Friendship is Magic

Rainbow's head throbbed.  The last thing she remembered was that blonde bimbo plucking her up and preparing to rearrange her face.  She let out a soft groan as she opened her eyes, wincing as the light pierced her pupils to lance her brain, making her migraine all the worse.  With a bit of concentration, she was able to make out the face of the person carrying her.

“Uhhhh...Descent?”

He gave her a brief smile and returned his attention to the path before them.

Rainbow blinked dully.  She was being carried.  She remembered on time when she had hurt her knee after a really bad fall.  Her dad had carried her to his truck, then into the hospital.  He had jostled her quite a bit and it hurt.  This, however, was as smooth as silk and faster than she ever remembered traveling.

Another thing she noticed was that she didn't hear the sounds of running.  Even if Descent was able to keep her steady while running faster than she ever thought possible, she still should have been able to hear his steps.

She looked around and noticed the bushes around her were rather odd looking, like the tops of trees.  Her eyes tracked down until she saw that the ground was much further away than it should have been.

She nearly leaped out of his arms. “How did we get up here?  Are you flying?  How can you be flying?”

He fought to hold her as she struggled. “Rainbow, hold still.  You're going to fall!”

“Put me down, you freak!”  She screamed.  “Help!  Somebody help me please!  I'm being kidnapped!”

“Descent!”  Nightingale called out. “Land before you drop her!”

Descent wrapped an arm around Rainbow's waist and pulled his wings in, dropping rapidly and wincing as Rainbow let out a piercing shriek.  When they still had another ten feet, she suddenly swung a leg up, connecting with his crotch.  Descent groaned and released her, folding to comfort himself.  Rainbow fell, her years of parkour training taking over, and folded up to tumble across the ground to a safe landing.

As she sat up, Nightingale dropped to the ground before her.

Rainbow immediately skittered back until she found her way blocked by a tree.  She took in the two bird-people before her, Descent having recovered from the unexpected blow.  “Wh-what are you people?”

Nightingale spoke soothingly. “Relax, Rainbow.  Give us a second and we'll explain everything.”

x----x

We raced in the direction we had seen the two bird-people take Rainbow, hoping they hadn't changed course suddenly.  Fluttershy seemed a girl possessed as she sprinted, muttering oaths under her breath.  I explained everything that had occurred before they reached me.

“Why was Rainbow being controlled?”  Fluttershy asked.

“I couldn't begin to guess,” I confessed,” but ever since seeing those two bird-people, I'm certain that they're under orders from Luna.”

“Maybe she's controlling Rainbow as a means to get at Fluttershy.”  Rarity suggested.

I shook my head.  “I don't think so.  Fluttershy only developed her powers yesterday.  Rainbow was being controlled long before that.  I'm sure of it.  Oh, how did I miss all of this?”

“Hopefully, we can convince her that we just want to help.  No offense, Fluttershy, but Rainbow's stubborn as a stone.”

“Before it all escalated, I had a chance to actually talk with her.  I could see that she wants to be our friend.” I informed them. “If we can't convince her, maybe Fluttershy can get her to come to her senses.”

Fluttershy shook her head. “I don't think so.  She probably won't listen to me after all that happened.  There's only one person she'd never ignore.  If only he was in town.”

x----x

“I can't believe it.”  Rainbow mused.  “It's too amazing, but it must be true.  I was a pegasus, just like you.”

Descent shook his head. “Not like us.  Our wings were created by the power granted to us by Princess Luna.  It was our intention to reveal the truth slowly, but we can't wait any longer.  We may not have the souls of Pegasi, but you do.  Your true power will be awakened soon and Luna can help you control them and reach your full potential.”

“But Fluttershy was a pegasus.  You said so.  Why isn't she here?”

Nightingale shook her head.  “The fact that you want to look out for your friend is admirable, but you need to start thinking about yourself.  She abandoned you for those other girls.  She thinks you're not good enough for her.”

“Luna has something special planned for everyone who was a pony of Equestria and she needs somebody to help her.  Somebody like you.  In return for your help, she'll grant you full control of your powers.”

