Meanwhile in the north, two ponies woke up from a bone chilling night, their unconventionally sleeping arrangements saving them from a lethal freeze. They didn’t speak to each other for a while until they both realized they were hungry and decided to look through their saddlebags. Finding an array of (now) thawed fruits and vegetables they chowed down. They borrowed winter gear from the inn and traveled to the refinery where they obtained their materials and called their royal contingent. The guards had brought sleds and spare winter wraps to facilitate the transportation. Applejack and Pinkie put themselves in front and so their convoy marched steadily through the peaceful tundra, reaching a train station by afternoon and then arriving back home in the early hours of the night. Rarity and Fluttershy arrived soon after Applejack and Pinkie, their day had gone smoothly.

“Glad you two made it. How did y’all’s mission go? Ours was a breeze, although there was quite a big freeze.” Applejack greeted them as they entered with their guards in tow.

“Are you trying to emulate Zecora, Applejack? Because that was spot on. Anyway our trip was a pleasant one. I even managed to squeeze in some spa time with Fluttershy since we missed our usual appointments,” Rarity responded.

“I guess all we have to do now is wait for Twilight and Rarity. I vote we have a late dinner, courtesy of us,” Pinkie shouted pulling Applejack to herself shoulder-to-shoulder.

Fluttershy and Rarity agreed and also offered to help make the dinner. The dinner was slow to come out, but the activity lifted up everyone’s spirit and soon everyone was laughing and having fun. They had finished preparations when a noise like a sonic boom erupted from the sky, followed by a solid thud from the doorsteps outside. They all ran to the front door and opened it to see Rainbow, Twilight, and Luna staring at a small indention a few feet from the door. The cosmonauts soon realized they had an audience and broke out in near-hysterical laughter to the point of falling on the ground and crying. The audience was confused beyond reckoning and waited behind the doorway until the laughter subsided and they had fully recovered.

“Now what is so funny?” Applejack demanded.

“Oh nothing it was just getting this meteor was a job and a half and we were so happy we managed to bring it down. It was, ha-ha, just a wild ride,” Twilight turned to Luna “Anyway thank you so much Luna it was a pleasure.”

“Thank nothing of it, it was nice to revisit the moon and see how Nightmare has gotten along. She is as bitter as always but who knows she might have a change of heart. She is part of myself and therefore must know she is not hated anymore. Someday…now let us move away from such despairing topics. The night will not watch itself, goodbye.” With that Luna shot up into the sky, a contrail of constellations slowly faded in her wake.

They all waved goodbye as she roared into the sky and toward Canterlot. Those waiting by the doorway crowded around Twilight and Rainbow immobilizing them in a pile of hugs. Rarity was the first to speak. “You two really gave us quite a shock I must say. What a marvelous entrance you two made.” Rarity then noticed their slightly weaker and gaunter frame, their smiles were almost pained, and their shallow breathing. “My word what happened to you two? You seem a bit weak in the knees, and this time Crimson isn’t to blame.”

Twilight leered at Rarity, “We just had a close call that’s it, plus have you ever tried to move a meteor, it’ll wear a girl out.”

“Well don’t be a stranger in our own home, come on in!” Applejack shoved the door wide open and gestured for them to get inside. Rainbow and Twilight, relieved, trotted on into the kitchen and half collapsed half sat in their chairs. The meal was served soon after and they all began to eat and discuss about random goings-on in Ponyville. A knock on the door soon interrupted their dinner. Twilight and Rainbow both found an excuse to answer the door, their traumatic experience had left them less than lively and talkative with the other girls. The knock came again and they hurried to the door. Twilight absentmindedly opened the door still facing Rainbow. When she looked towards the pony on the doorstep she almost slammed it closed. It was Crimson standing tall in his armor complete with glowing red eyes from his helmet.

