"So what do you want us to do, Twilight?" Spike asked apprehensively.
Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and analyzed the situation to come up with an effective plan of attack. "Spike, you and the Cutie Mark Crusaders meet up with Mayor Mare and advise her what's going on. Once you have done that, I want you and her to go to everypony in town and to tell them to stay indoors for the time being."
"And what exactly are we supposed to do?" asked Rarity.
"We will go into Everfree Forest to investigate the crash landing site," replied Twilight.
"Alright!" Rainbow Dash shouted in triumph. "Now that's what I'm talking about!"
"We should get supplies first," suggested Applejack, "case we run into any trouble."
Twilight nodded in agreement. "Yes, we should meet outside of town just outside Everfree Forest in two hours time. That should give everypony time to prepare."
"Sounds like a plan!" bounced Pinkie Pie.
"Alright, see you all in a couple of hours."
"Right," the group said in unison.
As the three fillies and dragon left to the Town Hall, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity and Pinkie Pie each sped off home, gathering the necessary provisions as they prepared for the journey into the forest.
A couple of hours later, Twilight was on her way to rendezvous with her friends. She was carrying a saddlebag on her back filled with all sorts of supplies, including a first aid kit, books about astronomy, a map of Everfree Forest, and water. Despite her efforts to show a brave face, however, Twilight was terrified. She was usually nervous whenever embarking on a new adventure with her friends, but generally, she knew or had some idea what she and her friends were going to be up against. Even Princess Celestia would give her advice in times of crisis that helped Twilight lead her friends to victory against often-impossible odds. This time was different, however.
There was no advice.
No book she could rely upon.
No information.
It was this fear of the unknown that scared her the most, especially when she was asking her friends to put their lives at risk as well.
Daylight would soon be approaching, a little earlier than expected. Princess Celestia was deeply worried about any possible dangers her friends may encounter, so she had advised Twilight that she will be raising the sun earlier to aid them in their journey. She had to be careful though as not to alert the general populace and send everypony into a panicked frenzy. Whilst the sun was yet pierced the early hours of the morning, it was the thought that Princess Celestia was watching over them that warmed her heart in the crisp chilly air.
Rainbow Dash and Applejack were the first amongst her friends to wait at the rendezvous point. Rainbow Dash was battle ready. She chose to travel light, not wanting anything to impede her movements should the situation call for a fight. Applejack's was also carrying a saddlebag, which was full and abundant with apples, ready to buck them into her opponent and provide a tasty snack if the girls got hungry.
Rarity was just behind Twilight. Like Rainbow Dash, she was also travelling light. However her reasons were vastly different. She had no idea what to bring on this mission. Rather than risking her entire wardrobe or countless hours deciding, she chose to wear a stylish beret hat in green camouflage material with a beautiful red feather sticking out to one side. Twilight smiled at the fashionista as they trotted closer to the others waiting just ahead.
Fluttershy appeared slowly from the direction of her tree cottage. She was trembling in fear and was wearing a mixture of pillows and padded armour from a variety of different contact sports. She was terrified, her heart pounding heavy. Nevertheless, she was brave enough to venture with her friends.
"Hurry up, Fluttershy!" Rainbow Dash shouted out to the scared yellow pegasus. She squeaked but promptly picked up the pace.
Once she had arrived, Twilight nodded, "is everypony here?"
"Not everypony," Applejack replied looking over her shoulder. "Pinkie Pie is still not here yet."
The girls joined Applejack in her search of the pink party mare, when all of a sudden a voice came from behind the bushes, startling the girls. "What are you talking about, I've been here the whole time!" it had stated incredulously.
Fluttershy shrieked and dashed behind Twilight trembling as the bushes moved closer to the group, but relaxed once Pinkie had revealed herself, wearing a black ninja outfit.
"I stand corrected," chuckled Applejack.
"Alright, girls," Twilight stood gallantly whilst addressing her friends. "Princess Celestia has asked us to go into the Everfree Forest to uncover the cause behind the falling of a star from Orien's belt. She can't send any of the palace guards as they are investigating other crash sites, so it'll be up to us-
"We get it, Twilight. It's dark and dangerous. Come on, let's get going already," interrupted Rainbow Dash before darting down the path in mid-air.