“Just imagine, Rainbow.  You could be a hero to Ponyville and the world, able to use your powers without any limitations.  And all you have to do is prove your loyalty to Luna.”

“Come on, Rainbow.  Join us and follow your destiny at the side of the true Princess of Equestria, Luna.”

Rainbow sat silently, thinking.  Her friend had abandoned her, everything she had been taught by those she had idolized was shattered.  She wished Soarin was here.  He'd know what to do.  He had told her once to trust her instincts and follow her heart.  “I...I'll do it.”

They both smiled.  Nightingale knelt and placed a hand on Rainbow's shoulder. “Well done, my friend.  Go west.  Luna will meet you just outside of town.  We'll be with you in a while.”

As they watched Rainbow jog away, Descent turned to Nightingale.  “Why don't we bring her straight to Luna?”

Nightingale shook her head.  “She needs to cross the barrier of her own free will.  Besides, those other girls are coming. We need to hold them up.”

x----x

“So, you're tellin' me that those girls an' me were some kinda magical ponies?”  Applejack chuckled humorlessly.  She had only been on her way to school, now she was talking to some weirdo, who was big enough to give her brother a run for his money, about magical horses in some fantasy world. “Well, this certainly rates a nine-point-oh on mah weird-shit-o-meter.  Today's just been a parade of fools and you're certainly at the front of the line, ain't no doubt about that.  Not only do ya have the wrong gal, sugar, but Ah ain't seen those other girls before in mah life.”

“On the contrary, your demonstration just minutes ago has proven to me that you are the person I seek.  The reincarnation of the Bearer of Honesty.  Anyways, I never said that you had known them in this life.”

“Just who the hell are ya, anyway?  Some nonsense-babblin' weirdo.”  She retorted.

“At the present, you may call me 'Haze'.  Besides, it's the message that's important, not the messenger.  In the very near future, chaos and destruction will threaten this world.  You must unite with the other Element Bearers to-”

Applejack turned and began to walk away. “Granny always told me never to talk to crazies.”

“Your attitude surprises me.  As far as I can tell, your personality doesn't match that of your original pony self at all.  You don't seem to have any commitment to protect this world at all and, if that's the case, then I'm sure you won't mind if I took this ribbon I found tied around a tree.”

Applejack froze and turned back.  In his hand, Haze clutched a length of black ribbon.  The same one that was tied around a certain apple tree on her farm.

“Listen here, bub.  If you don't want your ass kicked from here to next Tuesday, Ah recommend ya hand that there ribbon over now.”

Haze grinned.  “Interesting that something as mundane as ribbon would provoke such a reaction.  I'm excited to see how you'll react when the world is threatened.”

x----x

Finally, we had caught up with the two bird-people, but Rainbow was nowhere in sight.

“Where's Rainbow?!”  Fluttershy screamed, “What have you done with my friend?!”

The woman chuckled. “Who knew that the weak little crybaby had such a spine?  Ah, but where are my manners.  Allow us to introduce ourselves.  My name is Nightingale and my partner is Descent.  We are the subordinates of the true ruler of Equestria, Luna.”

“I knew it!”  I cried, feeling vindicated.  “I knew Luna was behind this, but why attack Rainbow?  She has nothing to do with any of this.”

Nightingale snorted. “Don't tell me you're still unaware that Rainbow is the Bearer of Loyalty.”

“But, how would Luna know that?  She doesn't possess the Jewels of Harmony.” Rarity pointed out.

Nightingale sneered, “Insolent little twit!  Luna sees all!  Soon, Rainbow's powers will be awakened and she will be in the service of my lady!”

“You're wrong!”  I cried. “The powers will only come to full realization if the Bearers of Harmony work together.”

Nightingale laughed. “It's true, when together, the Elements of Harmony form a great power.  However, they can be used individually.  Luna told me that, if the Bearer has not realized their power.  In Rainbow's case, the loyalty she possesses can be turned from Fluttershy to Luna.  When that occurs, she can only use that power for whomever she was loyal to at the time of its awakening.

