//------------------------------// // A time of fragile peace // Story: My Little Pony: Friendship is Eternal // by AlphaToothless95 //------------------------------// Months later It had taken a lot of effort, a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, but finally.. there was peace. Midnight was gone, her army was mostly defeated, and everything was finally back in order.. for the most part anyway. After the return of their mutual rivals, Celestia and Luna had come out of retirement to take up their thrones once again. At least until Twilight felt comfortable ruling Equestria by herself again, that is. The mirror was almost completely repaired, meaning Sunset would be able to go back to the human world soon but she was currently helping at the school of friendship. Spitfire had retired and left Rainbow in charge of training current and new Wonderbolts as well as leading them. Of course Rainbow had been nervous at first but she seems to have it under control. The rest of the Mane 6 had gone back to their normal lives after whoever was left of Midnight's army had disappeared and ceased committing their atrocities across Equestria. Guess the news that Midnight was defeated had took the fight out of them. Either way, everything was ok again.. for the most part anyway.. Twilight, for quite a while now, had been.. dealing with something by herself.. she had thought about telling her friends many times before but.. whenever she thinks she’s going to, she just changes her mind. This problem.. is actually what started everything to begin with.. Twivine. Despite Midnight being gone, Twivine had remained in Twilight's mind but had stayed quiet for quite a while.. until she didn’t. She had obviously been angry when she found out Midnight was really gone and had sworn to take revenge on Twilight and her friends. Twilight had even found herself starting to struggle to keep control of herself every now and then due to Twivine trying to take control. Her friends and family had almost caught on a few times but she quickly covered it up each time. Speaking of which, she was currently sitting on her throne, trying to use alicorn empathy to finally communicate with Twivine privately and ask her why she insists on trying to hurt her and her friends even though Midnight’s gone. She tried and tried but Twivine clearly didn’t want to be bothered with talking to her “weaker half”. Twilight sighs in frustration and stands up, deciding to do something better than try to communicate with a monster. Maybe she could check on her friends. After all, she did promise she would do that more often since she had failed to do so during the ten years of peace they had previously gotten.. not everything was perfect but things felt so much simpler then.. now nothing is clear anymore. She walks out of the throne room and goes outside the castle. Almost immediately, she’s surrounded by ponies who all wanna thank her for what she did to help Equestria and ponies who wanted an audience with her. “Uhhh.. you’re welcome everypony. Unfortunately, I don’t have time for an audience right now. I have some.. important matters to attend to, but I should return soon.” She says before flying off, glad to get away from all the attention. It helped that Celestia and Luna had returned to their original positions as princesses.. but that only did so much before the attention started to get to her, and not in a good way.. she just hopes that talking with Rainbow Dash will help calm her nerves this time as it usually did. Light Hope's burial ground “Hey Light Hope.. been a while, huh?” Rainbow Dash asks, sitting next to the tombstone, the name of her old trainer and friend residing on the surface. She looks at the amazing view granted by the location of the grave. It was on top of the “Great Mountain” of her home which was currently being rebuilt, all the survivors and animals working together to return it to its former glory. “Still jealous of this view ya got.. hope I get something just like it when my time comes.. but I didn’t come here for this to get depressing.. how have you been..? Me? I’ve been pretty good myself. Wonderbolt training is good, we’re actually.. 20 members strong now, and that’s including the Wonderbolt reserves.” Tank, Rainbow’s pet turtle with a propeller tied to his shell, lands by her and nuzzles into her leg and she smiles and pets him. She frowns when she remembers something and sighs, looking at the view again. She clinches her fists, her breathing becoming abnormally fast as her eyes glow red. “Lightning Dust escaped about a week ago.. I’ve been trying to focus with the training while also having squads looking for her but.. I mainly wanna go after her myself.. to make her pay for what she did to you.” Rainbow says, this sudden behavior starting to scare Tank. “I will make her pay eventually.. I promise you that.. I haven’t forgotten OR forgiven what she did..” She says, the thought of Lightning Dust driving her anger to new heights.. then she thinks of Twilight and Scootaloo.. and starts to calm down. She sighs before saying “Those two, I swear..” with