The small cell Twilight, Fluttershy and Spectrum were thrown into was dark, dank, and lonely. The only things inside were three uncomfortable-looking steel beds, a single toilet, and a torch for a small amount of light in case they needed some.

Spectrum sat silently, twiddling her thumbs trying to pass the time. The paint on her wings and ears was removed as to cease impersonation further, as well as her spear was confiscated, but she was allowed to keep the armor. Fluttershy was in the corner, thinking about her actions. Her staff was taken away in case it would be used as a means of escape. Twilight was busy attempting to find a way out somehow. Her pouch containing her summoning book was also taken taken away, as well as Spike.

"C'mon, there's gotta be something here, right?" Twilight desperately struggled to find a way out "A secret passage, a loose rock? Anything?! Please..."

"Twilight, there's no point" Spectrum sighed "The walls are reinforced with mythril, so even something like a fall from the sky wouldn't even crack them. I know these halls better than anyone else when I was visiting here with my dad when he was still, y'know... alive..."

"Oh, right..." Twilight sadly sighed before stopping and sitting down next to Spectrum "So, you're a girl, huh?"

"Yeah" Spectrum nodded "I suppose I gotta make introductions, huh? Hahaha... Anyway, my real name is Rainbow Dash, or just Rainbow for short. My dad was Spectrum Streak, the greatest lieutenant-commander in the whole Dragoon army! Or, at least in my eyes. He was my role model, and I wanted to be just like him when I grew up!"

"Only, you actually did become him" Twilight's eyebrow rose.

"I guess it turned out that way..." Rainbow rubbed her forehead with her right hand "Everyone has the story all wrong, you see. My dad and mom were happily going about their day while I was at college. When I came back to visit them, I discovered that the house had burned down, along with everyone in it."

"Oh my... That's horrible..." Fluttershy spoke up "Who on earth would do such a thing?"

"I don't know, but I do know whoever it could have been was trying to kill me" Rainbow explained "At least, that's my theory. No other fires were started after that, at least in succession to the one in my house, and the fire barely touched the other houses. Not even a burn mark was on the neighbors' houses."

"Certainly sounds like something was directed at you" Twilight mentioned "But how did you take your father's identity and keep it a secret for so long?"

"Taking my old man's identity was the hard part, as I had to make it as convincing as possible" Rainbow said "Meaning I had to fake my death, erase my identity, and make sure none of my relatives ever heard my voice again. Keeping it a secret was the easy part because the Dragoons, while powerful, are just a bunch of complete idiots. They're grunts, to say the least; they follow your every order mostly without question and can get the job done, even if it takes them five hours to set up an anti-monster cannon..." disappointing memories flooded her mind again, making her shiver a bit.

"Surely they can't-" Fluttershy stated, only to have Rainbow interrupt her.

"Trust me, they are" Rainbow deadpanned "Why else would I still be wearing my Dragoon armor? They have prisoner clothes, they're just too incompetent and nervous to look at a girl's boobs. There's nothing to even see! How do you think I managed to stay hidden so long? I have a flat chest!"

"That all makes sense, but-" Twilight blushed, asking her question before Rainbow once again interrupted.

"Why did I take his identity in the first place?" Rainbow gave off a sad smile "The selfless reason was because I didn't want my role model's legacy to end so suddenly. I wanted him to be a great leader, and be funny and kind as always! But, the slightly selfish reason was because, well... the city doesn't allow female Dragoons or knights."

"No way!" Twilight gasped.

"W-What?" Fluttershy was at a loss for words.

"Sexist, I know" Rainbow sighed "I wanted to be like my father so much that a bad side of me took the opportunity of his death as a chance to become a Dragoon for myself. It's low and I regret every second of it... But at the same time, being a Dragoon was awesome!"

"I can see how anyone would do that" Twilight agreed, albeit reluctantly, not quite agreeing with Rainbow's thoughts "But Rainbow, why not just stand up against the city's court? The Dragoons themselves?"

