Fluttershy quietly trotted behind Princess Luna staring at the ground as she walked still trying to process all that had happened. What happened to Rainbow Dash and Rarity? Surely they chased after the dragon when she was kidnapped but then why was Princess Luna the only one there when she was released? Why hadn't she seen them on the way back? Fluttershy was confused and praying nothing bad happened because of her. Her heart sunk when she looked up and saw where Luna was leading her. It was the clinic and the lights were on inside this late at night. She could see the silhouettes of ponies rushing back and forth in the windows. Fluttershy paused and took a deep breath and let it out slowly before following Princess Luna into the clinic trying to prepare herself for what she was going to find.
"FLUTTERSHY!" Rarity called her friend's name both happy and relieved that she was okay. She was still covered in the dragon's blood though.
"Are you alright dear! You're not hurt are you?" The white unicorn sounded panicked looking Fluttershy over for any noticeable wounds that all the blood might be coming from.
"I'm fine Rarity, but more importantly why is everyone here? What happened?" Fluttershy was hoping it was nothing serious.
Rarity used her magic to lift a warm damp cloth and explained everything that had happened at the ruins in the forest to her as she cleaned the anxious pegasus. When Rarity was finished explaining everything to her Fluttershy's heart sunk again. She sat down and tears began to well in her eyes. Twilight Sparkle and Pinkie Pie both immediately noticed and as if on cue moved to Fluttershy's side to comfort her.
"You know it's not your fault it happened." Twilight assured her.
"But if I hadn't been kidnapped by…" Fluttershy's voice started to squeak from crying.
"No need to blame yourself. We know if it was any one of us that had been kidnapped you'd have come to save us just like we did for you." Pinkie Pie said trying to ease her mind.
Fluttershy didn't respond with anything other than a few sobs as she thought it over for herself. She knew her friends cared for her enough to do what they did. She understood that the dragon specifically targeted her for her special talent with animals, but she still couldn't shake the feeling that her friends'getting hurt was all her fault.
Nurse Redheart came from one of the back rooms and bowed to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna before saying anything.
"Both Rainbow Dash and Applejack are going to be fine. They can receive visitors now, but not for too long they will need their rest if they are to make speedy recoveries."
Fluttershy perked up a bit happy to hear that they will be alright, but could not let herself smile. She wanted to go back and visit them. Fluttershy hesitated, worried about what they say, if they would be upset with her. What if they were angry and didn't want to be her friend anymore? It would be devastating to the young pegasus. She didn't know how to face her injured friends.
Before she knew it everypony else was making their way to both Applejack's and Rainbow Dash's rooms to visit. Again Fluttershy hesitated and stared at the floor for a moment before forcing herself to follow them. She stopped at the door her friends entered feeling her heart shake for a moment.
"You can do this." Fluttershy quietly reassured herself taking a step into the room.
"FLUTTERSHY!" Both Applejack and Rainbow Dash said in unison. Rainbow Dash ran up to Fluttershy and hugged her. She had bandages around her torso holding her wings still with splints to keep them from moving.
"Are…are you okay?" Fluttershy asked still scared of being blamed.
"Nurse Redheart said it should take about 8 weeks to heal, but I'm glad you're okay. Did that dragon do anything to you?" Fluttershy felt a little more at ease with Rainbow showing more concern for her then her broken wings.
"What in tar'nation did that dragon want with you anyway?" Applejack asked rolling up to Fluttershy in a wheelchair with both her hind legs in casts.
"Umm…uh…well…" After seeing the condition of her friends Fluttershy wasn't entirely sure she wanted to admit how she helped save the dragon's life. "He wanted me to help heal some wounds he had."
"Wounds? He looked perfectly healthy to me." Pinkie Pie pointed out.
"He was using a spell called Spirit Projection." Princess Celestia interjected. Every pony in the room turned their attention to her.
"The dragon's name is Damian. He once fought against Discord alongside Luna and I, but unfortunately he was defeated by Discord. We had thought he was slain, but it seems Discord spared him for some reason." Celestia tried to explain the best she could.
"Princess, the dragon explained to me that Discord planted something called a 'Seed of Evil' in his heart and tried to rebirth him as his agent of destruction." Fluttershy explained.
"Then the situation is far more serious and more dangerous than I thought." Princess Celestia took a more serious stance and seemed to have gone into deep thought.
"Too easy, we'll just nuke him with the Elements like we did Discord and be done with it." Rainbow Dash said in her usual over-confident tone.
"I'm afraid it isn't that simple Rainbow Dash." Celestia started. "Damian was the one who gave the Elements a tangible form after we had discovered them and at one time wielded all six of them himself. I'm not even sure if the power of the elements would work against him."
"The dragon mentioned a seventh element when we confronted him. Is there a way to find and use that element along with the others against him? He said the seventh wasn't enough alone to destroy the seed." Twilight asked.
Both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna exchanged a surprise look with one another. They themselves had never heard of a seventh nor did Damian ever tell them of it when they had first discovered the elements.
"If a seventh does exist that may be our only hope to destroying the seed." Princess Luna pointed out.
"Twilight Sparkle, I want you to research what you can of the 'Seventh Element' and see if you can find any leads. Luna and I will go back to Canterlot and prepare to fight him…"
"NO!" Princess Luna protested against her sister interrupting her mid-sentence. "I shall stay here in Ponyville and seek Damian myself. Discord planted a seed of evil in Damian just as he planted the Seed of Envy in me transforming me into Nightmare Moon. I shall not fight against my brother."
Celestia knew there was no reasoning with her younger sister when got this way. She knew perfectly well and even shared her desire to save him, but as the ruler of Equestria she had to be prepared for the worst case scenario. Before Celestia could say anything back to her sister, Princess Luna had left. Celestia let out a heavy sigh.
"I'll have the Elements of Harmony sent to you girls later. For now learn what you can of the Seventh Element and assist my sister. I must return to the palace." The princess ordered before leaving to return to Canterlot.
"Well you heard her girls let's do this." Twilight Sparkle said taking charge.
"But…what about Applejack and Rainbow Dash…because of me they're…"
"Don't go blaming yerself fer what that dragon did, Sugarcube." Applejack interrupted Fluttershy.
"Yeah, don't worry about us. We'll get better in no time. Besides, I'd rather lose my wings then lose a friend." Rainbow Dash said with a hug to her fellow pegasus.
Fluttershy still felt the guilt in her chest as she looked over her injured friends again. They were smiling at her. Even though they got hurt they could still look at her and smile. Fluttershy started to cry. Not from being sad, but because she was happy her friends cared so much for her that they would make such sacrifices and still be willing to give more.