//------------------------------//
// All Your Fault 
// Story: Bedtime Stories 
// by Incredible Blunderbolt 
//------------------------------//

What a great friend you turned out to be...

The room was silent except for the occasional sniffle or melancholic snort. Rainbow Dash sat at the front, nearest to the large, ornate container except for a few openly weeping ponies. Her normally wild and unkempt mane was neatly brushed and freshly washed; it flowed over her head and drooped over her face, covering her watery eyes. She was dressed in a simple set of lavender colored steel armor, decorated with stars—the only suit of its kind, and it was soon to be destroyed.

It's all your fault, you know. You insisted on having the job.

One of the crying stallions at the front approached her, tears still flowing down his cheeks. He took a deep breath and removed his ceremonial helmet before sitting down beside her.

You said you could handle it...

"I know how you must feel," he said after a moment, looking at the box.

"Oh, really?" Dash squeaked venomously. Wiping the tears from her eyes, she stared into the Guard Captain's eyes with unbridled rage. "I'm sure you lost the pony you lo—were best friends with on the first day you were charged with protecting her!"

You said you could keep her safe...

Shining Armor bit his lip. "You can't blame yourself, Dash. This is a sad day, but nopony could have stopped him; nopony expected it..."

"She did!" Dash sobbed, waving at the casket. "She did, and nopony believed her! And he... he..."

You said you would trust her...

"I know, Dash... I know," Shining said softly, pulling Dash into his embrace. "Discord's going to pay for what he's done."

"I don't care if he pays!" Dash cried, burrowing her face into the Captain's protective shoulder. "I just want my Twilight back."

And now she's gone forever, all thanks to you.