//------------------------------// // What We've Done // Story: The Descent into Madness // by FenrisianBrony //------------------------------// Nothing was said. Nothing of true substance had been said since they Barank, Rainbow and Gilda keeping to their own quarters, while Applejack and those who followed her had remained on the lower levels of the cutter. Nor was it just those of Equestria who were lost in silent contemplation. Kas still stood with Rainbow and Gilda, the pseudo-slave trying to bring her two mistresses something to take their mind off of the imminent homecoming, while on the lower deck, Koghad remained by Applejack’s side, refusing to be parted from it for even an instant, even if it cost him his place within the Pa’Laa Sept. Goge had been offered a place amongst the odd band, Applejack seeming him out before they left for the final to personally extend the offer, if any of them survived, but he had kindly, and firmly, refused. Too much bad blood he had said. Applejack could understand that. He had been Rainbow’s friend, not hers, they had only met through fate. He couldn’t reconcile what she had become, and he certainly couldn’t contemplate travelling with her, watching her day after day, knowing what horrors she had wrought. Applejack could respect that, the lies he was refusing to tell by playing along with the story they had all agree to, though no one had ever outlined the plot. His death had hit her hard, and not for the first time did she wish she’d spent more time getting to know the ex-Imperial soldier. They were all liars now, and Applejack hated that almost as much as the idea of telling the truth. Things were so complicated now, so faceted. Tell the truth and expose Rainbow, it’s what she deserved, no doubt about it. She would be punished, thrown into the deepest cell in Tartarus and consigned to history. She would destroy the faith in the elements of Harmony, the others would never regain the fortitude to defend their world, and in some way, Applejack still felt sorry for Rainbow. After everything she had done, she was still loyal. Twisted, wrenched out of alignment until she barely resembled what she had once been, but she was still in there, somewhere. No, she could not tell the truth, not this time. Rainbow’s secret had to be her secret too, all of the others in agreement about this, as much as Spitfire and Lightning ground their teeth at the thought. “We’re approaching the Black Library,” Rainbow’s voice floated over the ships comm system. “Five minutes.” That was it, no long speech or impassioned desire for home. Flat, emotionless, hollow. “Well, we best get ready,” Applejack stood up, her new augmetics humming softly as she stood, heading towards her repaired battlesuit, a final gift from Pa’Laa and Aun’Vesa. It had been made for her, nobody else could use it anyway. The others followed her lead, strapping on armour and weapons as the ship touched down. Rainbow and Gilda were already at the ramp by the Applejack reached her. Kas had evidently remained in the cockpit, looking after what seemed effectively like her ship some days. Without a word, Rainbow lead the group out of the ship, approaching the impossible structure without hesitation, a single figure awaiting them at the mighty gates. “Guardian,” Rainbow spoke as she approached, echoing the words she had spoken the last time she had stood before the lost Craftworld. “I am Rainbow Dash, Swooping Pegasus, Succubus of the Lightning Fang, a leader of the Triumvirate of Half Formed Hope, the Element of Loyalty. By these titles I request access to this library as was once given, so that I am my compatriots may return home.” The last time she had spoken the words they had been a shout, a challenge that demanded an answer. Now it was simply a request, a plea from a broken thing. The Guardian remained still for a moment, an eternity in the hyper-sensitive body language of the Eldar race, before cocking his head. “Do I address the Hawk, or the Succubus?” he asked. “You…” Rainbow began. “You address Rainbow Dash. We have done as you asked, Barank is safe once more, the tendril of the Hive Fleet is vanquished. We only wish what was promised.” “You have paid dearly for your aid,” the Guardian noted, before standing aside. “The way is open to you all. Know this however, when you step through the portal, it will be the last time I can guide you to your world. There is but one more journey I can…” “We take it now,” Applejack stepped forward, towering above all others in her battlesuit. “Mighty Guardian, we want ta take our path home.” “Of course, I will not stand between you any longer. Rainbow Dash, I trust you know the way.” “I do, Guardian,” Rainbow nodded, before stepping forward, the huge gate seeming to simply fade away, rather than open in any conventional means. When Rainbow looked back, the Guardian had already disappeared, leaving Rainbow leading the group alone. In truth, Rainbow had never seen this part of the Black Library, the last time she had entered its halls she had been unconscious, carried deep within before waking up once more. She knew the way though, she didn’t try and explain that knowledge. Soon they were in familiar falls, passing by small glowing power fields. Rainbow noticed a single ball of crimson energy, a frozen moment of time shot from her own weapon decades ago. “This is it,” she came to a halt suddenly. “This…is the way home.” Applejack stopped behind Rainbow, following her gaze towards the arch they had stopped before. A silky sheen of energy stretched upwards, being lost to height. “So…we just walk through it?” Applejack asked, slowly extending her hoof, making to touch the sheen before snatching it back. She had only gone through a webway portal once, and while she knew the feeling had not been due to the portal but the destination, she still did not want to be the first to step through it. “Rainbow? Ya gonna take us all the way?” Rainbow’s breath caught in her throat at the words, before nodding. Pausing only to speak a curt command to Kas, the ship following behind the group, Rainbow stepped forward, disappearing into the portal, Gilda close behind her. “I guess this is it,” Applejack turned to the others, taking advantage