Rainbow and Blithy sat opposite each other in silence, heads lowered.
"I guess we can be blinded by our own perspectives." Rainbow said, her quiet voice abnormally loud in the silent stadium.
"The ones that think they see clearly..." Blithy buried her face in her hands. "Turn out to be the blind ones." she finished for Rainbow.
"Even the darkest clouds have a silver lining... So to speak." Rainbow lowered her head, looking down at the concrete floor. "Suppose it's a good thing Blithy is back, not Val."
"Val... Blithy... Same pony." Blithy didn't take her hands away from her face. "It was me. It was always me."
"We can lose our own minds at times... Takes time to learn how often we are blind. Also takes time for us to see again." Rainbow looked down at her own hooves, imagining the demon's claws ripping out of her flesh. "You shouldn't blame yourself."
"But I practically killed your best friend." Blithy said. "And it's even worse because I never had one, and always wanted one."
"She didn't die in your hands. Your hooves aren't the ones stained in blood."
"How could you so easily forgive me?" Blithy finally took her hands away from her face with a barely audible whine of motors. "After all that I had done... I couldn't even forgive myself. So how could you?"
"I don't." Rainbow said. "I'm accepting new Blithy. And I know I'll never forgive Val for what she did, because she'd never apologize."
"Why do you keep thinking we're different ponies? We're the same." Blithy said.
"If you were the same, you'd be trying to rip my head off by now." Rainbow said.
Blithy looked down at her hands, hearing the faint metallic groan as her robotic eye adjusted.
"Same body. Same hands that carried out the vile." Blithy said, clenching the robotic hands into fists. "What is the difference."
"Not on the appearance." Rainbow tapped Blithy gently on the chest. "In the heart."
"In the heart runs the same blood." Blithy said. "Same blood that fueled the same body that killed the innocent."
"Blithy would tell me where Dainty is. Val would not." Rainbow said.
Blithy stared at the ground. "Val was Blithy. Blithy was Val. Whether or not I answer this question doesn't apply to that." she said, her mood not raising by the slightest. "But she's up there." she pointed at the commentator's box.
There was a loud crash behind Blithy, and the metal door swung open.
"Shuck." Rainbow said, getting up quickly as she recognized Vinyl's silhouette.
"Rainbow..." Vinyl growled. "What are you doing? Kill her!"
"Vinyl- listen-" Rainbow walked past Blithy, who didn't move an inch.
"What the hay are you doing? What is she doing?" Vinyl asked, the sight of Val fueling her anger.
"Vinyl-" Rainbow stopped the DJ before she could get closer to Blithy.
"Get off me!" Vinyl shoved her away, and narrowed her eyes. "Are you on her side now?"
"You don't understand-"
"She killed Octavia!!" Vinyl yelled, storming towards Blithy again. Still she didn't turn around. "WHAT MORE IS THERE TO UNDERSTAND!!??"
"I know she did!" Rainbow yelled back, pushing Vinyl by the shoulder and sending her stumbling back.
"And you're defending her!!??" Vinyl was in a raging state now.
"I am." Rainbow said calmly, staring into the DJ's furious eyes.
"AFTER ALL THAT MONSTER HAS DONE!!??" Vinyl roared, shoving Rainbow violently.
Rainbow slowly got up. Vinyl's chest heaved with each and every heavy breath.
"She's no monster." Rainbow said.
"Do you have any idea what it's like!? To come back expecting to find your old friend, but to find a dead body in a graveyard instead!!?? HUH!!??"
"And do you have any idea what it's like to have that best friend die in your very own hooves!!??" Rainbow yelled back. Defending Blithy wasn't her only priority now- she was also mad at Vinyl- and how blind she is.
"Get OUT OF MY WAY!" Vinyl pushed Rainbow away.
"Don't you dare lay a hoof on her!" Rainbow yelled, pushing Vinyl back.
"So you're going to stand in my way!?" there was a soft buzz and burst of colored light as she activated the discs. "I'm not going to warn you a second time."
