I’ll Bring You Home
Chapter One; Home?
It was the dead of night by time she saw Ponyville on the horizon, only a handful of lights illuminating various windows. The sight alone made her feel at home, but it also brought with it memories she’d rather forget as she made her way lazily over the town. Rainbow Dash felt herself touch down before she even realized she’d landed. In front of her was a sight that made unbidden tears pool in the corner of her eyes.
Near the center of the hamlet stood the charred remains of a once mighty tree. Though the rubble had long since been cleared away and anything salvageable had been taken, the blackened outer walls of what used to be Ponyville’s public library still stood, serving as a grim reminder of the fate of their resident librarian.
Rainbow had been home only a handful of times since beginning her tireless quest, and everytime she came here. Moving on autopilot she walked slowly through the ruins, only half paying attention to her surroundings, lost in her own thoughts. Until she reached what once was the center of the mighty tree, where a small green sprout had pushed through the blackened soil.
Her saddlebags were opened and a small bundle of lavender flowers were extracted, picked fresh from the fields surrounding the town. She set them down in front of the tiny sapling, carefully inspecting its two small leaves for signs of insects or infection. She’d had to find a book on the matter to take proper care of it. Only when she was confident it was growing fine did she allow herself to relax back onto her haunches, staring down at the flowers.
“Hey, Twi,” her voice was cracked, lacking every trace of her usual confidence. “It’s been a while, I know. I’ve been so many places, seen so many things - I think even you’d be a little jealous,” she chuckled dryly despite the wetness slowly rolling down her cheeks. “Saddle Arabia was beautiful - I wish you coulda’ been there - but a little too hot for my taste. They had some strange magic there, Twi; you shoulda’ seen it…”
Rainbow trailed off as though expecting a response. Eventually, when none came, she continued; “I… I think I finally found it. A way to bring you back. Every story I ever heard about the dead coming back to life all pointed to this mare, and I finally found her. Maybe… maybe she’s just pulling my leg. Maybe she’s gonna rob me blind of all the supplies I bring out but… well, I guess it’s a good thing I kept a few strands of your mane.” She cringed, shaking her head sadly.
“Okay, even I’ll admit that sounded creepy. Look, point is, I don’t know what I’m getting myself into - when do I ever, right? - but this is my best shot. If this turns out to be a dud I’m back at square one. Don’t you worry though; Rainbow Dash doesn’t give up that easily. No matter what I’ll find a way to bring you back and then…” a strangled sob cut her off and the little seedling was watered by salty rain.
After a few deep breaths Rainbow regained control of her voice. She laid down, uncaring of the soot rubbing into her coat. “I’ll bring you back, and then I’ll take you to all the amazing places I’ve been. For once I can be the one to teach you about all the strange magics of the world. Like how the gryphons use these little round disks with runes on them and…”
Her voice droned on in the silence of the ruins for a long time. Stories of distant lands filled the stale air, until eventually they slowed to a stop, replaced by the gentle breathing of a mare in a tattered cloak sleeping. Her long journey from the badlands had finally caught up with her, and she wouldn’t wake until Celestia’s sun rose over the hills. Eventually, when her eyes fluttered open, it was to the sound of somepony calling to her.
“Hey, what are you doing here?” A deep voice shouted from behind, the sounds of footsteps coming closer. “You hear me? What-”
Rainbow smiled sadly, yawning and stretching as she stood. “Hey, Spike,” she said, turning to face the little dragon. “Long time no see.”
The purple scaled dragon stopped dead in his tracks, eyes growing wide as he glimpsed the tell-tale rainbow mane beneath the hood. “R-Rainbow… you’re-”
“Spike, darling, who are you- oh, goddess. Rainbow Dash!” Rarity rushed forward, not even noticing the soot and the dust as she wrapped the pegasus in a crushing hug. “Where in Equestria have you been!?” She shouted, her angry tone at odds with the desperation in her clinging hooves. “We’ve all been worried sick!”
