It was cold, damp and dark. The ominous trees towered high into the sky. Casting spooky shadows onto anything below them. Shrouding any plants in absolute darkness. Suffocating them of any light. Small, unusual, dark plants surrounded the edges of muddy path. The path itself was disgusting. It was wet and gooey. Leaving whoever walks through the path, to be coated in dark gloop.

The light purple pony shivered as she trotted down the path. It felt much safer when she was with everyone else. She felt so vulnerable now. She grew more scared by the second. Her horn gave little later light around her. The mare squealed as her hooves squelched in the mud. Painting her hooves with the brown ooze. Her pretty pink eyes shrunk to the size of pinpricks. Sweat droplets begin to drip down her forehead. She was scared. The eerie forest would make anypony scared. She couldn't understand how her zebra friend could actually live in her. And now, she knew that one of her bestest friends used to live somewhere in this forest of twisted vines and frightening creatures. The pony stopped as she saw droplets of blood on the path she was taking. She also noticed cyan feathers. Laying delicately on the floor. And a buch of bandages screwed up. Twilight quickened her pace as the blood increased. Her horn lit up as disappeared in a flash of pink.

~~~~~~

Pain. It was the only thing she felt. Emotionally and physically. She didn't know what felt more painful. Knowing that she would lose another pony who was close to her. Very close in fact. Or the searing hot pain screeching throughout her delicate body. She couldn't cry. She couldn't say anything. She ached too much to do so. Instead, she just sat. Sat in silence. Sitting on the creaky old floorboards. The pegasus was located next to a portrait. That was taken down many years ago. The portrait was partly covered by a dusty, white cloth. A white mare was revealed. She held a sweet smile and her dark blue eyes were half open. Her curly, sunset coloured hair bounced over her eyes. For those who set eyes upon this mare, would say she was the most beautiful.

Rainbow sat by the portrait. This was the closest she would ever be to her once loved parents. The statues further back didn't hold any colour. They were too cold. Even though that was their burial place, Rainbow couldn't feel close to them. She leaned onto the wall. Her body too weak to support herself. She thought it would be best to go to the hospital, but the constant reminder of Soarin was looming over her. She couldn't go back. She'll see him lying there. Lifeless. And she'll be helpless to do anything.

Her ears twitched as she heard hoof-steps nearby. Whoever this pony was, they were trying to keep quiet. But their attempt was useless. The old, moss painted floorboards creaked with every hoof-step.

"Rainbow?"

"Wait. Why is the princess here? How did she find you?"

"Her highness still surprises me."

"Rainbow Dash! I know you're here! You left a bloody trail."

Silence crept into the lavender pony's ear as she called out. She was inside the house. The very house her assassin friend grew up in. The very house that held many nightmares. She fluttered her large wings uneasily. She didn't like it here. She could faintly hear the screams of a young pony. The yells of elders. The manically laughing of a stallion. As Twilight scanned the area, her eyes were still glued to the trail of blood.

"Rainbow. You're hurt. We need to get you some help." Twilight continued to trot around. Eventually, she went up the staircase and found her pegasus friend. She gasped slightly as she saw the bleeding mare. Rainbow weakly looked up at the princess.

"Oh, Rainbow. Oh dear. We must get you to the hospital." The alicorn rushed over to help her friend, who was shakily standing up.

"I refuse, Twilight. I do not wish to go the hospital." Rainbow croaked.

"Rainbow. We must get you to the hospital." Twilight came closer to the assassin. But Rainbow gently pushed her away.

"I'm sorry, your highness. I refuse."

"Rainbow Miriam Dashery! You will get out of this house and go to the hospital!" She yelled. The weak pegasus stood up straight and nodded.

"Of course. As you wish, Princess."

Twilight smiled gently and turned to the crooked door. Hoping the assassin would follow her.
"Good. Now-...Rainbow..." The purple princess stopped as she stared at Rainbow. The scars across her body. Her bloodied wings. Her glowing red eyes. And the pain filled expression upon her face.
"It's because of Soarin....isn't it?" She whispered.

Rainbow looked at the floor before glancing up at Twilight. She closed her eyes as she nodded.

"Don't worry, Dash. I promise you won't see hi-"

"No. Please. I'm not going anywhere near the hospital. I can't." Rainbow trembled with fear. Twilight realised that the pegasus didn't want to go back to that building. Due to seeing the Wonderbolt. Of maybe...not seeing the Wonderbolt. Twilight trotted back over to her friend and rested her hoof on the assassin's shoulder.

"I'll teleport to the library then. There's a first aid kit there, and you can rest better there to. Okay?" She offered. Her voice calm and soft. Resisting the urge to just hug her friend and force her into the hospital. But, knowing Rainbow's state of mind right now, she needed to be delicate around her. The alicorn couldn't fully understand why the pegasus came here. Out of all the other places. But she had an idea. This house, this very house, was the main part of Rainbow's fears. Not only it held many nightmares, it held lots of pleasant memories. Especially her parents.

Rainbow slowly nodded, accepting the comfort of her friend.
"Yes, your highness."

Twilight grinned as her horn lit up with a elegant pink glow. And in no time, the two ponies were gone. Leaving the decaying building to stand by itself. Among the darkened trees and sickly creatures.