"Are you kidding?" Rainbow scoffed "Last time that happened, the entire group of protesters, men included, were thrown into jail for defiance to the king. Best of all, for 20 years! But it gets better, believe me..." she shook her head with an angry smile on her face "There were children in that crowd as well! No one got off Scott-free... And it's all because of that stupid Wind Fury asshole who thinks he can command everyone like they're his bitches!"

"You know about him?" Twilight questioned.

"Who doesn't?" Rainbow answered with another question "He only introduced himself because he can't be bothered to think people, y'know... think. He really, honest to god believes he's the shit!"

"Now, now, no need to swear..." Fluttershy calmly approached the situation, only to be yelled at again by Rainbow.

"Are you kidding?! THERE IS A DEFINITE NEED TO SWEAR!!"

"Rainbow, calm down!" Twilight tried her own approach "I believe you that the high commander is a disgusting man, but he still has every right to throw us in jail after illegal impersonation and basically murder."

"You don't get it, Twilight!" Rainbow shouted "You haven't SEEN what the high commander does to those guilty of illegal actions! When I was sneaking off as a child, I accidentally found one of his torturing chambers. Basically, under the king's awareness, he began killing the exact same people in the protest I told you about..."

"No..." Fluttershy gasped.

"Rainbow" Twilight placed a hand on her shoulder, about to say something motivational before she just gave up and said the first thing on her mind "Yeah, you're right, he's an asshole. We have to get out of this cell as soon as possible so we can finally give him the justice he so rightfully deserves!"

"Twilight, there's no way out" Rainbow mentioned once again, knocking her fist on the walls "Mythril, remember?"

"Um, if I may interject, if, you know, that's okay with you of course" Fluttershy shyly spoke up "But maybe someone is coming to rescue us already?"

"I don't think so, Shy" Rainbow sighed, giving her a new nickname "There is no one who witnessed us being heroic and stuff when we fought that Typhon guy to back us up and try to get us out of jail legally. Well, no one alive anyway. It doesn't help that Wind Fury pretty much told everyone in the city of our actions, so we're stuck here until we die."

"Damn..." Twilight exhaled, not quite a sigh.

(Music Stop)

"Maybe I can be of assistance, sir?" spoke an echoing voice from outside the hallway.

"Hmm? Did you say something, Fluttershy?" Twilight wondered.

"N-No?" she answered, terrified as to what the voice might be.

"Oh, right, sorry!" the voice clumsily spoke again before a levitating, glowing blue figure with what appeared to be Dragoon armor on appeared right outside the cell door "Hello, commander. It's good to see you again."

"AAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" Fluttershy screamed as she saw the figure, doing her best to crawl away from it "G-G-G-GHOST!!!"

"What do you want, spirit!" Twilight shouted.

"Yeah, can't you see we're busy?!" Rainbow joined in with her friend.

"Whoa, whoa, please calm yourselves" the ghost calmly waved his arms, attempting to sooth the trio, eventually working "Thank you... Now, my name is lieutenant Blitz of the Dragoon army. More specifically, yours, commander Rainbow Dash."

"Wait... you mean that lieutenant to private dude?" Rainbow began to laugh, much to the dismay of Blitz "Dude, you're a ghost now! That's awesome!"

"Well, being a spirit does have it's ups and downs, I suppose..." Blitz admired the comment before realizing he had a task to do "Sorry, back on track. As you know, I was crushed by Cloudsdale when the wind crystal had ceased to generate power. Don't feel bad, as I'm not sure I would have been able to aid you three any other way."

"Okay, a few questions..." Twilight, still slightly shocked, asked Blitz's spirit "First off, how the heck can we even see you? Are you supposed to be some kind of invisible and lonely figure that roams the halls of-"

"While I would love to stay and answer your questions, I'm afraid time is of the essence" Blitz explained right before he opened the lock to their cell door "You must go and make Wind Fury atone for his actions."

"Are you coming with us?" Twilight asked.

"No, unfortunately" Blitz somberly said "As a spirit, I am unfortunately cursed to roam these halls forever until my wish is fulfilled. Then I can finally rest easy."

