The six ponies trotted silently through the grand corridor. They did not speak. They did not look at each other. They just simply walked. Two unicorn stallions led the group down the corridor, wearing simple golden armour. Which was instantly recognisable as the Royal Guard. Behind them was a cyan pegasus. Now wearing her trademark cloak. But her hood was down. Behind her were three other ponies. A unicorn, a pegasus and an earth pony. All wearing similar cloaks to the cyan mare, but white instead of black.

The three assassins were very worried. They had no idea what their leader has been arrested for. The only reason they came was to find out why. But not only that, their leader was their friend. A close friend indeed. They glanced at each other every so often, but never talked. Just plainly following the two stallions.

They reached the large golden doors, which led into the throne room of Canterlot Castle. Two other guards opened the doors for them. Holding spears and threatening the leader of The Creed.

A luscious light pink alicorn trotted over to the cyan mare. But was blocked off by the two bulky guards. The princess staggered back as the stallions gently pushed her away.

"Sorry your highness. It's for your own safety." One of them huffed. Cadence was confused.

"I don't understand. Why? She's not going to do anything." Cadence huffed and flapped her faded purple wings in frustration. Her crystal guards were always nicer. And obeyed more than the Royal Guard. Even if her husband was the Captain of The Royal Guard, they were still stubborn.

"You know how assassins are. Crafty little buggers. We let our guard and in a blink of an eye, everypony in the room is dead." One of them explained.

"Nonsense. I serve the princesses. Why would I kill them?" Rainbow stated. The stallion turned and glared at the mare. Towering over her. But the mare refused to move. In fact, while others would cower or cry, she just smirked at his attempt to scare her.

"Please. Your attempt to frighten me is futile. I stared into the face of bloody death." Rainbow trotted around the guards.

"Yet your biggest fear is failure. And which you have finally achieved." A voice scoffed. Rainbow stopped dead in her tracks and turned to the source of the voice.

"What in the name of Luna's moon are you doing here?!" She demanded. Stood by the doors now where three tall pegasi. All carrying evil smirks. However two other guards stood by them.

"Oh! We are here to witness your punishment." One of the Lords beamed.

"What for? If I say, I have not been told anything since the hospital." The master assassin growled. But the Pegasi Lords just laughed.

"Why were you in the hospital for? Was it for the Wonderbolt? That fell to his doom as a blade pierced his heart." The shorter one sneered. However, Rainbow said nothing. She just growled and glared daggers at the Lords.

"A-ha! So it is true! The assassin and the Wonderbolt! Well isn't that lovely! Tell me, my dear Rainbow Dash, have your previous relationships ended well? You're parents were murdered right in front of you. And they had to watch as their 'precious little Dashie' was robbed of her innocence. And from what I've heard, your previous relationship with one of your own ended rather abruptly. Killed by your own brother. The very same brother that betrayed you." The Lord jeered. "You have a very dark past, Miss Dash. Do you really think that the Wonderbolt will survive?" The pegasi gave off taunting expressions at the assassin.

"Y-yes....of course." She stuttered her reply.

"Stuttering? Oh dear, you do fear something. You are scared he will leave you. You're scared that your friends will leave. Isn't that right?"

"Just keep your words to yourself." Rainbow muttered. But the Lords just heaved with laughter.

"Hmm. Element of Loyalty? Really? I don't see you as loyal. You served under us, yet you dismissed us. That's not loyal. But do you know what I think is not very loyal? Not protecting the one you love. Not at all loyal."

"Princess Cadence. Why have I been arrested and sent here? And must I listen to these...dweebs?" Rainbow asked. The princess of love stared over to the other two alicorns, who sadly nodded in reply.

"You....you are under arrest for murder." She croaked. Even muttering that last word sent shivers up her spine.

"Murder? Of who? If you may recall, we kill under the name of Celestia." The purple pegasus by the door stated. Her friends beside her nodded as she hovered by them. Assassin are legally allowed to kill. As long as it requested from the Princess.

"Except for one. One pony. That neither Celestia or the Lords asked you to kill." The midnight blue alicorn trotted towards the assassin. "Do you remember this pony?"

It took a few moments for Rainbow to search her mind. Scanning for this mystery pony. Until finally, she remembered the pony.
"He deserved it." She simply said.

"You killed a pony without consent of your superiors." Princess Luna informed. Being stern and regal.

"He was murdering innocent pegasi. Several were foals." The cyan pegasus defended. But the alicorn refused to hear any of it. And continued to walk towards the assassin.

"You are to be told if you will assassinate at will. You do not do it without consent."

"He. Deserved. To. Die. He murdered Scootaloo's mother. He murdered Fuchsia Flash." Rainbow Dash shouted. Frustrated with the princess. Everyone didn't understand. They didn't know who this 'Fuchsia Flash' was. Except for the Lords.

One of the Pegasi Lords walked over, being followed by the guards.
"Tell me, assassin. How do you know this?"

"I have my ways." Rainbow chuckled but as she turned to her close friend, Twilight, her expression dropped. "Yes...well...how come I'm being arrested for murdering Sir Ice Wing. Didn't Discord find the flaw in the treaty? Wasn't the Princess in power all....oooh." The pegasus realised her error.

