“Rarity, are you absolutely sure we’re goin’ the right way? I mean, I can’t help but get the feelin’ that we’ve seen this particular rock before.” Applejack felt fear welling up in her chest. How long did Rarity say she had been unconscious for? An hour, maybe? Add that to the hour it took to round everypony up and bring them out to the mines, plus the Celestia-knows-how-long they had been wandering around in the darkness… Where would their friends be by now?
“Don’t worry, silly,” said Pinkie Pie, a bit of concern coloring her usually-fearless voice. “We’ve been in these caves before; I’m sure we’ll find them eventually!” This was the doozy. Her friends had been kidnapped by Diamond Dogs, and now they were probably being tortured, or maybe even worse. No, Pinkie Pie, no bad thoughts. Remember what Granny Pie said? Pinkie began to chuckle, a harsh, nervous laughter.
“I… I’m not sure.” Rarity bit her lower lip. “The Diamond Dogs’ passages are an absolute maze, and I don’t know where they would have taken our friends. Wherever it is, I’m sure it can’t be very nice. I’m sure Pinkie’s right, though. She does have her ways of… sensing these things.”
Pinkie nodded, not wanting to voice her concerns. Of course, of course, she would know if anything horrible was happening to them. Let them believe she was psychic. Let them forget her Pinkie Sense didn’t work that way. Let them think whatever they wanted, it might make them feel better. Making ponies feel better, after all, was what Pinkie Pie lived for.

Hang in there, Fluttershy, come on, Fluttershy, you have to hang in there! The yellow Pegasus let the tears roll down her face, her hooves dug resolutely in the stones of their nightmarish prison.
For hours, they had laid there, stood there, shifted, tried to be comfortable despite the pain. She couldn’t see what her friends were doing, couldn’t know what they were thinking. They screamed occasionally, a horrifying, muffled sound. Other than that, though, she had no way of knowing.
All she knew was that she had an absolutely duty to uphold. Fluttershy knew a bit about biology, including the fragility of a pony’s digestive tract. They weren’t as hardy as Diamond Dogs were. Sure, she had seen Pinkie Pie choke down things that would make your average mare on the street feel rather ill, but she was certain that there were certain shocks it wasn’t equipped to handle.
Besides, she couldn’t even imagine how horrible it would be to actually…. No, no, that was a route her mind couldn’t go down. She was going to remain as clinical as she could. She was a healer of animals, though; she couldn’t do anything about ponies. All of her medical knowledge would only make her feel worse, over time. For now, though, she could hide behind it.
Still, she had a duty, and she stuck to it resolutely. All of Fluttershy’s willpower was concentrated on one thing and one thing alone. She could never live with the guilt if she were to actually….
No, she wouldn’t even think about it. It simply wasn’t going to happen. She couldn’t subject Twilight to that kind of horror. Besides, this way, she wouldn’t become a monster.
It was as the Diamond Dogs said. She would be treated much better than the others. She would be forced to hurt them. If she tried, though, she knew she could avoid it.
She would stay strong; she would focus all of her will on her internal organs. They would obey her commands, whether they wanted to or not.
But then, came that little, nagging, medical-pony voice, certain actions are almost completely involuntary. How long will you actually be able to hold out?
“As long as it takes,” she whispered to herself. “As long as it takes. As long as it takes, as long as it takes, as long as it… as long as it takes as long as it takes as long as it… takes-as-long-as-it-takes-as…LONG-AS-IT-TAKES!”
Fluttershy bit her lip, shutting off the stream of words that barely sounded like words anymore. They continued running in her head, though. If she didn’t obey them, she was worthless, she didn’t deserve her friends, she didn’t deserve to live. She played them again and again in her head, biting her lip harder and harder, stamping one back hoof in frustration.
It couldn’t last, and she knew it. She’d be lucky if it last five minutes. She’d eaten those salads… how long ago? Besides, they would be stuck down here for… she didn’t want to think about how long.
She felt her willpower slip, she felt her control slip.
Tears rolled down her face harder than before.
She was going to fail.
“Twi… Twilight,” she squeaked nervously. “I… I don’t know how to say this… I… I don’t want to, but… Oh, Twilight, I’m so sorry…”