"And I'm gonna guess your wish is to stop high commander Shit Head for good?" Rainbow wondered.

"Precisely" Blitz nodded "Now, go! Make haste!"

"Blitz, thank you" Rainbow nodded before exiting the cell. Before Twilight did, she looked back and tried to call Fluttershy over to her, to of course no avail.

"Fluttershy, please" Twilight groaned "We don't have time for this. This ghost is the same person we met when we were in the Everfree Forest. Please, we gotta stop Wind Fury!"

"O-Okay..." Fluttershy nodded, slowly making her way to the cell's door. As a precautionary measure, Blitz moved back to give the woman some space until she was finally out and away from the ghost. Twilight and Rainbow waved him farewell before they and their White Mage friend turned around and walked away. Before Rainbow could continue though, Blitz stopped her for a moment.

"Rainbow Dash" he began "Personally, I care not that you are a woman. Despite our ups and downs, arguments and clashes, you were by far the greatest commander I ever had the pleasure of serving under."

"Blitz..." Rainbow smiled "Thanks. Y'know, I think I'll name one of my kids after you!"

"I would be honored" Blitz said before he vanished into thin air, his voice still carrying through the hallway "Goodbye, commander Rainbow Dash..."

"Goodbye, lieutenant..." Rainbow gave her final farewells before rejoining her friends on their quest to find the high commander and make him pay.

The hallway they continued down had a lot of loud, bronze machines that very much sounded like a bunch of trains all collectively spinning their wheels around. They were box-like with pistons churning every so often, and the trio could only imagine what they actually did. Nonetheless, they continued on their journey.

"First thing's first" Twilight began "We need to find our weapons, especially my book, Fluttershy's staff and Spike. Those are almost irreplaceable."

"Gee, thanks..." Rainbow deadpanned, hating having her weapon being the third wheel.

"Next off, we should find some items" Twilight continued.

"Oh, I'm very certain some monsters drop potions every now and then" Fluttershy suggested "Then again, this is a sc-scary place, meaning... there are going to be a lot of... oh dear..."

"Relax, Fluttershy" Rainbow cockily grinned "So long as you're with us, nothing bad could possibly happen."

(Music Stop)

Suddenly, a painful groan was heard from an unknown area that echoed through the hallway. Fluttershy quickly caught onto this and screamed like a school filly, running around aimlessly until she accidentally bumped into a wall. The moment she did so, Twilight and Rainbow heard a small click, followed immediately by a the sound of gears turning. Behind them, the corridor had closed off and the middle of the floor and ceiling had begun to closed, leaving Fluttershy on one side and Twilight and Rainbow Dash on the other.

"Fluttershy, jump, quickly!" the latter shouted.

"W-What?" she was still getting out of her daze. Unfortunately, the moment she did, it was too late. The wall created by the floor and ceiling had fully closed with a loud slam, leaving Fluttershy stranded.

"Hello?!" Fluttershy called out "Can anyone hear me, hello?! Oh, wall, please don't be soundproof..."

She continuously banged on the wall with all her might, but to no avail. She was stuck until she could find another way to meet up with her friends. The realization of this slowly crept unto her, terrifying her to no end. Gently, she leaned her back against the wall and slowly sat down, crying all the while.

She couldn't handle being alone. Even the company of her animal friends was more than enough. She had only been alone once in her life, and she dared not think of that experience ever again. Just as she was about to give up, she felt a soft hand touch her ears through her hood. The hand was small, almost child-like, but pleasing nonetheless.

Fluttershy looked up only to see a young girl that couldn't have been more than ten years old. Her skin was a soft pink and her long hair a beautiful shade of red. Her blue eyes were sparkling with youth yet overcome with sadness, and she only wore a simple white sundress. In her other hand was a brown stuffed teddy bear. She looked at Fluttershy curiously.

"Oh, m-my apologies..." Fluttershy sniffed, giving a sad smile "I must look like a mess... What is your name, young one?"

The girl didn't answer, but it wasn't because she didn't want to. Fluttershy quickly learned that she was, in fact, mute. Smiling kindly, Fluttershy picked herself up off the ground and looked down at the young girl.