“Crimson! …by Celestia you almost gave me a heart attack, that armor is scarier than Nightmare Moon. Do you have to wear all the time, especially at night? Anypony that doesn’t see you coming is going to have their cutie mark scared off.”
Removing his helmet, Crimson went inside, “It’s good to see you too, Twilight. I’m glad to see that all your friends got the materials, and I am here to report that I am finished with my design and ready to forge your armor.” Crimson stopped for a second, his eyes scanning Twilight and Rainbow, seeing the remnants of the accident, hidden bandages and matted fur, “…Twilight what happened?”
Twilight hesitated for a second, deciding to try and not make Crimson worry, “What do you mean? When?” Rainbow just stayed silent, still intimidated by Crimson’s nighttime appearance.

“Twilight, don’t try to avoid it, something went wrong when you went to Canterlot,” Crimson gaze grew incredibly stern.
Twilight sighed, she spoke softly “When we went to Canterlot we were stuck at the alchemists for hours and when we left for the Palace a huge storm had formed and w-we…flew into it. I used magic and she used flares. It wasn’t too strong but then Rainbow…she just fell. I thought she was...dead, struck by a lightning bolt” Twilight paused as tears started rolling down her cheeks. Rainbow walked over to Twilight who collapsed onto her, breaking out into a sob.

“Well?” Crimson voice was cold as slate and authoritative like Celestia, “I need to know what happened.”
Twilight braced against Rainbow, her memories were vivid and she was reminded of the pain, but she continued on the verge of tears. “I caught Rainbow in midair, but I wasn’t strong enough for both the storm and Rainbow. I started descending, slowly at first but soon it became uncontrollable. We were going to crash land in the terrace. In a last ditch effort I used a bubble shield spell, Rainbow’s held…mine didn’t. It popped after I landed a-and I was bleeding and cut up. Guards, followed by Celestia, emerged from the Palace and got Rainbow into the infirmary. She had quicksilver poisoning, a leaky container was to blame. We managed to find a piece of bauxite and she was saved and then…then I…I don’t remember.”

Rainbow picked up were Twilight left off, holding back her tears, “then Twilight began spitting up blood and went unconscious…I’ve never been that afraid ever. She just fell over in a pool of her own blood.” Rainbow trailed off into tears.
Rainbow and Twilight hugged tightly, their eyes closed afraid to see the past in front of them. Their tears poured over their cheeks. The stayed that way for nearly a minute before letting go and opening their eyes, bloodshot from the rivers they had made. Around them huddled their friends having heard the commotion and had gone to investigate. They all moved back inside and sat close together while Crimson ate silently. After he finished he joined them and broke the painful silence, “I’m sorry, but your trips were not just an exercise in pain nor was it in vain. All the materials are here, and the design is finished. I will now retire to the castle, I shall return in three days with the armor finished. Now that doesn’t mean I can’t see you for three days, I would enjoy a visit and with that I must head back, I wish you all a good-night.” Crimson gave a conservative smile and wave before disappearing into the darkness.

Back at the castle the group remained silent, each determined that they would visit Crimson, despite their assignments being less than safe or convenient. They bid each other farewell and left for their respective homes.

As Rainbow left Twilight stopped her, “Rainbow, thanks for being there for me, I’m glad I can count on you.”

Rainbow shrugged, “Twilight, I couldn’t do anything to help you, it should be me thanking you. What do you need?”

“I need to think something over and your house is a good distance away.”

Rainbow smirked, “It’s nice to know I’m needed, come on it’s a wonderful night.” Twilight returned her smile and together they lifted off, kicking up the dust as their powerful wing beats propelled them into the overcast and inky night. Their flight was smooth and fast, they weaved through the clouds moisture gathering on their fur and shimmering off their wings. Rainbow looked over at Twilight as she breached the cloud layer. She was silhouetted in the moonlight, her moistened fur reflected the light giving her a flawless silvery frame with her raindrop contrails tracing her gracefully path through the sky. Rainbow was impressed and began her own path through the clouds, bursting through the nimbuses and flying circles around Twilight leaving a tunnel of iridescent droplets. Rainbow and Twilight continued their midnight game weaving in between each other and performing dazzling aerial maneuvers, but they arrived at Rainbow’s house in time and they had to finish their game.