Rainbow Dash heard Fluttershy’s words, and her muscles stiffened in horror. It was beginning. She heard Fluttershy’s sobs come harder and harder, and then a sound that she never wanted to hear again. She couldn’t describe it, didn’t want to. She dropped her ears tightly, to muffle the already horrifically-muffled sound.
Twilight was crying too, now, she could tell. She was worried, for a moment, that her friend would simply choke, and that would be the end of that.
The sound stopped, and only the sobs of the ponies in front of her remained.
Dash felt her blood run cold. She felt moisture begin in her eyes. No, dammit, no crying! You’re not a filly anymore!
She tried to rub her eyes, but lowered her hoof quickly when she couldn’t do it without jabbing Twilight in the leg. Instead, she blinked back the tears, trying to remind herself that it wasn’t anyone’s fault that they were down here. Twilight was her friend! She had known Fluttershy since they were just fillies!
But Twilight’s the only one they wanted, she thought bitterly. Sure, her only crime was to save Rarity, and there’s no way she deserves this. But I don’t deserve it either! What did I do, anyway!? And Fluttershy, why does she get to be all nice-and-cozy in the front? Why was she the one crying? Didn’t she get fed nice salads? Didn’t she get to eat real food, and speak, and have her hair? Couldn’t she breathe unobstructed, without her jaws wrenched open? Why cowardly little Fluttershy? What did she ever do to deserve to have it so good, when I’m trapped all the way back here!?
As far as she knew, Dash would be stuck there for years, her face permanently part of the egghead’s backside. That was something that she couldn’t tolerate, and wouldn’t stand for.
She flapped her wings wildly, and felt her heart skip a beat in rapture when her hooves left the ground. She heard Twilight’s muffled screams as she lifted her back half up with her, and heard Fluttershy squeak when she began to be pulled as well.
Rainbow Dash touched back down again, suddenly aware that she was hurting her friends even more. Well, so what? Twilight’s going to be torturing me soon enough, and Fluttershy’s torturing us both!
She whipped her tail in frustration. She couldn’t fly, she could barely even move, without hurting those two. The coward and the egghead. Why should she care?
Because they’re your friends, said a tiny little voice inside her head.
Rainbow Dash sighed, a thoughtless action that only made it harder to catch her breath for a few seconds. Her inner voice was right, maybe she was being too harsh.
Yet, she couldn’t shake those black seeds that had been planted. Not after hearing what had happened to Twilight; not after realizing that she was the only one who wouldn’t become a monster, an implement of torture. She resented her friends, and if that was wrong, Rainbow Dash didn’t even want to be right.

Twilight Sparkle tried to comfort Fluttershy. She felt bad for herself, and a part of her almost wanted to hate Fluttershy for putting her through that. She knew, however, that the sensitive pegasus hadn’t asked for this anymore than she had.
She knew that Fluttershy was tearing herself apart for losing control of her organs, and all she wanted was to tell her that it was OK, that there was nothing she could have done, that Twilight forgave her.
There was just one problem. Twilight could no longer speak. She tried to grunt, but it was muffled. She tried to use her hoof to comfort Fluttershy, but every movement she made was nothing but awkward.
Her whole body ached and her stomach groaned in protest, but the thing that hurt Twilight Sparkle the most was knowing that she couldn’t get through to her friends. She would have to watch and listen as Fluttershy suffered.
What about Rainbow Dash? She was probably suffering, too, thought Twilight. She didn’t seem as emotional about the whole thing, but Twilight had felt Rainbow Dash try to fly away. She felt her body leave the ground for a moment, and had felt for a second what it felt like for a pegasus to fly. It might have been a pleasant feeling, if not for the terribly painful pulling that occurred when Dash had done it.
Resentment, thought Twilight. Those damned Diamond Dogs probably gave her some sort of victim complex. Now she just wants to get out. She’s going to hate me if I lose control, too. She probably already hates Fluttershy.
Twilight felt her tears trickle down her face, and felt her complete powerlessness. Two of her best friends were suffering. It wasn’t just a physical suffering, either, but a terrible psychological pain that Twilight couldn’t ease. She couldn’t talk to them, couldn’t reassure them, couldn’t even tell them how much they meant to her.
This was true pain.
No, thought Twilight, inspiration suddenly hitting her. I do NOT have to be powerless. Not anymore. This has gone on long enough!

