"Y-your highness? What are you doing here?" The red unicorn stuttered. Bowing before the fallen alicorn. The purple pony slowly got onto her hooves. Before, hovering her now dented crown. She grumbled as she brushed the dirt off the pristine gold.

"I came to visit the Element of Loyalty. Is that alright, Sir Flicker?" Twilight asked sternly. Glancing down at the winded pegasus on the floor. The unicorn laughed nervously.

"O-of course, your highness. But you really should have informed us. That way we could have secured Mistress Dashery."

"Secured her?" Twilight raised an eyebrow. Her horn glowed brilliant pink as she helped her friend up. She looked terrible. Even with the poor light, she could still see the mare's injuries. The princess quietly cried to herself. Her friend was in so much pain. Emotionally and physically.

"Yes. You see, she is still an assassin. Weak but still a killer. That's why we need to secure her." Flicker explained.

"To secure me? You hardly p-put up a fight. It only took a quick second and you're on the floor." Rainbow spluttered. Choking on her own blood. Twilight closed her eyes. She didn't like the sight of blood. Especially if it's coming from one of her closet friends. She fluttered her wings as the pegasus staggered slightly.

"Yes but you're very weak, aren't you?" Flicker sneered. He swung a spear towards the pegasus. Who ducked and kicked it back. Snapping it. "Physically and mentally weak." He added as his horn lit up. Suddenly the mare was pushed against the wall. Spitting out warm sticky liquid as her head was bashed against the wall. She groaned in pain. Flicker grinned.
"Ittle wittle assassin. You're assigned to kill, yet, you snap like a twig. That's why I think you belong here. You're not an assassin. You're just a mare. A poor, little mare."

"Flicker. I have come here to visit my friend. Not watch you destroy her until blood is pouring out of her mouth. Put her down now." The princess demanded. The unicorn gazed at the alicorn. Staring at her stern expression. He sighed to himself and released the pegasus. Who fell to the floor.

"Princess. She was trying to escape. As I took her chains off, she attacked me and ran off. If you were not there, she would have made it out."

Twilight's eyes widened at her mistake. Rainbow could be out right now. Gliding towards Ponyville. Seeing her friends. And being with Soarin.
"Oh. Well...I'll take her back to he-"

"No. You won't. I will. You can follow. It is my duty to take care of Miss Dash." He pushed the guards away as he walked down the dark corridor. He turned to the bloody pegasus.
"Come. Now." His eyes burning through the mare. She sighed and reluctantly followed him. Twilight began to trot with the ponies. Walking in absolute silence. The only sound to be heard was the echoing of hooves and screams of other ponies. Screams of pain and dismay.

The guards stopped by a bar door. Standing by the sides of it. The unicorn trotted up with a key and unlocked it. The door creaked as it opened. Sending shivers up everyone's spine. Rainbow stood by the princess before being pushed in by one of the guards. Twilight scowled the stallion, who simply ignored her. As the pegasus stumbled into the cell, another guard slapped her. Across her flank. Rainbow squeaked but said nothing. The purple pony was expecting her friend to pummel the stallion into the ground. Yet all the assassin did was stand there. The guards laughed at her.

"Silence! Touch her again and I'll personally torture you! You understand!! She's mine!! My pet! Okay?" Flicker barked. Causing the guards to jump in fright. He growled at them as they quickly nodded in reply. Princess Twilight stood with her eyes wide open. What was this monster going to do with her friend? The red unicorn turned his head back to the pegasus mare. He quickly placed the chains around her neck, and a special leather belt around her wings. He lent over her and whispered into her ear.
"My pet."

As he stood up, Rainbow sat down and lowered her head in shame. She felt so weak and useless. Chained up. Like some animal.

"You can talk to her now. But the guards will be just outside of the door. Just in case."

"Thank you." Twilight forced a smile on her face. She wanted to beat the unicorn. Shove him into the wall and zap him with all her might. She resisted this urge by glancing over to the cyan mare. It made her heart fill with pain as she saw her. Flicker trotted out and closed the door. His hooves echoing into the distance. Twilight stared at her friend. Not knowing what to say.

"I'm...I'm sorry."

"What for?" Rainbow huffed.

"If I didn't come down, you would be out now."

"I wouldn't really. As soon as I would get outside, I'll probably collapse of exhaustion. If I didn't, then I would be grounded. By wings are too weak to fly. Even hovering one hoof above the ground would cause my wings to clamp up in pain. So really, it didn't matter." She explained. Not making eye contact with the princess. Twilight fluttered her violet wings.

"Oh."

"But, if you didn't come along I would have beaten to a pulp. Sir doesn't like to torture somepony in front of others. Especially in front of royalty."

"Oh." Twilight blinked. It was so awkward to talk. Her friend was all chained up. And she couldn't help. She sat next to the pegasus. And sighed.
"Soarin....Soarin misses you. So much."

Rainbow Dash didn't say anything. But she felt fresh tears build up in her eyes. Soarin. She would do anything to see him again. Anything. All she wanted to do was leap into his arms and never let go. But that'll never happen.

"He cried all morning. We tried to calm him down. But he wouldn't."

"I should have listened. I shouldn't let my heart rule me. I've hurt somepony close to me again." The pegasus buried her head into her hooves. The alicorn watched as the assassin cried. Not knowing what to do. She didn't know as much as she wanted on romance. She knew the love between her brother and Cadence. And love in stories she's read. She's also seen ponies in love around Ponyville. Mr and Mrs Cake. Lyra and Bonbon. Derpy and Time Turner. And she knew about Spike's crush on Rarity. But she never knew it great detail. The books she read explained the passion between two lovers, however, the alicorn could never understand it. Yet, here her friend was. Experiencing it. And being heartbroken from it. She wished there was some form of spell to help Rainbow and Soarin. But the only thing that will make them happy, is each other.

Twilight moved closer to the pegasus and hugged her. Despite the chains on her neck. Rainbow looked up, and quickly hugged back. Wailing into her purple friend's shoulder.

"It's okay, Rainbow. It's okay." She soothed as she stroked Rainbow's dirt and blood riddled mane.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I've left you. I've left you all. I said I'll always be there. For all of you. I can't even keep promises." She cried. Tears streaming out of her tightly closed eyes. She promised so much to so many. Yet she couldn't keep them. She promised to always laugh with Pinkie Pie. To always stay honest with Applejack. To always be kind with Fluttershy. To always be generous with Rarity. To be with Scootaloo and help her through her fears. To serve the princesses. To be by Soarin. Until his dying breath. This only made the pegasus cried harder.

"It'll be okay, Rainbow. Everything will be fine. I will help you. I will get you out of here. So you can be with Soarin." Twilight retreated from the hug and smiled at her friend. Rainbow sniffed but weakly smiled back. A violet hoof brushed the tears off the light blue mare's cheeks. "And I will not rest until you are out of here. Cause friends always stay by each other. No matter what.

I will not be useless. I will help you." She whispered. Hoping her friend would not hear.

Author's Notes:

This chapter annoyed me. If it's rushed, it's because I've had several tests to revise. Still miffed off on my maths test. Got lost four marks on my bloody test. And then I've had my French test and other tests.

Enough about me. Here's the chapter. The next one might take longer than usual as it's going to be bigger.

Also, before I forget,

AAAAAHHHHHH!!!! SEASON FRICKEN FOUR IS STARTS TODAY!!!!! AND SO DOES DOCTOR WHO!!!!!! BEST DAY EVER!!!