The others followed leaving Twilight flabbergasted and alone momentarily. "- to ahh forget it," giving up on her prepared motivational speech and rejoining her friends.
As they ventured deeper into the forest, the destruction caused by the falling star was becoming more apparent with each step they took. Broken tree branches and fallen leaves scattered all over the path leading to the crash site just up ahead. Twilight and Rainbow Dash were leading the way with the former squinting and struggling to read the map. Applejack, Rarity, and Fluttershy were sticking close together at the rear, whilst Pinkie Pie darted between the bushes and tree with incredible stealth and flexibility.
"Wow look at the damage done to this place," said Rainbow Dash amazed by the extent of the damage around her.
"Well, Everfree Forest certainly could have done with a makeover," joked Rarity carefully stepping to avoid any broken sticks.
"The only problem is that now I can't read the map!" exclaimed Twilight. "All the major landmarks have been destroyed."
"Don't worry Twilight," said Pinkie Pie appearing just beside Twilight. "I'm leaving a trail of cookie crumbs so we can find our way back." She then grabbed one of the cookies on the ground, brushed off the dead leaves and took a bite before darting back into the nearest bushes. "Also they'd serve as a delicious snack on the way home!" said Pinkie Pie, munching away happily.
"Eeeww, Pinkie Pie that is absolutely abhorrent," said Rarity with disgust.
Twilight doesn't even dignify that with a response, shook her head and continued to look at the map frustratingly. Rainbow Dash and Applejack giggled at the party mare's antics. "Yeah, I can't see a problem with that whatsoever," said Rainbow Dash sarcastically.
It had been a few minutes since they started their journey into Everfree forest. Twilight still hadn't given up on using the map and decided to add some notes to help navigate their way through the mess and ensure a safe pathway home.
"S-s-o what do you think it is?" Fluttershy asked nervously.
"I wonder if it’s a spaceship?" suggested Pinkie Pie, appearing from a set of broken branches causing Fluttershy to shriek, jumping onto Applejack for dear life.
"You can let go now," Applejack mumbled, the yellow pegasus still holding onto the country earth pony's face and neck. Blushing sheepishly, she hops down and continues walking beside her friends.
"Oh! Pinkie Pie, please. There are no such things as aliens," Twilight said incredulously, laughing at the implausibility of the idea.
"What if this spaceship has a tiny baby inside?" Pinkie Pie continues ignoring Twilight's disbelief. Twilight groaned whilst the others gave each other questionable glances, curious as to where her theory could lead and eager to hear more. "No seriously, this baby will be like from this super nasty warrior race, and it'll be programmed to destroy the local population of the planet it lands on and then auctions that planet to other aliens at the highest price!"
"I-I -d-d-don't like the s-s-sound of th-th-th-at," Fluttershy said, her voice trembling with fear.
"And what if it's meant to be a superpony that flies around in a big fancy red cape?" Twilight snorted sarcastically.
Pinkie then gasped loudly in wonder and excitement. "What if this baby hits its head though, scrambling his programming like a scrambled egg sandwich, and then becomes super friendly and kind, and becomes a real hero! He can go on sorts of adventures, fighting all kinds of nasty bad guys and saves the world."
"That'd be kinda cool," Rainbow Dash admitted, warming up to the idea.
"So long as he's nice," Fluttershy murmured in agreement, feeling somewhat reassured.
"Pinkie! Seriously, an alien?" asked Twilight derisively at Pinkie's suggestion.
"What? I'm just sayin'," Pinkie Pie replied defensively.
"You really shouldn't be so dismissive, Sugarcube," said Applejack, defending the pink party mare. "I don't think we should discount any possibilities until we know for certain."
"It has been very strange night, after all, Darling," stated Rarity.
"Anything is possible," Fluttershy murmured under her breath. "So long as they're nice," adding a caveat to her previous statement.
"Yeah Twi, I mean come on we literally saw a star fall from the sky, and you want to tell us that there isn't the remotest possibility that it could be aliens?" Rainbow Dash asked incredulously.