Rainbow felt herself blush self consciously as she returned the hug. “Actually… not in Equestria, for most of it. It’s a long story.”
“A long story we have plenty of time for,” Spike said coldly, crossing his arms. “One I’m sure the rest of the girls would like to hear as well.”
Finally, Rarity released Rainbow from her deathgrip, either not noticing or pointedly ignoring the fact that her white coat was more black wherever she’d touched the pegasus. The few tears rolling down her cheeks contrasted with the glare she now held. “You’ve been gone for ages. We thought something might have happened. You just up and disappeared after…” she trailed off, glancing around the ruins of the library.
“I know, Rarity,” Rainbow sighed, guiltily hanging her head. “I… needed some time, then… well, I’ll catch all you girls up on what happened, okay?”
“You didn’t even say goodbye,” Spike shouted angrily. “I don’t care if you ‘needed some time’; you should have told us where you were going. We needed you to be here with us, but instead you just up and left!”
Rarity flinched at the venom lacing his words. “Spike, dear, I know-”
“NO!” Spike ignored the unicorn’s attempted plea, instead advancing on Rainbow. “Losing Twilight was hard on everypony, and you just left us. You abandoned us to do who knows what. We got nothing from you; not an explanation or a goodbye or even a Celestia damned postcard! I don’t care where you’ve been; I care that you weren't here with us. You…” he trailed off, clenching his eyes shut. Eventually he added in barely a whisper; “You didn’t even come back for the funeral.”
By time the dragon’s tirade was over there wasn’t a single dry eye left. Least of all his own. Rainbow frowned. “I was looking for a way to bring her back.”
“You what!?” Rarity and Spike gasped in unison, looking at the mare as though she’d insulted them.
“Look, I’ll explain everything, okay? Just… gather the girls and have them meet me at Sugarcube Corner. I need to go get some stuff,” Rainbow said, not waiting for an answer as she took to the air, flying away from the stunned pair. She didn’t even bother to glance back as she made for her cloud house still hanging in the sky. It had drifted further from Ponyville in the time she’d been gone, and she made a mental note to push it back into place before she left again.
Alighting on her porch Rainbow felt her stomach twist. It had been a long time since she’d been in her house. Even when she’d come back to Ponyville the handful of times, it was usually only a short stop at the library.
It wasn’t her home anymore. Not without Twilight there.
Twilight…
Rainbow was awash with emotions she couldn’t even begin to name as she stepped through the door, a veritable tidal wave of dust washing over her.
“Pretty sweet, huh Twi?” Rainbow asked with a cocky smile, flitting about the tall, vaulted ceilings of her house.
The lavender alicorn chuckled, shaking her head at her friend’s antics. “Yes, Rainbow; pretty ‘sweet’,” she made a show of making air quotes. “I see why you like it so much.”
Rainbow just grinned wider. “Oh, you haven’t even begun to see anything yet; just wait. I’m telling you, Twi; this is gonna be the greatest sleepover of your life.”
Rolling her eyes, Twilight set her saddlebags down next to a couch made of cloud, skeptically prodding at it with a hoof and finding it surprisingly solid. “Speaking of, when’s Fluttershy supposed to be getting here?”
“Huh? Oh.” Rainbow landed, rubbing the back of her neck. “Fluttershy had to bail; I guess one of her animals got sick or something, so it’ll just be us two. That okay?”
Twilight nodded. “That’s too bad; I hope it gets better… whatever it is.”
“Knowing Fluttershy it could be anything. I’ll put bits on it being… like… a skunk.”
“I’ll take that action,” Twilight responded, narrowing her eyes challengingly. “Let’s see… based on the current season, and knowing the local fauna and climate, I’ll guess it’s one of her birds.”
Rainbow chuckled. “You’re on, egghead; how about loser pays for pizza tonight?”
“Deal.” Twilight stuck out her hoof, which was quickly taken and shook by the pegasus.