Fluttershy’s world had completely fallen apart. She had failed in her duties, let down her friends. She wasn’t even a pony; a pony wouldn’t do such a thing. She was a monster, maybe something closer to a Diamond Dog. Twilight would probably never forgive her. She had heard that choking, that screaming, that crying. She had felt that pulling that might have been Twilight trying to hurt her in revenge. She had felt Twilight nudge her awkwardly, in what might have been attempts at blows.
Suddenly, a new feeling gripped her. This was an odd sensation, one she had never felt before. There was an uncomfortably itchy sensation at the base of her skull, and the odd sound of a strained whisper.
She tried to shake her head to rid herself of the awkward feeling, but it persisted. The whisper seemed to get louder, but it still didn’t sound like words.
“Who’s talking? Who’s there?”
Sssh, said the whisper, and Fluttershy obeyed, too scared to speak.
Fluttershy… Can you hear me?
“Y… yes, voice, I hear you loud and clear, now. Who are you?”
I said “sssh,” responded the whisper. Just think what you want to say really hard. Concentrate.
Fluttershy closed her eyes and strained really hard. She didn’t know what the voice was, but it knew her name, and it did sound rather familiar. She decided to trust it.
Like this? She asked with her mind.
Perfect! It works! Ha, I knew this spell would come in handy!
Twi… Twilight!? How are you… How am I… How are we...!?
I’ll explain later, Fluttershy. It’s just a little something I’ve been working on.
Oh, Twilight, I’m so, so sorry about when I…
No, let’s not even talk about it. I forgive you; you can’t help it. Do you want to see if we can expand the network?
What do you mean?
If we can talk to Dash, the three of us might be able to come up with a way out of this awful mess.
Oh, yes please! Fluttershy’s heart beat fast with excitement. If they could get out of here, they might have a chance again. Maybe her friends would live. Maybe she could be a pony again. Maybe, just maybe, she could learn to forgive herself.
Concentrate on her, then. Come on, Dash, we need you….

Rainbow Dash ruffled her feathers in annoyance. If she tried to scratch the back of her head, she’d just ram her front leg into Twilight’s back one… again. Seriously, if it weren’t for the incisions hurting like a bitch and… well, the obvious… this would really be more of a torture-by-annoyance than anything.
She just couldn’t shake the itch and, what’s more, she was starting to hear voices. Now that couldn’t be a good sign. Had this sick, twisted thing that the Diamond Dogs called torture finally driven her crazy?
Rainbow, I know you can’t talk just now, said the louder of the two voices all of a sudden, but please, think as hard as you can about whatever you want to say. Just think about it, OK?
Think about it? Think about what?
Good, good, you’re doing it! The voice sounded absolutely overjoyed.
Oh, yay, thought Dash, in the most sarcastic tone she could muster without using her literal voice, I’m just sooo excited.
Please, Rainbow Dash, just focus, OK?
Yes… umm… please? We may be able to get out of here. The quieter voice was now audible, and seemed to concur with the first. The idea of escape, however was new.
Waitaminute, that quiet voice sounded like… Fluttershy? What are you doing in my head? And is that you, Egghead… uh… I mean, Twilight?
Yes, Rainbow, it’s us, said the Twilight voice authoritatively. Now please, we really need to put our heads together! Figuratively speaking, of course.
So what? How are we gonna break out? We can barely move! What do you want us to do, break down the bars and fly the heck out of here?
No, we’re going to need a plan, said Twilight. And the first thing we’re going to want to do is to learn how to walk.
That… that actually sounds pretty easy, said Fluttershy, sounding a bit braver than she had before.
Easy? It’s gonna be a cakewalk! Rainbow Dash finally felt confident with the whole mind-talking thing, and she was ready to go.
Good. On my count, girls. Left foreleg. One, two, THREE!
In perfect unison, the girls stepped out with their left forelegs.
Twilight would have smiled if she could have moved her mouth.

