Deep within Twilight's home, the sounds of grunts and things crashing and falling, was covered by thick walls and magic spells. In truth, only Rainbow could hear Twilight's loud pleas, yet so far, they all were bluntly ignored. "Rai—Rainbow!" Twilight screamed. She yelled in pain between bumps as Rainbow trashed the study with her.
Rainbow held Twilight by the shoulder, pressed her forearm on her throat, pushing her against the bookcases, and boosted herself with fast beats of her wings. She continuously shoved Twilight by the roads of books, quickly leaving a trail of flying papers and purple feathers. When ran out of books, she used her impulse and swung Twilight; throwing her on top of a desk and breaking the piece in half.
There was a brief pause. Rainbow landed, huffing and panting not from exhaustion but anger. She knew Twilight wasn't fighting back; she knew, but that only fueled her rage. Did she thought so little of her that didn't need to fight back? Or was she just that crazy? This was her last chance. She better stood down or fight, because next time, she will go with all.
As the dust and many sheets settled, Twilight got up with great difficulty. The pain on her skull was killing her, to the point she could feel every single, excruciating, throbbing vein on her head. As she straightened her legs, she only had time to turn her face and watch Rainbow spread her wings.
"Wait—"she screamed before she was again on the floor, watching Rainbow above with her hoof raised "—stop!" Twilight shut her eyes and turned her face away.
Rainbow held there with her hoof ready and shaking, but couldn't do it. She walked away leaving a frightened Twilight laying down.
A moment passed; not felling the blow, Twilight opened her eyes and traced Rainbow giving her her back. She got up; then, cautiously stretched her foreleg trying to reach her friend. "Rainbow, you have to—"
"No!" Rainbow shouted smacking Twilight hoof with her own as she turned. "Have you gone crazy! Is this a joke to you?" she said getting to her face.
"No, If you just listen—"
"No, Twilight, Applejack is death! Death, you hear me!"
"Rainbow, please!"
"Are you possessed or something? Because If this is some kind of sick joke or a ruse to get me to stay, I swear I'll beat you to the ground."
"Please, if you would just listen."
"Listen to what! You're insane!"
"No, I'm not insane—"
"Oh yeah? What was it we need to stole from the Princess? How many corpses did you say you'll need? You're crazy!"
"Rainbow, you have to hear me."
"No!" Rainbow started to walk away.
Tears were forming on Twilight's eyes. "Would you just run away again!" she screamed, "Would you just abandon us again when we could correct our mistakes! Would you just abandon AJ when she needs you ag—"
Rainbow flew, and using her foreleg, pinned Twilight to a standing position to one of the columns. "That was very low," she said; her grey empty eyes narrowing. "I'd never thought you of all ponies would say that."
"Rainbow, please... I need you. AJ needs you. Just listen."
Rainbow lowered glare in thought and backed away. She then looked at her, death serious, as she said, "Alright, talk."
"Rainbow!" Twilight beamed.
"Don't be so happy. I'm just giving you one last chance. Talk."
"Yes. Okay, I'll start with the beginning. What I want, is to..."
Rainbow didn't actually listen to her explanation. She didn't even understand half of it. She didn't really care. She only wanted to know if Twilight was crazy, or... if it was true.
She drowned Twilight's voice until it faded into the background. Time slowed down; all her senses were focused on watching Twilight: every mouth gesture, tone of her voice, twitch of her eyes, the way her ears tweaked and wings quivered. She tried to see her through, to know if she was lying. What she saw, what she felt in every action, in every word, was Twilight's heart. In it, she found fear and desperation, but also, but mainly, hope; warm blinding hope.
Rainbow felt her own heart soar with the sound of Twilight's voice as she continued to explain, and unconsciously began to nod her head. It was like Twilight was with her all along. Her pain, her indecision, her despair, Twilight understood it all; she lived through it all. Rainbow had ran away, but they always been connected. They were both the same. Twilight yearned for AJ. Twilight wouldn't give up. Twilight kept fighting; searching for the impossible.
Such hope was written all over the place: on the books, on the scrolls, on the boards, and in every theory or attempt to save Applejack, and had finally found it; Rainbow herself was the answer.
Her enormous effort and determination over the past two years were not in vain. It was not some self torture, futility, or ego stroking anymore; through Twilight, her pain had meaning.
Could she believe in this? Could she open her heart again and dare to hope against all hope? This was crazy... but what if it wasn't? What if Twilight was right?
