Blue

Rainbow Dash dreamt. Swirls and shapes, twisting without becoming clear, flashed before her eyes. Impressions welled up, trying to get her attention. The possibilities, the things to see, dream after dream tried to show her their own realities, until all but two dissipated. Neither of them gave any ground to the other, determined to show their truth, even if they have to compete for their host's attention. They flashed before her eyes at the same time, prompting her to experience both of them; the ponies in them, however, were reduced to impressions and feelings in turn; no chance to identify them.

She was trotting down a corridor. Rainbow Dash was escorted by a number of guards down a dark corridor.

She reached a small door, distinguished by nothing of other such doors. The sign said 'Lord Regent'. She opened the door without a second thought, and barged in. The guards politely knocked, and waited for the door to be opened from the inside with magic. The room only contained a desk, and necessary furniture; paperwork stood in piles in a basket labelled 'out'; 'in', however, had only a few inside it. The room was richly adorned with gold; pictures and trophies on the wall, and cupboards were all sparkling with it; the whole place gave off a sickly clean feel. Clearly, whomever used this room spent most of their daily life here.

"Ah, Rainbow. You're finally here." a familiar voice registered, tiredness clearly pouring from it. "Hmm-hmm, what is this? First class criminal, Rainbow Dash, caught? Guards, leave the room." a voice said, full of malicious happiness.

Rainbow took a seat, and glared angrily at #@$%$&. The guards left the room, leaving the pegasus face-to-face with #Ł$ß$&, whose features she hardly saw. The only thing she knew that this was the Lord Regent, the most powerful pony in the country as it is right now.

"What's this crap about leaving the Wonderbolts?" she demanded in an angry tone. "So, you've been caught at last. I am pleased." the voice said, enjoying the cyan mare's nervous squirming. The burdened voice sighed. The owner of the voice started walking up and down. Rainbow felt a sudden urge to explain herself.

"Look, I'm going to be totally honest with you. There is nothing wrong with your skills, heck, you probably qualify more than anypony else in there, since your recovery. But... there is always the media. The press just doesn't like you; as you were a part of a great plot to expose a hidden, dangerous criminal who shook the very foundations we believed in... you are bad news to them. They don't trust you." "P-please, listen to me! I did nothing wrong! I was tricked! It-it's not my fault!"

"So what?" Rainbow asked angrily. "Was it not you who told the press just a week ago that they can, I quote, 'buck themselves with a sledgehammer'? You never cared for public opinion about you, and now you expect me to quit my dream because of some badmouthing?!" "Oh really? Tell me, why was it not your fault, Rainbow Dash?"

"No, Rainbow. I am unaffected by the media because of my position. You, on the other hoof..." she paused. "...Let's just say that Dust would encounter less trouble if she simply got rid of you. That is why... I came up with a solution," said the formless voice, stepping to the window. "As I've already said, we were tricked. When we tried to confront her about what she has done, she... she blew up, taking Shining and Vinyl with her. Then, some suspicious kooky noble entered, and started screaming that we did it." The regent smiled.

The pegasus eyed the shadow suspiciously. "What solution?" "You have proof of that? Alicide is the greatest crime known to ponykind."

"Do you remember when you told me about the night when you became the Element of Loyalty?" the shadow asked, not turning to face her, but gazing over the night lights of Canterlot. "I-I don't, but please hear me out!"

"Yeah, the ruins, the manticore, the brid—" She gasped. "You don't mean...?" The shadow cackled loudly. "You know what? I'll humour you. Who is the real criminal? Who ended a thousand year's reign?"

"Exactly," the shadow replied with a hint of satisfaction in it's voice. "I wish that you leave the Wonderbolts, and become the vice-captain of the newly formed Shadowbolts, whose job will be keeping peace across Equestria during the night." "T-thank you! The real criminal is the one who is also responsible for the murders during the chaotic years, I'm sure of it!"

"Huh, well, that sounds bet-- VICE CAPTAIN?!" The shadow's grin became wider. "I wonder what are you talking about? Those were all committed by blue ponies. The investigations are long since over."

"You're too rash. A captain bears the responsibility not only of themselves, but their subordinates' and their actions, too. I know you're hero material, but you will be more useful training recruits and flying on patrols than handling paperwork and legal mumbo-jumbo. I thought of somepony more suited for that task. Surely you won't object to Soarin?" "That's a lie! We found out that all of these murders point to the fact that they were staged!"

Rainbow blushed. "Um, no, not if you say it like that..." The shadow's smile disappeared. "Who?"

