4

Time passed as it used to once more... Rainbow Dash smiled at each new day, now able to control her once stiff face along with her ability to see. Looking up at the sun Celestia brought out, each day was a gift to the young Pegasus. It meant hope.

To her friends Rainbow hadn't changed all that much. It was easy to just forget about everything that had happened to her while talking to her... pretend she's just sitting down. Imagine she's fine. After all, she talked like she was fine. Her friends didn't like thinking about what put her there, but they were happy she'd come far enough to quell most of the questions plaguing them late at night. Not to mention she was still as feisty, as full of herself, and as much of a hot ticket as she always was. The reality of it, however, is that Rainbow had been robbed... but she hid her anger well, even from Apple Jack.

It would be nice if Dash got all her old abilities back, bought back her old house in Cloud's Dale, and learned a series of lessons from this whole ordeal about trusting eccentric strangers. Unfortunately life, even in wide-wide world of Equestria, is not perfect. Rainbow's abilities stayed the same way as she was passed from friend to friend... and her house in Cloud's Dale was torn down... in its place a duplex was built by a rich Pegasus to rent out to tourists.

However, even though she was grounded, it was not all bad. Because of her outstanding recovery there was one thing she do now that could possibly bring her some closure. That is testify.

* * *

Because Buttercup's trial had not yet come to pass, a few months before it began Rainbow got a letter forwarded to her by the Princess. The letter contained an Official Court Document asking her to testify. Rainbow agreed, sending an immediate reply via Spike. She was appointed a high standing lawyer from Celestia herself to accompany her while she gave testimony in Judge Horsechops's Courtroom. Sufficing to say, Rainbow Dash was quite nervous.

"You don't have to go," said Twilight Sparkle, wheeling Rainbow Dash towards the courtroom. "Just having found those things on her property will be enough to put her away for a long time."

"I know I don't have to go, Twilight," Rainbow replied nervously, as she was pushed into the court room. "I want to go."

The Mane 6 settled in the front row and waited for everything to get started.

At the trial, Dash didn't know what to expect, but at least she had her friends nearby. They were all beside her, just as eager as she was. They'd all be testifying. Rainbow was frightened at first, scared to have to look Buttercup in the eyes and recount everything that happened in front of the judge, jury, and courtroom spectators. It was more than simple stage fright. However, once the Defendant -- the fat, makeup-less mare in the stripped full body uniform... her once cute, chunky body having grown pudgy and unattractive from inactivity -- was finally brought in... Dash felt she'd have no issue recounting what had happened. Buttercup looked pathetic, her eyes exhausted and racked with worry.

Hard to believe I was scared of that. Dash thought.

It was her turn to be scared now.

The charges were presented by the Prosecutor and Rainbow was called up to testify. As Twilight rolled her up, with her Lawyer by her side, she began to feel a loathing in her gut for the golden mare that she'd never felt for anypony before. It was time to let the beast out. She recounted everything and watched Buttercup's face contort like she was being struck in the face by a steel hoof. If only Rainbow could have actually done that to her, it would have brought her more satisfaction. Never once did she blame the dead Ironhoof who couldn't defend himself like she blamed Buttercup. All she did was answer questions -- never once did Judge Horsechops have to call order due to any abuse of testimonial privileges. She said things, horrible things about how she was treated that she had never told any of her friends... even Apple Jack. This was therapy at its finest and by the time Rainbow was finished she was in tears... and just wanted to go home. That would have to come later, though, and her Lawyer could at least take care of the rest.

All of the Mane 6 testified afterwards as well, since they had been there asking questions while out looking for their friend. They also broke in, and were honest about it. They also felt no remorse in making Buttercup, the most reclusive of ponies, look awful for her first major public appearance. She'd nearly killed their friends, after all, and the illegal dogs were... so horrible that when Rarity took the stand and described the way the hounds ripped at her... she admitted she'd been having nightmares about them for months. Once all 6 had testified, the Honorable Judge dismissed the charges of breaking in, given the circumstances... and provided they didn't make a habit of it.

Evidence was then presented, coroner reports on the other mares found in the yard read, toxicology reports shared, and that was that... chances looked very grim for Buttercup, but still she stood by her plea of innocence... she was shaking by the end, but still stood by it strong.

The jury gave its verdict of GUILTY under every single charge. Judge Horsechops could override the verdicts if he felt their was any ambiguity about the charges... but it was not likely in this case.

The Honorable Judge Horeschops asked Buttercup if she had any closing statements before pronouncing her sentence. She stood silent, looking at the floor... still shaking like a leaf. She knew she was in so deep that she didn't know what to do, and she knew that no matter what she said it wouldn't make a difference. She looked up at Rainbow Dash, the Mane 6, and Celestia's representatives for any sign of mercy. They looked back, all stone-faced. Money meant nothing when your opposition has a Deity on its side, who wasn't there but ever present nonetheless. Casual acquaintanceship with Judge Horsechops from a few years back meant nothing now: he carried out justice with the same detached conviction that Ironhoof carried out her own orders.

* * *

It was time:

"Buttercup Lightwood Gambroge! For the 2 counts of keeping illegal animals from the Everfree forest I find you GUILTY!"

The golden Pegasus's heart visibly sank.

"For the 189 charges of hoarding illegal chemicals for nefarious purposes I find you GUILTY!"

She closed her eyes.

"For the 4 charges of kidnapping I find you GUILTY for 3 and an accessory to the last!"

The last mentioned was Pinkie Pie, whom she hadn't told Ironhoof to kidnap. There was no reaction in anymore. Buttercup felt faint. She chuckled to herself, shaking her head, fighting to keep on her hooves.