It didn't matter. It didn't matter if Twilight was right or wrong. She might as well be a devil. What Twilight was offering her couldn't be denied. This was all what she had craved, wished, needed and more; a chance for air to her drowning soul.
She nodded to herself again and again. She had to try. She thought about AJ every second of her days, and try to save her every night in her dreams. She had to; even if Equestria turned against them, she had to do it, she just had to.
"Yes..." Rainbow said.
"What?"—Twilight's ear swiveled to the sound and her head followed—"What did you say?"
"Yes, I'm in."
"Oh, Rainbow!"—Twilight jiggled from side to side clopping her hooves—"Thank you! Thank you! I knew you would understand." She ran and hugged Rainbow while wiggling.
"Calm down, Twilight—" Rainbow loosened back "—I think you said we had a lot to do, right?"
"Yeah... It's a small chance and it won't be easy, but I just can feel it. I know we can pull it through."
Twilight changed her melancholic expression for a chirper one. "Oh! I'm so, ecstatic!" She clapped her fore-hooves. "I don't think I can go to sleep. Okay, let's go over the main points again."—she closed her eyes magically raising a chalk—"The first thing we gotta do, is—"
There she goes again, Rainbow thought. Twilight looked so happy, and Rainbow couldn't help but smile as she went on and on with her charts and drawings on what they'll have to do; besides, looking at her expressions was just too funny. She was happy one moment, then serious, then really angry, then embarrassed; after that, she went kind of crazy and started laughing, then sort of sad, to laughing again. It was just all over the place and Rainbow was enjoying every second of it.
This meant that she had to stay, that she'll be again with all her friends and that things would go the way she wanted them to be.
For the first time in years, she felt light, extremely light, like when her father used to carried her, and she pretended to fly resting her belly on his warm withers, while enjoying the cool breeze on her face as he soared. A sense of joy, freedom and relieve overcame her. She just felt really happy, awesomely happy.
Rainbow stood there laughing with, or better, at Twilight, as she went full lecture mode and suddenly, actually, not that suddenly, Twilight started to slowly rock her head and slur words in mid lecture; then, she closed one eye, then the other, wobble a little bit, and finally crashed face first on the floor, while her rear remained standing.
Rainbow lost it, she rolled on the floor and kicked her legs dying from the hilarity and ridiculousness of the situation as Twilight moved to snore and lick the floor. She said she couldn't sleep from the excitement, but only her bottom half could keep up with that.
Obviously, Twilight hadn't sleep since their talk yesterday, and had worked herself really hard to come up with this plan of hers. When Rainbow stopped laughing, she approached looking down on her and wiping a tear off with a satisfied look. This was their newest princess, and she loved it.
She reached down with her muzzle, and went under her placing Twilight on top of her back. She planned to take her to her bed when she realized she had no idea how to open the giant door.
"Great," she said, "Now how do I open that."
Twilight mumbled something that sounded like chocolate, and began flaring her right hoof. Rainbow looked at her right and found some kind of pedestal with a hoof shaped socket. She got the idea, and placed Twilight hoof in it opening the door.
She carried her to the exit, carefully climbing the dark stairs, and was surprised at what she saw on the other side. There, laying on the floor, was a glass of apple juice accompanied by a plate full of steaming tacos; its devilish scent already tempting her nose and melting her mouth. Not far was Spike, curled down and sleeping on the floor.
Rainbow's stomach fiercely growled and rumbled. It echoed like a big snoring dragon, but had the curious effect of awakening nearby dragons; well, only Spike. Twilight wasn't a dragon.
"Mmm... mmm," Spike groaned while rubbing his eyes.
"Sorry Spike, I didn't mean to wake you."
"No... It's okay—" he yawned "—I was waiting for you."
"Mmm... are those for us?"
"Yeah, I thought you—" Spike raised his arms to his face as the crumbs flew by "—might, get hungry..." He shielded his eyes of the horrors of Rainbow's mouth.
Licking her lips between tacos, and later the plate, Rainbow devoured the innocent meal with decadent abandon. "Oh! In the name of Celestia, those were some good tacos." She picked up the juice with her nuzzle and quickly gulped it down.
"You should stick around," Spike said, "I can always make more."
Rainbow hadn't had a delicious meal like this in forever. She thought to die from grazing. She sighed full of satisfaction then said, "Mmm, you know what. I'm beginning to think I'll stay after all. But I sure could use more tacos, you know? For convincing."
"Really!? I'll go make them right now!"