“Which is why we've been manipulating her consciousness.  So that she will leave Fluttershy and join Luna.”

Fluttershy let out a horrified gasp. “How...How could you do that?  You're the reason she's been so angry and hateful?  You witch!”

“And we had two magnificent helpers in this endeavor.  The first was the necklace that Rainbow so eagerly accepted.  It exacerbated the negative emotions she felt.  The second was you, Fluttershy.  When you joined these girls, the jealousy and fear she felt at losing her only friend only increased her anger.”

“But Celeste cast a spell keeping Luna out of Ponyville.  She can't get Rainbow.”

“The barrier affects only Luna and Rainbow will soon cross it.  You can't go get her because you'll be exposing yourselves to Luna directly. Even the four of you don't have a hope of defeating my lady in direct combat.”

“You evil, heartless sow!”  Fluttershy screamed.  She was enveloped in a golden glow as the kindness she possessed took physical form and she transformed. “Nobody does that to my friends.”

“Hold your ponies, Flutters.”  Pinkie shouted, blocking the girl with an arm.  “We've got this one.”

“What do you mean?”

“Pinkie's quite right, dear.”  Rarity said, carefully removing her hat and setting it, neatly, in her purse. “We'll handle them.”

“You need to find Rainbow.” I said as I called up my powers and transformed.  “With your flight, you can reach her faster than we.  Find her before she crosses that barrier and convince her to stay.”

“But, what about you three?  They can fly.”

“Don't worry about us.” Pinkie assured her. “Twilight and Rarity can take care of that old hag-”

“Who are you calling old!”  Nightingale screamed.

“And I'll handle that handsome hunk of muscle.”  She turned to Descent. “C'mon, cutie.  Pinkie's ready to play.”

Descent smirked. “Don't think we're going to let you leave without saying goodbye!”  He charged forward, preparing to strike Fluttershy down, when massive pony with a poofy mane, conjured of water, appeared before him and threw out a hoof.

Pinkie swam past him on a suspended stream of water.  “Don't think so, sweet cheeks.  I told you, the only girl you get to dance with is me.”

“Well then, let's see what dance moves you know, crazy chick.”

“Mirage!”

Fluttershy and I were surrounded by a bright light, blinding Nightingale.

“Your attacks are pathetic.”

She noticed the conjured image of Fluttershy jet over her head.

“Where do you think you're going, cry-baby?”

She flung a bolt of black magic, which passed through the illusion, allowing the real Fluttershy the chance to escape.

“Excellent work, Twilight.”  Rarity complimented.

“I may not be at my full potential, but that doesn't mean I don't have a few tricks up my sleeve.”

“Parlor tricks and nothing more!”  Nightingale spat.  “Now, show me something a little more impressive.”

The ground shifted as Rarity pulled up a literal wave of earth that flung itself at Nightingale, who barely managed to leap to safety.

“Call me a 'twit', will you?”  Rarity snarled.

x----x

“Jackass, gimme that ribbon!” Applejack growled.

“Oh, I'll give it to you when you prove to me you're committed to join those girls and save the world.”

“Ah told you, Ah ain't got nothin' to do with those girls.  All Ah want is for me and mah family to live in peace.  Ah don't believe in that friendship hogwash!”

“Pity.  There must be some way to make you understand.”  Haze thought for a moment. “And I think I have the perfect idea.  Perhaps if I showed you the pain of losing somebody because you chose not to help when you could have might convince you to reconsider.”

“Wha...What're ya talkin' about?”

Haze chuckled darkly. “Your sister, Apple Bloom, is in Cheerilee's class over at the elementary school, is that right?”

Applejack's blood froze.

“I should like to meet her.”

She saw red and charged forward. “You stay away from mah family, you sick freak!”

She leaped, winding up for the most brutal, most powerful kick she had ever delivered.  This would be one for the record books.  She could already see the psycho's neck snapping.

Haze blocked the kick.

With one finger.