a faint smile. She really does love those two like family.. she was still shocked at how the simple thought of those two could pull her mind from the darkest of places. She hears someone land behind her, trying to sneak up and rolls her eyes, smirking before suddenly speed tackling Twilight to the ground, being careful not to send Tank spinning on his shell again. “Hey Twi~” Rainbow says in a low, sultry tone and Twilight can’t help but blush before kissing her nose and sitting up. “Hey Rainbow.. figured I’d find you here.” She says with a smile and Rainbow gets off her, helping her up afterwards. “That means you know me too well.. might need to find a new thinking spot.” Rainbow says with a chuckle. Twilight chuckles as well and follows her, sitting by her at the edge of the mountaintop. “So.. you just coming to visit Light Hope?” She asks and Rainbow nods so Twilight nods awkwardly in return before continuing. “Telling her about everything that’s been going on?” She asks and Rainbow nods again. Twilight suddenly thinks about the conversation they had before and after Lighting Dust escaped imprisonment. She shifts nervously and Rainbow Dash sighs, a little frustrated. “I already know what you’re gonna ask Twi, and yes, it happened again!” Rainbow snaps, startling Twilight. “I-I was just concerned.. I know that Lightning Dust escaping hasn’t been easy for you.. but I just wanna make sure you don’t still want to.. to kill her.” Twilight says and Rainbow's anger just increases. “Of course I still wanna kill her! Once I get my hands on her, I’ll show her the same mercy she showed Light Hope and would show anyone else I care about or me!” Rainbow yells and Twilight looks shocked and shakes her head slowly. “Rainbow.. do you really think Light Hope would want you to-“ “You didn’t even know Light Hope, and you think you know what she would want for me? …Maybe you should just keep her name out of your mouth..” Rainbow says and Twilight suddenly feels a huge pang of hurt and anger. “Hey! I’m just trying to keep you from doing something you’ll regret! I may not have known Light Hope but I know, based on what you and Fluttershy told me about her, that she would want better for you than for you to become a murderer! So do I! So does Scootaloo! Everypony who knows and loves you wants better for you.. even if you don’t see it.. we can’t lose you.. I can’t lose you..” Twilight says before standing up and starting to walk off and Rainbow feels so much guilt and quickly grabs Twilight’s hand. “Twi wait.. I’m sorry.. Stay, please.” She pleads and Twilight thinks about it then sighs and sits back down. “Look I just.. I didn’t mean to snap at you but I.. I just really miss her.. and to tell you the truth, I don’t like the fact that you think you have to keep an eye on me whenever something happens with Lightning Dust..” Rainbow says and Twilight’s about to say she’s just looking out for her but Rainbow interrupts. “You’re just looking out for me, I know, but.. I’ll be ok Twi.. you can trust me.” Rainbow says and Twilight looks hesitant but then smiles and nods, prompting Rainbow to smile back and lean against her. “You really do worry too much.. but that’s one thing that makes you so adorable.” Twilight chuckles at that and hugs Rainbow closer to her. “You’re the adorable one. Not everyone knows because you don’t act this way in public but I’ve seen that.. softer side of you and it’s so cute.” Twilight says and Rainbow blushes and looks away. “J-Just shut up.. you can be really adorkable sometimes, ya know that?” She asks and Twilight raises an eyebrow. “Adorkable? Did you just come up with that word to describe me?” Twilight asks with a smirk and Rainbow mumbles something, prompting Twilight to giggle and continue to hold her close, both of them enjoying the comfort they find in each other’s presence. Ponyville “Thank you once again for agreeing to do this with me Applejack.” Rarity says and Applejack nods as they walk together. “Don’t sweat it Rarity.. feels like it’s been forever since we’ve been able to just.. be ourselves, ya know? It’s actually nice to take a break from things every now and again.” Applejack says and Rarity agrees before looking down with a nervous look then leading Applejack to her boutique. “Actually Applejack, there was another reason I wanted you to meet up with me.” Rarity says and Applejack raises an eyebrow in confusion. “I need to talk to you about this.. thing.. between me and Spike.. I may need your advice.” Rarity says and Applejack shifts nervously, looking more than a bit uncomfortable. “I don’t know Rare.. ya know I’m no good with that kinda stuff.” Applejack says but Rarity gives her a pleading look, causing her to sigh and reconsider. “But.. I could try my best.” She says and Rarity squeals happily and hugs her before backing up and starting to explain. “So.. I’ve given it some thought and.. I like him too but.. well.. he’s still a child, there’s someone else and he’ll live to be over a hundred years old because.. well he’s a dragon.” Rarity says sadly before continuing. “I know that if I tell him it won’t work, it’ll