Part Two: The Rose

“Fluttershy... I’m so sorry.  Whatever you need me to do, I’ll do it!  But... what does any of this have to do with the Flyathalon?”

“Well,” Fluttershy said, her sobbing now reduced to sniffles, “I was hoping I could use the prize bits to get it fixed.”

“But... who will fix it?  Do you even know what it’s made of? And—wait a second.  Why would you enter the Flyathalon?   Why couldn’t I just win it and give you the prize bits to get your rose fixed?  Because if all it takes to get it fixed is some bits, and all it takes to get some bits is for me to win the Flyathalon, than consider your rose as good as fixed!”

Fluttershy stared at Dash in shock.  “You’d do that for me?”

It was Dash’s turn to be shocked.  “Um, of course!   A friend in need is more important than some bits, Fluttershy.  And besides, there will be other races for me to win.  Lots of them.”

“Oh, thank you, Rainbow Dash!  You’re the best friend ever!”  She squeezed Dash in a warm, tight hug.

“Aw,” Dash smiled, returning the embrace, “It’s nothing.  But slow down.  You still haven’t mentioned anything about just how in the hay you plan on getting this rose of yours fixed.”

“Well...” Fluttershy began, but then realized she had no clue how to go about repairing the mysterious heirloom.  She wasn’t even sure what it was made of, where it came from, or how old it was.  She knew only that it had been her father’s.

The tears drew dangerously close once more.        

“Hey!” Rainbow Dash said quickly (she’d seen enough tears for one day... and maybe came a little close to tears herself, too), “Here’s an idea.  Why don’t we go over to your place and take a look at the rose together?  I’m sure we’ll think of something.”

Fluttershy glanced up at her friend, gratitude showing in her smile.  “I’d like that.”

As they trod off, side by side, Fluttershy placed a wing on Rainbow Dash’s back, pulling her close.  “Rainbow Dash... you’re the best.”

I know, Dash would have normally replied...  but she stopped herself.  After all that had happened, she realized, there was something else she’d rather say.

“Hey... Fluttershy?”

Fluttershy glanced inquisitively at Dash.  “Yes, Rainbow Dash?”

“I’m sorry for laughing at you when you said you were entering the Flyathalon.”

Fluttershy pulled Dash even closer.  She turned to her friend, responding only with a smile that said more than any words she knew.

Off they trod, two friends, their problem forgotten, if only for a moment.

***

As they arrived outside the cottage, Fluttershy stopped.

“Rainbow Dash, I... I don’t think...”

“What, Fluttershy?”

“... I don’t think we’ll be able to fix it.”

Dash turned to her.

“Fluttershy,” she said, with all the resolve of a competitive flier, “I am going to make you a promise.  I don’t care what your rose is made of, or how many bits it will take to fix, or how many pieces it broke into.  We’re going to get it fixed.”

Fluttershy’s words of gratitude were interrupted as a familiar voice called out.

“Hi, guys!  Whatcha up to?  Fluttershy, could I borrow some—”

“Twilight Sparkle!  Oh I’m so glad you’re here!”  Fluttershy exclaimed, jumping with delight.  She ran up to Twilight and enveloped her in a great hug.

“Oh... good to see you, too, Fluttershy!”  Twilight said, amused at this unexpected outburst.

Rainbow Dash suddenly realized where this was going.

“Twilight!  Do you know a spell to fix things?”

Twilight’s answer was muffled through Fluttershy’s continuing hug.  “Yes, of course.  It’s one of the first—ok, Fluttershy, you can let go now—first spells I learned.”

“Well, we’ve got something that needs fixing,” said Dash.  “But first I think Fluttershy had better explain.”

Fluttershy grew solemn, though the arrival of Twilight eased her mind considerably.  After a moment to gather her thoughts, she began to tell her story once more.  Unlike last time, she had no trouble finding her words.  Rainbow Dash, who had heard the story not even an hour ago, found herself welling up once more;  Twilight fared no better.

“Gosh... I’m so sorry, Fluttershy,”  Twilight said at the end, putting a hoof around her friend, who was staring sadly at the ground.  “I’ll do whatever I can to help.”

“Do you... do you think you could fix it?”  Fluttershy asked hopefully.

“Well, I’ve never really come across anything that an old Fixing Spell can’t repair... so I suppose there’s no harm in trying.”

Ranbow Dash turned to Fluttershy.  “See?  No problemo!  If anypony’s gonna be able to fix this thing, it’s Twilight.  She probably won’t even charge you for it,” she joked.

“Well... let’s give it a shot, then!”  Twilight said... but an unsettling, ominous worry began spreading in the back of her mind.  She thought about saying something... but it was probably nothing.  “Let’s see this rose of yours,” she said instead.

***

It sat on the floor on a piece of cloth.

Rainbow Dash knew from Fluttershy’s description that the rose was supposed to be beautiful, but none of her expectations could have prepared her for what she saw.