“C’mon; let’s settle this quick. I’m gonna order their largest pizza with all the toppings they charge extra for.”
The alicorn laughed, following her back to the door she’d just entered through. “I’ll order breadsticks. With extra dip.”
Rainbow gasped, holding a hoof to her chest. “Are you trying to bankrupt me? You’re bluffing!”
“Try me, featherbrain.”
Despite everything, Rainbow laughed at the memory. It was just after Twilight had gotten her wings; she’d figured it was high time Twilight experienced living like a proper pegasus. She just wished she hadn’t lost that bet.
Twilight went nuts on the dip.
Rainbow was painfully brought back to the present as she caught sight of a picture out of the corner of her eye. She wandered over, picking it up and wiping away a thick layer of dust. Pinkie Pie had handed them out as gifts at the party after they’d all defeated Nightmare Moon; it was all six of them together, smiling brightly at the camera.
It felt like lifetimes ago now. In some ways it was.
Before the tears could start anew Rainbow set it back down, focusing on what she was there for. She made her way quickly up to her bedroom, swiping a few tattered books off a shelf that was once adorned with trophies and stashing them in her bags as the cloak was discarded on the floor. Twilight’s mane brush was stashed safely in a drawer, and as she was about to leave to meet her friends she caught sight of herself in the mirror out of the corner of her eye.
An unfamiliar mare gazed back at her. That rainbow coloured mane left no doubt it was her in the reflection, but her coat was closer to grey than blue, caked tight with dust and dirt and her once vibrant mane was fairing no better. Rainbow was surprised Rarity had even touched her in her current state. A quick sniff told much the same story as her appearance.
A shower was in order.
It wasn’t long before steam filled the bathroom, hot water pouring over her and carrying away weeks of filth. Rainbow’s aching muscles were soothed by the gentle heat and she found herself relaxing against the cloud wall, half-heartedly scrubbing at her coat with bar of soap. The task of keeping her eyes open rapidly became a losing battle and before Rainbow realised what had happened the sound of the shower was drowning out her snores.
“Let me outta here!” Rainbow Dash shouted, pounding her hooves against the bubble of magic that held her captive. It was the same for the rest of her friends - and Discord. “I swear to Celestia I’m gonna kick your flank outta Equestria myself when I get out of this!”
Discord sighed distractedly, gazing forlornly at the void that surrounded them. “It’s no use; Tirek’s powers are far too strong now.”
His voice alone sparked a brand new inferno in Rainbow. “Mind your own business, Discord,” she spat, not even slowing her efforts to punch her way to freedom. “You’re the one that got us in this mess to begin with.”
“She’s right,” Applejack agreed, bucking at her own bubble with what little stable footing she could get. “Twilight’s still out there, an’ she needs our help. We gotta find a way outta this before-”
There was a bright flash of light, and suddenly they weren’t floating in an empty black void.
Where they found themselves was much worse. The fields outside Ponyville had become a battleground, craters and scorched patches littered the landscape. In the center of it all stood Tirek and Twilight, facing each other.
“Their release,” Tirek said, his confident grin audible in his tone, “for all the alicorn magic in Equestria.”
Rainbow’s heart sank as she saw the look on Twilight’s face. “Don’t do it!” She shouted, desperately hammering the side of her bubble.
“We aren’t worth it,” Fluttershy agreed solemnly.
“Oh but you are, Fluttershy,” Discord sighed, idling fiddling with the medallion Tirek had given him. “You’re the one that-”
“Enough!” Tirek shouted, stomping his hooves. “I want an answer, and I want it now.”
Rainbow Dash was helpless to do anything but watch as Twilight stared up at her friends. She could practically see the alicorn’s heart breaking.
“No, Tirek,” She said, charging her horn with sparking energy, large arcs of lightening shooting off in every direction. “When I beat you, I’ll free them myself!” Her shout was accompanied by the deafening explosion of magic from her horn.
