She was just lying there.
She was lying out in the open.
She was lying there and uncontrollably sobbing.
She was lying alone.
The fillies stared at her in confusion.
Eyes darting around from time to time, checking for any other pony that might become alerted by the scene.
Fluttershy was the first to speak up. “Please… let us help you…. Just tell us what is wrong…."
The mare kept twitching on the ground.
“Should we… get a doctor?” Rarity couldn't remember the last time she had seen what she considered a grown-up like this.
"…your twitching wasn't contagious, was it, Pinkie?" Even to Applejack, it sounded ridiculous, yet it did seem like a possible explanation for what she couldn't understand.
“Something spoke to me… it said when kindness falls, our fate is set.” This wasn’t the happy adventure Pinkie had in mind.
This was serious.
More serious than she could have imagined in her wildest dreams.
“I think the voice meant our death with that… I think it meant that if kindness falls, we will fail in our attempt to create a better future.
“And I think I caused it to fall when I attempted to tell you that the first time.” This what the message that had been conveyed to her, wasn’t it?
In a single, not even completed sentence, she had ruined the future of an entire planet.
Maybe the twitching and shaking were contagious after all?
Pinkie could certainly feel it gripping her as well.
“Dear, your mane is-”
“No! No! No! This isn’t what is happening! This isn’t kindness! How can you even think that!” Why was it that Fluttershy was so enraged by the statement?
Was it because it went against what she believed kindness was supposed to be?
Was it because it went against the image of the kind world she dreamed of sometimes?
Was it because she wanted to make Pinkie feel better?
In the end, she wouldn't be able to answer why she became so enraged. To her, it had just felt right. “Pinkie, you didn’t mess up! If whatever it was that was offended by you saying that chooses to hurt us all because of it, then it was just waiting for an opportunity to do so and certainly wasn’t kindness!
“Kindness forgives!
“Kindness helps!
“Kindness would die before it condemns anypony to death, certainly an entire future!
"Never would it take such an offence because of a statement you didn’t even mean any harm with!”
“…You think it lied to me?” Fluttershy’s words seemed to make sense.
“Maybe it was simply wrong?” Applejack offered.
“I don’t know…” Maybe she had gone overboard. Fluttershy certainly didn’t like the attention on her.
“Umm… Maybe we should help?” Only Rarity seemed to have remembered the still sobbing and twitching Isabella.
They all stared at her again.
Pinkie took a deep breath. Fluttershy was right. She had to be.
Now it was her time to make a pony feel better. “It’s ok… please don’t cry. We are here for you.” Somehow, she managed to envelop Isabella in a hug, despite the difference in size and the constant shaking. “We are here for you.
“Please tell us what’s wrong so that we can make you smile again.”
It worked.
She got through.
But there was no smile, only despair. “We are the hive! We are one! We need to stand together! We can’t fall apart! We are the only thing we have left!
“I can’t go on without my last remaining family!
“I can’t live to see it fall apart!
“I don’t want to see them fight each other!”
“…” Pinkie tightened her hug.
"…" Wordlessly, Fluttershy joined her.
The shaking stopped.
Crying continued. “I-I used mind magic on you! Hate me! You are supped to hate me! Not cuddle me!”
The disguise disappeared.
Fangs hissed at them, green saliva landing on them.
Applejack and Rarity jumped back.
Pinkie and Fluttershy hadn’t even noticed, not looking up.
“Without your princess, we would have already exterminated you all! You would be nothing but food! You don’t deserve happiness! I would have gladly infiltrated your precious society and manipulated your own military against you! Those who should have been your most loyal fighters I would have twisted against you or driven out into despair!” In vain did she try to kick them off.
Why were the fillies suddenly stronger than her?
"Hate me! Hate me, or I will make you hate me!" Why was she sensing no hate?
How could they shrug it all of?
How could they not care?
What else could she say?
“We forgive you.”
Nothing.
She could say nothing.
“…but I used-”
“I know.
“I see when it must have happened.
“I still forgive you.”
“…thank you.”
For her, there would be no hate, only kindness.
***
“Have you heard what she said?”
“She knows nothing…."
“Oh? I thought you liked her? I thought you said that she is on the path to become a good bearer?”
“Twilight manipulated her.”
“Don’t-”
“I don’t need to listen to you. You are dead.”
“How kind. You truly know how to represent your ele-”
“Silence! Kindness means to sometimes sacrifice those you care about so that everycreature can be happy! If you had seen that, then we wouldn’t be here! Do you think we don’t miss Luna! You saved your bearer for her, and what do you have to show for it! Now you are doing it again! I should have never placed myself on your side! Once we are five, we will truly be able to bring harmony!”
“…you claim I am the corrupt one… you all are dragging harmony through the mud.
“I wonder if whatever gave us that power, whatever created us, can take it away again and kill us all?”
***
Candy dragged herself into her office.
I can still feel her.
I can still feel her cold, dead, lifeless body.
She would never be able to forget that feeling.
“Good morning, Candy,” her Deputy Director greeted her. “I am sorry for only coming in now-”
A piercing glare was directed at the mare. “Have you handled things well in my absence?”