"Neither am I." Rainbow growled, the red crystal of the cleaver gleaming.
She felt a gentle but steady weight on her shoulder, and turned around. Blithy was there- she didn't make a sound when she got up. Her eye was in a slight sad frown as she looked at Rainbow. That one organic eye, that said so much.
"Don't." Blithy said, taking the hand off Rainbow's shoulder.
Rainbow looked down, gritted her teeth, and re-pocketed the cleaver.
Blithy walked up to Vinyl, looking her directly in the eyes. Rainbow backed up a step, observing the two cautiously.
"Vinyl Scratch. I'm sorry for what I did- it was all my fault." Blithy said, looking into the DJ's eyes with her sorrowful own. "And I don't expect you to forgive me. Ever. And you don't have to."
Vinyl yelled, and there was a loud clattering as she ditched the discs. A loud and solid crack echoed off the walls as her hoof connected with Blithy's jaw.
Blithy stumbled back, spitting blood onto the floor.
"Vinyl-" Rainbow moved to stop Vinyl's second punch.
It wasn't Vinyl that stopped Rainbow though. Blithy pushed Rainbow gently away, wiping a small droplet of blood from the corner of her mouth.
"She has every right to be angry, to kill me." Blithy said, tired eyes lowered. Rainbow could see them watering slightly.
"But you've changed-" Rainbow started.
"Barely." Blithy said.
"Why are you still defending her!!??" Vinyl roared. "SHE KILLED OCTAVIA!! AND ALL THOSE OTHER PONIES BECAUSE OF THAT WAR!!"
"You're not-"
"Stop, Rainbow. Just stop." Blithy said, her voice faint however easily audible. "This isn't something you two should be fighting about."
"But-" Rainbow started, but just let out the breath she took that were meant for words. She ground her teeth together, looking down at the floor.
Vinyl swung another punch. Blithy took the hit, but didn't fall. She took a step back, the bruise on her cheek slowly healing. Vinyl swung again, hitting the same place. Still she didn't fall. Vinyl kept coming back with a punch, hitting Blithy again and again.
Vinyl raised her hoof, and Blithy had her head lowered, but didn't move. Ready and accepting- because she knew she deserved every bit.
Then with an exhausted sigh, Vinyl let her hoof drop down by her side. She collapsed onto the floor, shoulders shaking.
Blithy sat down too, looking like a filly that had just been told off.
"Goddamnit..." Vinyl muttered, covering her face. Slowly, tears began trickling down her arms.
"I'm sorry..." Blithy said quietly, looking down at the ground.
Rainbow didn't say anything. Why can't there ever be a happy ending?
She flew up to the commentators' box. The place must've been used for weapons testing- from up here she could see faint scorch marks that must've been washed off.
"Dainty..." Rainbow slowly opened the door, and was relieved to see the filly generally unharmed.
"That mare...." Dainty whimpered. "What is she...?"
"She's fine now. Don't worry." Rainbow quickly untied Dainty from the chair.
"Sis... I'm scared..." Dainty whimpered. "It's so.... Cold..."
"We'll be out of here soon. Alright?" Rainbow took off her coat and quickly put it around a shivering Dainty.
Dainty nodded slowly, wrapping the coat tightly around herself. She smiled sheepishly.
"Sorry... I just got myself into more trouble."
"Wasn't your fault." Rainbow smiled, hugging her close. "But I want you to know... I'll always find you if you ever get lost again."
"Mmm." Dainty curled up against her chest.
"I'm never letting you out of my sight again." Rainbow gave Dainty a gentle squeeze.
"That mare... Did she kill her parents?"
Rainbow's expression saddened, and she picked up Dainty and put her on her back. She started walking out, taking slow cautious steps. "Many sad things happen on a daily basis... I hoped you would learn later, but looks like you already found out for yourself."
"Is there any way we could stop this?" Dainty leant on Rainbow's head.
Rainbow paused, thinking about it. "I don't think we'll ever know."