It didn’t seem to reflect light so much as it seemed to capture it, holding it in an embrace, enhancing it, and releasing it once more.  Dash could see her own disbelieving face in each petal just as well as she could see the cloth through them or the amplified reflection of Twilight next to her.  Fluttershy was right, for it seemed to glow.  No, Dash realized.  It didn’t seem to glow.  It did glow.  The cloth beneath it was colored by light of the purest red and green.

It was, simply put, the most beautiful thing Rainbow Dash had ever seen.

And it lay in pieces.

Fluttershy had each piece assembled so that, together, they made up a crude representation of the rose.  Its petals were broken into three shards, the stem was broken into another three.  And even in its disassembled form, it was mesmerizing.

“Ooooh...”  Twilight was having the same reaction as Rainbow Dash.  “It’s... it’s incredible...”

“Do you think you can fix it?”  Fluttershy was standing on the other end of the cloth, peering anxiously up at Dash and Twilight.

Twilight broke her gaze free from the incredible object.  “I guess... I guess I can try.  But... something about this doesn’t seem right, Fluttershy.”

“Oh, come on, Twilight,” Dash said, frustrated.  Hadn’t she heard how much the rose meant to Fluttershy?  “I’ve seen you do much harder things with magic than fixing some antique.”

“Alright, then... well, here goes...”  Twilight backed up, taking a stance several feet in front of the rose, a determined yet worried look upon her face.  Her horn began emitting a dim purple light.  “One...”

        In the back of her mind, Twilight’s apprehension persisted.  She was missing something... some detail wasn’t being examined...

“Two...”  Twilight continued warily, the worry growing.  What am I missing?   The dull purple light was now a thick, violet glow.  Think, Twilight, think... your earliest lessons with Princess Celestia...

Suddenly, realization.  She tried to hold it back, but it was too late; the magic had built up inside her, and she had no choice but to release it.

“THREE!”

The force of the blast flung Rainbow Dash into a wall.

Twilight let loose a scream.

Fluttershy was thrown against a table, which collapsed under her weight.  For a second, she saw the rose, fully assembled and emitting a brilliant white light.  It swam toward her through the air.

“Fluttershy...” The voice, unrecognizable yet somehow so very familiar, emanated directly from the shining artifact.  Lovingly, sadly, it spoke; its words dim, as if they traveled a great distance.  “Fluttershy...  I hoped this moment would never come.  But it seems some poor misguided soul has left us with no choice.   What once was mine, now is yours, Fluttershy.  I’m so sorry for laying this burden on you... you have wonderful friends, dear... they won’t let you down.  Always remember how much I love you... always remember...” The voice faded and the world dimmed as Fluttershy’s consciousness slipped away.

***

Rainbow Dash, who had survived many a hard crash, was the first to regain consciousness.  She slowly stood up, holding a hoof to her head.  “Ugggghhhhh,” she moaned.  A fairly large bump had risen directly in the center of her forehead.

Heh, I’m a unicorn now, she thought humorlessly.

Suddenly everything came back to her.  She flew like a shot to where Fluttershy lay, wooden table fragments littered around her.

“’Shy!  Fluttershy!  Get up!  Are you ok?”  She nudged the unconscious pegasus, then rolled her onto her side, when she remembered Twilight.  “Stay right there!” she said, though Fluttershy showed no indication of movement.

“Twi’!  Can you hear me?  Are you ok?”  Rainbow Dash was growing hysterical.

“Ughhhh... what happened?  My horn is killing me...”  Twilight slowly got to her feet.

“Please help me with Fluttershy!  I think she’s hurt!”  As Dash said this, Twilight jumped to her hooves and sprinted to her injured friend, who lay still where Dash had left her.

“Fluttershy?  Can you hear me?  Are you ok?”  Twilight’s gentle prodding yielded nothing but a soft groan from her friend.

“Dash, can you fly her to the hospital?  We need to get her care as quickly as—”

“Wait... don’t go...”  Fluttershy pleaded; though strained, her voice was clear of pain.

“Fluttershy, we’d never leave you!  We’re taking you to get help!” explained Dash.

“Father... don’t go...  Please...”  

        Twilight turned to Dash with concern.  “She’s delirious.  We need to get her help now.”

***

In the corner, forgotten in the panic, lay the rose.  Just as beautiful as ever.  Just as broken as before.

Its six shards now glowed with an intense luminance, as if a dormant force within them had awoken.

***

“Did she just move?”

Her mind drifted, a lost boat in the fog of the sea... in the distance, however, a beacon of light appeared.

“I think she’s waking up... oh thank Celestia...”

Slowly her thoughts began to form order from disorder.  The beacon drew nearer, the voices clearer.

“Did she just say something?”  A voice... the voice of a friend (they won’t let you down).

“I think she’s still delirious... she was talking to herself before we brought her here.”

Slowly she opened her eyes, the light unbearably bright at first, sending a jolt of pain through her aching head.  As edges came into focus and her vision became clear, she realized she was in the bed of a care room of Ponyville Hospital.  Any other attempts to explore her surroundings were cut short as she was grabbed in a six-way hug.  A mixture of worried, relieved, and distraught babble surrounded her.