Outvoted, outwitted and outmaneuvered, the magical mare had to admit that she too had seen her fair share of the stranger things, so it shouldn't have been too far of a stretch to allow the possibility of alien life amongst the stars. "Fine, I'll somewhat acknowledge, the teeniest, tiniest, faintest possibility that aliens may or (but most likely) not exist causing a star to fall," conceded the lavender mare. "There. Happy?"
"Acceptance is the first step," grinned the party mare as she bounced and placed a reassuring hoof on Twilight's back. Twilight groaned audibly, regretting her decision to cave so quickly as the others continued giggled.
"So Pinkie, you reckon this alien will be a werepony that changes into a giant beast with the sight of a full moon?" Applejack joked.
"Now that's just being ridiculous," Pinkie Pie responded. "He'll need a tail to do that."
The first beams of sunlight had come over the eastern horizon. The conversation between the group of friends had long since died as they reached closer and closer. Despite the snapping sound of stick and twigs underneath their hooves, it was eerily silent, the woodland creatures having long abandoned the area.
"Woah," escaped Rainbow Dash lips as the girls slowed before coming to a near complete stop.
Their eyes and heads move around as they absorb the incredible and horrific sight before them. Bark and wood chips scattered the forest floor. Trees had tumbled over like dominoes stripped of their leaves laying bare. Most had snapped like twigs, but others had their roots exposed as they lay onto their side.
"Oh my..." gasped Rarity was taken aback at the horror.
"Holy applesauce," said Applejack at a loss for words.
The destruction of the forest was overwhelming for poor Fluttershy who was feeling light headed and struggling not to faint.
"Come on girls," Twilight gulped, putting on a brave face. "Let's keep going."
The girls nodded in unison, but they didn't feel any braver. At the centre of it all, a tall mound of dirt appeared abruptly over the landscape. The size of the crater was immeasurable from this view.
"Look at the size of that thing," Rarity exclaimed pointing a hoof at the mound.
"D-d-o we have to climb over?" asked Fluttershy.
"It'll be a'right Sugarcube," Applejack said reassuringly. "The mound is tall, but it's a gentle descent to the peak. Shouldn't have any trouble reaching the top to get a good look-see."
Rainbow Dash looked fiercely just above the crater's edges as she shifted her hooves preparing to make a good leap.
"Applejack is right," Twilight added, "if we stick together, we should be safe."
"I'm going up," she proclaimed having not heard her friends andascended quickly.
"Rainbow Dash, wait-" Twilight yelled hoping to stop the pegasus but failed to do so.
"What is that darn fool think she's doin?" exclaimed Applejack.
The girls called out to Rainbow Dash, begging her to return but by then it was too late. Rainbow Dash was already high enough to see the full extent of the damage.
When she reached the top, her mouth was agape. The dirt beneath her hooves collapsed under her weight as she landed. She stared into the abyss and whistled in wonder. The morning sun had finally broken through exposing the impact caused by the fallen star. The crater was very wide and was much deeper within. Interestingly there was no object center of the crash site, only smoke.
"Rainbow Dash," thundered Twilight, interrupting the pegasus's train of thought. Twilight landed right beside her and was prepared to reprimand the multicoloured pegasus for her impulsive and reckless behavior. "What were you- " but her anger dissipated as she overlooked the crater in awe herself. Like her friend before her, she too finds herself unable to speak.
Their friends soon came galloping from behind with Applejack leading the charge. "Rainbow bloomin Dash! What in tarnation were you thinkin, girl?" roared Applejack. "We were supposed to go up together!"
"Yeah, Dashie, what gives?" demanded Pinkie Pie.
"Is everypony alright?" Fluttershy asked, desperately attempting to catch her breath.
"Honestly, Rainbow Dash," sneered Rarity appearing next to Applejack. "We appreciate your courage and willingness, but your brazen attitude and carelessness are not admirable qualities that inspire heroism."
"You could have endangered us all," Twilight added, regaining her composure.
