//------------------------------// // Healing Wounds // Story: Twilight Gives Way to Dawn // by Lawpony //------------------------------// It was a sight not expected to be seen. Most ponies would say it was insane, others would be intrigued, while some would simply remain skeptical. They all stared on as Rainbow Dash came fluttering down from the castle, holding RedDawn in her hooves. "What is she doing?!", one pony yelled. "She's...helping her!", shouted another. "Everypony, please! She is not what she seems!", Rainbow pleaded with them as she landed. "Medic!" A medic came out of the crowd and took Twilight from Rainbow's hooves. They looked up at her and she nodded, then they took her to a group of field medics that began to work on her. "What do you mean? She is the dark queen! She is the one who killed hundreds! Thousands!" "No, RedDawn did those things, not Princess Twilight Sparkle!", Rainbow was becoming defensive. "What does that even mean?" "I had a chat with RedDawn just before I destroyed her. RedDawn was pretty much, King Sombra's essence living on." Gasps came from all around her. "Twilight has been trapped inside of her own body this whole time, so she needs to be welcomed back!" "You mean to tell us that the actual Twilight was not even doing those things?! That she's been locked away for ten years!", one of the medics exclaimed. Rainbow nodded. "Oh shoot! I need to get Pineshield! Be right back! And take care of her okay?", she flew into the air. "Yes ma'am! Knowing the truth, of course I will!" Rainbow flew into the air and made her way to the castle. After three minutes, she came back with Pineshield in her hooves. She carefully placed him on a cot the medics had ready, and they began to work on him. After an hour of helping get the injured to the medics and their mobile hospital they had set up, and explaining everything to everypony, Rainbow Dash returned to see how things were going. "So doc, what's the news?" "Both should make it. Pineshield was lucky the horn missed vital organs. Though he may have slight breathing problems after what it did to his diaphragm muscle. Twilight will most definitely have splitting headaches for a few weeks, but she'll live, and with magical therapy, her horn should grow back. Dash sighed. "There is one thing though." "Yes?" "Before the anesthetics took over, Pineshield mumbled on about some unfinished business he had with you, but he's under now so it will have to wait. Just thought you would like to know." "Yeah, thanks doc." He nodded and turned towards the camp they had set up. "Oh, and doc?" "Yes?", he turned back to her. "Is Twilight still awake?" "She came to just as Pineshield was going under. You wish to see her?" "Yeah." "Follow me then." He led her to one of the many tents they had up all over the city, and upon entering, he opened a veil to Twilight's room. Twilight looked up and smiled at her old friend. "Hey there champ. How's it going?", Rainbow asked. "Good I guess. Apart from finding out that the past ten years of my life have been spent pretty much in a coma, and a lot of my friends and relatives are either dead or scarred, that is." "Well be glad you're immortal, and will live to see new generations that knew nothing of this day. I lost ten years of my life, and will grow old soon enough. But let's not speak of this now. Today is a glad day!" "I wish I could enjoy it, but I just can't! I mean, there're so many unanswered questions. Like how many of my friends did I kill? How much damage did I do to Equestria? How do the sun and moon still orbit? I don't remember doing anything to keep them going. And another question, where are the others?" The question hit Rainbow Dash like a brick. She only knew where one other pony from their original friends were, and that was Rarity. "Well, Pinkie Pie went crazy and left after RedDawn did things to her, Flutters ran off because the insanity of a war between two of her closest friends was getting to her, and she felt that she was no help. I don't know what happened to Applejack, RedDawn delivered her armor to Ponyville just eleven days ago, after capturing her during the battle over Los Pegasus." "Applejack! I remember...I remember standing up to RedDawn before she did something to her! I told her I wasn't going to let her kill my friend." "You did? Did she follow?" "Not sure, I think she killed her anyway. But-", and image of Applejack tied up caught her attention. "-I remember!" Another image, of her closing a door to the room Applejack was in came to her. "She locked her up!" "Where?" "Not quite sure, but I need to get to the castle!" Three hours later, Twilight, Rainbow, and a very woozy Pineshield found themselves in Twilight's demolished living quarters. "I must have written it down in my diary somewhere." "Got a journal!", Pineshield held it up with his teeth. "What's it say?", Twilight dashed over to him. He opened it and began flipping through pages. "AHA! Found something from more recent. It's regarding Applejack!" "Read it!", Rainbow demanded. "Blah, blah, blah...Here we go! ...After having to suppress Twilight Sparkle yet another time, something odd happened. I wasn't able to harm Applejack in any fatal way. It seems her last words which told me I couldn't kill her friend, were