Tirek just barely had time to summon a barrier before it hit him, the force alone enough to push him back. “You lied to me, Discord!” he shouted, teleporting out of the way and firing a volley of his own at the alicorn.
“Atta’ girl, Twilight!” Applejack shouted, pumping a hoof.
Rainbow Dash failed to join the farmer in her celebrations, instead focusing on Twilight as she reflected Tirek’s attack with a barrier. Even from her distance she could tell Twilight was pushing herself well past her limits, even with the condensed magic of four alicorns.
“Are your friends truly so meaningless to you!?” Tirek shouted, keeping up his assault as beam after beam of stolen magic was fired. “You’d sacrifice them all for power?”
“I will never sacrifice my friends!” Twilight yelled back, focusing on dodging as she charged another attack of her own. “I’ll save them - and Equestria - no matter what!” With that proclamation she let loose the largest blast of magic yet, and it struck its mark head on. Tirek’s barrier groaned under the pressure, but held.
Until another beam of magic hit him from another side, small and thin, it slipped around his barrier and attached to his side. The effect was instantaneous; his barrier shattered and Twilight’s beam engulfed him, his shouts ringing out across the field as he visibly shrunk in size.
Tirek’s cries were quickly joined by Twilight as the alicorn fell to the ground, clutching her head in her hooves. Her main blast fizzled out, but that tendril remained, attached to Tirek’s side as he continued to shrink.
Discord gasped. “Twilight no! You can’t!”
“What’s going on?” Rainbow demanded, everypony watching in horror as Twilight writhed on the ground.
“She’s absorbing all the magic Tirek stole, but her body can’t handle it. If she keeps it up-” Discord was cut off as their bubbles popped, unceremoniously dumping them on the ground.
Rainbow Dash caught herself quickly, rushing over to Twilight and holding the alicorn upright. “Twi? Twilight? Can you hear me?”
Her cries died down gradually as she was surrounded by her friends, and when Twilight opened her eyes they were glowing a blinding white. “I’m sorry girls,” she whispered, her voice weak. “It was the only way.”
With a pulse of magic a rainbow coloured beam shot from her horn straight into the sky, a ring flying out from it and washing over the land. Ponies all over Equestria found their cutie marks returned to them in an instant.
Twilight went slack in Rainbow’s hooves, her breathing shallow and her coat visibly singed and smouldering from the massive amount of magic that had been forced through her.
“T-Twilight?” Spike ventured hesitantly, holding her hoof in his claw. She smiled down at him, tousling his spines.
“I’m glad you’re safe.”
She closed her eyes, and one final beam of magic arced out of her horn before her breathing stopped entirely.
“Twilight!”
Rainbow Dash jolted upright, heart hammering in her chest as cold water poured down on her. “Ponyfeathers,” she cursed, making quick work of finishing her shower despite the freezing temperature. When she’d toweled off she didn’t even bother running a brush through her mane. Saddlebags were thrown over her back and her house was left behind her. She remembered why she hated coming back.
Sugarcube corner was only a quick flight away, and by time Rainbow arrived she could see all her friends gathered inside with a ‘closed’ sign on the front door. The bell jingled cheerfully as she let herself in. Immediately all eyes were on her, but she couldn’t shake the nagging feeling of unfamiliarity. They were still her friends, no matter how long she’d been gone.
“Hey, girls,” Rainbow greated, feeling the awkward tension in the room. It was dead silent after her entrance, nopony daring to even move a muscle.
Until Fluttershy cut through it like a hot knife, rushing forward and dragging her childhood friend into a hug that would put a bear’s to shame. Everypony else quickly joined in, needing no further invitation. Even though she’d never admit to it, Rainbow returned the hug just as forcefully as it was given. It had been far too long.
And it was far too short for her taste.
Applejack was the first to pull away, leveling a glare that would wilt a tree at her. “Where the hay have you been!?” She demanded as the rest of the girls slowly let her go.
