Rainbow Dash felt every small crack as it ran along the ice that was mostly her own body. It was a small mercy that the flash-freezing had dulled her nerve-endings, preventing the pain responses from ever reaching her brain. From her point of view, the scene seemed to still, Twilight's panicked cry frozen in mid air as the weird china doll and Rarity cowered in a corner, halfway towards reaching out to her. All of it suspended in a moment, just as the vampire clenched down, completely shattering the ice, and the Pegasus' being with it.
It was a strange sensation, dying. Though she could not feel any pain, that was precisely the issue. There was simply nothing. A black void stretching out into eternity, save for a warm, chiming tone just on the edge of perception, a glow beckoning forth from the distance. Was this the stereotypical 'light' that seemed to crop up whenever death was concerned in a novel? If so, Rainbow could honestly say that she didn't care for it. It was too slow, creeping forwards at a snail's pace. Not that it mattered. Speed, distance, time, space, reality. None of it mattered in this state of nonexistence. As the light drew closer, the tone increased in volume as the Pegasus could discern a shape in the light. It wasn't a beautiful Alicorn. It wasn't a giant, divine being of light. No, what came towards her was simply a ghostly green mare, comforting light of every shade and colour seeming to embrace Rainbow as it came close. Behind it lay a square gateway of much brighter, pure white radiance.
Her Stand, though it lacked a mouth, gave off an oppressive aura of despair, of apology, of excitement. Without a word, she inclined her head at Rainbow Dash, stepping forward to capture her master in an embrace. Rainbow smacked her lips. "So, uh...This is kinda it, huh?" she said. A nod. The dying mare nodded back, sighing. "I thought it'd be more, y'know? Something more like...I dunno, fighting a giant monster that was gonna eat Canterlot whole! A hero's sacrifice or whatever. Not this! What did I accomplish, huh?! Nothing! I attacked, I died, and now the others are gonna die too, and it's just...It's not fair!" Rainbow Dash sobbed, crying like she had rarely done in life. The Stand simply floated, content to remain hugging her master until she was ready to move on. "I was gonna be part of the Wonderbolts! I was gonna have a fan-club, inspire ponies around Equestria! Not...Not just die! I just got accepted in; it was my trial performance in like three weeks, and I was going to practice all day today. Then Twilight roped me into this and now i'm...No... No, it isn't Twilight's fault." She laughed bitterly, looking up at her Stand with watery magenta eyes. "I just got you, too. An awesome ghost with superpowers, and I don't even know what you do! How pathetic can I get, huh?" she said, blowing a small raspberry at the end of her sentence.
The green ghost tilted its head curiously, and a series of images flashed through Rainbow's mind, getting the Stand's point across without words. The Pegasus cocked an eyebrow, glancing at the ghost with a bemused expression. "I mean yeah, I'd kinda like to know what you could do. I'm gonna be ticked off if it woulda saved me, though." The ghost's eyes seemed to curve as her body shook, a kind of silent laughter as more images passed between the two. Rainbow gasped. She saw an image of herself, actually connecting the punch she had been going for. She saw herself standing over Pinkie's body as the clothes disappeared. She saw everyone get up, happy and together again, before the Rainbow in the image fell, seemingly dead. Before she knew it, more tears spilled over the edges of her vision. Images of words went by, a scrolling wall of text that got a final message across. "You...Already used it? I went back in time, and won?" The Stand nodded in affirmation. "Then...Why am I dead?" To this, more text appeared. 'Fate is unalterable once it has happened a single time. To go back and fix your mistake, you still had to perish. This way, however, you at least saved your friends.' it read.
Rainbow sighed in relief, wiping the tears from her eyes and putting on a humoured, cocky grin. "Welp. At least I got to help out. Can't say i'm happy about the whole dying thing, but I guess i'm ready to go now. No point in hangin' around here anymore. Let's see if whoever created me can handle my awesomeness in the flesh, hm?" she laughed mirthfully, turning towards the gate of whiteness. Taking one last moment to think of all the lost time, all of Pinkie's parties she'd never get to visit; all the books she'd pretend to hate; every tussle with AJ; all of the lunchtimes at Fluttershy's... Gulping and straightening herself out, Rainbow blinked back the last of her tears and took one final breath before stepping bravely into the beyond, the gate closing and leaving the Stand behind, alone.
What she would never know, however, was her Stand's true ability. It was nothing so complex as turning back the clock, changing destiny, any of that. No, her ability was simple. She existed for the sole reason of making sure her master had the one thing that every creature wished to have: Peace of mind. Comfort. It broke her apart to lie to her master like that, but at least she went forth happy and content, safe in the knowledge that her death hadn't been for nothing. If only.
In the void of night, the final light winked out, vanishing along with her fallen master and leaving the space in total darkness once more.
In Canterlot, two sisters felt something break, shattering into a million tiny pieces. Shock. Terror. Creeping dread. Cancelling any meetings or prior obligations, the two Alicorns teleported next to each other, eyes locked fearfully. Turning to face the display, they bore witness to the one event that they'd never hoped to see in their lifetime. It was much too soon to say goodbye! Surely not!?
But alas, there it lay. The Element of Loyalty had fallen from its stand, gem turned black and shattered upon the velvet lining.
No noise, not a word needed to be said. Feeling distinctly weak in the knees, the taller of the two fell at the side of the younger, having known the mare just long enough to grow somewhat more attached to her than any of the other subjects that she oversaw, save for the rest of her friends. Such a powerful light, a great driving force...Gone.
The smaller Alicorn frowned, an attitude a millennia behind the times coming to the forefront. Her sister would no doubt demand a trial, life imprisonment in the deepest depths of the dungeon. She knew better, however. The Elements only gave themselves to the greatest among Ponykind. For something to have the gall, and power, to kill one of these chosen few, a much greater punishment would be administered.
She would find out precisely what was responsible, and end it.
「Colours of the wind」: RETIRED