true. It's as if an invisible force holds me from inflicting any harm beyond minor injuries. As this enrages me, I am not able to kill her, so I began to put her in the dungeon. However, upon opening the doors to that horrid place, I blacked out. Later, I awoke in my chambers, without Applejack anywhere to be seen. Something strange is going on. I've tried to enter the dungeons but can't step foot in without blacking out and waking up somewhere else. A lot of my servants are taking this as an ill omen, but I think otherwise. That's where is ends," Pineshield lifter his head from the journal. "So we should check the dungeons then. Maybe there was something down there Twilight didn't want RedDawn to see," Rainbow suggested. "Let's go," Pineshield agreed. The three made their way back out the castle, and around to the back, where the dungeon doors stood. However, on their way to the dungeon, Rainbow Dash was stopped by something as the others kept moving. Within seconds, Rainbow was letting out a loud scream, that turned into crying sobs. The other two came running over and saw her lying on her stomach, face down in front of two grave stones. One read "Pinkamena Diane Pie", while the other read "Fluttershy". "How?", was all she could get past her shocked sobbing. Twilight nearly fainted in disbelief. She quickly joined with the sobbing. "I don't know. This is beyond me," Pineshield didn't understand either. "I may know. I think I can remember something." "What is it?", Rainbow looked up at her. She controlled herself long enough to bring back the memory. "I...RedDawn was trying to bring all of her old friends together. The ones that would join her gained ultimate respect, those that wouldn't, died. That's why she wanted to kill you and Applejack so badly. I think I can remember. Oh god! She killed Pinkie! I can remember doing it and burying her here!", she laid down and cried. "I'm sorry you have to have those terrible memories," Pineshield tried to console her. "What of Fluttershy?" "She...she didn't make it out of the storm that was raging the night she ran away! We...", she squinted her eyes hard trying to think. "We found her in a river just outside of Ponyville!", she grunted it out past gritted teeth. The two mares sat there and cried together for five minutes. Pineshield being emotionally broken by the scene before him, sat down between them and laid his wings over them. "Shhh, it's okay. We still have more friends to find, and we must hurry." "You're right. We need to see what's in that dungeon!"' Rainbow stood up shakily. The three made their way down the stares to the great dungeon. As they got to the door, Rainbow looked back. "Everypony ready?", she asked. They nodded. "Here we go." She opened the doors. They stood there in shock. Inside the dungeon, there were many ponies scattered around, bound to the stone walls by chains. They could see Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Princess Cadence, Shining Armor, Applejack, and Queen Chrysalis. All of them were bound with a recently emptied food tray by them. "Princess Celestia!", Twilight called out. Celestia looked up in shock as she saw who was coming. She lowered down against the wall to keep away from her attacker. Twilight stopped in her tracks. "Don't you recognize me?" "Yes, I do! Now please don't hurt me!" "Why would I...?" "You've already brought this week's food, so why else would you come down here?" "To free you! I'm not RedDawn! I'm Twilight Sparkle! RedDawn is dead!", she jumped joyously toward Celestia. "Dead? Dead how? You're standing right here in front of us!", Luna's voice echoed from a dark corner. Pineshield stepped forward. "We'll explain later. You need to come with us your Majesty!" "Pineshield?! You've come to save us!" "Yes ma'am! And don't fear Twilight now. All will be explained later, just trust me that she is good now!" "O..okay," she fell unconscious. The three went back and got help. Over twenty ponies went into the dungeon to get them all out safely. They arrived back in the growing medical camp in chariots. They unloaded the weak ponies carefully and they were immediately taken into care and seen. "I still can't believe Princess Celestia is still alive! This is a miracle!", the doctor came out of the tent. "So is everypony alright?", Rainbow was waiting for him. "Long story short, yes. Though, they may have some long term scars from being left in the dark for so long, but physically, they'll live!", he exclaimed happily. "Oh thank the maker! It really does seem like a happy ending!", she suppressed the memory of the graves for now. "Yes. It truly is!" One month later. The city of Canterlot was assembled in the dining hall of the royal castle. It was a feast that the Princesses threw as their first act after returning to power. It was both a thanks to all who fought, and to those who had major roles. Their was a special list of guests who were allowed to sit at the same table with Celestia and Luna. The list contained the following: Rainbow Dash, Pineshield, Spike, Lord Golan, Rarity, Twilight, Applejack, Princess Cadence, and Shining Armor. As they ate, there was reflection at the table. "I can't believe I did all those awful things! I mean what am I, some sort of ruffian?", Rarity asked