just a little more.”

Rarity let out a whimper and the aura vanished with her transformation as she collapsed.

“Get up,” I cried.  “We don't have time for this.  She's dying!”

“'M sorry...Twilight.  I...don't have...anything...left.”  She choked back a sob and beat her fists against the ground. “Oh, Pinkie!  Damn it!”

“No. No, no, no, no.  Pinkie, hold on, please!”  For the first time in my life, I didn't know what to do.  I didn't have any answers.  Just a few short days after discovering the joy of friends, I was about to lose one of the few I had made.  “We need to do something.”

“Let me try.”  Fluttershy said softly as she dropped to her knees and held her hands over Pinkie, mimicing Rarity's posture.

Immediately, Pinkie was enveloped in a blinding golden aura and the scent of spring, of trees and grass, of flowers and wild things, washed over me.  Everything was warm and soft and new and it was all going to be okay.

Fluttershy pulled her hands back and the aura dissapated, but I was too terrified of what I might see to look  Rarity was our healer and, if she wasn't successful, what chance did Fluttershy stand?

I felt Pinkie murmur and stir, rolling in my arms as she came around.  My fingers brushed the frayed edges of the ridiculous uniform Rarity had created and I instinctively drew them back.  I didn't want to cause Pinkie any more pain than she was already in.

It took a moment for my brain to decypher what had just happened.  My fingers had brushed Pinkie's wounds, but she had not reacted.  Carefully, I ran my fingers over the rents in the fabric a second time.

Pinkie giggled. “That tickles.”

My eyes snapped open and I took in the sight.  Pinkie's ghastly wounds had not only vanished, but there was no trace of them having been there at all.

“Pinkie!  You're healed!”

She sat up with a gaspe and ran her hands along her sides, “Twilight, I'm healed.”

“Amazing.  Fluttershy, that magic doesn't seem to exhaust you.”  Rarity observed.

“It was nothing.  I just asked the energy of nature to help.”  Fluttershy laughed as she and I helped Pinkie to her feet. “Are you okay?”

Pinkie's face split into an incredible grin. “I'm better than okay.  I haven't felt this good in forever.”  She pulled Fluttershy into a bone-crushing embrace. “It's all thanks to you, my friend.”

“It was the least I could do after causing so much trouble.”

“What do you mean,” I asked. “You helped us and we're happy to have you.”

Pinkie let out a growl. “It's that bad cat.  I'll get rid of it.”

Fluttershy immediately latched on to Pinkie and held her back.  “Don't!  Leave it alone.  He's not really bad.”

“It's going to attack again, Fluttershy.  I'll protect you.”  Pinkie cried as she stomped at the animal, scaring it off.

“I can't believe it.”  I said, shaking my head, “In a week, I've made three wonderful friends.”

“You're right, Twilight,” Pinkie chirped, her mood shifting instantly.  “In fact, we should record this moment for posterity.”

Without waiting for a reply, Pinkie pulled each of us close and conjured a camera from somewhere.  “This is going straight to my Facebook!”

“Absolutely not,” Rarity objected, “I look simply deranged after that battle.”

“Are they always like this?”  Fluttershy asked.

“Yes, but you'll get used to it.”  I replied.

With a click, Pinkie snapped a photo and, before Rarity could stop her, did as she promised and posted it.

“So...you chose them over me.”

We all turned to find Rainbow standing behind us.

“How could you, Fluttershy?  I gave up everything for you.” She said, tears coursing down her cheeks. “How could you stab me in the back like this?”

“Rainbow, please, I can explain.”  Fluttershy reached out for her friend, who immediately slapped the hand away.

“All I asked was that you wait for me.  I told you I would come back.”

“It's not what you think.”

“They liked me.  They offered me a position on their team.  I was going to travel the world and compete with the Shadowbolts, but I turned them down.  Do you know why?  Because they said I couldn't bring you with me.  I didn't want it if I couldn't share it with...with you.”  Rainbow took a breath and screamed, “How could do this to me?!  I gave up everything for you!  All that I wanted in return was your loyalty, but I come back to find you with...them!”

“Rainbow, if you would just let me explain.”

“Save it!  I don't want to hear whatever lame-ass excuse you have!”  She trembled with rage and pain, hate filling her eyes. “I hope you enjoy your new...friends, Fluttershy.  Stay the hell away from me.  I never want to see you again.”

Fluttershy fell to her knees and began to sob.

“And you three,”  Rainbow pointed an accusitory finger at us. “You'll pay for what you've done.  I promise you that.”

And, with those words, she turned and fled.

x----x

“Princess Luna could not defeat the Bearers.” Descent informed his partner.

Nightingale took a bite of an apple and chewed contemplatively before answering. “This battle was decisive.  She said that, no matter the outcome of the battle itself, it would be a victory for us.”

Descent cocked his head, “What do you mean?”

Someone cleared their throat and they both turned to see Rainbow standing behind them, staring at the ground, gripping her elbow, and looking thoroughly dejected.

“Is there something we can do for you, Rainbow Dash?”  Nightingale prompted.

“I...uh...I wanted to see if that offer was still open.”  The girl said quietly, without her usual boisterousness.

“Why the sudden change of heart?”

“There's nothing tying me to this city anymore.”

“But what about that girl.  The one you said was closer than a sister to you?”

Rainbow sighed, “Apparently, she didn't feel the same way.”

It was too dark for her to see the grin that Nightingale and Descent shared.

“Rainbow Dash, we'd be happy to have you with us.  Welcome to the Shadowbolts.”

x----x

And so, we have another in our group.  Her name is Fluttershy and she's a wonderful girl with a heart overflowing with kindness.  Though it should have been a day of celebration.  We couldn't. Because of us, Rainbow, one of Fluttershy's oldest friends, broke off the relationship and left.  Poor Fluttershy was absolutely devistated...

I sat back and reviewed the letter I had written to my sister.  Lately, I had been sending them regularly to keep her up-to-date on our progress at bringing the Elements together.

After walking Fluttershy home, we all parted ways, each of our hearts troubled by what had happened.  Though we could all agree that Rainbow's actions had been unreasonable, we still couldn't help but feel responsible for ending what had, obviously, been a very dear friendship.

With a sigh, I sent the letter and turned out the light.  I had school in the morning.