“Hey, hey Cocker!” The Diamond Dog guard outside of the prisoners’ cell called to his comrade. “You gotta check this out! Look at these crazy ponies!”
“This had better be good, Iggy,” sighed Cocker, absolutely hating looking at Triple Crowns. They were the worst prisoners to have, really. Never stopped screaming, and just the very idea of it… Oh, it made his blood run cold.
Cocker and Iggy stood and watched, their lips turning up at the corner, and a chuckle beginning to come out.
“How cute!” called Cocker.
“They’ve found a way to make the Triple Crown bearable to watch! Bravissima, my little ponies!” Iggy hooted, watching the marvel unfold before his eyes.
The three mares were marching in step, gradually picking up speed. They were walking perfectly, almost as naturally as if they had been born that way. It was really entertaining to watch.
The guards were glad that, unlike Diamond Dog Triple Crowns, the ponies’ legs did not have to be disabled. The ponies, being natural quadrupeds, fit perfectly into the procedure without any modification. Not only did it make them more amusing, but it also reminded them that these were ponies. Maybe they were clever animals, but they were animals nonetheless. They weren’t real people, not Diamond Dogs, and that made their pain all the more bearable to witness.

They’re watching us, Twilight, squeaked Fluttershy nervously. What should we do?
Tell ‘em off, Fluttershy! Rainbow Dash snarled, don’t let ‘em make fun of us! Oh, if I could talk to them, I’d…
No, no, this is a good thing. Twilight felt the wheels turning in her head, and knew that her plan was perfect. They think this is funny. If they like us, maybe they could be convinced to let us out for a moment. So we have to practice something new, but I’m not sure how well it will work.
Can’t hurt to try it, said Dash.
Suddenly, Dash was blinded by a magenta light in her field of vision. It seemed that Twilight’s rump was encased in light.
What are you doing? Dash asked, eyes wide with wonder.
I’m trying to levitate. You two are holding me down, though. You know what you have to do, right? On my count, FLAP! One, two, THREE!
With Twilight counting and holding herself up, the three ponies were suddenly airborne. Twilight’s magic kept her weight from pulling terribly on their sutures, and the pain was kept to a bearable minimum.

A whole pack of Diamond Dogs had assembled in front of the Triple Crown’s cell. As if it wasn’t cool enough when they were marching around like perfect little soldiers, now they were zooming about the room! This was one of the most entertaining things that they had ever seen! They whooped and hollered, some cheering them on, others taking bets over how long it would take for them to crash-land.
Yet they all watched, enthralled, as their captives put on a show for them. Finally, their jobs were interesting! Finally, their jobs were bearable!

Wow, said Rainbow Dash, unable to keep a tiny amount of perverse excitement from creeping into her mental voice, They really like us! Is this what it feels like to be a Wonderbolt?
Focus, Dash, scolded Twilight, this is no time to…
Twilight? What is it? Fluttershy’s mental voice was nervous. Why had her friend suddenly cut off?
Let’s land for a minute, said Twilight, I don’t feel so good. Dash… I feel I have to warn you in advance….

The Diamond Dog crowd was displeased when the Triple Crown finally came in for a landing. They wanted to see more aerial feats!
Then the choking began again, and the crowd turned their heads in disgust.
This is why no one really liked the Triple Crowns. They really were the worst prisoners to have. Several turned and went back to their posts.