Bashfully rubbing at the back of her neck, Rainbow found herself unable to meet their expectant gazes. “I’m… sorry it’s been so long,” she said slowly. “I’ve been pretty busy.”
“Doing what?” Pinkie asked, lacking much of the flare she usually carried. “You didn’t even come home for the funeral.”
“There was no need for a funeral,” Rainbow argued, ignoring the almost offended looks she got as she started pulling the books out of her bags. “Not when I’m going to bring her back.”
“Y’all are what now,” Applejack asked incredulously.
The pegasus flipped open a book, skimming the pages until she found the passage she was looking for. “According to ancient Equestrian legend, a hero was able to bring his lover back from the dead with the aid of a mare with a pomegranate cutie mark.” She flipped open another book. “There are a couple Gryphon stories about a pony with a pomegranate cutie mark traveling through their lands and bringing sick gryphons back from the brink of death. Saddle Arabia’s ancient king is said to have lived multiple lives after clawing his way out of the underworld. When asked how he did it, he said ‘a mare with a pomegranate mark found him in the Elysium Fields and told him his work was not over’. There’s a story passed down by the Zebra about-”
“Stories,” Spike interrupted sharply. “All you have are stories. You abandoned us for stories.”
Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Don’t you see? Every race, every culture has stories about coming back from the dead. And every time it’s with the help of a mare with a pomegranate cutie mark. She goes by different names and has different methods, but it’s always the same mare.”
“So they all share the same ancient root myth,” Spike shook his head dismissively. “It doesn’t mean anything. Ponies don’t come back from the dead.”
“I found her. The mare with the pomegranate cutie mark. She’s going to help me bring Twilight back.”
Spike’s jaw hung open, mirroring everypony else in the room. The dragon fumbled for words a moment, before eventually throwing his hands up. “That’s it. I’m done. I can’t listen to this anymore.”
With that, he walked out the doors, not even turning back as Fluttershy called out to him. “Rainbow…” she stopped, unable to say anything more. Maybe there wasn’t anything else to say.
“That’s what this has been about?” Applejack practically hissed. “You’ve been traipsing all over the place chasing, what, fairy tales? And you just left us all here to pick up the pieces? We needed you here, with us.”
“Twilight needs me,” Rainbow shot back without a second’s hesitation, flaring her wings defensively. “I thought you’d all be happy I found a way to bring her back!”
“She’s not coming back!” Rarity sobbed. Fluttershy and Pinkie instantly hugged her from either sighed as she fell back onto her flanks. “Twilight’s dead, Rainbow Dash. She died to save us and all of Equestria. The least you could do is have some respect for her sacrifice.”
“She died because of us!” Rainbow all but shouted. “She died to save us because we trusted Discord. If we hadn’t fallen into that trap she’d still be here. We should have known better,” Rainbow snorted, chest heaving as she turned away from the gathered mares, stunned into silence. “You don’t get it,” she muttered, packing her books back into her bags and heading for the door. “You say I abandoned you? No… you all abandoned Twilight. I’ll do it myself if I have to.”
“Rainbow Dash!” The pegasus’s retreat was halted as her tail was caught in Applejack’s teeth. “Y’all need help,” she stressed, “You’re grieving for your friend and you’re grasping at straws. I ain’t gonna sit here while you kill yourself over this obsession. I already lost one of my friends.”
“Let go of me, AJ,” she growled, cracking her tail like a whip and forcing it free of the farmer’s grasp. “I don’t need ‘help’, I need Twilight back. We all need Twilight back. If you won’t help me, fine. I already know what I have to do.”
Without giving time for another argument she hurried out the door, leaving her friends behind. What did it matter what they thought? She knew there was a way. She knew what she needed to do. They’d see soon enough, they just needed to stay out of her way.
Rainbow landed once more on the doorstep of her house, slamming the door shut behind her. There was planning and packing to be done, and nopony was going to stop-
There was a knocking at her door.
“Go away, Fluttershy!” She shouted over her shoulder, emptying her saddlebags and preparing them to hold everything she’d need.