They landed at the doorsteps, the cloud-cathedral soared above them, and Twilight give Rainbow a peck on the cheek, causing her to blush. “That was fun, I will see you tomorrow. Goodnight.” Twilight took off back toward her castle.

“Same to you egghead, don’t stay up to long reading!” Rainbow yelled and remained outside until Twilight had gone out of sight, she then retired for the night.

Now that she was without a companion Twilight’s eyes and mind wondered through the landscape. Through the clouds she caught glimpses of activity, Sweetie Belle and Button Mash were playing around the Carousal Boutique before Rarity got back. Applebloom was waiting for Applejack on the road toward the Apple orchard. Berry Punch was taking Scootaloo to Rainbow’s house on her helicopter. Spike leaving a house dressed up in wizard garb and making his way back to the crystal library. Twilight’s eyes eventually left the Ponyville and moved to the eerie canopy of the Everfree forest where she sought out the clearing indicating the ancient castle. She quickly found it and saw the unmistakable glow of the forge burning hot in preparation for its usage. She saw it only for a moment as she started her descent but it lasted for much longer. Her wings ached from the day’s flying and she almost landed in a lump. Even as she got in bed, the knowledge that Crimson was working on her armor and all that implied kept her wide awake. She lay in bed for a while, physically exhausted, wishing for sleep but her mind would not rest. In desperation she cast a spell to put herself to sleep and finally she rested.

In her dreams she only saw an urban landscape that slowly revealed more and more of its self. The small image turned into a grand city full of busy ponies and life, all indistinct but there, then a roar of anger was unleashed by a hunched figure and then there was a brilliant flash. When the flash faded the city was destroyed, fires raged everywhere, there were no ponies walking the streets. Where the pony who had roared there stood a new figure and they began fighting before the original figure bested the other. The other figure ran off and the original gave chase. The scene began to skip through time, the city became a desert and then a new silhouette appeared holding a rifle, he aimed at the ruins of the city and fired, again and again the shots rang out through the empty desert followed by distant screams. Soon the rifle was pointed at Twilight’s view point, time slowed and she heard the trigger click, the hammer hit, and the explosion as the bullet shot out.
Twilight’s eyes shot open, her ears rung from the dream, she had never heard something so loud. She was confused by the dream, it was obviously a sign or divination. She had had them before but she the only thing she recognized was the last figure, it was Crimson. She was unsure if that meant he was going to shoot her, but she did not want to sleep further, she felt extremely vulnerable. She wanted to see Crimson, she didn’t doubt his loyalty and despite the dream she was sure she would feel safer around him. She grabbed her pre-packed saddlebags and ran out the door toward the forest. Ponyville was dark as she trotted through it and the moon was covered by thick clouds, but she paid no heed to the darkness. Twilight didn’t slow her pace until she had gotten well into the forest. Her weariness soon caught up with her and she laid down next to a tree. As she looked around she realized, to her dismay, that she had gotten lost and cursed her haste. Despite her fears she knew she would never find her way at night and as utterly exhausted as she was so she fell asleep, and this time her dreams were calm.

Twilight awoke before sunrise, but not where she had fallen asleep. She felt royal linen instead of the frosty morning air and the tree and ground were replaced by a resplendent violet canopied bed. She bit her lip to dispel the thought she was dreaming. She sprung out of bed, still unsure of her current location and hurriedly surveyed the rest of the room. The ceiling was fairly short, only slightly higher than the bed and, like the whole room, was made of very thick stone. Opposite the bed was a stout oak door, Twilight pushed it, fearing it might be locked, but to her relief it opened. The door led to a long dimly light hallway that had excessive light coming in from both ends. Twilight choose one direction and began to work that way when a silhouette appeared from her end. The silhouette and Twilight stopped dead in their tracks, before Twilight galloped as hard as she could in the other direction. She didn’t get far before the silhouette got in front of her after leaping off the side of the wall. She skidded to a stop and stayed completely still, ice in her veins. She then noticed the figure had cracked hooves.

Author's Note

TwiDash, the Reading Rainbow That is all