Rainbow Dash was taken aback. Could they not see the giant crater in front of them? The destruction of the forest? There were much bigger things at stake than her behavior, and surely her friends understood this, so why get mad at her? She was about to retort and defend herself, but the glares from her friends, as well as the tone, anger, and concern in their voices, had cut Rainbow Dash's ego, humbling her. Pouting her lips, she looked down sheepishly, acknowledging her foolhardiness. Before she could apologize, however, the smoke cleared, and something caught the corner of her eye causing her to be alarmed.
"Hey guys, look there's somepony over there!" Rainbow Dash said, pointing a hoof to the other side of the mound. The girls turned their heads to the direction of Rainbow Dash's hoof to see the outline of a pony faint in the distance coming out from the shadow of the crater. It was struggling to stand as it reached the peak however it collapsed on its front hooves, tumbling forward and rolling down the other side escaping from view. A large thud could be heard in the direction of the fallen pony, causing the girls to gasp out loud. Before the others have a chance to react, however, Rainbow Dash beats her wings giving her lift and soars over without a second hesitation.
"Rainbow! Ahh buck," cursed Applejack.
Upon reaching her destination, she hovered over the debris scouring any sign or tracks of the fallen pony. Her ears perked up at the sound of an audible groan just a few meters to her right. She dashed forward and was horrified to see an earth pony, in between the cracks of two logs, his body lying in a deep hole. His eyes were partially open revealing two deep black irises, matching the color of his tail and mane. He looked up briefly at the mare just above him. "... Gk- ... Gk- ... Gk-..." he grunted in pain.
"It's okay, you’re safe. My friends and I are here to help," said Rainbow Dash reassuringly, despite the unsettling feelings of trepidation growing within her. "We'll save you. I promise,"
At these words, the stallion seemed to have understood. He smiled weakly and then fainted, his head resting peacefully on the floor. As the sun rose higher, light pierced in between, illuminating the hole just enough to glimpse at the severity of his injuries. Blood was gushing from his head, dying his light tan coat a dark shade of red.
Rainbow Dash was in full panic. She tried desperately to push and lift the logs, but their immense weight and size were too heavy for her. Giving up on the futile effort, she instead attempted to pull the stallion out, but he was just out of reach. Tears of frustration grew. "Come on. Come on," she grunted at the unconscious pony, pleading to anypony that he was still alive. "No! No! No, don't you dare die on me ... Come on ... I just need a hoof."
"RAINBOW!"
Voices could be heard from a distance.
"RAINBOW DASH!"
The outline of five ponies could be seen just above, on top of the crater's edge. It was her friends. Thank Celestia.
"GUYS COME HERE QUICK! THERE'S A PONY UNDER THESE LOGS," she shouts. "I THINK HE'S CRITICALLY INJURED."
"We're coming, Rainbow Dash," one of them replies.
The mares rush over to join their friend, jumping over logs that were blocking their path. "Rainbow, what in Equestria is going on?" demanded Applejack.
"There's a stallion underneath these logs," she trembled, struggling to remain calm. "I tried to reach him but-"
"Alright," commanded Twilight interrupting the pegasus. "Stand back. I'll see if I can't move it with my magic." Upon receiving their orders, they moved aside to watch the alicorn to work. "Alright here goes," she said as a purple light surrounded the entire log.
Using every ounce of magical ability, she struggled to lift the log but to no avail. Her magical abilities were vastly superior when compared with the average unicorn, and these logs should have been easy work for somepony as powerful as her; however, something was wrong.
It was terribly wrong.
Although she couldn't understand it, something was interfering with her magic. It had a dark and sinister presence, unlike anything she felt since her last battle with King Somba. She kept at it for a little bit longer as sweat collected along on her brow and a headache developed. She gave one last effort but then her magic suddenly dissipated as her friends' watched on, anxious and scared.
"What do we do now?" cries Rainbow Dash.
Twilight wipes her forehead and regains control of the situation. "Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Applejack and Rainbow Dash grab onto the end of that log. Rarity, you and I will use our magic to try and lift the other side. We'll push and roll the first log into that clearing over there together. If we still can't reach him, we'll do the same to the second. Right?"
"Right," they replied. With a plan in mind, the girls quickly got into position.
"I'll count to three, and on three we will push. Ready?" asked Twilight a determined look on her face.