Sweat began purring down from her deputy director's face. “No.”
“Good. Remember, I would have found you and your family if you did.” Candy had her ways.
She had her ways of ensuring her position would hopefully stay secure.
“I will be promoted soon. You will get my position then. I will make sure of it. Until then, remember.
"When I am here, you will do your best to help me.
“When I am dead, you will serve the princess like I did.
“When I am in between, you will make…”
"…her realise that she needs you." The mare finished the mantra that she had heard so often.
“Correct,” Candy confirmed. “You served me well, and I hope that you can say I treated you with the respect you deserved as a result.
“This rule, however, I will not compromise on.”
“I know. I understand how it is.” This was a good superior.
She knew that, shockingly, almost everypony else had it worse than her.
Fear and mistrust of those under you was real.
Because the moment they smell blood, they pounce on you, wanting to get what you have.
They don't realise that it will make them next.
They don’t realise the downsides and just how luxurious their current positions are, where everypony leaves you be.
Soon her Deputy Director would learn, though.
“What has happened during my absence?" Candy asked all hostility dropped.
“We allowed riots to coordinate and break out.” Her assistant began.
…Well, that’s a bit severe?
“We sabotaged ongoing investigations into murders and theft of arms.” This was what Candy wanted to hear, right?
Whether or not she had really sabotaged them, causing them to stall, would remain her secret.
…Buck. I went overboard with my threats.
“Ok. We will need to complete them asap.” Was a tiny delay really that much of an issue?
“Of course. We still have collected all the necessary information.” After all, Candy did tell her that she wanted to prove her worth, and quick success upon her return was probably the best way to do that.
That was a close one. Though, I suppose this is why I choose you and not a mindless drone.
“Anything else?” There couldn’t be much more, right?
“We… well… I didn’t sabotage that… I am sorry.” Those were important things.
It was a tight position she had found herself in. Failing too much would have also been a death sentence.
She avoided eye contact. "We seized all assets and killed all ponies on provided lists. We are also rooting enemy intelligence forces of a race called changelings out. A folder with all the intel we have on them is on your table."
Good.
I should praise you.
But she couldn’t. She needed to play the game. “This was not what I told you to do. This will have consequences.”
And her assistant had sensed her relief yet played it as well. “I am sorry. It won’t happen again.”
“There can't be much more, right?" She had been gone for a few days, but it seemed that in those days, more had happened than in all the years before.
“There is much more. I have written a summary of it all for you.” It was why she didn’t come during the night.
She simply hadn’t been able to force herself to get up when she had gotten the news of Candy's return.
“I suppose you should also know that Twister has become the new interim Director of the ESS. Should you need to work with them, you will need to talk to her.” The legend had fallen.
A pony that had been considered untouchable had gotten burned by the sun.
Twister… hmm…
“What happened to Sneak?” Wasn't his behaviour sanctioned by the princess in exchange for whatever dirty work it was he did for her?
Could it be… that she finally stops with this nonsense?
Or did you just fail to shut that mouth of yours when it mattered?
“Director Sneaking Glow was killed during an escape attempt. He was supposed to be arrested for collaborating with enemy forces and aiding in a coup against the crown, which is considered high treason.”
Sneak?
No… he was many things but not a traitor…
He valued his position as a noble too much to risk it getting tarnished with that branding.
“Additionally, he was charged with abuse of power, armed assault of an equestrian official, foal abuse, assault of a minor, and threatening a minor, using a weapon.”
…what? Who? His own foals?
“Then they added crimes against harmony, abusing the resources of the crown, slandering the crown through his actions and lying as well as deceiving the crown, abusing his authority given by the crown to go against its wishes."
What have you done!
“Finally, he was suspected and, if you ask me, already convicted of ordering the murder of two innocent civilians.” The list had been long.
Whoever wrote that…
They were angry.
Really really angry.
And she had a feeling she knew who wrote the list of charges.
“Cherry, do we know what brought this on?” What could Sneak have done to-
“This is only a rumour, but I have heard that he ordered the death of Rainbow Dash’s parents. It was his death in return since, apparently, Twilight Sparkle is a princess as well as the daughter of Princess Celestia, and Twilight loved Rainbow Dash, which caused all this since she eloped with that pegasus?” No matter how they put them together, the pieces wouldn’t fit.
You bucker!
“How dare he hurt them like that!” She could already see what had happened.
You didn’t know who they were to Celestia and her daughter.
Your blatant disregard for those below you was your undoing.
And in the end, she had to realise that had she confronted the princess about how she really felt about the ESS, then maybe they would have still been alive. “What about his family?”
“His family?” Did Candy consider an eye for an eye?
“I met them a hoofful of times… when we met to talk about work in our free time." Cooperation wasn't liked but needed. "What will happen to them?”
“Umm…” To be fair, Candy wasn’t there when the purge happened, so she probably didn’t realise the full extent. “They are dead. We swooped in and cleaned out his private belongings to make sure there wasn't anything related to his work left, and they were killed since they could have known too much. We are still going through their stuff.”
