Crystals Grow on Rainbows

When fleeing the fierce argument between her parents, Opal had headed into the Everfree Forest after summoning the storm to disguise her route. But she hadn't counted on a tree falling, and trapping her in a tiny stream of water. A vast portion of her magic had been used up on the storm, and the forest had dampened her ability to recover it. What little remained went to relieving the pain, and keeping her alive. But by the time that the other ponies had found her, she had already begun to slip into the æther. The realm among the skies as Celestia had said, where all ponies no longer in Equestria lived in light and joy.

It didn't come to that point however, instead she found herself in a hospital bed. Too weak to speak, or do anything for that matter. Three weeks without food and barely any water wouldn't have been possible for a normal pony to survive, and it was very close to finishing her off for good. Now, all that she could see, hear, feel, and touch was the empty void of unconsciousness.

They were right to be concerned about your future. They were right to argue, to point out the problems, and deal with them. They were right to look for you. But you were wrong. You were wrong to leave. You were wrong to be lazy in your studies. You were wrong to focus on things that didn't matter. You were wrong to abandon your parents in the face of adversity. You were wrong to doubt their guidance, instead of seeking their counsel. You have been wrong about a lot of things, Opal Flame. Are you wrong in assuming that you can lead the Crystal Ponies too?

*

Opal hadn't experienced a lucid dream before; it didn't seem like an interesting lesson to pursue. Zecora was far more understanding about what did and didn't interest her than some ponies she could name. Now it was a decision she was coming to regret. "I guess I'm talking to myself here, aren't I? Well, at least nopony has to see it, so I can be weird like Pinkie Pie as much as I like!" At the very least, she was staying positive in the bleak circumstance.

"I hear you, Crystallus Ignis." Opal turned in surprise, Princess Luna standing there behind her. Of course, Scootaloo had mentioned having a similar experience, although that was a nightmare in the Everfree Forest. This was lying unconscious in a bed, not knowing if she'd survive to see her parents again or not. Maybe Luna was there to deliver bad news. Was she just too far gone for the doctor's to do anything?

There was no way to tell of course, it was an experience being played out entirely in her head. "Uh... is that some sort of fancy language that I've been lucky enough to not learn?" Luna merely looked down at her without expression. Maybe she had been a bit out of line with her sarcasm there. "So, what's the verdict? Am I going to be fine, am I going to die? Oh please don't tell me I'm gonna be a cripple. That'd be the worst."

Another pause followed, before the older princess spoke. "I have not come in response to your condition. In fact, it is the only time I can deliver the message to you in complete secrecy. You are the only one who can face this terrible news; my sister would try to stop the events that are to come right now if she knew of them." That wasn't what Opal expected to hear at all, let alone wanted. Since when was she important to terrible events of Equestria?

Luna tilted her head to the left, where a scene formed out of the darkness. "This is the day your parents came face to face with death. The tendriculos' had been sent to capture the Elements of Harmony, and then retreat into the shadows. Otherwise, they were to do as much damage as possible, to both Canterlot and Ponyville. King Sombra was behind this plan; he ensured Celestia would not stop them until the damage had been done by attacking the Crystal Empire at the precise time. His supposed destruction was far less permanent than we had hoped. And now, as the Crystal Princess, he is coming for you..."

A rush of revelations wasn't exactly what Opal needed. King Sombra was still alive, out there, and bent on taking back her future kingdom? And from the tone of Luna's voice, this was just the start of how bad things were becoming. "But... I don't understand. How would he get his hooves on monster plants? I don't think they would last long in the north surely."

The answer was closed eyes with a still nod. She recognised that well. Luna was right; things were only going to go downhill from there. "I know, that aspect I have not worked out yet. But, he is growing in power, and it is vital that you do not let doubt corrupt your heart." Doubt was exactly what Opal was starting to be overcome by. So it wasn't just Sombra in on the plan, but another enemy too!

"But Luna? What if I can't stop him? I'm meant to lead the Crystal Ponies, yet I don't even have any of the powers that the previous leaders have had! I can't even use a teleport spell! What about the Elements of Harmony? Won't they be able to defeat him?" Luna didn't respond verbally, summoning another scene instead. It was very brief, but the message was clear. Five ponies about to use the Elements of Harmony, but without success. A pang in her heart came as she noticed that Rarity was the one absent. Not Rarity, not her mother.

She turned back to Luna with a full swing, seeking comfort in her presence. Instead, an empty gasp that could have been an attempt to scream followed. Tall, black legs pitted with holes, a slick green mane hanging down around her face. A trick, it hadn't been Luna at all. The whole bit about not knowing who was working with Sombra was a complete lie. Boasting about the plan, to gloat over her lack of understanding...

At that point, the young alicorn flew into her conscious state. She's so confident that she gave me a warning. And he's been behind everything... They're up to something huge... That was all that went through her mind. But all of it was slipping away; holding onto the fragments of the dream was becoming impossible. She needed to tell somepony before it was gone for good. In the moment of frenzy, she noticed the one pony in the room. Fluttershy.

"I saw it... The Elements will be broken, by Sombra... Mom's in danger!" Most of that didn't seem to make it out as one of the tubes became wrapped around her throat. It became a struggle to breathe at that point, by the doctors got her back onto the bed she was unconscious again. Only this time, there was no dream, or nightmare to face. Just the blissful darkness...

*

Opal was grateful beyond words to see her parents again. Her second phase of sleep had only lasted a few hours, in that time Rarity and Rainbow Dash had returned to the hospital. Her memory from summoning the storm to waking up in a fit was gone. And she had no explanation as to what she had been trying to say before. Fluttershy didn't want to remember the sight of her going crazy, and couldn't recall anything said.

"We're both truly sorry for putting you in such a position, and you shouldn't have had to listen to our argument. Can you find it in your heart to forgive us Opal?" It was sincere Rarity through and through. Polite and considerate, without being dramatic or desperate. Such matters she knew had to be dealt with in maturity and carefulness.

The filly seemed rather surprised at her mother's question. "Of course mom, I just didn't like the situation, and so I avoided it. Though it was pretty stupid to summon the storm, even I couldn't handle it." Rainbow Dash smiled in admiration. After all that her daughter had been through, she still had such an arrogant, yet conscious personality that she couldn't help but admire.

"Well, they say you'll be fine soon enough. We'll need to get moving on the flying practise too, coz you'll be free to do your own thing soon. And I don't think I'll be able to fly for a little while either" Opal looked at Dash with a rather confused expression. Cryptic, and coming from her wasn't usual. Did the Wonderbolts have a new recruitment session coming up, which would require her to oversee them?

Rarity took her turn to speak, holding Rainbow Dash's hoof affectionately. "Actually, in about a year, you'll be a big sister. And don't worry; she's going to be just a pegasus." The filly blinked again as it took a bit of time to process. Sister? Only this time Rainbow Dash was pregnant? The concept seemed weird if anything, her being born to one parent, and her future sibling to the other. "Is there anything wrong with that?"

A random flash came to her mind, leaving confusion in her face for a moment. A shadowy figure, with bright green eyes, and a black horn... Hearing the question raised about what was on her mind sent it away again to her relief. Nightmares, nothing she should get herself all worked up over. "Oh, nothing... Must've been a random memory that came back from when I was out."

End of Part Five.