"Well, that flaw did not come out until Luna arrived. So technically, they were still power." Twilight gulped as her friend's expression change dramatically. Rainbow tried to stay calm but it clearly wasn't working.

"Oh dear. Oh dear." The assassin muttered under breath. She couldn't be sent back to Ianua Tartar. She couldn't. She had to be with Soarin. Soarin needs her. She promised him. She promised she'll be back. To be there. To be by his side. Panic erupted in her mind. Everything depended on her. The Creed. The Princesses. The inhabitants of Equestria. Her friends. Her lover. Her loyalty for everyone was being stretched. She didn't know what to do.

"Oh dear indeed, Miss Dash." A harsh voice hissed. A deep red unicorn walked over. While everyone in the room did not recognise this stallion, Rainbow's eyes shrunk to the size of pinpricks.
"Can't wait for you to come back. I had only just started your punishment before....you left. With that stupid Wonderbolt. But now, I can continue it."

The cyan pegasus said nothing. She couldn't move. Stuck to her position. Flicker noticed this and chuckled lightly.

"Do you know why I didn't hurt him? Why he had to spend hours watching you in pain? Well because, the greatest pain is being heartbroken. And I know that you have been broken many times. But I noticed this stallion, this hyped up flier, had feelings towards you. So why not break him down? I couldn't do anything to you. Well, not emotionally."

"Just get out of my sight. You sicken me. Having a lust for the pain of others." Rainbow spat at the unicorn. Who just smirked.

"I see you haven't healed then." He glanced at her bandaged wings. She ruffled them. "That's what I love about pegasi. Especially the mares. They are more sensitive than males. And you, you were fun. Never gave up at first. Such a feisty attitude at first. But then came the begging. Not for your freedom, but that stallion. I hardly touched him but you constantly begged for him to be set free."

"He deserves freedom more than me."

"Yes well, " Flicker stood right in front of the assassin. His eyes piercing through the mare. Who refused to cower away. "I can't wait to have you back. I miss your cries. Your blood all over the dirty floor. Your feathers soaked in your own scarlet red blood. And there is so many things we haven't done yet." The unicorn's horn lit up with his aura. His grin growing. Everyone in the room watched as the pegasus' hooves were stuck to floor. She struggled and tugged but her hooves wouldn't move. She glared at the grinning unicorn. Rainbow flapped her wings, despite the twinges of pain.

"I do love your eyes. So pretty. So bright. So perfect." He used his hoof to circle the cyan mare's eyes. She moved her head away, but the unicorn used his magic to keep her still. "I would love to cut them out. Like pretty little gems. And my own blind pet. But yet again, I would rather keep my pet healthy. Keep your little gems."

"Sir Flicker Flame! Stop that this instant! Release Miss Rainbow Dash now!" Twilight demanded. Her horn aglow, threatening the unicorn stallion. Flicker snorted and let his grip go off the pegasus. Who growled at the unicorn.

"Pathetic. Aren't you supposed to be protecting the princess? Rather than her trying to protect you."

"Callin her pathetic? Tell mah, how exactly are ya helpin Equestria?" Applejack stomped. Followed by Rarity and Pinkie Pie. All staring at the red unicorn. Who was surprised by the mares'.

"Listen, I am, along with my brothers, are the keepers of Ianau Tartar. We torture every soul sentenced there. Making every single being scream and cry until blood pours from their mouths. Until they have lost all faith. All hope. And that my dear mares, is how I help Equestria. Torturing everypony who has done wrong. And she has done wrong!" He pointed at Rainbow.

"Yes. Okay. I admit it! But us assassins do this. We kill for the princesses. We kill for the harmony. We kill for Equestria. And killing Sir Ice Wing was the only way. So take me back to that damned place. Take me back to Ianua Tartar. I deserve it. But, I ask for one thing." Rainbow turned to her friends. Fluttershy and Pinkie were about to cry. Applejack and Rarity stood gobsmacked. And Twilight. Her pupils shrunk. Her mouth opened wide.

"And what is that?"

Tears welled up in the mare's bright rose eyes. Making them glimmer. Despite all of this, she smiled to her friends. Her friends. The very ponies who were there through thick and thin. Who were by her side no matter what. Who are her family. Rainbow Dash felt her heart shine brightly as she glanced at the almost crying mares. All this time, she's been trying to run out of her dark past, and these were the ponies to help. Generosity. Honesty. Kindness. Laughter. Magic. These ponies were her family. Not her biological family. But still. They all loved each other like sisters.

"I had my family all along.

And to make her heart shine brighter, her lover. A pony to love. Not as a family. Not as a sister or brother. But as a lover. And this made Rainbow's life worth while. She loved him. They connected like two pieces of a puzzle. Their love for each burned between them. Stronger than anything. No matter where they were, they would always be together.
Her tears streamed down her cheeks. She glanced at the ground before staring back at her friends. With a sweet, innocent smile upon her face. All her friends could see a small flame behind the rose gem eyes.

"Take care of Soarin. And tell him I love him. More than anything."

Author's Notes:

Sorrysorrysorrysorrysorry.

Sorry it's late. And sorry if the chapter seems weak. Everything is con-fuzzled over here. Took awhile to get this chapter out. I don't even know why.

Comment any errors please. Any errors that you find.

And comment any way. Please. I like it when people comment. It makes me happy.