*
Princess Luna sent another wave of shadows through the horde of robot ponies, slicing them in half. Her horn and eyes glowed bright purple, and a squad of science faction ponies exploded all over the floor.
"Cease fire! CEASE FIRE!!" somepony yelled, and she paused.
"What is this?" she demanded.
"They're retreating. Not returning fire anymore." Nightshade said. "Also, Rainbow and Vinyl have got Val."
"Huh." Luna said, trotting slowly towards the front of her troops.
The science faction ponies have abandoned their weapons, and were backing away. The robot ponies all collapsed to the ground, systems off.
Vinyl, Rainbow with Dainty on her head, and Val all emerged from the crater.
"Seize her." Nightshade ordered, and several bat ponies moved in to hand-cuff Blithy.
"Wait-" Rainbow tried to stop them.
"Don't. It's what I want." Blithy said.
"But you're going to stay in prison forever!" Rainbow exclaimed.
"Won't feel that long if you visit me often." Blithy said without emotion.
Rainbow just stared as the bat ponies slowly escorted Blithy away. But then Blithy tilted her head to one side, showing the slightest hint of a gentle smile on her face. It wasn't that blood-thirsty Val grin- just a normal 'It's ok' smile.
Rainbow smiled back, and turned to Vinyl. "You feeling alright?"
"Yeah." Vinyl said, unable to look into Rainbow's eyes.
"Still grieving over Octavia, huh..." Rainbow muttered.
"I just thought I'd see her again. Turned out quite different." Vinyl said.
"That could change." Rainbow grinned, bringing out the leather booklet.
Vinyl looked up, recognized the note book, and grinned too. "Maybe everything didn't go too bad after all."
"SHUCK!! LOOK OUT!!" a bat pony yelled, his claws charging up.
Rainbow and Vinyl quickly turned around, and Dainty almost fell off Rainbow's head.
"Neon." Rainbow growled, the cleaver already unfolding in her hooves.
"Hello to you too." Neon said, clambering out of the crater.
"GET BACK!! GET BACK!!" a bat pony yelled.
Rainbow tilted her head to one side. "Something's different about you."
"Maybe."
"Melony?" Rainbow tried.
"No. Neon. Melony's still dead." Neon shrugged. "Although, if I were to guess- I'd say your cleaver did something to me." she pointed at the huge blade in Rainbow's hooves.
"Hmmm." Rainbow looked at the red crystal. "Where were you all this time then?"
"Dead." Neon said. "Although I had to climb one thousand two hundred and fifty seven flights of stairs just then to get back to the surface."
Rainbow tilted her head questioningly.
"Val kicked me down the hole." Neon explained.
"Ah." Rainbow said, although her mind was still trying to catch up to the events.
"Hello. I'm Dainty!" Dainty said from on top of Rainbow's head.
"Eh... Hi." Neon said. She vaguely remembered reviving the filly... But for what reason she could not understand. She could remember, yes; but not understand.
"Get her!" a bat pony yelled.
"Stay." Nightshade said, the authority in her voice even making the princess turn slightly. She analyzed Neon and the situation. "She's a friendly."
"Yeah, that I am." Neon said.
Rainbow's brain finally caught up- but she didn't say anything.
*
After that, they started clearing out the crater for demolition, all science faction ponies under custody. Neon mysteriously disappeared though, and Starshine has been confirmed as the traitor by Blithy. Starshine was the one who stole the diary while 'evacuating civilians', he was also the one that detonated the bomb which killed his old squad mates and destroyed the original revival machine in the mining facility.
"Is she alright?" Rainbow asked anxiously as Shining Armor exited the hospital room where Magnum was supposed to be recovering.
Shining Armor didn't look up, a deep sad expression on his face.
"Don't tell me..." Rainbow whispered.
"She lost too much blood, I'm afraid. The doctors tried though." Shining Armor said sadly, then burst into a smile. "Kidding. She's inside."
"You scumbag." Rainbow muttered, but couldn't help but smile as well.
