A filly in the hall

[Becka *Pone*]

A small blue filly walked into the hall with downcast eyes. She had been coming to the chapel every day since it had been opened to the public, and everyday she felt the same emptiness as the day before. The world was full of bad ponies, eveil ponies, and the Rainbows were both locked away in their respective prisons. What was the point in life if your dieties could be locked up? Why worship something that could be kept prisoner? These were the thoughts that had filled her mind lately.

And now there was the news that her father was in town. Tide Pool was torn between rooting him out and finding out what he wanted and taking her mothers advice to pack up and go. But she hadn't told her mother about him, because she knew her mother wouldn't even consider staying for more than two seconds. As soon as Tide mentioned that she had even seen the same stallion creeping around Ponyville as Haven's Valley they would be up and moved before she had time to breath. Tide was sick of running.

Besides, even if they ran, he would just find them again. He always did. Gaerlom and Tide would find a home, finally get settled in, and suddenly a dark stallion would be stealing away in the shadows following her to school. Tide would mention it to her mother, and Gaerlom would have their most valuable possessions packed and they would be off in the middle of the night. It was circular.

But what else could they do? Tide sighed and kneeled before the Rainbow of Light's prism. What else could they do with their Rainbow trapped away in a locket in a different town, in a vault no one could get access to? They could do nothing but run. Tide was accutely aware that she now had the power to stop him, once and for all, but she was scared of power now. All that Calliope had taught her became poisoned after the battle, at least in Tide's mind. If the Goddess had only wanted to use her then Tide wouldn't use her power ever, as much as Calliope tried to say she was on the good side, on the ponies side, and as much as Tide wanted to believe her.

Not that it mattered now. Now Tide would have to tell her mother that father was back in town, and they would move, and she would forget all about Ponyville and Calliope and the battle.

[Shadow]

Gental mist slowly covered the floor as a hoof gently rested on hers, mist drifting from it. "Something troubles you deeply, Child of Light." Piston slowly removed his hoof, his blue eye peering at her. The cloth on the other side of his face barely covered the black, veinleft by Soul Edge when it served as an eye; The black was his mark of shame from his creation, the Rainbow of Darkness. Still, the Rainbows agreed he could atone by helping others atone.

"Please, do tell why you bring a heavy heart and great sadness to this place." Piston had changed since Dark clensed him of evil, and he almost seemed to see through her. "Just because the Rainbow of Light is away from us doesn't mean It has abandoned us. Even in a sealed location, It watches over It's children and helps them, even from afar and in prison. One must simply have faith in It, and you can never be far from it's light and guidence."

He wasn't sure if that helped, but he was more than ready to do what it took.

[Becka *Pone*]

"I came here because I have to leave Ponyville, and I don't want to." The words were bitter, much too bitter for such a young filly. "I've already been far from the Rainbow. So far it could not reach me, and I do not want to go back to running."

She sighed and turned to face Piston although still on her knees. "Would it be right of me to use a power cultivated by a false god to stay here? Do you think the Rainbow would approve?"

[Shadow]

"The Rainbow would aprove of your happiness. I am not sure what It would think if you were to use a false God's power, but if it helped to make you happy, perhaps it would understand. However..." Piston closed his eye as he shook his head. "If you were to confront the source of your troubles, then you'd have no need to run, Child. Not always is power from an outside source the answer. Sometimes true power comes from courage and inner strength." He looked skyward as he stroked his chin.

"Hmm... I'm useing confuseing metafours again. Let me try this a simpler way." Sitting on the floor near her, he motioned to her with his hoof. "Please tell me the source of your reason to move and why bitterness lurks in a voice that should be joyful for one so young. It is my duty to the Rainbows to serve as their voice and ears to ones whom grive so. If you need anything to dry your eyes, Child, I offer my sholder."

[Becka *Pone*]

If you were to confront the source of your troubles, then you'd have no need to run, Child.

Tide sighed and slumped her shoulders. She couldn't confront him. She didn't even know if he truly was her father. She didn't even know if it was the same pony that had been following her in Haven's Valley, nor did she know that he was following her at all. Perhaps her mother's paranoia had transfered to Tide and now she was hallucinating problems.

As Piston offered his help, she felt the overwhelming need to get all her problems out in the open. So that at least she wasn't the only one with the burden. Her mother wouldn't speak to her about it, her aunt shushed her everytime she tried, and Calliope was no longer a trusted friend.

"My mother and I are always moving," she started cautiously. "She is paranoid. She believes my father is chasing her to kidnap me, perhaps worse. She worries herself sick. And then when something strange happens she runs. She handed me over to Calliope for training, hoping the false god would be able to cultivate some power in me to protect us, but it has done no good. And I have seen him again - my father. He is here, and he knows that I am here, and if I tell my mother she will make us move again. And who knows where we will end up this time!"

[Shadow]

Piston stroked his chin as he listened, his eye narrowing in thought while he frowned. "So that is what steems your problem... The best answer I can think of, Child, is to be strong for not only yourself, but your Mother as well. Young in body as you are, you are more than mature in both sprit and mind. Fear is a tool the Rainbow of Darkness uses all too well, and any fear, no matter where it is, feeds it with power. I know all too well of this fact..." He stroked the banadge over his eye, not moving it. "All too well have I paid the price. But that is why I seeks to ensure young and pure ones like yourself do not subcomb to darkness."

He sighed then, gazeing that the alter beside them. "But the Rainbow of Light always protects us, no matter how far. If you are willing to stand up to your father, then you could put not just yourself at ease, but your Mother as well. Think of her happiness if she no longer need run and hide, when she has you to protect her, as well as your own at finnaly calling one place home. If you ever lose your way, child, always feel free to come again. I shall always remain on this hallow ground; Your father can do no harm here."