Even the foals? We kill foals?
Foals like Amaya?
We aren’t better?
“Although… that one filly… for some reason, the Guard didn't kill her but took her away. Apparently, she wasn't on the list like the other foals? It was weird and didn't match what we had been told initially." But she hadn’t complained at the time.
Why leave only one alive?
“Who lived?” Curiosity was sparked.
“I don’t know, Candy. I think her name was… Rosie Glow?” Why was there so much interest in Sneak's family?
Interesting… I want answers.
“Her name is Cozy Glow. She is just a few months old.” And as far as she could tell, she wasn’t any more special than the other foals of Sneak. “Where is she now?”
To be fair. All of those questions Cherry, too, had asked herself. “The EFPS is overwhelmed. They don’t know where she ended up. But I assigned a few agents to find her and find out why she got to live.
“And if that had been a mistake.”
No mistake. We don’t kill foals.
“Get me all the information and tell me where she ended up. I will handle it from there.”
***
Twister was staring at the wall.
She had been doing it for hours.
The door opened and closed again. “We couldn’t find her.”
“…”
“We know you are worried, but she should be safe. Once they have processed them all, we can silently pick her up and bring her to you.” She had a job to do.
They needed her to do it, or a replacement would be found.
A replacement they might not be able to control.
A replacement that might even be worse than Sneak had been.
“…They could realise at any point that I falsified the order.” A terrifying prospect. “I need to officially kill Cozy Glow, or else she will die."
"She is just some filly. If we invest more resources into the search, it will get suspicious,” he reasoned. “It is unlikely that anypony else is looking for her. Why would they care?
“All we need to do is wait and then collect her. Then she will be safe.”
“I should have gone out there. I should have taken her with me immediately." How long could one stare at a single point on a wall without blinking?
“Had you left, you would have alerted everypony to what happened.” And he didn’t think that would have been a good turn of events.
“I am the Director of the ESS, yet I need to hide. I only have a hoofful of ponies I can trust.
"All the others were hired by him." And Sneak didn’t tend to hire the most forthright of ponies.
“Yes. Things changed with him while we looked and were forced to see how every day, the agency that we loved became more and more corrupted.
“We allowed him to do this to you.” They were very few.
Very old ponies that had lived long enough to see the day they dreamed of.
“I don’t blame you.” Sneak had the blessing of the princess.
They wouldn’t have been able to change things.
"I promise we will bring her back, and we won’t let anypony learn the truth.” It was the least they could do.
“I know you will bring her back.
“I know I will see her again.
“But notice you didn’t say once that she would be alive when I do?”
***
“I have grounded you. I held you back from reaching the stars.
“One is still shining, Dashie.
“Let’s reach it.”
Yes! Yes! Yes!
Up there with you!
Together in the sky…
Where we are free …
Where we can fly…
Only up there are the possibilities endless.
We could fly together…
I could feel you again, like last time…
“Dashie?” Twilight had waited for her response.
She had witnessed the sheer excitement, followed by a dreamy look.
Followed by a dreamy look with stiff wings.
Rainbow stared at them, turning deep red, feeling emotions she had never felt before. “Aww. Buck. You broke me.
“A shame you still won’t get that awesome pegasus since a… youngling is looking.”
She didn't know what was happening. Her body was acting in a way it had never before.
This is so weird…
I have never felt like this before?
And just like she had troubles, Twilight, too, had troubles. “You want to kiss me, don’t you? You want to feel your body against mine?”
This is so weird…
“Yes. I want to… why?” Weren’t they already doing that?
“We want more?” But what was more?
What was more than kissing and holding each other, cuddling like there was no tomorrow?
Feeling each other?
What was the next step?
We know what it is, don’t we?
But…
I just…
“Twi… I want you.
“But I-I-I-”
“You are scared?” She was it too.
Not even her future self had ever done that.
I don’t know how this works!
I don’t know what I want!
I don’t… this would be…
This would be forever.
“Twi… we would be… I love you but…”
“Dashie. I know that this is a big step. Don’t rush yourself.” Even for Twilight, this was a war.
Her brain told her two things at once.
Her body was fighting with the memories and feelings of her older self.
“Twi… I would be defenceless.
“We would be together and… I-I-I would truly give you everything I have…." It was embarrassing.
She had gotten deep red just thinking about it.
And still, she didn't know why she was having such trouble when she was sure she loved the purple alicorn.
“We would be at each other’s mercy, wouldn’t we? If one of us decided to hurt the other then or after that, then we would feel that forever, wouldn’t we?” They would never do that.
But the fear of it they couldn't suppress.
I love you!
I want you!
But… I can’t…
Not now.
“Yes. Twi… I just don’t understand all these mixed signals that run through my brain…
“The thought feels like something I want and like violation at the same time…
“It embarrasses me and makes my heart beat faster at the same time…
“I am ready to give my life, yet the thought of us… giving you my body…." By now, the wings had gone down again. Despite that, she took a deep breath. Determination burned in her eyes. “I promised you I would do everything for you. I love you. This is what lovers do. I may be afraid now, but I am sure it will be fine, so if you-”
“You are asking me if I want to violate you?” Twilight stared at her in bewilderment.