"Don't make me arrest you for insulting an officer." Shining Armor said, trotting down the hallway and out of sight.
"He's been like that ever since he had to leave Canterlot for royal duties." Scootaloo said.
"He needs more time with Cadence, I suppose." Vinyl said.
"He needs more time in sanity." Rainbow said, pushing open the door gently. She peered around the corner. "Magnum?"
"Alive and bored." Magnum said, bandages over her eyes and shoulder, lying under the sheets.
"How ya doing?" Rainbow asked, Dainty following her cautiously.
"Well, first of all-" Magnum shuffled up into a sitting position, waving a hoof wildly and knocking over a glass vase. "Whoops. First of all- I haven't been paid for the contracts yet."
"I meant your injuries. But clearly money is more important to you." Rainbow muttered.
"Of course. Anyway- the shoulder will heal eventually, and thank goodness it's not my firing shoulder. My eyes will regain sight.... Eventually, that's what the doctor said. Not very reassuring."
"You're welcome to stay at my house whilst so." Rainbow said, and Dainty nodded approvingly.
"Thank you, but no thanks." Magnum said, waving a hoof and knocking over the brand new heartbeat monitor that was meant to replace the one Rainbow had smashed. "See- I'd trash your house."
"Uh-huh." Rainbow looked down at the heart beat monitor, which was making a long and monotoned beep.
"I think I'll be fine in the hospital." Magnum said. "I will be, anyway. Not sure about the hospital. And Shining Armor better pay me soon."
"Yeah. I'll be sure to remind him." Rainbow said. "I, uh, will just leave you to that, then."
"Take care."
"I should be saying that to you." Rainbow led Dainty out.
"What kind of friends have you been making back in Manehatten?" Scootaloo raised an eyebrow once they left the hospital.
Rainbow took in a deep breath, and let it out in a sigh. "You do not want to know."
"So have you hired somepony to make the revival machine?" Vinyl asked.
"Yeah. Best engineer and builder I know." Rainbow said.
"I know who that might be." Scootaloo said.
*
"Welcome y'all!" Applebloom said cheerfully as the group entered her small dark workshop. "It's all done! Ah added a few of mah own modifications. Should be easier ta use now. Still does the same thing!" she grinned.
"Modifications? What modifications?" Rainbow asked, intrigued.
"Well, ah studied those notes in that notebook ya gave me..." Applebloom said a little sheepishly. "An now instead o revive'n the pony, it establishes a connection between the dead world an the real world! Ah know, sounds a lil' crazy an all... Ah haven't tested it out mah self yet. There's a little dose o magic in there, thanks ta Twilight. Should do the trick though- ya can now drag em dead ponies back here in the living."
"Isn't that... Like... Dangerous?" Rainbow raised an eyebrow.
"No worries. Twilight established an anchor that'll hook ya to this world, so ya don't get trapped. Same type o magical anchor that keeps Cloudsdale in the same spot!"
"Hmmm." Rainbow still wasn't sure about this- but she trusted what was possibly the best engineer and builder she'd ever met. Octavia would probably love to meet Applebloom.
"Anyways- ya probably need a truck for it." Applebloom rolled a trolley out of the shadows of her dark room, on it a large heavy metal capsule, enough room for one pony to get into. "Just turn it on and get in, that should do the trick. And then once you're in, ya'll be out once ya want ta be out."
"So, do I think about getting out when I get out? And how do I revive the pony?"
"Well, ya can't just revive anypony... Ya have to have some sort of connection. Friends, family- that'll all do. With the new mods ya don't even need a body! Drag em back an you're done." Applebloom said.
"I'll just, uh, ring my insurance." Rainbow said warily.
*
"Are you going to be okay?" Dainty asked, a little scared.
"I'll be back in no time- don't you worry." Rainbow smiled, patting her gently on the head.
She stood up, the capsule taking up half the living room standing solitary in a corner behind her.
There were a few beeps as Rainbow turned the machine on. The capsule split in half, slowly swinging open and revealing a white space inside. Mist trickled out of the chamber, which sent shivers down Rainbow's spine.