break his heart but if we did end up together and he outlived me, that would still hurt him.. but he’d also be alone then..” She says before looking up at Applejack with a look like she’s on the verge of crying. “I don’t know what to do Applejack..” She continues and Applejack goes to comfort her, prompting Rarity to pull her into a hug. She looks shocked then hugs back. “Well.. it depends.. is this other fella anything like Spike? Ya know, Kind, brave, strong, loyal? Huge obsession over you?” Applejack jokes and Rarity giggles a bit before pulling back a bit. “Kind, brave, strong, and loyal? Yes, but the obsession? No.” She says and Applejack asks her to describe this pony, causing her to shift nervously. “Ummmm.. well.. they’re an earth pony.. strong.. gorgeous.. brutally honest.. ummm.. always there for me even though we’re.. opposites.. they have these beautiful eyes that I could gaze into for days on end.” Rarity says and Applejack starts to piece all these details together.. and then she figures out who her friend is describing. “Wait so.. you like.. me? And Spike?” Applejack asks and Rarity blushes and hesitantly nods. Applejack doesn’t know how to react so she sits down and shakes her head, sighing. “I’m flattered Rarity, I really am but.. you really wanna do that to Spike?” She asks and Rarity shakes her head sadly. “No, I don’t but if it prevents hurting him worse than a simple rejection could do.. then I have to be willing to..” Rarity says and Applejack doesn’t look too comfortable but Rarity really didn’t want to lose either of them. “Listen, I know what I’m asking of you but.. at least think about it? ..Please.” Rarity pleads and Applejack thinks about it then sighs and stands up. “Ok.. I’ll sleep on it.. I like you too Rarity but.. if it ain’t ok with Spike first.. I can’t go through with it.” Applejack says and Rarity nods in understanding. “Of course, I’ll let you think about what we spoke of.. I don’t want to lose either of you and I don’t want to hurt Spike like that so.. I’ll talk it over with him as well, alright?” Rarity asks and Applejack nods. After a few minutes to think, Applejack asks Rarity if she needs any more help and Rarity thinks about it before telling her she still had a lot to do. Applejack being Applejack, decided to do a supply run for her and to come back with the materials for her in no time. “We’ll figure everything out Rarity.. no matter how long it takes.” Applejack says before walking out and Rarity smiles and closes the door behind her, leaning against it and sighing. “I just hope it doesn’t take too long..” Somewhere in Equestria “I’m so glad you decided to come Discord. We haven’t seen you in a while.” Fluttershy says as she finishes setting up everything for her picnic with Discord and Pinkie Pie. “It was the least I could do. After all, I did greatly enjoy your company Fluttershy.” Discord says and Fluttershy clears her throat before gesturing to Pinkie Pie who’s giving a sad look, causing Discord to sigh. “And.. yours Pinkie Pie.” He says and Pinkie Pie cheers and hugs him tightly, literally breaking him in half with her newfound Earth Pony strength.. buuuut Discord being Discord, puts himself back together with little to no effort before grimacing at her. “Oops.. sorry.” Pinkie says, giving a sheepish smile and giggle. Discord just shakes his head and smiles. “Oh, don’t fret. I’ve been dealt worse before.” Discord says and Fluttershy giggles before they all sit down and talk, enjoying the picnic. Discord can sense something between his two friends and he doesn’t quite know what but he could ask about it later. They all continue to enjoy the picnic, talking of what’s been transpiring the past few weeks. When Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie mention that they had been growing.. closer.. he didn’t know what to think.. until he did.. and his jealousy began to grow. He doesn’t show it though.. he knows they’ve been through a lot.. the least he can do is not give them an earful of crap about his own feelings. That’s what a good friend would do.. ..Right? “Discord! Did you hear what we said?” Fluttershy asks and he shakes his head and asks her to repeat it. She’s just about to until Pinkie does it for her, holding up a letter that was clearly written by Spike. “Twilight has something super duper spectacularly awesome that she wants to tell us at the castle! Soooo we were wondering if you could give us a fast way there?” Pinkie says before doing a snapping motion and he rolls his eyes, snapping his fingers. Suddenly they’re all in the castle throne room along with all their other friends and Twilight is standing in front of all of them. “Hi everyone.. you’re probably wondering why I called you all here and uhhh.. well.. Rainbow Dash has actually given me an idea.. made me think of something we never even considered in the past few months..” Twilight says and everyone looks either intrigued, nervous, or annoyed but she continues anyway. “Instead of punishing the villains, forcing them to live the rest of their lives in captivity.. maybe we could try.. reforming them.”