After hearing how afraid her fillyfriend really was and having seen it twice, she couldn't believe that Rainbow was still thinking she would go through with this.
It will be fine. I am sure I will like it.
Right?
“Dashie! This is serious! You have no idea how much you would be hurting yourself with this! This is your body! It could never be fixed-”
"Why? I mean, this wouldn't-”
“Dashie! I… I just know, ok? You would make yourself very unhappy, and we would never recover from it.
“Please just stop taking your own needs this lightly. Tell me when you are ready and only then we will do this. Until then, we can help each other through this… weird phase.
“Dashie, I am only happy when you are happy. Don’t forget that.” And if Rainbow made herself unhappy, trying to make her happy, then they would both end up unhappy.
It was as simple as that.
Twi…
Thank you.
I don’t know why I am constantly doing this.
“I am lucky, Dashie. This vision has made some things easier for me.” And this was one of them.
I wonder how future you handled all this?
How did I handle this when it first happened?
“Twi… you are the best fillyfriend one could wish for.” Again and again, was the alicorn refusing to do what she wanted just because Rainbow had issues with it.
She couldn’t remember when one last cared this much about her.
Even my parents… well, they had to do what they had to do.
Twilight didn’t have these issues.
There were no rules for an alicorn.
Moron! You are here to fly!
“Race to the sun!” In an instant, Spike and Rainbow were in the air.
“Dashiiie!!!” Twilight tried to follow.
“Let’s reach it.”
How high could she fly?
She was going to find out.
Purple magic flashed.
Cheater.
“You can't just teleport yourself to me, Twi! Cheaters don't get to use my wing as a blanket, you-”
In another flash, Twilight was under her, grabbing her. "I don't want your wing, featherbrain. I want your lips."
The alicorn nuzzled her head, stealing kiss.
You are my cheater…
Rainbow lay her head on her and returned the favour.
Together they continued flying higher.
Spike on her back, enjoying the thrill.
Twilight under her, holding her tightly and using her wings to help.
Nuzzling each other, they would reach the sun.
***
“You failed on purpose, acolyte.”
How did Nightmare know that she was seen during her mission?
“You send me on a suicide mission.”
“I didn’t. But if I did, then you should remember that you swore to give your life-”
“Oh, well. It seems I lied. What are you going to do about it? Last time I checked, you were still on the moon.”
Nightmare glared.
But what could she say? She had sent her on a suicide mission, after all, so threatening death wouldn't do much.
“When I swore to give my life, it wasn’t for such a stupid mission. Who cares that she left us? I certainly don’t.”
“Morale-”
“Yes. But you could have easily sent somepony else." The acolyte rubbed her stomach. “You know I am pregnant. Why force me to risk my foal when many alternatives had been available?”
“…”
“It was because you didn’t want me to become pregnant, right?
“That’s why you killed my coltfriend.
“That’s why you tried to kill me.
“That’s why you will continue to do it.
“The only thing I don’t understand is why you made such a big deal out of it? Have you forgotten everything I did for you?”
“I made a mistake choosing you as my acolyte.”
“You can’t hurt me with those words anymore.”
“I am aware.”
“So, where do we go from here?”
“You are an insignificant ant. I don’t want to spend any more resources on you. That’s why I will give you this one opportunity to save your life and the life of your foal.”
“How kind.”
“Don't mock me. Remember that soon, the day will come when I am free.”
“Celestia will stop you.”
“I am counting on her trying. Else there wouldn't be much fun in taking over. As for you, I want you to fake your death on the hooves of Celestia’s ponies within two days, or I will try again.
"Remember, I only need to succeed once."
“There is no need. I am happy to play along and deceive your poor moronic bat ponies.”
Nightmare rolled her eyes. “I have heard worse about them. You aren't even in the top one hundred. By the way, I am genuinely sorry for your eyes. I never intended to kill you or permanently disfigure you. I only wanted to get your foal. After all, I needed you on the battlefield and not be preoccupied with a brat.
“Had it worked, I would have been happy to still have you on my side.”
“You could heal me,” the acolyte reminded her.
“I could, but I won't. We are past that point, acolyte,” Nightmare admitted. “Doing so would simply be too taxing for me in my current state, and you aren't worth it anymore.”
“I can’t believe me being gifted with a foal was why you did all of this." A gift that she thought would make her the happiest pony on earth had nearly cost her everything, thanks to the pony she had dedicated her life to, viewing it as a burden.
Nightmare shrugged.
She didn't care.
“You wanted to keep me because it will be hard to replace me?" At least one soothing thought.
“It would have been. Now, however, it will be easy to find a replacement. After all, you are nothing more than a weak, pregnant, disloyal cripple.”
How could I have ever seen you for anything but a heartless ball of dark magic? There isn't a pony left to reason with. If only Celestia would have realised that at the time.
I… this could be me…
This could have been me if you didn’t pull me back, little one.