"Ready," they replied. All six mares shifted their body to prepare to lift the heavy object. A purple and blue magical light surround the end of the other side of the log.
"One. Two. THREE!"
On three, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy pushed and heaved the log on their end whilst Twilight and Rarity concentrated hard, focusing their magic on lifting the other. Within moments, they had succeeded as the first log was lifted and rolled just a short distance clearing the way to the stallion below. But it still wasn't enough to reach him.
"Okay girls, one more time. Get into position."
"Right."
"Ready?"
"Ready!"
"Here we go again. One. Two. THREE!"
On three, the girls attempted lifted the second log. Tired and exhausted, they toiled under the weight of the second, however it was heavier than the first, and refused to budge. "Come ... on..." Applejack grunted, "put your ... aarrghh ... backs into it".
"We're trying," retorted Rainbow Dash. Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie groaned in agreement.
Sweat was collecting on Rarity's brow as she was suffering from an immense headache. "Keep ... it ... UP!" struggled Twilight whilst trying to encourage her friends to push through.
"We've ... got ... thisss~" shrieked Rarity, the pain becoming almost unbearable.
It wasn't enough at first, however, at the possible last second, a miracle happened. As though their prayers had been answered, the second log shifted, giving them the momentum to finally able to lift and move it off. Their strength and magic soon gave way but luckily they had rolled it over enough distance to creating a clearing to the stallion below. Their collected efforts had paid off.
It took a few seconds for everypony to catch their breath. Rainbow Dash was the first to recover, as she made her way down the hole to the pony waiting below. Before she could move him, however, she stopped to examine his body, wanting to ensure her and her friends' efforts had not gone to waste.
She leaned her head against the pony's chest and smiled. "Thank Celestia, he's still breathing." She patted him down and looked over his body for any other injuries. There were no broken bones or at least none that had pierced the skin. She continued to pat his muscular frame once more, just to be sure. Brushing his unkempt mane to one side, she looked at his face once more admiring his features somewhat. He looked young, maybe a bit older than her, and though bloody and worn, his face appeared warm, kindly, almost innocent. Apart from the odd cut and bruise, the head wound was the worst injury that she could see.
"How's he lookin Rainbow?" Applejack called out from above.
"He looks fine," she replied, relieving the trepidation amongst her friends of the earth pony's state. "He's got a severe head wound, but there doesn't appear to be any other serious injuries. Applejack, I'm going to lift him out of this ditch."
"Gotcha Rainbow," Applejack responded, gesturing a hoofs up. "Pinkie and I'll be here to pull him out."
Rainbow Dash positioned her body underneath the stallion and prepared to lift him. She took a foreleg and gently pulled him over her shoulder
“Wow you’re a lot bigger than you appear,” she grunts with a smile. “But not as big as Big Mac,” she joked. Once he was secured, she wipes the sweat from her brow and takes one more second to gather her strength. She swallows and then grits her teeth, beating her wings as she hard as she can, lifting them off the ground into the waiting hooves above.
Together, Applejack and Pinkie Pie grabbed onto the stallion, and successfully managed to pull him to safety. Rainbow Dash reached the edge but was left alone as the two mares moved the stallion to a safe clearing. Thankfully Fluttershy was there, wearing a warm smile and extending her hoof. She grinned, accepting her friend's helping hoof.
"TWILIGHT!" Pinkie Pie shouted, "Something's wrong!"
The girls rushed over to Applejack and Pinkie Pie. Applejack had placed her head on his chest and was listening hard.
"What's wrong?" asked Twilight, as she pulls out the first aid kit from her saddlebag.
"He's lost a lot of blood," Applejack replied. "He's breathing for now, but his heart beat is getting faint."
Fear and trepidation had returned, as the girls solemnly gazed at the stallion. Wasting no time, Fluttershy grabbed the first aid kit from Twilight and kneeled down before him. Watching his chest rise and fall intently she opened the kit, taking the cotton balls and soaking them in disinfectant.
"I think I should be able to patch him up somewhat," Fluttershy said sternly. She then uses the cotton balls to clean the wound, wiping away any blood, earning a surprised but thankful look from her friends. After leaving the gash exposed for a few seconds, she proceeded to wrap his head with the bandages.