~~~~~~

In a flash of light, two ponies now stood in a room. A room with two beds, a basket and loads of books. While the alicorn quickly locked the door leading to the stairs, the cyan mare sat down. The ponies down stairs heard a burst of magic. Though curious, they decided to leave princess to herself. As she had teleported to her room rather than walking to the door. Twilight relaxed slightly as she grabbed the first aid kit. She sighed to herself as she sat down. She didn't know what to say. She was upset about this whole event, but she couldn't come to terms at how distraught Rainbow is. Watching the pony you love fall to the ground. With a dagger through his chest. To make it worse, Rainbow is an assassin. A master assassin. Not be able to protect was counted as failure. And this was a big failure. Usually when Rainbow couldn't complete a task-which was hardly ever-she would train again. Making sure her skills were sharper than ever.

Twilight gently wrapped new bandages around her friend's injured wings. She tried to comfort her but the pegasus turned away. Once she had done, she packed the first aid kit and placed it on her bed.

"Are you okay, Rainbow?"

"I'm fine ma'am."

Twilight uneasily nodded. Rainbow's behaviour was growing weird. Almost like she has lost all feelings. However, Twilight dimissed this, and stood up.

"Come on. Let's go downstairs and I'll get everyone some drinks." Twilight headed to the door.

"Yes, your highness."

~~~~~~

The ponies and the draconequus sat in a huddled group in the middle of the library. Celestia, Luna and Cadence sat together, while Thunder and Spitfire sat beside them. The purple pegasus stallion hugged and stroked the Captain's fiery orange, who cried into his chest. Wailing and bawling. For the Captain of the Wonderbolts, she didn't seem as heartless as everypony made her. Usually, she would bark demands at others, yell at everyone because of her short temper, or simply do exercises. But now, she couldn't stop crying. Soarin was her closest friend. Her brother almost. And he was half dead. In a hospital bed. She couldn't do anything. She felt pathetic. Worthless. Useless.

But as the fire maned mare cried, she felt warmth from the pony she was upon. Thunder hushed to her and hugged her. Although they had only known each other for a week or so, there was a spark igniting between them.

Rainbow sat in a dark corner of the library. She didn't want to be by anypony. She just wanted to disappear. The other ponies looked over to her in concern. Twilight, despite the orders from the others to stay, got up and slowly walked up to her friend.

"Rainbow." She whispered.

"Yes, your highness." Rainbow replied. Twilight began to get angered by the pegasus mare's replies. As if she had no emotion.

"No Rainbow. Just Twilight. I'm your friend." Twilight reassured.

"Of course, ma'am."

The alicorn groaned to herself. She knew that Rainbow was hurting, but what could she do? She was just some fancy pancy princess.
"Rainbow, please. We understand that you are upset right now. But what about the Creed?"

"The Creed is frozen at the moment, Princess." Rainbow kept her head down. Her grey-ish rainbow mane drooped over her face.

"Frozen?" Celestia cocked her head to the side. All through her life, and knowing the Creed, she had never heard about the Creed freezing. Not even the history books mentioned it. Yet, there wasn't many history books on the Creed.

"The Creed is frozen. Basically, no major assassinations. Only a few of my assassins are working. Following their victims. But everypony else are at their homes. So it's like the Creed is frozen." Rainbow explained. Not even looking up the others.

"What about...what about...your...duties?" Twilight awkwardly questioned. Truth was, she just wanted to talk to Rainbow. To try and get her mind off Soarin. But obviously, it wasn't working.

"I failed my duties, your highness." The pegasus muttered. "I am sorry, ma'am. I am your protector. Everypony's protector. And I have failed to do so. I am your pony. Your servant under your service."

At this point, Twilight snapped. She knew she should not be mad at the pegasus, but she absolutely hated when Rainbow addressed her formally. By using "ma'am" and "your higness" and all of that. Rainbow was Twilight's friend. Not her boss. Unable to hold her frustration, the young alicorn leapt up and landed on top of the pegasus. The cyan mare's head bashed against the hard wooden flooring with a thud. Everyone in the room was shocked by the princess's sudden act of violence. Especially upon the leader of the assassins.

