Crystals Grow on Rainbows

Opal burst through the doors in tears. Her twelfth birthday had only been a few months ago, but in that time the growth had become noticeable. Only this time, her ice blue face was concealed by a much messier mane than usual. Rarity wasn't able to stop her at all as she charged right past to her room. "Opal! What happened dear?" She didn't look hurt, but something had really made her upset, and she was a tough personality.

Rainbow Dash followed soon after, walking through to the kitchen without a second glance at Rarity. Immediately, she began setting about to prepare one of her quick drinks out of vegetables. Usually she only made such alternatives to actual food when she was under stress. Rarity was still confused about her filly's behaviour, and why her mare seemed to be in a not so good mood.

There was a period of silence during which Rarity paced around between Opal's door and the lounge room. She was bawling her eyes out in there, and every attempt to open the door was met with a stronger resistance of magic. Dash didn't move one bit from her place at the kitchen table. The entire scene had her completely rattled. While it would probably be better to ask Twilight or somepony else to come over, she wanted to try handle this herself.

"Dashie? What happened?" Dash was still staring out the window at the evening sky. Notably in the direction of Cloudsdale. "Dash, was it something to do with the school?" There was only a slight change in her expression, anger. She paused in her slow advance towards her mare at that. Rainbow Dash didn't get angry at anypony, least of all her. So why did mentioning flight school annoy her so much?

At long last, her attention was drawn away from the window, back onto Rarity. She shuffled again uncomfortably at the staring. "She should have gone to flight school three years ago; when I said it was time..." A long gulp of what remained of the drink went down her throat before she got up to make another. Rarity was utterly confused now. Why was she upset about the timing of Opal's attendance?

"Dash, I don't understand... What made her so upset? I thought she loved flight school." A thud came from the kitchen; Dash had just slammed her hoof onto the counter, leaving a deep imprint. That really had Rarity worried, and she was more than ready to go and find Twilight for support. Yet, she felt deep down that Dash would never do anything to hurt her, not even under the worst of circumstances.

Finally, her mare returned to the table with a half-blended drink. "Oh yeah... she really loved flight school... Until they expelled her." Expelled? That definitely explained her filly's tears; she had to be heartbroken over that. Again, she felt the urge to go up and comfort her. But why in Equestria would Cloudsdale expel the Crystal Princess of all ponies from their school!? Unless...

"Why was she expelled then?" A long, drawn out breath escaped Rainbow Dash's mouth. It was now clear that she had a few scratches on her skin, from branches it seemed like. Flying low in the Everfree Forest? Things were starting to worry Rarity quite a bit. "Rainbow Dash, you can tell me. Nothing could convince me for one moment that Opal did something out of line, or that you are to blame for it."

The pink eyes settled onto hers again. A mix of deep, bitter anger, and regret. "She... almost... killed one of the students..." Rarity's heart froze at that moment. Opal? Her precious little gem, almost killed another student? No, that was not like her at all. She had always been so cheerful, and very passive with life. Fluttershy had become one of her closest friends even, surely Dash had been misinformed.

More crying from upstairs interrupted the silence. Nopony could claim she was without guilt at least, if the accusation was indeed true. But it couldn't possibly be. "He was harassing her outside of class, picking on her because she was older than the rest. Honestly, I think I would have done the same in her place, especially after what you've put her through..."

Rarity's mood shifted quite suddenly at that. All of a sudden, Dash was saying it was her fault? "And just what does that mean? I have devoted my life to raising her to be a good and kind princess, who loves and respects all ponies. So how could I possibly be responsible for leading into a circumstance where another pony's life was put at risk?"

"Because you never listened! She wanted to fly, but you, Twilight, and Celestia all insisted that she learn magic! The only reason she actually passed magic school, is because she didn't want to disappoint you! And now you just stand there and pretend that you didn't hold her back from the one thing she has wanted to do more than anything." That was a real blow to her pride. Maybe she should have paid a bit more attention to Dash, but then again, why did she have to?

"You still haven't explained the circumstances, or how her learning of magic has impacted on her flying. I thought you were doing a wonderful job catching her up with the basics." Rainbow Dash stood up at that moment, taking a very serious step towards her. Things were growing very heated, and her earlier certainty that Dash would restrain herself had begun to crumble.

"Oh yeah, the basics. Since when is a spell that cripples a pegasi's ability to fly considered important enough to teach a twelve-year-old princess!? He fell right off the edge, and had no way of saving himself. If he hadn't landed in a tree, he could very well be in a mortuary right now, not Cloudsdale critical care!" It proved to be a tipping point for Rarity. There she was, backing away from her own mare, the one who gave Opal her personality.

"Well, perhaps if you hadn't taught her to be so obsessive about flying, and for that matter lazy, she would have paid more attention in magic school! Did you ever consider the fact that it was lack of experience that caused such an incident, not this stupid idea that because she was enrolled a few years later than other ponies, she was open to bullying!?"

An ear-splitting lightning crack accompanied the sound of shattering glass. Throwing the argument aside, Rainbow Dash pulled Rarity to safety as a turbulent storm outside forced its way in through the kitchen window. No pegasi team could produce such a fierce display in that space of time, which had Dash even more confused. But right now, her concern was making sure Rarity was safe.

"I'm sorry; I didn't mean to shout at you. I just..." Rarity pushed her away; she was somewhat less willing to drop the matter. Hostility was a rather more serious matter to her. "Rarity! It's not safe, I need to get outside and see what the hay is going on with the weather. I don't think Discord would pull something like this off, it's more violent than chaotic."

There was no response from her mare. She had been going towards the stairs when the remaining lights in the house blew out in the wind, so that was where Dash decided to go. As she tread there slowly, the matter of how such a storm could brew in Equestria without warning continued to puzzle her. Too long for pegasi, not the right style for Discord. And Celestia didn't use her weather spells to make storms like this...

"Opal." Her pace went to a gallop. "Opal! Rarity!" She had always been brilliant with weather spells. But why would she cast up a storm like this? Could she have heard the argument going on, and panicked? If so, it would be her fault for shouting at Rarity. She had reason to be upset that her wishes for Opal were given second priority, but at the same time, she saw her mare's logic clearly.

As she finally ascended the stairs, she found Rarity sitting amidst glass on the porch. The smash from before had been outward, Opal had fled her room altogether. Dash wasted no time in pulling Rarity back inside from the pouring rain. In the brief amount of time she had been there, her body had become dangerously cold and wet. Even now, the droplets felt like tiny points of ice, almost piercing her skin physically.

"It's okay Rarity, Celestia will clear it up, and we'll find her. I am so sorry for being snappy and upset; I should've consulted Twilight before blowing off at you. Just please, say something." A thick, warm towel was placed around her shoulders, but Rarity still didn't move or say anything. Her face was motionless, stuck in a state of disbelief and shock. Her little filly had just run away from home.