“I flew you here as quickly as I could—”

“—Oh, darling, let me fix your mane for you—”

“—’Ah baked ya everything I could find: fritters, pies, dumplings—”

“—Mr. and Mrs. Cake were sooooooo woooooorried!—”

“—How are you feeling?  The nurse said you should recover just fine—”

The chatter slowed to a stop as her friends realized she was preparing to speak.

“What happened?” she groaned, feeling a tender spot on a leg.

Rainbow Dash informed her patiently.  “Your rose, Fluttershy.  Don’t you remember?  Twilight tried to fix it.  And... well...” She gestured at her own bruised self, letting her minor injuries tell the story.

Everything came rushing back.  The rose, the explosion... her father...

Did I really hear that?  Was it really him?  A part of her couldn’t accept it, couldn’t believe that she had actually heard him.  Somehow, though, she knew it to be true... he had actually spoken to her.

She was about to mention this to her friends when she realized just how heavily bruised Rainbow Dash and Twilight appeared to be.  “Oh my goodness, are you two ok?  Twilight... I heard you yell... and Rainbow Dash, you were the closest...”

Dash smiled, but the reassuring effect was ruined by a wince of pain as she felt the bump on her head.  “I’ve flown into walls before.  Nothing I can’t handle.”

Twilight smiled as well.  “Your bed caught me.  I was pretty lucky.”

Applejack took charge.  “Fluttershy, Dash and Twi’ told us about your rose.  You need to help us understand, Fluttershy.  Why did this happen?  Why was there this... this... accident?”

“I think I know.”  Everypony gave Twilight her full attention.  “Rarity... remember what I once told you about magic?  About The Laws?”

Rarity suddenly understood.  “Twilight... do you mean to say Fluttershy’s heirloom contains magic?”

Twilight nodded.

Pinkie Pie and Applejack stared at each other, puzzled.  “What in the hay are y’all talkin’ about?”

Rarity explained. “Applejack, Pinkie Pie, what Twilight is saying is that magic generally repels other magic.  It’s the first principle every unicorn learns.  Twilight, I don’t understand the technical terms.  The effect doesn’t usually come into play in my designs.  Won’t you explain?”

Even in a morose situation, Twilight jumped at the chance to educate.  “Rarity is correct.  It’s the first Law of magic: magic repels other magic.  The second is that magic performs work; it doesn’t eliminate it.  So if I were to magically lift this bed, it’d require just as much work as if I were to try to physically lift it; that’s why unicorns must practice and strengthen their ability to channel magic.  The third Law is that magic cannot be created or destroyed, only utilized.  But I’m getting ahead of myself.

“Because of the first Law, it stands to reason that your rose, Fluttershy, contains a large amount of magic... which explains the huge outburst that occurred when I tried to mend it.  When I cast the Fixing Spell, the rose’s magic repelled my own right back at us...”  Twilight gingerly rubbed a bruise on her leg, “... magnified by quite a bit, it seems.”

Dash looked at Twilight, her face uncharacteristically deep in thought.  “Twilight... if the rose contains magic, then how could Fluttershy break it?  An object with that much magic inside it can’t break that easily, right?  At least, that’s what I remember you telling me once, Twilight.”  Twilight smiled at her, glad to know that some of her rants actually landed upon attentive ears.  “That’s why the question right now is: just how did you break the rose, Fluttershy?”

All eyes turned to Fluttershy.  “Oh... well... I...”

Dash sighed, exasperated.  “Come on, Fluttershy.  You’ve already told us this much.  Out with it.”

“Well,” Fluttershy said, “... I don’t really know.”

Dash floated herself up above Fluttershy’s bed, hovering there and looking down solemnly at her friend.  “How do you not know?  You told me you broke it.”

For a second, the only sound was that of Dash’s gently flapping wings.

“Well...” Fluttershy finally said.  “I didn’t break it... I just found it that way yesterday.  I was in my cottage feeding Angel when I heard a horrible shattering sound from my room.  I was so afraid because I thought somepony was robbing me.  Then I realized that nopony in Ponyville could be so mean, so I waited a minute and then went into my room.  Everything was just fine... except my rose wasn’t in the vase!  And then, when I walked up to it, I realized it was in the vase, at the bottom, in pieces.”  She finally said the only thing that had been on her mind since she woke up: “During the explosion... I heard my father.  He spoke to me... through the rose...”

Twilight Sparkle walked closer to Fluttershy’s bed.  “Fluttershy... you’re sure about this?  You really heard him?”

Fluttershy nodded.

“Well, what did—”

The atmosphere of the serene hospital room exploded as the door was thrown open with a splintering thud.

“Which one of you is Twilight Sparkle?”  demanded the pony who had burst in, clearly one of Celestia’s guards (and a highly-ranking one at that, by the looks of his regalia).

“I am,” answered a bewildered Twilight.  “What’s wrong?  What happened?”  She felt panic creeping in.

“Your presence is requested at Canterlot, by order of Princess Luna.  It’s Princess Celestia... it seems she’s gone missing.”

        ***

As the pillar crumpled, the black figure grinned.

All there was left to do now was wait... Next Chapter: Part Three: The Spring of Magic Estimated time remaining: 3 Hours, 32 Minutes