The knocking continued. This time, accompanied by a voice; “We need to talk, Rainbow Dash.”
The pegasus froze. The door opened in a golden glow. Celestia ducked her head to step through her front door. “Spike sent a letter,” she said simply.
Rainbow Dash glared at the Princess of Equestria. “Are you going to try and stop me, too?”
“I’m given to understand you’ve already been told it’s impossible?” Celestia asked calmly, watching patiently as the pegasus flitted about her house.
“Not the first impossible thing I’ve done,” Rainbow snorted.
The Princess nodded slowly. “Indeed. Though I fear this is another matter entirely. It’s-”
“Shut up!” Rainbow shouted, throwing her half-packed saddlebags to the floor. An anger she’d forgotten she’d been repressing smoldered back to life. “I don’t care what you say! You’re responsible for Twilight’s death, too!”
Celestia was visibly stunned at the outburst, her eternally calm facade cracking ever so slightly.
The pegasus wasn’t done.
“When Tirek came back, you sent Discord after him, and when that blew up in your face what did you do? Did you take responsibility and try to fix it? No. You ran and you hid. You put everything on Twilight - just like you always have - and she’s the one who paid for it. You shoved your magic into her and just sat there and waited for Tirek to find you. You did nothing, and Twilight died for your mistakes!”
“I know,” Celestia muttered, barely above a whisper as her teeth ground together.
Rainbow didn’t hear her. “And now, I’ve found a way to bring her back - to fix your mistakes - and you’re here telling me it’s impossible. You should be working just as hard as I am to bring her back.” By the end of her shouting Rainbow was hovering in the air, muzzle to muzzle with the solar Princess. Their eyes met, and for the first time she noticed the tears trailing down Celestia’s cheeks.
“I know!” Celestia yelled, stamping her hoof and shaking the clouds beneath them. The shear force of her cry pushed Rainbow back down onto her hooves. “I know it’s my fault. I know she died because of me! I’m not here to tell you not to go. I’m here to beg you to save her.”
It felt like the breath had been knocked from Rainbow’s lungs. “W-what?”
Silence rang like a deafening gong, Celestia trying to catch her breath and Rainbow too shocked to say much more. Eventually, the princess managed to continue in a quieter tone.
“Please, Rainbow Dash; please. Bring Twilight back to us. You said you found her, right? The mare that can cross to the other side?”
Rainbow stumbled over her words for a second. “Y-yeah, I-”
Celestia bowed. “Please, save her from my mistake.”
Too stunned to do anything, Rainbow watched with wide eyes as Celestia’s tears dripped onto the floor, her head low. There was a bright flash that filled the room, and before she knew what was happening a midnight blue alicorn stood next to her sister, glancing around the room a moment before realizing the situation she’d teleported into. However, instead of questioning anything, Luna simply nodded solemnly at Rainbow Dash before similarly prostrating herself.
“Please,” Luna said quietly. “Twilight died because of our own fears, our own shortcomings, and she did so to save our ponies. We will help you in any way we can.”
“Of course I’ll bring Twilight back,” Rainbow answered slowly. What else could she say? The two most powerful beings in the world were before her, bowing and pleading with her to do something she was going to do anyway.
The alicorns stood, and when they did Celestia’s tears had stopped but the dark tracks on her cheeks still told of her sorrow. “Thank you, Rainbow Dash.”
“We shall help you prepare for your journey. It will not be easy; only a handful have ever made it across the divide, and fewer still have returned,” Luna explained.
Celestia cleared her throat, and when she spoke her voice was as strong as a ruler’s should be. “Nopony can know what it is you’re about to do, Rainbow Dash. Death is a part of life and to defy that natural order is a crime against the fundamental laws of our world and we cannot condone it. However…” she trailed off, and her sister finished in her place.
“You found a way to bring her back on your own without our help. You will do so no matter what we tell you. Privately giving you our support is… pushing the boundaries, but Twilight did not deserve the fate she received.”