"For the 3 charges of 2nd degree murder and 2 charges of attempted murder I find you GUILTY!"

Buttercup shook in horror at the final verdicts... no pony in the entire courtroom, much less Ponyville, cared that she was suffering so much torment, humiliation, and fear in the courtroom. Her life had turned to dust and she knew it. She was, after all, guilty. No pony to comfort her now... no Ironhoof, nopony to turn to because she was rich and could help them if they helped her. The crowd was almost as blood thirsty as her dogs. She deserved it. She knew it, and it didn't matter what happened to her at this point anymore. The judge had to call order twice.

"This is most unusual," said the Judge once the frenzy settled, "but a fair and fitting punishment nonetheless for these crimes: I am extending 3 life sentences to you at the Ponyville Maximum Security Prison for your crimes against Ponyville and its inhabitants. There will be no possibility of parole."

Buttercup was already gone. She'd fainted once Judge Horsechops came to the number of life sentences she was going to receive. The guards helped get her up and took her away. The Mane 6 sat stoically, happy for their friend and the innocent victims of Buttercup's obsession. Rainbow Dash was glad to see justice done, but was the only pony who felt... empty through all this. She saw red when she looked at Buttercup, but seeing her punished didn't change Dash's state of being.

Few times had the courts ever given out a life sentence, let alone multiples. As Judge Horsechops said: Buttercup would never get out. She spent the rest of her life behind bars and no pony came to visit her. Ponyville's disdain and hatred for her actions saw to that, not that she had any friends. The golden mare spent the rest of her days surrounded by tougher, angrier ponies. Her first day they branded her uppity and beat her senseless on a regular basis, taking whatever they wanted WHENEVER they wanted it.

Life was hell for the pony who took so much from her now, and still Rainbow felt... nothing.

* * *

In the weeks following, Rainbow Dash put everything behind her. It was a new day and she worked hard, every day... her goal was to get out of the chair. Going from pony to pony, she did her exercises regularly and regained full control of both her arms, eventually being able to push her wheel chair by herself. However, ...that was it in terms of improvement. Though she tried every day, the improvements she made were minuscule at best, and plateaued eventually. While her core got stronger, to the point she eventually no longer needed the back brace, her wings remained useless for the rest of her life and her legs, except for one of her ankles and part of her calf, remained ever still, stiff, and unresponsive. Physical therapy eventually stopped hurting... but it also stopped helping. So many little things the average mare could to for herself Rainbow would never, ever be able to do again: fly, trot, write her name, use both arms for more than just pushing her chair, hold her fluids... these abilities just weren't there anymore. Gone. She missed flying the most, though speeding along in her wheel chair did remind her of it from time-to-time... especially when she raced against Scootaloo, who loved her all the same even though she couldn't fly anymore. This was how life ended up, and Rainbow had learned to count her blessings as it could always be a lot worse.

Life isn't entirely composed of compromises, however, and ponies do learn a thing or two about appreciating what they have when they almost lose it. Though Apple Jack was racked with extra work for a couple weeks in total due to Big Mac doing her chores that one day (to the point Pinkie Pie took Rainbow for Apple Jack's week TWICE).... AJ gave her friend a lil more of her time. They slept in the same bed, were a very tactile pair, and eventually called each other "Special Someponies". Given Rainbow's condition, making love was not practical, but that does not mean they didn't love each other all the same. This ordeal had strengthened their love, to the point that Rainbow occasionally stayed an extra week or two, and, because of that, eventually Rainbow made a decision.

With an objective in mind, she pushed herself into a local market and used her confidence on the Manager in an interview. She got a job. All she was doing was ringing up purchases, she was a self-made pony once again. She took those Bits she earned and gave them to the Apple family as her contribution for staying in the guest room, since she was known to stay extra weeks every once and a while. Granny Smith, the pony she talked to along with Big Mac, only accepted a quarter of her offer, and they huddled together with Rainbow at the side. After a few minutes, Granny Smith approached:

"You love Apple Jack, hmmm?"

"Yes, Ma'am!"

"You want to live here?"

"... yes, Ma'am!"

"Then we'll consider that your rent. The guest room is yours."

It was at this point that all ponies went back to their lives, and Rainbow salvaged what was left of hers. She had a place to stay and a way to pay for it... so she started building in a different direction along with Apple Jack. Though she'd never again feel the pleasures of flying high through the air, the joys of tasting the rain water before it even came down to the ground below... they were at least happy. Happiness is everything and both ponies had learned that before it was too late.

THE END

Author's Note

Initially this story was written as an exercise and a break from another story I've been writing "Crystal Haze" in order to get new ideas. It worked.

Around the time I started Fighting is Magic got terfed, Friendship is Witchcraft and Friendship for the Mentally Advanced were unsure what their future was going to be like. The story became a vent for some very negative feelings I was having at that moment about the new squeeze the company was putting on us.

I also wrote this because... I'm a fan of stories where the audience feels something bad is going to happen but can't always put the finger on it. Obviously once Dash is caught and knows it, we know things are going to suck for Dash... but the crapsaccharine attitude of the OCs where everything appears fine but they're really evil, horrible ponies? Love that :)

My favorite part was writing for the dogs, followed by the climax and peicing it all back together in the end. These parts got the most attention. I'm not afraid to admit.

I don't know if it's too dark for the Padded Foals section, but nonetheless I posted it there.

The moral is, life isn't perfect but you can still be happy and appericate what you have, even though things have been unexpectedly taken away from you that you thought would always be there.

Hope you guys enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed bringing it to you. Peace!