As the Diamond Dogs began to leave, Fluttershy felt fear welling up in her heart. She would check on Twilight and Dash later. Now, she had to do something. This was her chance. She would redeem herself. This was the difference between rescue, or further torment!
“Oh, wise and powerful Diamond Dogs, do not go away!” Fluttershy put on her most desperate, begging voice. The monsters seemed to stop and listen to her entreaties. “We are very tired, you know. We’ve been flying around this tiny cell to entertain you, and it’s really, really boring. Couldn’t you please just let us out to fly around the block a little bit?”
They guards stood around, unsure of how to respond. “We can’t do that. We’re under direct orders.”
“Oh, but couldn’t you please? We… umm… we just want to cheer you up a little bit. It must be very frustrating to listen to… that… all day,” said Fluttershy, inclining her head back towards the suffering Rainbow Dash. “Won’t you please let us make you smile? Just a little bit?”
Fluttershy remembered how easily manipulated Diamond Dogs could be. Just because some of them were smarter than the miners didn’t necessarily mean that they all were. Maybe, just maybe, these ones would listen to her.
For once, something went right.
The rusty iron bars swung open. The ponies had a clear passage out into the hallway.

Sorry, Rainbow Dash. I’m really, really sorry.
Twilight felt anxious when Dash’s mental voice was silent. Had her friend died? Or was she just not speaking to her?
A wave of relief flooded her as a small, tentative voice finally answered: It’s… It’s OK, Twilight. Just… please, please never do that again.
Well, said Twilight, Fluttershy just came through for us! I don’t think I’m ever going to have to again.
Yeah! Way to go, Fluttershy!
Fluttershy said nothing, but blushed. She had earned her friends’ approval, and that was all that really mattered.
I’m… I’m sorry that I was so harsh on you guys before, said Rainbow, truly penitent.
What are you talking about? Twilight Sparkle was confused. Why did Rainbow Dash feel the need to apologize to them?
I just… I was feeling pretty bad about you guys back there. But now.... Well, I’m just glad you guys are my friends.
Come on girls, let’s not waste this opportunity! Twilight wrapped herself in her levitation magic once more. We’re busting out of here!

It was against his better judgment, but Iggy had been the one to slip one of his keys into the lock. He knew it wasn’t allowed, but their hearts had just melted from one glance of the yellow pony’s eyes. It was as if she wasn’t a prisoner, but a living creature that really cared about them all. She wasn’t just the Guilt Runner of a Triple Crown. She was… well… Fluttershy. Those eyes had captivated them, bewitched them, enchanted them.
But now those eyes were full of rage. They had never seen such eyes. They felt ashamed that they even existed. It was an indescribable feeling, and the Diamond Dogs didn’t like it.
Diamond Dogs had never seen the Stare before.
They also weren’t expecting so many hooves in their faces.

Airborne, the trio was unstoppable. Twelve hooves of fury lashed out in all directions. The Diamond Dogs, still dumbstruck by the Stare, stood in awe as the strange Triple Crown barreled straight at them.
Of the crowd, about half were rendered unconscious by hooves to the head.
When some tried to grab the trio from the side, Dash did the only thing she could think of. She whipped her head to one side, and Fluttershy cascaded into the Diamond Dogs, knocking them into the wall.
Sorry, Fluttershy!
That’s OK, there’s more on the other side! Do it again! The usually pacifistic yellow pony was ready to take on as many Diamond Dogs as she had to, never mind the pain.
Between kicks and wild flailing, and with a little help from Twilight’s magic, they had subdued the entire crowd.
The group flew through the prison, finally stopping for breath when they knew they had lost any Diamond Dogs that might still be cautious.
We’re lucky every guard in this place came to watch us, said Twilight.
Only one problem, though. How are we getting out of here?
Dash is right, Twilight…. Do you know any spells that might help?
Twilight thought for a moment. Suddenly, it came to her. The mines are the closest part of Diamond Dog territory to the surface, right? Let me use my gem-finding spell! I’ll call directions; you girls just fly like the wind!
With that, they were off, down sideways and byways, until at last, they found the mines. They were almost at the surface.
Suddenly, they heard approaching footsteps.
Brace yourselves, called Dash, I think we’re in for another fight!