The dark magic would be there forever, but she was confident she would be stronger.
As long as she had a foal worth fighting for, she would never succumb again.
“One day, they will notice how little you care about them.” How she hated herself for her part in deceiving the poor bat ponies.
Nightmare yawned, unfazed. “By then, It will be too late.”
I fear you are right.
***
Turns out there was a limit to how high they were supposed to fly.
The limit was when they could feel dizziness taking over.
You should form a bubble of air around you.
But once the lack of oxygen gets you, thinking clearly becomes difficult.
It caused them to begin gliding down since they didn't have the energy or necessary concentration to flap their wings anymore.
Rainbow stared at her with a silly grin. "You don’t deserve this planet. You deserve the universe.
“You are so beautiful.
“Screw my tail. I want yours.”
That’s the lack of oxygen talking.
Twilight wanted to respond, yet she didn’t.
Her body didn’t act on her thoughts.
Once we have fallen enough, we should be fine.
“I don’t know what my older self did… your Royal Guard bore my cutie mark, didn't it?
"For you, I will become a killer. I will crush our enemies. I will become your general, your servant, everything.
“I am weak. You can form me into whatever you want, just like Celestia did to her.
“There is nothing in here. Just a broken filly. Make me yours. It will make me happy to have a purpose.” The grin had remained during the entire speech.
Even now, it remained.
It was as if Rainbow hadn’t realised what she had said.
Because she didn’t.
“You are weak.
“But I love you. The weak you.
"Why would I transform the pony I love into somepony else?” Twilight felt her wings beginning to work again.
Wait! I didn’t mean to say that out loud!
Good thing I did, though.
“I love you so much, my devil… this angel never wants to go to heaven again." It seemed that, unlike her, Rainbow still wasn't recovering. “It will forever remain in hell with the devil that she loves.
“Because her devil has taken her for who she is.”
“Dashie… are you always thinking like this?” She hadn’t heard thoughts like these from the Rainbow of her memory.
“I am thinking so much… always thinking… if I didn’t, I would be happier…." Right now, though, she was happy regardless.
It made her wonder if she should try this more often.
“Wow, Twi… I feel weird.” Finally, a sign that the pegasus was recovering. “Wait… I didn’t say all this, did I?”
You did.
“Umm… Aww shucks” Rainbow stopped their descent. “Look, Twi… I suppose that wasn't anything new when we compare it to what I said before…."
It wasn't, really.
Sadly.
“But… well… there is a difference. I want and allow my devil to do it.
“Celestia drugged her into submission.”
I suppose…
“Little angel, your devil already claimed you, and it did so because of who you are.
"Your purpose is being you, and your job isn't general, but lover and mother.
“And don’t worry. You won’t go to heaven again, my angel. I won’t allow you to fly that high.” Twilight gifted Rainbow's body with kisses.
“Of all angels, the broken one?" she giggled.
The kisses felt good.
Once more, she was gliding thanks to stiff wings.
"Of all angels, the best one.” Twilight turned to her neck.
You seem lost.
I hope I can give you enough guidance to heal.
I hope I can do it while keeping the you that I love so much.
The you that thinks so beautifully about this world.
“Twi… I don’t know why I always become like this again. She said that those are phases, but I feel like… I feel like this isn’t an illness…
“I feel like I just need to work through this…
“I feel like maybe she did as well, but they didn’t want her to do so…
“They just wanted to keep her in check.” Was this her side talking that just didn’t want to get help?
Or was it the truth?
“That’s entirely possible, Dashie. Sometimes just talking with a therapist can be enough.
"Medication is not always necessary and certainly not locking one up against their will," Twilight confirmed.
Though I am no therapist.
"You are the best, Twi! With you, I can do this! I want to become a devil as well! Come here!" There was the passion again that showed up every so often.
I want it to stay in your eyes…
One day it will stay and not be replaced with doubt and fear again…
One-
“The Sparkle family against the world! We will win! Together with our son, Twi! Just us! I love you! I love you!” Rainbow gained speed.
But your wings… How are you doing this with stiff-
“Dashie!” Rainbow had begun returning the favour, attacking her horn with a barrage of kisses.
“My name! Say my name!” The blue filly was demanding it over and over again during her work on her fillyfriend's horn.
Sweet Celestia, what are you doing! I can't think like this!
While Spike was having the ride of his life and the citizens of Klugetown could see a weird rainbow dash through the sky, Twilight was being rattled through the air, thanks to her now own stiff wings obstructing the airflow.
Rainbow continued her erratic flying.
And with it, her assault on the poor horn.
“Dashie! I love you! I love you!” For the first time in her life, she was emitting sparks as well as an uncontrollable glow, while her body was like butter, only held in place by Rainbow's hooves.
“My name! Say my name!” There was no question.
This was an order that demanded compliance.
“Rainbow Da-”
“My name! My name!”
“Rainbow Sparkle!”
***
“Welcome, General! Captain Wind Rider at your service!” Wind saluted.
“What have you heard about me, captain?” Edge immediately got to the issue at hoof.
“The princess wants you, General! Dead or alive!” Preferably dead.