Rainbow. "No, that wasn't you Rare. It was Diamond Death doing those things! You were the lesser of two evils, being controlled by RedDawn's dark power. When Twilight Returned and RedDawn died, the veil was lifted from your mind and you were yourself again." "But it just feels like it was all just a bad dream, but when I look in the mirror, I look older, and I have more scars than I used to." "Yeah, the same goes for the rest of us," Twilight motioned toward her short nub on her forehead. "Is it coming along nicely Twilight?", Pineshield asked. "I'm sorry for breaking it." They all looked at him. Twilight smirked. Celestia looked over them. "I would like to make a toast, if you would not mind." They all bowed their heads to her. She stood up from the table and tapped her fork against her drinking glass. All eyes fell on her. All conversations hushed. "I would like to propose a toast to my loyal friend here. She has fought against the evil Empire for ten long years, never giving up, and never quitting. Knowing that one day, she would mend the hole in our land's heart. And now, today, I stand before you to tell you that she has done just that! Mares and gentlecolts, please put your hooves together for Ms. Rainbow Dash!" The gathering clapped their hooves together and cheered for her. Rainbow blushed. "And the other Princesses and I have counseled and would like to give an announcement! Princess Twilight, take it away!" Twilight stood after Celestia sat down. "First thing's first. I would just like to say thank you. You saved me from an eternity in darkness. And you saved everypony in Equestria, and quite possibly even the world from RedDawn. Without you, the world would never have seen happy days! Thank you!" Rainbow blushed deeper. "But this isn't just a thank you. As Princess Celestia previously stated, I have some news for you. Though this has never happened in the history of Equestria, we would like you, a mortal, to reign in our stead!" Rainbow's eyes opened wide. "What? Me?!" "Yes Rainbow, you've proven that you can lead Equestria through any trial! You have been their true leader for ten years! And we want you to lead us on!" "But what about you guys?! What about raising the sun and moon?" Celestia stood and answered her. "Luna and I will still control the physical world, as is our duty, but you will rule it politically, and militarily! You have what it takes. And besides, we're immortal, we can have our turn later, but today is your time to shine!" Rainbow was awestruck. "Yes Rainbow, I will let you rule in my place for now. That is, if you would accept," Twilight assured her. "Well? Do you accept?", Luna added. Rainbow looked out to the crowd. She looked back to Twilight. "I accept." One week later. Rainbow Dash was standing outside of the throne room, mentally preparing herself for what came next. She looked in a nearby mirror and adjusted her dress. She never did like dresses, but this one was hoof-made by Rarity for the occasion, and she loved it. She could hear the music beginning to play, and the planner motioned her ahead. With a deep breath, she stepped through the doors and slowly made her way to the throne. When she made it to the throne, Princess Celestia was waiting for her. "Mares and gentlecolts! I am proud to perform this coronation ceremony for this pony here. This is the first time in the history of Equestria that a mortal has been given the honor of being crowned Princess. Today, we gather here to celebrate the coronation of Princess Rainbow Dash!" Everypony remained silent. "Give me the crown please." A pony came from off stage with a beautiful crown made of gold and let Celestia take it. "Today, Rainbow Dash. Because you have proven yourself worthy by not only saving me, but all of Equestria, and even the world from the tyranny which was RedDawn, the reincarnate power of King Sombra, I gladly crown you, Princess Rainbow Dash!" Everypony cheered. Later that evening, Rainbow was standing on the balcony of Canterlot Castle, looking down over the land which was now hers. The events of the past few weeks seeming to have gone by so quickly. In fact, the past few months felt like a vapor in the wind. Two months ago, she was struggling not to lose the fight. And now, here she stood, Princess Rainbow Dash. "May I join you?", Pineshield was standing behind her. "Of course you can. You're an old friend, you don't need to ask." He walked up and looked over the railing. "I'm proud of you, you know." She looked at him. "Hey Pineshield, remember when we said we liked each other?" "Yeah, why?" "Well, I think I'm ready to love you. Do you feel the same way?" He just stared into her eyes. "Dash, I already love you more than you could imagine." She blushed. "Really?" "I love you so much! If you hadn't made it back there, I don't know how I would have been able to carry on! I wouldn't have been able to live without you!" Rainbow blushed deeply. Pineshield walked over to her and kissed her cheek. "I love you so much because your love for life and the protection of other ponies never ends. I love you because you confided in me, and trusted me." She bowed in embarrassment from all of the attention. He wrapped his wing over her and pulled her closer to him. "I love you." He kissed her cheek again.