of the one time she knew Rainbow and Gilda could not overhear her. “Ah…ah couldn’t be more proud of y’all. Each of ya.” “Don’t go getting’ all sappy on me now, lass,” Koghad managed a smile. Applejack returned the smile, looking over the others. They all looked so tired, but there was enough determination in their eyes to get them home. Driven by that faith, Applejack stepped through the portal. *** Luna and Celestia stood facing each other on the balcony of Canterlot Castle. As one their horns lit up channelling their magic into the heavens, each seizing their own heavenly body with unimaginable strength and precision. Slowly the moon began to sink beneath the western horizon as the sun peaked over the eastern mountain ranges that marked the edge of where the eye could see. There was nothing remarkable about this night, the two sisters had conducted the same ritual since Luna had been returned to Equestria. A blinding flash lit up the sky, brighter than even the brightest sun. “What in blazes…” Celestia began, shielding her eyes with a hoof. Luna followed her lead, her wings covering her face. As quickly as it had arisen, the light faded to bearable levels, the pair risking looking out, the sun and moon momentarily forgotten, as they both scanned the area for the source of the flash. It was Luna who found it first, her mouth falling open as she pointed with a forehoof. “S-Sister…look,” she managed. Celestia already was, equally dumbfounded by what Luna had seen. The flash had come from what had once been the Wonderbolts stadium. It had not been seen as such for years now, instead standing as a monument to those brave souls who had willingly stepped from the surface of Equis, the first in the history of Ponykind, neigh, any species that called the world their home. Almost everypony had given up hope that there might still be hope for the warriors of the Swooping Pegasi. Celestia was one of the few who hadn’t. She knew better than anyone that time was nothing when it came to reunions. Without a word, Celestia disappeared from the balcony, Luna following close behind. The pair arrived just as the portal opened just as it had all those years ago. Now, as then, a lone figure stepped onto the central field, kept pristine for just such an occurrence. Celestia let out a gasp, tears springing to her eyes as she recognised the rainbow mane. Smoke obscured her form, but no one could mistake that look. Another figure joined the first, a griffon, Gilda. Then another and another, a cluster of ponies stepping through. Celestia couldn’t believe her eyes, her heart almost bursting with pride. Then a large shape stepped on to the field, far larger than even a griffon. The ground shook as it stepped onto the field. Celestia took a step back, Luna’s horn lighting despite herself. A shape shot out of the portal above the group, faster than a Pegasus and the size of an airship. Its engines screamed with a pitch than set Celestia’s teeth on edge, but more importantly, it cleared away the smoke that was obscuring the group. Now Celestia really did faulter, taking a step back, her own horn lightning, quite intentionally. It was the Swooping Pegasi alright, though none looked like they had when they left. Scars too innumerable to count, even a missing wing amongst them, talons replacing hooves, a face that seemed stripped down to the bone, leathery thestral wings. The monster behind them was one of metal and technology, bristling with weapons of all kinds. A small creature, looking something skin to a hornless minotaur stood beside the golem, it’s creator? It’s controller? They were the ponies, but they weren’t the same. “R-Rainbow Dash?” Celestia stammered. “Yes, your highness,” Rainbow nodded. Once she would have bowed, Celestia noted, not anymore. The metal golem began to move, the front sliding open, revealing that it was merely a vessel, a familiar pony sliding from within. “Yer highnesses,” Applejack whispered, pressing her head to the floor, revealing that she too was ruined by the hellish place they had all disappeared to. “Y-You’re back?” Luna whispered, equally taken aback. “We’re back,” Spitfire took a step forward, glaring at Rainbow. “Spitfire…don’t,” Applejack whispered, looking at the wingless Pegasi with pleading eyes. “It has been too long, your highnesses,” continued, dropping to her knees and bowing beside Applejack. Lightning and Scootaloo quickly followed suite, bowing before the stunned monarchs until it was only Rainbow and Gilda still standing, even the strange creature dropping to its knees. “What…what happened to you all?” Celestia asked, raising a wing as the dark metal shape that has flew over head earlier touched down on the field, kicking up dust and dirt as it set down. “You don’t want to know,” Rainbow shook her head. “We should celebrate,” Luna began, trying to regain some sense of composure. “The element bearers, neigh, the whole of Equestria will be overjoyed at your return!” She sounded like she wanted to believe it, but her eyes betrayed the worry in her mind, the scars they all bore would not be easily looked past by the massed. “You need to work on yer poker face, yer highness,” Applejack ventured. It was an innocuous comment, a throwaway jab and little more. Then Celestia snorted, covering her mouth as she tried to supress a snort. It was infectious, the small creature letting out a snort of his own, throwing his head back and letting out a deep laugh. It was as if a dam had broken on the impossibly tense situation. Applejack was next to break down into laughter, followed by Luna. Spitfire, Scootaloo and Lightning were slower to take up the humour, looking more awkward as the others collapsed, overwhelmed by the situation and doing the only thing that seemed to make sense. Even they joined in however, soon rolling around on the floor, true laughter escaping their lips for the first time in who knows how long. Gilda smirked, her low tones adding to the raucous sounds. In a situation like this, there were only two options, to laugh, or to cry, and the greater the laughter, the more powerful the sobbing would be. Even Pinkie would have been hard pushed to match the laughter almost everyone was displaying. Rainbow wasn’t laughing.