“And yet you allowed me to come in here?” Sure, he was technically detained and brought in for questioning, but this certainly wasn’t what this was.
“I did, General!” Wind confirmed.
“I knew I was right to have your back.” It had been a difficult decision to protect the captain, yet it seemed to pay off.
It seemed to pay off for Equestria.
“Leadership needs to stick together, General!” Though, he was unsure what exactly his former superior was hoping to accomplish right now.
“The Princess has fallen to dark magic-”
“She has n-”
“She has!” Sure, it was hard to believe, yet the outright refusal to entertain the idea was not a good sign.
“Then so be it.” Wind cursed himself. This wasn’t some misunderstanding or something that he could profit from.
This was high treason.
“What?” Edge took a step back.
“I will not fight-”
“I thought the honour-”
“Bla bla bla. Come now? You really believed that?” The pony in front of him was no longer of use and already dead.
He could drop his appearance now.
“I… I-I had your back-”
“And I appreciate that. But you silencing some stupid mare won’t be enough to make me pick a fight with a god.
“Also, how come you care about the honour of our army, yet you are fine with-”
“You are right.” Edge stared at him blankly.
It had been the wrong decision, after all, and he should have known it.
“So… is there anything else I can help you with?" Still, Wind would at least try to repay him, even if it wasn’t by going against the princess.
Maybe help his former superior get to the border?
“No… hey, who is that?” Edge pointed behind Wind to a window.
“Wh-” The moment the captain had looked behind him, Edge threw himself on him, wriggling the captain’s knife out of its holster.
“What are you-”
“I protected the honour of the military, not yours!
“I allowed you to stay in your position because I believed you when you said you regretted it and because I thought you were good at your job!
“It’s a shame I was wrong!
“It’s a shame a loyal soldier needed to go while you got to stay!
“And it’s a shame she isn’t able to see this!” He needed to remove the obstacle in his way.
“Guards! Guards!” The captain screamed, trying to keep the knife away from his face.
“If you aren’t willing to die for what we have sworn to defend, then you don't deserve to wear that uniform, nor do you deserve your position!” In one final push, he overwhelmed Captain Wind Rider.
The door was forced open.
“Stay back! I am General Edge!”
“You are under arrest for high treason!” two Wonderbolts informed him, glancing at the bleeding-out captain that used his reaming strength to point at the General.
“The princess has fallen to dark magic! It is your duty as soldiers to defend your home! To defend your family! You can’t fall-”
“You have the right to remain-”
“Why won’t you listen! What has happened to you! You are supposed to be our elite! The pride of the pegasi race!” This wasn’t how it was supposed to be.
“You are accused of-”
“She lied!” When he was still a recruit, this wasn’t how he and his friends would have behaved.
Whose fault was it that things had changed?
Who was the General in charge when it happened?
“How are we supposed to know if you are speaking the truth?” The sight of their captain also didn’t help.
“Look around you!” There was no point. If they didn’t see it already, he could never hope to convince them.
“General…”
“We are not alone! We are a mighty force! Together we can save this planet!” By now, he didn't believe those words anymore.
Maybe he had lied too often to himself?
Maybe the truth was that they were jokes in uniform, equipped with weapons they shouldn’t be holding.
“Lay down the knife General.”
Edge stared at it.
He had a decision to make.
How many was one justified to kill in hopes of saving a planet?
***
They had been running.
They needed to reach their sister.
They knew how broken she was.
And now that she had cut herself off from the hive, she was alone.
Technically she wasn’t even part of the family anymore.
Changeling law viewed her as a rebel that needed to be killed to protect their mother.
Impossible.
There she was.
There she was, just lying in the sand.
There she was, exactly where she was when they had lost her.
Out in the open next to a trainyard, exposed to the sun.
Is she… cuddling with the ponies?
“See, I said-”
Shut the buck up, Thorax! You did this to her! How could you do this to your sister!
How dare you raise your voice against Mother like that!
But his brother had a point.
Their sister was lying there, holding two fillies in her hooves that drowned her in kindness and acceptance instead of hate as well as two fillies leaning against her, filled with confusion and at least only apprehension.
All that and their sister wasn’t even in disguise.
Puzzled, they approached her.
The two fillies leaning themselves against her, jumped up, poking her.
Next thing they knew, a knife whirled at them.
They jumped back in shock. “Isabella! It’s us!”
"Have you forgotten that without the hive mind, she cannot recognise you in disguise?”
Well… she could have tried to sense our emotions, though she probably isn't in the right state of mind at the moment.
"Oh… I wasn't expecting you." Her quick teleport had caused Pinkie and Fluttershy to fall into the sand.
Now all the fillies were staring at the soldiers in fear.
"Don't worry. Those are my brothers and sisters." She motioned to the flawless-looking soldiers. "Come. Show them."
Don’t! We have to follow-
“Do what she says. Make her happy. I want my child back."
They dropped their disguises.
Six changelings in equestrian armour remained.
“See. They are harmless.” The fillies relaxed.
This is wrong.
We are not harmless.
What is happening?