"That should slow the bleeding down," Fluttershy said, but a hint of worry remained in her voice, "but there could be some internal bleeding. We need to get him to the hospital soon."
"How much time does he have?" asked Rainbow Dash.
Fluttershy shook her head. "I'm not a doctor, but I don't think he has much time. Maybe 30 minutes. An hour possibly at most. I'm sorry I just-"
Without any further prompting, Twilight used her magic to lift the earth pony into the air just behind her head.
"Can you teleport him to the hospital?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"I'll try, but I'm not sure," Twilight replied hesitantly. "Those logs took a lot out of me, and I think something is interfering with my magic."
"You too?" asked Rarity with a concerned look on her face. Twilight was baffled by this revelation but returned Rarity's concern with one of her own.
"Do you think you girls make your own way back?"
"We'll be okay," said Rainbow Dash reassuring her friend. "Go."
Twilight nodded and summoned a light around her and the stallion. She levitated momentarily, as she focused on the Ponyville Hospital, with the stallion on her back.
It was happening again.
She tried to focus but again the dark, sinister feeling from before interferes, and she abruptly stops, huffing and puffing in exhaustion. "I'm sorry.." Twilight began, her voice breaking. The girls looked at each other baffled by the lavender mare's apology.
"What do you mean?" asked Rainbow Dash, her voice shaking.
"Something's wrong... I can't teleport him ... Something is interrupting my magic ... I'm sorry."
Rarity shook her head in disbelief. "No, it can't be. Surely there must-"
"Rainbow, it took us about an hour to get here alone, with an injured pony, I'm not sure how long it'll take ... I'm sorry...." Twilight sobbed.
The five mares stood despairingly. Rarity and Pinkie Pie slumped as tears begin to form in their eyes. "No..." cried Fluttershy into Rarity's shoulder as she places a reassuring hoof around her.
Applejack turned her head away shamefully and removed her hat, a tear rolling down her cheek. "AHH BUCKING HORSE APPLES!" shouted Applejack slamming her hooves bitterly into the ground. "And we were so close..."
Rainbow Dash, however, continued to stare at her friends, watching their pouring of emotions as they prepared themselves to watch this stranger die. Her eyes watered.
She told him that he was safe. She promised him that he'd be saved.
...
And she was determined on keeping that promise.
"No," Rainbow Dash says defiantly.
"No?" asked Twilight sobbing.
"What did you say?" asked Pinkie Pie weakly.
"I'll take him. I'll fly him to the hospital," explained Rainbow Dash confident but her voice shaken.
"But Rainbow-"
"Give him to me!" she repeats. She trots next to Twilight and attempts to lift him up onto her back. Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie's wipe away their tears and run to their friend to help her raise the stallion.
"Rainbow, are you crazing?" Applejack asked. "You could barely lift him out of a hole and now you’re goin to fly over Everfree to get him to the hospital."
"I promised him that we'd save him," Rainbow Dash retorted glaring stubbornly at the country earth pony. "I promised."
Applejack was taken aback by her declaration. She looked deeply into her friend's face and could the tears in the corner of her own eyes. Applejack couldn't say anything to deter her stubborn friend from attempting to accomplish the impossible. "Fine but you be careful ya'hear."
She nodded firmly, wiping away her tears before smiling confidently. "You bet!"
A new found sense of hope returned, raising the girl's spirits. "Rainbow, I'm not sure this is going to work, but I do know a simpler weight reduction spell that should be strong enough to help lighten the load," Twilight offered.
"Yeah, I'd appreciate that Twi," Rainbow Dash said truthfully.
"You'll need to stand back."
She placed the stallion back down onto the ground gently, giving space for Twilight to perform her magic. Twilight focused her magic as light surrounded the stallion's body once more. Once again, she could feel something dark attempting to break her concentration and prevent her from casting the spell. This time, however, hope replaced fear, and she prevailed, successfully casting the weight reduction spell. A light blue aura surrounded the stallion.
"There it's done," Twilight said weakly, her knee shaking as she struggled to remain standing.