"Hahahaha, hold it big guy, I don't need more tacos. I'm just messing with you. Twilight here already convinced me."
"Oh, that's great!" He took a knowing glance at Twilight. "She passed out, right?"
"Yeah, it was really funny."
Twilight, disgruntled, mumbled in her sleep.
"Hehehe," Rainbow and Spike chuckled.
"So, where are you sleeping at?" Spike asked.
"Where else? At my house."
"Have you gone to your house?"
"No... Why?"
"Eh... A couple of weeks ago a storm leaved some big holes in it. And with the storm tonight..."
"Great. Just, great."
"Meanwhile, you should stay here. We got lots of empty rooms. Just take one."
"Thanks, I think I will. You should go to sleep too, I'll take Twilight to her room."
"Good night, Rainbow. It's good to have you back."
"Thanks bud. Good night."
After Spike departure, Rainbow repositioned Twilight on her back, and went to the Princess's room. Inside, all was as she remembered: a smaller version of a library with a small window near a desk, a closet and a bed. She laid Twilight under the covers taking special care of her wings and tucked her in.
She sat next to the bed for a moment making sure all was right, when she saw a frame picture on Twilight's night stand. It was the picture they all took together surrounding Twilight right after Luna's return, the same that was on Granny Smith's shelve. She reached the photograph, to take a better look.
"We'll be together again Twilight. I promise."
She kept staring at the picture as she said, "You don't know how much this means to me... you'd given me hope again. I was just about to give out. If it wasn't for you, who knows what would I have become."
She put it back to its place; then, steeled her resolve as she peered defiantly out the window into the night, far into the uncertain future.
"I don't care about any other princess; you are the only one for me. I will follow you to the end."
She turned, and watched Twilight's chest rise and fall under the covers with each breath.
"You'd given me purpose again, a reason to live. I'll never forget it. No matter what happens, I'll always be grateful. Thank you."
Rainbow bowed, took Twilight's fore-hoof with her own, and kissed it gently; then, she looked at Twilight's sleeping face, serene under the soft light of the moon, and pressed her lips tenderly on her forehead.
"Sweet dreams..."
~~<<0>>~~
The Sun rays came into Twilight's room from her small window. A trio of friendly birds landed on it edges to take a glance at the owner, and see in what mood the pony princess has awoken to. She seemed very pleased in her bed which eased their worries and satisfied their curiosity. They scattered from the window making enough noise to alert the sleeping pony.
Twilight woke up feeling strangely refreshed. Her body had aches all over, but she felt pretty good, like that feeling you get after a good run. Yet it still wasn't enough; she wanted to get at least a bit more rest before going on with her day, so she hugged the covers of her beds and snuggled her pillow letting a content sigh.
"Mmm, mmm..." Pillow? She thought, Wasn't I with, "Rainbow!" Her eyes popped. She ungracefully jumped out of bed making a tangled of her hoofs and wings with the covers.
"Rainbow!" She ran down her room and around the castle seeking her friend, fearing that the last days were something of a dream. From the corner of her eye, she saw something moved outside on the backyard. She busted the back door leading to the yard open and shouted, "Rainbow!"
"What's up Twi?" said Rainbow nonchalantly sitting by a yard table, enjoying the warm morning light and a glass of juice.
Twilight held her chest with a hoof as she let a sigh of relief and said, "Nothing... nothing at all." She noticed Spike near the table as he grabbed some small sapphires and included them in the vegetable mix on one of the table tortillas. "Good morning Spike," she said, "I see you already made breakfast. You should have woken me up."
"Good—"
"It's my fault Twilight," Rainbow said, "you were so tired last night that I told him not to."
"Oh, you didn't have to worry about me."
"It's nothing."
"So... what happened?"
"About what?"
"I don't remember getting to my bed."
"Oh that. Hehehe, First you passed out, I laughed, then I carried you to your bed, and tuck you in."
"What?" Twilight covered her face with a hoof. "Ugh... I'm so embarrassed."
"Relax Twi, it's no big deal." Rainbow said putting a wing on Twilight's withers and guiding her to the table. "All athletes need a good night sleep to be in top condition."
"Rainbow, I'm not an athlete."
"That's for sure." That earned her a scowl. "Eh... I mean, as Rarity once said, 'All princesses need their beauty sleep.' "
"And good thing she did," Spike said, "Just look at those saggy eyes; think about how horrible they'll be if she didn't."
"Spike!" Twilight glared at him.
"Ah! I'll get your breakfast now Princess," Spike said raising his arms to his face feigning fear. "Just spare me that look."