The voice's owner turned to Rainbow, and smiled. "Understand that I do not wish to keep you from the blue sky, I just wish that we avoid... issues, at least until we can work our way into the trust of the common pony again. That is all. I look forward to both of you doing your best. Say hi to your husband for me!" "I-I don't know. Maybe that one noble who found us, he's very suspicious."

"Will do." Rainbow Dash waved goodbye, and left the room. The dream faded away, leaving place to the other, which fully filled her mind. However, it did not become any clearer.

The shadow stepped closer, eyeing the pegasus. Suddenly, it laughed, and sat back behind it's desk.

"I was told your eyes were injured during this explosion, yes?"

"Yeah, that's true. Still, I would recognize that stupid noble anywhere!" she groaned. The shadow paused, and she got the feeling it was having fun at her expense.

"I find that hard to believe. After all, you can't even see my identity... if you would, you most certainly wouldn't try to speak your way out of it like you just did."

"W-what do you mean?!" she demanded.

"Why, I think not even you are as stupid to try and expose the killer... to themselves."

"W-WHAT? Y-You are..."

"Yes indeed. I was the one behind it. I manipulated a whole country to clean out filth like you! And you know what? I won. There is only one little thing before I can crown myself, if I wish to."

"T-that is?" she asked, shivering from both fear and the fact she couldn't see the shadow.

"I'll have to call the guards to clean up the corpse of the evil Rainbow Dash, who just attempted to take my life in desperation." the shadow stated, smiling gleefully. A quick burst of magic erupted from it's direction, hitting Rainbow in the chest, shatterig her body to pieces. The last thing the pegasus heard was the shadow uttering 'Goodbye'.

_________________________________________________________________________________

THUD!

'Ow.'

A sharp pain caused Rainbow to wake up completely. It seemed that during her nightmare, she fell off the couch, right onto her aching wings. She remained motionless for a while. Dreams again? Do they show the future, too? Why two of them at once?

Well, she can't answer these questions. She was not used to try and make sense of errant dreams, even if they meant something. If only she could see properly in her vision... objects and feelings were clear, other things, however... She couldn't identify the two shadows for her life, even if both seemed familiar somehow. Dream Rainbow recognized the murderous one, but awake, she had no idea who that could have been. She sighed. It can wait for later. Maybe they could make sense of a few things? Killing an alicorn... is it even possible?

She shook her head, and got back on her hooves, streching every nook and cranny of her body. Glancing around, she noticed nopony was in the room. Driven by curiosity, she trotted down the corridor, she realised a light was emanating from a side room, unlike yesterday. Entering it, she saw Shining Armor and Vinyl having breakfast.

"Heeeeeeeeeyyy, Rainbow! Check out all the food we found!" the DJ chirped happily.

"Nice, I guess. So this is..."

"The kitchen, yes." a calm, collected voice replied from behind the pegasus. She gasped in surprise, and turned to face her.

"P-princess Luna! Don't sneak up on me, please!"

The alicorn smiled, and gently nudged her in a playful way with her hoof. "Thou shalt not notice the night!" Turning to the others, her expression became a bit concerned. "I am glad that I bought these supplies; I didn't imagine the radical steps some of our own court would risk taking... Still, we are all here, and at least nopony will be suffering from hunger."

"Princess, what about Trixie?" Rainbow asked.

"She is awake. If you wish to see her, now is the time. I'm afraid we're not finished yet." She shot a meaningful glance towards the cyan mare, who felt a bit nervous for catching her attention.

Following her to the medical room, neither of them said a word. When they entered, they saw Trixie in the middle of the large love-bed. " So she's fine enough to sleep in a normal bed, I guess." Rainbow thought. The showmare looked up.

"Oh boy, circus has arrived in town."

"Y'know, you could be more grateful, we did save your life." Vinyl pointed out.

"Yeah, you're right!" Trixie's voice was dangerously sweet. "Why, considering that I only feel nauseous, am hurt all over, throb from every possible vein, am pursued throughout Equestria and am all alone, I should be dancing from joy on the streets of Canterlot! Of course I'm bucking morose!" she shouted from the top of her lungs. "I was disgraced, beaten, despised; and now, I see no chance, no way out of this. You should've just let me die. It'd have been better for everypony."

Vinyl snorted. "Don't get all emo on me!"

"What is done, is done, and cannot be unmade. Not even with the power of a god. Not even Discord could do it. Therefore, it is insignificant to talk about the past. We should focus on the times ahead of us."

Everypony stared at the moon princess; she was calm and collected, yet she seemed to radiate a strange anxiety from the inside. A moment later, however, that feeling disappeared.