Rainbow Dash moved hesitantly over to the stallion's body. She placed her hooves around him and attempted to lift him. The spell had worked, the stallion's weight had been reduced by four-fifths.
Pinkie Pie was jubilant as she sang. "We did it! We did it! We did it! Oh! Oh! Oh! We did it!"
Fluttershy was dancing merrily into the air along with her, while Rarity smiled on. Twilight's fatigue was finally reaching its tipping point, and she collapsed onto her knees. The spell (as simple as it was) took whatever energy she had left. She looks up and sees Rainbow Dash standing above her. She smiles weakly.
Rainbow Dash kneels down on one hoof and uses the other to extend a hug around Twilight, grateful for her efforts.
Applejack didn't say anything and instead grabbed a rope from her saddlebag. Using one end, she tied the rope around the barrel of the stallion's body before doing same to Rainbow Dash using the other end. The two mares shared an acknowledging glance before they pull each other into a warm embrace.
"You best get going," Twilight murmured weakly. "The spell will only last about a minute. I'm sorry I couldn't give you more time."
"It's fine Twilight; I can make it," Rainbow respond, dispelling any fears from the lavender alicorn. "I'll drop him off and come back for you."
"It's fine, Rainbow, here take the map," Applejack said reassuringly, forcing the map upon Rainbow Dash. "We'll catch up with you."
"Take good care of him," shouted Rarity.
"Good lu-"
"JUST GO ALREADY" Pinkie Pie screamed interrupting Fluttershy. Rainbow Dash nodded curtly and then flew off at full speed, carrying the earth pony in her hooves.
The girls gathered around, Applejack helping Twilight up as they watch their friend fly off back to Town. For a few moments, there was silence, which was unfortunately broken by Pinkie Pie, whom suddenly had a stark realization. "Soooo~... Anypony know the way back home?"
They had looked at each other before Applejack smacked a hoof on her face. "Oh, applesauce. I gave Rainbow the dang map."
The others stared blankly at the country earth mare. They got so caught up in their goodbyes and well wishes to Rainbow Dash that they didn't stop to think about pointing out something so painfully obvious.
Rainbow Dash can fly.
She can see where Ponyville was.
Therefore she didn't need a map.
"Oh, Applejack," Rarity moaned incredulously.
"A-a-are we (gulp) lost?" asked Fluttershy.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Applejack, I figured something could happen. So I left a literal trail of cookie crumbs to shows us the way home, remember. See!" the pink party mare chirped pointing out the trail of cookie crumbs she had left, including signs to leading the way.
The girls' jaws dropped. They looked at the party mare who was grinning from ear to ear. They returned her smile with their own before breaking into roars of laughter, so grateful to have a thoughtful (and bizarre) friend that was Pinkie Pie. It had been a very eventful morning, and Twilight would have quite the report to write to Princess Celestia upon her return.
"Let's go home," Twilight smiled knowing they had completed their mission. "Rainbow Dash is sure to be sitting impatiently in the waiting room."
"Absolutely, Darling," said Rarity.
"I can't wait to meet the new pony," Pinkie Pie jumped merrily before singing, "I hope he likes surprise welcome parties!"
"I hope he's nice," said Fluttershy.
"I'm sure he will be the nicest pony around," Rarity said reassuringly.
The three girls had gone ahead a little, but Applejack and Twilight remained, looking back at the sky where they last saw Rainbow Dash in the distance. "I wonder who he is though?" asked Twilight, "and what was he doing at the crash site?"
"I'm sure we'll figure it out later when he comes to," answered Applejack merrily.
Twilight stares into the sky once more, thinking back on the events over the past 12 hours. What would the future have installed for them and her friends?
"Applejack, you can let me down now, I can walk the rest of the way," chirped Twilight.
"Are you sure, Sugarcube?"
"I'm good thanks, Applejack."
Applejack let Twilight down, allowing the alicorn to stand on hooves, walking slowly towards her friends just up ahead.
Applejack was about to make her way too but steals on last glance at that open sky.
"Godspeed, Rainbow Dash," said Applejack. "Godspeed."
And with that there was hope.