"Rainbow! For crying out loud!! You are your own pony!! I am not your superior!! I am your friend!! Have you lost sight of that?!" Twilight yelled. Her voice cracked with sorrow. Tears welled up in her bright violet orbs.

"I've lost sight of everything. All I see is bloody darkness." Rainbow croaks as the alicorn yells at her.

"You are not the pony I used to know! The Rainbow Dash I knew was confident, brash, determined, funny, caring and loyal!! What has happened to you?!" Twilight shook Rainbow Dash. The pegasus became dizzy. But what hurt more, was the pain in her chest. Exploding like a bomb.

The others at the other side didn't know what to do. Cadence was about to jump up, but was held down by her aunt.

"Luna? What is it?"

"Leave them. By intruding, we could break their bond." The night princess answered. Cadence sat back, but was confused. Discord on the other hand just chuckled.

"Of course. The bond of friendship. A strong and meaningful power, but extremely delicate." He hovered above the regal alicorns. Clicking his claws as a box of popcorn appeared before him.

"Yes. What Discord said. Their friendship must not be messed around with. Especially between Twilight and Rainbow. Good friends they be, but being an assassin of the Creed, if her friendship shatters between them Rainbow will not be able to perform her service. And for Twilight, she cannot proceed to be princess of Equestria." Celestia explained. Her voice low so the two arguing mares didn't hear.

"Also, if their friendship is broken, the Elements of Harmony will not work. The other bearers may become distant and break apart." Luna added.

"I'm still loyal, aren't I?" Rainbow yelled back.

"Of course you are! But...but..."

"But what? I can be loyal to other ponies, Twilight. And at this moment, I pledge my loyalty to Soarin." Rainbow cried. As the alicorn yelled at her. Twilight stopped, and stared at the pegasus she was on top of.

"What?" Twilight whispered. Tears streaming down her face. Rainbow glanced up at the princess. Her eyes shone with a bright rose glow. Shining like jewels.

"I am still loyal to everypony else, your highness. But, my loyalty will stand for the stallion I love. I will not leave him. I will not forget him. Unlike Thunderlane, we clicked. Something big sparked. And I want to save that spark before it gets blown away."

Twilight continued to stare at her friend. Whose eyes were filled with tears. The princess walked off Rainbow and slumped to the floor.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm bad princess. I'm a bad friend. I'm so insensitive." She bawled. Crying like a little filly who lost her toy. Rainbow got and hugged her upset friend.

"I'm still loyal, Princess. And I still serve you. But I have my eyes on somepony else." She reassured. Hoping the princess would calm down. However, her cries did not cease.

"No. Rainbow. It's something else." Twilight choked on her tears. She didn't want to tell her friend. But she had to.

"What is it then?"

Twilight coughed. Clearing her throat and wiping her tears away. The others watched. Waiting for the princess to tell the assassin. Who knows what her reaction will be.

"It's...it's about Soarin." She mumbled.

"Is he okay? Please tell me he's okay." However, dred and fear began to surround Rainbow. This wasn't good. Nothing is ever good. Something had happened to Soarin. Something bad. Maybe whatever happened to Soarin in the hospital, had something to do with the sudden explosion of pain. Especially in her chest. As if, she was connected to him. But, she'll never know.

"I'm sorry, Rainbow."

Fear began shoot throughout the cyan mare's mind. Screaming and wailing at her. She felt pathetic. She couldn't have saved him. She wasn't there for him. Fresh tears welled up in her gem eyes.

"It's about Soarin."

Author's Notes:

Sorry again for the late update. Stuff has been happening. And sorry if this chapter is lacking. Like I said, stuff has happened.

I bet a lot of you hate me right now...but, there is a twist....that is all I'll say.

Please don't hate me. Everyone is hating me right now.