But it worked. “Hi! I am Pinkie! You are all her siblings? That’s amazing!”
Happiness?
For us?
“We need to get you out of here. This isn’t safe.” They disguised themselves again. “Follow us.”
You still haven’t connected back yet?
“Let me carry you. The desert is exhausting.” Magic levitated Fluttershy and Pinkie on Isabella’s back before they began walking.
No disguise?
I thought you liked it?
Are you really her?
That was a terrifying thought.
Could they really not tell without a hive mind?
Did they really look that similar?
“Heh. I almost forgot.” The familiar pegasus returned. “Bet you couldn’t even tell!”
…we couldn’t.
“It’s for our protection.”
Ok… but wouldn’t that mean that we killed our diversity for safety?
“Yes.”
I hate ponies.
Do we really need to become ponies to distinguish ourselves from each other?
“We have the hive mind. She just needs to return. Bring us our sister back.”
“Isabella… we miss you…” Pharynx tried.
“…I miss you, too.” Isabella avoided eye contact.
But?
“Isabella, you are rebelling. You know what that means and what you are forcing us to do.” An empty threat.
Mother had expressly forbidden him from hurting their sister.
The filly’s ears perked up.
The message was clear, even if they didn’t understand how Isabella was rebelling.
“You are right… I don’t know what came over me.” She connected back.
“Hey! You tricked me, Pharynx!”
I did. It’s good to have you back, Isabella.
“You see those fillies?”
I do.
“The yellow and the pink one?”
What about them?
“Keep them safe. They are with us. They need to see the light no matter what happens.”
I understand. They are with us.
“Correct. They are good ponies. They… showed me kindness instead of pouncing on my weakness, even when I tried to get them to hate me, using my changeling form, threatening them…
“Even fangs and hissing with spitting wasn’t enough.”
To everypony else, it looked like they were just walking silently.
Mother knows that there are good ponies. They have nothing to fear.
What about the others?
“I don’t know. They aren’t them, but I don’t think they are our enemies?”
We will see then.
The hive was waiting.
***
Oh, wow. That horn certainly does it for you.
She landed in the garden of the villa again.
Twilight was still panting and shaking.
She couldn’t even stand, thanks to her weak legs. “I-I have never felt this amazing. Not even in those future memories.”
Good. That was the point.
I am no alicorn.
I am no unicorn.
I will never be able to effectively defend you or make your wishes come true.
But I love you and can show you that love.
I can make you smile, and that is all that matters, isn't it?
“I know, Twi. I am awesome. No need to thank me,” Rainbow proclaimed.
“You are the awesomest being alive, and if you don't do that again sometime, then I will go mad." Twilight forced herself up and wobbled to Rainbow. “Dashie... about your name-"
It makes me feel so… complete.
“Twi… I want to be Rainbow Sparkle.” There was determination in her voice.
Determination mixed with silent begging not to take it away from her.
“Dashie… I want you to be Rainbow Sparkle-”
“But?” There was always a but.
I should have just said yes to your marriage proposal.
The quick way is always the easy way.
And the easy way was the best way?
“Are you Rainbow Sparkle? Why Rainbow Sparkle? Why not Twilight Dash?
“Don’t you think this is a meaningful decision?
“Don’t you think you are rushing it?
“What about-” Twilight couldn’t finish.
What about my family.
“Twi… loyalty.” It was so important.
Loyalty was everything.
Loyalty was essential to love.
Loyalty was essential to friendship.
Loyalty dictated the fate of the most powerful nations.
Loyalty was the difference between being cheered by your subjects or dying at their hooves.
And loyalty was what held families together.
But mine is dead.
It should have been crushing.
Yet where there was darkness, there was light.
I would have been alone.
I would have lost everything.
But their actions didn’t just cause me to go on the path of killing them.
Their actions also resulted in me gaining a new one.
“Twi… I want to start anew.
“I don’t want to be reminded of what I have lost. I want to be reminded of what I have gained.
“Twi… it's just a name. Let it die. There is no reason to feel any obligation to it. Certainly not now.
“I could easily just be Rainbow. It would result in the same, but there would be one thing missing.
“We are a family? Then let’s make it official. Make a declaration, and it becomes official. Your word is law.” She was Rainbow Sparkle.
She was already thinking of herself as such.
She had already proclaimed it to her future self.
The only thing that was left was for Twilight to accept her as Rainbow Sparkle.
“RD, I don’t-”
RD?
RD!
“Dashie!” Rainbow screamed, enraged. “I wanted to make a step forward, not backwards!”
“B-B-But you said you didn’t like Dashie, and you wanted me to call you RD.” Twilight was taken aback. “I-I thought that D-Dashie would be too close to-”
She meant well, idiot.
She thought that Dashie might bring up painful memories since it's so close to Dash.
I know.
You were the one that proposed RD, you-
I know!
“Twi, that was ages ago.” Ok. Technically, it was just a few days, but it certainly felt like months had passed since their first meeting. “I wanted you to call me RD since I thought Dashie sounded like we were a couple.”