"Well then, amaze me, Luna!" Trixie challenged her in a mocking tone. "Solve all my problems with your amazing alicorn powers!" She shook her head. "What could a broken defender, a songless musician, a pegasus who can't fly, and a unicorn who is incredibly weak do?"

Luna looked at her without a hint of anger.

"Fear and sorrow speaks from you, but that is nothing to be surprised of. Equestria has shown us a darker side... a side my sister and I had hoped it never existed." She went closer to the now alert unicorn, taking a curious look at her. "Incidentally, you should not underestimate the power I posess. I am by no means almighty, but I am quite capable." She raised a hoof to her lower lip, absent-mindedly fiddling with it. "That aside, I believe I never quite caught your full name."

"Full name?" Trixie snorted, "I seem to posess one of those, yes. However, I prefer to be called Trixie, if you will, Luna."

"That's enough! You should address her as 'Princess'!" Shining snapped.

"Oh, that is right, Mr. Protocol. Or should I say Captain Prince Mi Amore Shining 'Protocol' Armor Sparkle, the third?"

"Stop bickering," the moon princess said in a firm tone, catching their attention. "Although protocol is indeed useless in this place, he is free to adhere to it, if he finds it comforting. As for you... I have been called many names, and 'Luna' is actually one that I prefer. Make no mistake, however, I will not stop until I ascertain your origins—I need to know if you are to be trusted. But now, other things take priority. I am afraid your trials are not over, Trixie... neither are yours, Rainbow Dash."

The pegasus gulped upon hearing that, unsure of what Luna meant. The showmare looked indifferent, but when their eyes met, she winked at Rainbow. Unsure what to make of that, the pegasus was more confused than comforted, but still felt somewhat safer.

"I shall have a word with our two wounded over here. Please Captain, take Miss Scratch and do what you will, but leave this room. I realise we have much to talk about, but treating them comes first."

Shining nodded, and slowly walked out of the room, followed by Vinyl. Luna turned to Rainbow, gently tapping her wings, prompting the pegasus to wince or gasp for air fom time to time. Her gaze was full of concern.

"Rainbow Dash, it might be better if you follow me to the next room, so I can explain the situation in private. It's quite... delicate."

The cyan mare shook her head.

"I have nothing to hide about my well-being from her."

"Neither have I," added the showmare, grinning at Rainbow. Luna looked a bit surprised, but nodded in agreement nevertheless. Her face did not show any other emotion beside concern, her eyes, however, betrayed her loneliness. Rainbow felt a rush of gratitude and guilt; the alicorn undoubtedly missed her sister, the only pony that was important to her, yet she ignores her own insecurity, and helps them instead of being swallowed up in self-pity. Luna cleared her throat.

"Be it that way. I am afraid that while neither of you are in imminent danger, there are still issues need to be addressed, which might as well be just as important as a life-threatening injury. If we neglect them, there might be further damage. The decision to handle them, however, is yours. Two choices lay before both of you, with different results."

"Less talkey, more life changey," Trixie urged the princess.

"Rainbow Dash, as I'm sure you've noticed, your wing has healed incorrectly. The bones were joined together, and mended the wrong way. Your choices are the following: One, I heal your wing the way it is now, removing your pain, but limiting your ability to fly."

"Limiting?" Rainbow echoed, full of suspicion.

"If you choose it, you will not be able to use it for extended periods of time, nor will they be as fast as they were before. The chances of it succeeding are nearly 100%. The other choice is... I have to break your wing again, and put the pieces together correctly, then wait for them to mend again. If it succeeds, you will have full control of your faculties, and will be able to fly just as well as before, maybe even better."

"What is there to ask, then? Do it, Princess! I can take pain!" the pegasus boasted. The azure unicorn let out a disapproving snort, but otherwise stayed quiet. Luna shook her head.

"I am afraid it is not that simple. I must warn you that there is only a one in two chance that I succeed; if I don't... you will never be able to fly again. And even if I do, you will have to go through a long and painful rehabilitation."

Rainbow fell silent. Luna nodded again. "I will give you time to decide until I finish presenting the other case to Trixie. But do hurry; if you wait too long, it might become worse for the wear."

"Go on, shatter my dreams," Trixie said nonchalantly. "Oh, wait, I have none left."

"Your hoof is quite damaged as it is now. I do not know what pierced it—"

"Reality," said the showmare.