"Thank you, young one" Fluttershy smiled "So, I suppose you escaped this place as well?"

The girl merely shook her head.

"Oh, of course, we're still in the prison..." Fluttershy nodded "But I promise that we'll find a way out, alright? You see, I'm looking for my friends. Would you happen to know where I a section is I could meet them again? Also, if you don't mind me asking, have you seen a wooden staff with a curly tip?"

The girl nodded her head and motioned for Fluttershy to follow her, walking off and dragging her stuffed bear along the ground in the process. Fluttershy soon followed, curious as to where the young girl was headed. The hallway to the destination was long, but at the very least, light was filled with the help of some torches here and there.

Finally, the girl stopped at a door with the word 'Exit' overhead it. Fluttershy smiled at this, but it wasn't long until the girl wanted her to follow her again. Without question Fluttershy started walking with the girl again.

"Are you taking me to my staff, little one?" she asked the young girl. The latter turned around and nodded before continuing on her walk to where she remembered her staff being.

"I truly cannot thank you enough, young lady" Fluttershy kindly smiled. As soon as she spoke, the girl stopped and turned to an iron door with a metal lever on it. Reaching out her free hand, she pulled the lever and opened up the door, releasing a burst of light; the morning sun. Fluttershy shielded her eyes for a brief moment to adjust to the brightness, but soon followed the young girl into the outside world.

Out there was a beautiful garden within the city. Trees were blowing through the unfortunately weak wind, and the sun shone down upon Fluttershy's face. She immediately sighed and smiled, feeling refreshed after being cooped up in a cell the entire time. She then turned to the girl and nodded.

"Thank you, young one" she said "This was very nice of you. But, wherever is my staff? I mean, you don't have to show me, but-"

The girl raised a hand a shook her head whilst smiling, prompting Fluttershy to stop for a moment. She then turned her head down towards the center of the garden. Once Fluttershy saw what was there, she gasped, for it was a brand new wooden staff that looked exactly like her last one embedded in a gray stone. But not just any stone; a tombstone.

"H-Here lies Melody Tune" she read from the grave, her voice slightly shaky "A-A loving sister, a w-wonderful friend, and an amazing... friend..." she wasn't sure what to think after reading the words etched on the stone. Then it hit her. She turned toward the girl, with eyes that almost asked the question for her. The girl slowly nodded sadly.

"Oh my..." Fluttershy felt a tear on her cheek "I'm... I'm so sorry..."

The girl smiled and shook her head once again. But then she did something Fluttershy didn't expect; she stuck out her hand and awaited the mage to touch it. Without much reluctance, Fluttershy did as she was instructed.

A surge of memories filled her mind. Dark ones. Horrid ones. There was screaming, crying, hurt... She couldn't take it anymore. She immediately let go of the girl's hand and panted. After getting her bearings, she took a deep breath and looked at the girl again.

"He... you..." she struggled to find words "I... don't... I'm sorry..."

(Music Stop)

The girl hugged her as soon as she apologized. Slowly, Fluttershy hugged back. Once they had let go of each other, the girl brought up her stuffed bear to Fluttershy's chest, to which she gently took it from the tiny hands. Knowing exactly what to do with it, she bent down and placed it right in front of the grave like a bouquet of flowers to the deceased. She smiled before getting back up, slowly pulling the staff out from the stone. Before she left, she looked at the tombstone one last time.

"I promise, little Melody, I'll finally let you go to heaven" she said before walking back through the way she came.

The girl that had lead her to the garden had now gone. All that remained was a stuffed bear and a grave.

Author's Notes:

Before I get into important stuff, I just need to mention that I used the word Buho a lot. A friend of mine mentioned that I shouldn't call the race of pony/humans anthros, but something more akin to Final Fantasy. Buho means Pony in Al Bhed.

This chapter is dedicated to a young 10-year-old girl who lost her life during a ferocious storm a few days ago. I truly hope that she finds peace wherever she may go.

Be sure to Like, Comment, Favourite and Follow, and until then, dream on everyone.