And now we are so…
“Oh.” Twilight went red. “I-I hadn’t...” Only now did she realise how the nickname sounded. “I… I just…”
RD…
Dashie…
If you hadn’t been this socially inept and so proud of the nickname you have given me, then I wouldn’t be Dashie today.
And RD was not something she wanted to be called by her fillyfriend.
Dashie… it's so full of love.
I am Dashie.
For you and only for you, I am Dashie.
To everypony else, she was Rainbow Sparkle.
“Dashie is the name you gifted me with.
“It has nothing to do with Dash. How could I ever associate it with pain?” Those two names sounded similar.
But to her, they were worlds apart.
“We aren’t married.” By now, it sounded like Twilight was grasping at straws.
Are you… not wanting me to take your name?
No. This couldn’t be the reason.
“We can be… I mean… I am ready, but-”
“This isn’t the place for a wedding.” Twilight shook her head.
I want it to be memorable.
I want to look back and say that it was like a dream.
“Twi… I know such things are usually done after it, but who decided that?” She wouldn’t become Rainbow Sparkle.
Twilight wasn’t willing for reasons she didn’t know.
You are not deserving to-
I am happy!
I am deserving!
She just wants to do this the right way!
“… who did decide that?” It was a good point Twilight hadn’t even thought about. “Rainbow… you want to take my name?” It was an honour.
The filly of her dreams wanted to bear her name.
She was practically demanding it.
How about a show?
Everypony loves a show.
Make her smile.
Rainbow knelled before her. “I, Rainbow… Dash, herby demand to be bestowed with your name, my Empress!”
And Twilight did smile.
She smiled at the cute gesture her angel was making just for her.
But one last point remained. “Has my most loyal angel considered that a new name for both of us is also a possibility?”
I didn’t.
But Sparkle…
“Your most loyal angel believes that Rainbow Sparkle is such a beautiful name that rejecting it would create a new level of hell just for her, Empress.
“And also, Twilight Dash sounded ridiculously stupid, so maybe my Empress should stop giving her opinion on names.” Rainbow gave her a cocky grin.
Twilight Dash…
Nope. We are Sparkles.
Twilight’s horn lightened up. “Insolent rat! I will have you punished for that, Rainbow Sparkle! The whole world will know the story of how Rainbow Sparkle dared to mock her Empress and suffered the consequences!”
“Is that-”
“Yes.”
Rainbow shot up. “Rainbow Sparkle! Rainbow Sparkle! Rainbow Sparkle!” She flew enthusiastic circles around Twilight.
You said yes!
Yes!
It meant the world to her.
Another step towards the future.
Another step towards being a real family.
Another step to happiness.
You are Rainbow Sparkle.
Forget the past.
It doesn’t exist anymore.
Rainbow stopped in front of her. “Thank you, Twi….”
“Your smile is all the thanks I need.” Never did she imagine that a name would make her fillyfriend so happy.
Never did she imagine that her name would do it.
You have a plan!
And I will help you!
As good as I can, that is…
“Let's go, Twi! Let's show them your might! Together we will crush our enemies!" Rainbow marched forward.
We won’t let them command us!
We will win against them all!
And we will do everything that is necessary to do so!
Twilight was on the line.
If she died, there wasn’t another name to take.
It would be the end of the line for me...
No second chances, nopony left but a dying Spike...
And after his death, then what?
I won’t let it come to that!
The future had been a dystopia.
But you were in charge.
You were safe.
You were in a good position to defend yourself from a few bearers.
She had been the problem.
She had been what was missing to make Twilight happy.
This time I will be there!
It was obvious.
You are right! This is what we need to do!
The future had been a dystopia.
But for those in charge, a dystopia can still be a utopia.
What about-
We will kill them all! Just like Celestia! They will never get us, then!
We won’t even have to do it! Our soldiers will do it for us!
They would be alone in their beautiful castle while their soldiers kept them safe.
Safe from all of those that wanted them dead.
But Twilight was taken aback.
She wasn’t aware of the thought process that had taken place.
She wasn’t aware of Rainbow's sudden change in outlook.
She wasn’t aware that something had snapped.
She only knew that this hadn’t sounded like her fillyfriend.
But she chalked it up to her current mood. “Together, we will make this the best town ever!
“Also, if you ever want me to return the favour, let me know.” Twilight rubbed her wings.
Oh my…
“Dammit, Twi! Now I have to walk there like this!” Rainbow glanced at the once more stiff wings.
That felt good, didn’t it?
And I made you feel like this?
“Well, I had to let them know that you are mine and what better way to show it than this?” Twilight grinned.
“Hmm… I guess now they won’t have any doubt about what we do in the bedroom. Just look in the mirror.” Rainbow returned the grin.
You look completely out of it.
There was no mirror, but Twilight rubbed through her mane.
It was messy.
Messy and sweaty.
I wonder how I look right now?
“Welp. Like I said. Two very gay ponies. Let’s do this.” The alicorn wouldn't hide.
Doing so had already ruined her life once.
No shower? I thought that we would at least-
“Come, Dashie.”
It was time to get to work.