"—but it is one of the worst weapon wounds I've ever seen," continued the princess, ignoring her. "You too, have two options: One, I mend it in a way that it will look like just as it were; however, due to it being in a crucial place, choosing so will cause periodic pains, because I can't regrow flesh, and your nerves will hurt. Two: I opt to remove the pain completely, making sure it never hurts again. I can't restore it's former appearance if you choose this, though, and you will limp the rest of your life, although functionally speaking you might even be able to run as fast as you did before your injury. This is risky, however; if I fail... I might have to amputate your whole leg."

"So, let me get this straight. Either I choose to be in pain for the rest of my life, for a perfect posture, or risk losing my hoof, and remain a cripple in others' eyes, even though I will be able to run?"

"That is correct."

"Choice of the century," Trixie groaned. "What is there to think about? Pain does not matter to me anymore, and this is as pathetic as a pony can get. But... I'd rather limp the rest of my life and risk losing it, than to be distracted by pain at a crucial point. Do the second."

Luna nodded.

"As you wish. Have you come to a decision, Rainbow Dash?"

"I-I don't know. Losing my wings? Hell no!"

Trixie chuckled.

"So, you'd rather lose your hopes and dreams? Fly as any other, when you were once the fastest, just that you can fly at all?"

"What do you know about it?" the pegasus snapped.

"Flying? Not much," Trixie said silently. "Abandoned dreams I am familiar with. If you choose the easy way... you will blame yourself for the rest of your life for your cowardice. Accept the risky one. If it succeeds, you will be the best again. If it fails... I am prepared to face your rage... even if it only can sated by my death."

"Don't be dumb. Why would I want to kill you for giving bad advice? That's stupid. Besides, the choice is mine." Her eyes glinted with determination. "Princess, I'd like that you try and make my wing as good as it was again."

Luna did not answer, she was eyeing the two of them, deep in thought. Her eyes slowly scanned both mares, it was almost as if the sound of gears turning in her head were audible. Rainbow recognized her expression, from Twilight. It was just like her 'I-didn't-have-a-plan-until-now-but-I'm-making-one-right-now' look.

"Princess? Hello?"

The alicorn's concentration broke, and she smiled at them.

"I'm sorry, I was just thinking about what to do after we're finished with our business here. Nevertheless, that comes first; I will go out and search for some required herbs; it shouldn't take too much time. Please wait patiently here."

Two pairs of magenta eyes followed the moon princess, as she left the room. Rainbow sat down on the edge of the bed, gathering her courage to talk to Trixie.

"Um, hey, Trixie..."

The showmare looked at her expectantly.

"You see... I... I had another of those dreams."

Rainbow told her dream to Trixie, who was listening intently and silently. When she finished, the azure mare was deep in thought.

"You know, Rainbow, I don't think we should ignore this. The only problem is that when we could identify the murderer, it would already be too late; most of us would be dead. Still, if this is true, ponies who rise in power are the most suspicious."

"True, but how do you suppose we get news like that here?"

Trixie hummed.

"Yeah, that's a problem we'll have to think about later. We can't do anything against the true culprit if you can't fly, and I can't walk."

"Well, at least you can cast magic!" Rainbow pouted. "I'm entirely useless like this."

"One, you're not useless. Your body strength is nothing to sneer at, even if we compare you to earth ponies, and that can be useful, too. Two, I can cast magic, but to what avail? The most I could do is cast telekinesis until they get bored with me."

"But... you did that cutting smoke thing! That was dangerous!" Rainbow protested. Trixie looked at her with sad eyes.

"Yes, that was my only offensive spell. And it would be useless in actual combat, because by the time I surround my enemies with it, I'm dead, no matter what technique they use."

"I—"

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

Both mares shuddered at the sudden appearance of Luna, who was carrying some rose-coloured herbs with her. She gently placed them in a mortar that she produced from the inner room; she cast a spell on it, and the pestle moved on it's own accord while she turned her attention back to the pegasus.

"Rainbow Dash, I am going to treat your friend first, so when I'm working on your wing she can return resting here." Rainbow nodded, but Trixie softly spoke up.

"We're not friends. We never were." Her voice was full of sorrow rather than denial; as if she regretted this fact, instead of her usual snarky behaviour. The pegasus stepped beside her, and extended a hoof.

"True. So we'll be friends starting from now, OK?"

The wounded unicorn stared at her for a second, but then slowly took her hoof, and shook it. The smallest of smiles seemed to play on her features, but her eyes radiated gratitude instead of her usual guarded demeanor. Finally, she turned to the patiently waiting princess.

"Don't get your stars in a bundle, I'm ready. Let's get this over with."