Rainbow Dash eyed them curiously for a moment, absorbing the information, and something occurred to her. “You knew? The entire time you knew there was a way to bring her back?”
The alicorns hesitated, and it was a male voice that answered for them. “We’ve always known.” All eyes turned to the suspiciously Discord shaped lamp on a table. “We immortals have been here since the dawn of existence. Nearly, anyway. Occasionally, ponies - and others - have managed to return from the dead. It didn’t escape our notice.”
“You.” Again Rainbow felt the flames of anger well up in her chest, only so much more potent and visceral than what she’d felt towards Celestia. An endless inferno contained in her gut, flames that had been smouldering and growing ever since the day that Twilight had been taken from her.
By Him.
Discord pulled himself off the lamp, jumping off the table and falling through the clouds only for his proper sized body to come up behind the pegasus. “I know,” he said, “Believe me, Rainbow Dash; I know. I’m not here to ask your forgiveness, I’m here to help.”
Rainbow acted without thinking. She turned and upon seeing that mismatched face did the only thing she could; she punched him. Right across the jaw. His head snapped to the side, but otherwise he didn’t respond to the assault. She screamed wordlessly and hit him again. Then again.
“Rainbow Dash! Sto-” Luna was held back as Celestia put her leg out. Their eyes met and the elder sister shook her head.
“You!” Rainbow Dash’s rage poured out of her in waves, every punch seeming to only stoke her anger hotter. “You! You killed her!”
Discord simply took it, closing his eyes and accepting the punches. “I know,” was all he could say.
With each consecutive strike Rainbow’s hooves carried less and less force, and her shrieks of rage petered out. By time she stopped hitting him his face was swollen and purple and bloody. Only when he was sure she was finished did Discord step away from her. He snapped his claws and the injuries faded.
If she could have, Rainbow would have punched him again. Instead she glared, panting raggedly. “I don’t need your help,” she growled.
“You’ll need all the help you can get,” Celestia said finally, bringing attention back to her. “The Underworld is not a place to be taken lightly. You need to prepare yourself for it.”
Rainbow huffed, shaking her aching hooves. “I have a week before I leave. I have plenty of time.”
“To underestimate this task will be your death,” Luna said, summoning forth a large pouch with a flash of her horn. “Go buy supplies enough for a three week journey; we shall discuss more when you return.”
The bag of bits was placed in Rainbow’s hooves, and her eyes widened as she felt the weight. “This is…”
“A paltry sum. We told you we will do everything to help you bring Twilight back. That is a small price to pay. No go; we will wait here. There is a… conversation we need to have.” Luna gave a pointed look to Discord.
Rainbow nodded, shooting a deadly look of her own at the draconequus as she shuffled past the three most powerful beings in the world and out the door. They watched her fly off, before eventually the princesses turned to Discord.
“She really did a number on you,” Celestia noted, not even bothering to hide the satisfaction in her voice.
Discord frowned, rubbing his jaw. “Hurts like the dickens, too. Hiding it with an illusion doesn’t lessen the pain any.”
“We have more important matters,” Luna cut in firmly. “For instance, just how Rainbow Dash found Harvest when we all agreed not to interfere, as per our contract with him.”
All eyes looked to Discord - including his own, after he took them out and held them at arm’s length. He shrugged. “She was going to find her eventually. All I did was knock a book off a shelf.”
“A book that was supposed to be locked deeper in the Canterlot Archives,” Celestia deadpanned. “If he finds out about this we’ll have a serious problem on our hooves.”
“He won’t find out,” Discord waved his paw dismissively, floating around Celestia while lounging on his back. “Like I said; I knocked a book off a shelf. She’d have found it eventually. Do you really think a restricted sign and a gate were going to stop her?”
Luna frowned grimly. “I hope you’re right. It’ll be one thing if he comes to us about it. If he takes it out on Rainbow Dash…”