Spike cautiously tip-toed a few feet ahead of his group of friends, peering ever-so-slightly around corners and walls whenever they came to a turn.
Suddenly, a large, indistinct shape barreled towards him. This wasn’t a Diamond Dog, but it didn’t really look like a pony either. In the darkness, it looked like a huge insect, flying towards them with legs wildly flailing the air.
Spike gasped as he recognized the yellow hoof that almost hit him between the eyes.
“Flu… Fluttershy?”
“Spike!? Oh, Spike! We’re so glad it’s you!”
“But… but… but… Why? How? What? I don’t even understand what I’m looking at! What happened to you three!?”
“That’s a really, really long story, Spike.”

The next day, Twilight Sparkle lay in her hospital bed, thinking over the events of the past day as if they had been a dream. Nine hours they had been underground, nine hours of torment and pain. Yet, she remembered her feelings when Fluttershy overcame her guilt, when Rainbow Dash let go of her resentment. Then, the pain had stopped being pain. It left a gaping hole that could only be filled by determination.
When they finally found their friends, it had been a surreal, crazy scene. Rarity had fainted. Pinkie kept asking difficult, tactless, tasteless questions. Applejack, though, oh Applejack. The farm pony had only insisted that they help their injured friends to the surface, and take them to Nurse Redheart. “They can tell us everything later. That is, if’n they want to.”
Nurse Redheart hadn’t wasted any time. She did what she could do. Within an hour, unicorn specialists in surgery and in trauma had been called. Sutures were cut, wounds were healed, even teeth were magically restored. There was still some soreness, but Nurse Redheart had told them that that was normal. Their manes and tails would grow back, and the kind earth pony nurse had placed both Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash on special contraptions that filtered any infections that they might have received out of their blood streams.
Suddenly, her privacy curtain was pulled back, revealing her loyal assistant.
“Hey Spike,” said Twilight, happy to see him, and happy to finally have use of her actual voice again.
“Hey, Twilight, I just came to see how you were doing. You’re looking really good, and I’m so relieved. We were kinda worried for a minute there. I mean, you have no idea how bad it looked. Not to mention the whole…”
“Yes, I know, Spike.”
Spike cleared his throat uncomfortably, worried he had said something he shouldn’t have. “Is there… is there anything I can do for you, Twilight?”
Twilight thought for a moment. She looked beyond her privacy screen. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash were in their own separate beds, their own screens also drawn back by well-wishers. Pinkie Pie singing happy little songs to Rainbow Dash; Rarity trying a new hat on Fluttershy, explaining that it was hers “free of charge.”
Twilight smiled softly. “Spike, take a letter.”
Spike was absolutely floored. “Take a letter!? You can’t seriously be thinking about your homework at a time like this!?”
“No, this is something I need to do.”
Spike sighed. Twilight was such a workaholic. He grabbed a piece of parchment and a quill from Nurse Redheart’s desk, certain that she wouldn’t miss it.
Twilight cleared her throat.
“Dear Princess Celestia,” she began, thinking long and hard about what she was going to say.
“I don’t even know where to begin in my Friendship Report today. I’m sure you’ve heard that I’m in the hospital. I don’t know if anypony’s told you why. For the moment, let’s just keep it that way. All I need to say is that no matter what kind of trouble you find yourself in, no matter how hopeless everything looks, no matter how… how hard to swallow the situation, a friend will never abandon you. A friend is a pony who can look beyond guilt, resentment, and even intense pain to help you when you are in need. Friends are ponies who will always stick together, even when they might feel like they can’t. Friends are ponies who can still believe in teamwork, no matter the obstacles. And the most important thing is, a friend is a pony who knows that just being shoved together in uncomfortably close quarters isn’t enough to be a friend. Friends have to be close in mind, as well as in body, and once they are, there is nothing that they can’t achieve. Signed, your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle.”
She frowned. It wasn’t her best work. It didn’t quite capture what she was trying to say, but she knew that, in that moment, Dash and Fluttershy had heard her. Whether they had actually overheard her, or whether it was the remnants of their telepathic network, Twilight didn’t know. It didn’t matter, though. When they smiled, she knew that it would be the most serious letter she had ever sent, her hardest-earned lesson. She also knew that she never could have asked for better friends.