She was about to step in when she was stopped by a weight on her left leg.
"Please don't leave me." Dainty said, hugging her leg tightly.
"Hey..." Rainbow said gently, kneeling down to face her. "I promise I'll be back. I kept my promise of finding you, didn't I?"
"Pinkie promise you'll come back?" Dainty asked.
Oh, Pinkie. What have you been talking about to her?
"Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." Rainbow completed the actions, and smiled.
Dainty grinned back, letting go slowly.
"See you again soon." Rainbow stood up, stepping into the chamber.
Dainty was still smiling when Rainbow closed the door, sealing herself inside the chamber. Applebloom did a great job with the interior- it was definitely quite spacey and comfortable.
Rainbow couldn't help but grin, her heart pounding with excitement. Octavia, you better be waiting for me.
She closed her eyes, but instead of seeing darkness she saw light. Everything was a bright white, and she opened her eyes again.
She was standing in nothing, on nothing. Just white space.
Rainbow grinned as Octavia was standing right before her.
"I finally found you, aye." she wiped a joyful tear from the corners of her eyes.
"You did. And it's good to see you happy, a good contrast from last time." Octavia smiled.
Rainbow chuckled. "Yeah."
Octavia lowered her head slightly, her eyes hidden under the rim of her hat.
"And... I know what you're here for."
"Then let's go!" Rainbow said happily, taking Octavia's arm. But Octavia didn't budge.
"Remember... How I told you to live however you wanted to live your life?" she said. "I meant to get out of the conflict. Out of the fighting. I died because of that, and I don't want you to too. So why- did you jump back in?"
Rainbow let go of her arm. "You said to live my life however I wanted..."
Octavia nodded. "And you wanted conflict?"
"I wanted the result." Rainbow said. "I don't think I can live my life thinking I could've saved my best friend. I wasn't about to keep living without my best friend, knowing she could be right there next to me."
Octavia lowered her head, a gentle smile on her face. "I see."
"Octavia- just come back. I don't want to see anymore ghosts."
"Whilst being dead..." Octavia turned away, looking up at the infinite dimension above. "I learnt a lot of things, understood a lot of things I would never have understood while being alive. A lot of things are clear to me now... And I'm afraid they might become unclear if I go back. I can't- I just can't anymore."
"But... You've seen me fight all the way for this!" Rainbow said, and there was an extreme feeling of loss that ate at her heart.
"I have- and I'm more happy than anything to have such a loyal friend that would try to follow me anywhere I go." Octavia turned back around, eyes watery. "But I really can't. This place is where I'm supposed to be now."
Rainbow nodded, the feeling of loss now replaced by a peaceful sadness. A single tear rolled down her face, then fell down into the infinite space below.
"You know how to see me, right? You can always meet me again, right here." Octavia tried to lighten her mood, but could clearly see it wasn't working as Rainbow sniffed.
"Yeah.. Maybe."
"You've got Dainty. You'll be fine- like you were before." Octavia pulled on a reassuring smile. "Come on- gimme a hug."
Rainbow hugged her tightly, trying her best to hold back the tears.
They stayed there for a minute or so in silence, as if departing one another once again.
"Octavia..." Rainbow said, not letting go just yet. "You know how I always win our arguments?"
"Yeah?"
"That's not going to change yet. Not any time soon."
"Wait, what?"
There was a bright flash, and they both tumbled out of the white space and onto the carpeted floor of the living room, Dainty squealing and jumping away.
Octavia could feel the soft carpet under her hooves, the world so much heavier around her. She rolled over and sat up, looking around her. She was in Rainbow's living room. She tried to slip away like she always did, but her body kept her from doing so.
Oh, my body; She thought.
"Rainbow..." she said, looking down at her physically existing hooves. "You bastard."
Rainbow chuckled, which escalated into a laugh. Octavia couldn't help but follow. Sure, now she started getting confused about a lot of things again, but boy...
It's good to be alive.