"Grr..." Twilight growled as he scampered away. When he was out of sight she turned to face Rainbow. "They aren't that saggy, are they?" she said palpating her eyelids.
"Jahahaha... Come on now Twilight, take a sit, I need to start preparing. I'll do my morning routine, then I'm off to Fluttershy's; I plan on telling her everything."
"No! You can't go to Fluttershy now, we have to see Rarity first."
"Say what now?"
"Ugh! I explained this before." Twilight said pressing her forehead.
Rainbow tapped her chin as her eyes looked upwards while she said, "Eh..."
"I can't believe you! How could you not remember? Weren't you listening!?"
"Ah... I got the overall idea, but I might tuned out the finer details."
"Rainbow!"
"Forget about that, what's all this that I can't see Fluttershy?"
"Rainbow, for the plan to work, it must be conducted with utmost delicacy and secret. The best would be, if nopony knew that you were back, but since that's almost impossible, at least we must hide your new abilities, and convince Rarity to join us."
"What? That doesn't answer my question."
"I just don't want to involve Fluttershy; we'll have to do very shady and dangerous things, and have a very small chance of success," She said facing down. "I couldn't handle to get her hopes up and fail; it would break her heart. So you can't tell her anything, neither to Pinkie."
"What!? So we lie to them!"
"If we could do it between the two of us, I would, but we need Rarity's help to succeed."
"Fine. But, why Rarity?"
"Lots of things... but mainly for the bits."
"Bits?"
"Bits... lots and lots of bits..."
~~<<0>>~~
"Muffin wait!" High on a Ponyville's roof, a cross-eyed pegasus shouted desperately to the heavens. Why things got that way, she really didn't know. The day had begun with regularity for the grey coated mare, that was until she opened her box of muffins and they all flew into the air, with wings. It seemed they had a mind of their own as they fled out the window like scared pigeons from their rightful owner slash predator.
She watched in awe at how they quickly took to the skies; a scene right from one of her most wonderful dreams, when she realized they were leaving her, hungry and alone.
"Come back, I love you!" she said.
And love them she did. She loved their taste, their soft sponge texture, the way the chocolate flooded her mouth with flavor, the delightful scent of their freshly baked miracle and their perfect size convenience; how they always seemed to smile at her with cherry, chocolate or creamy eyes. She loved them so much —she hunger for them, not to mention she had paid good bits for them. She had to have them. The blonde mare launched to the air in pursuit of love. True love.
She hunted them on the streets, prowl like a cat in the bushes, jumped them on roof tops, but always missed her target. For some reason, she always had a problem with things like that.
On the middle of the street, she sat down and slumped to the verge of tears from her failures. That was, until she saw a familiar appetizing shadow on the ground. Turning her head up, she laid eye upon a beautiful, peaceful, muffin, resting on a cloud, with the Sun on its back as its heavenly crown. She could have sworn Lyra was playing, and a choir was singing as she shed a tear.
It was very high, higher than most normal pegasi liked to fly, but she was burning with love, or maybe stomach acid, whatever it was made no difference. She climbed the air silently and hopped from cloud to cloud, hoping to remain hidden from the eyeless, earless and all around lacking any sort of natural perception muffin.
It was just a leap away...
She could already taste it.
She jumped!
The thrill of the hunt had only intensify the reward. Mmm! Thank you Muffin, she thought slipping into a dream like state while enjoying every last bit of the pastry.
She only opened her eyes when realized she had no more and slumped again. She then saw a couple of ponies flying just as high as her, that were descending on the back of the Carousel Boutique. They seemed, familiar... Oh, it just Princess Twilight and Rainbow Dash.
"Grlrrlr...." her stomach grumbled.
Hungry... but I don't see more, she rubbed her belly as she thought. Ah! I'll just go to Pinkie's.
~~<<0>>~~
The entrance bell in Sugarcube Corner chimed as another pony arrived. Inside, the characteristics boin sounds of the pink party pony filled the shop as she happily bounced, bringing smiles along treats to every client. Sometimes in the form of a fritter, others in a timely stunt or silly joke. How could she carry twelve milkshakes on top of her head while bouncing without spilling, was naturally overlook.
The shop was packing with costumers this time of the morning—Duh, everything taste better freshly out of the oven, and smelled even better, but many came for the smiles. Pinkie's infectious giggles and porky snorts always find a way to your heart and brought back a smile. Was there a happier way to start a day? She didn't think so.
"Isn't this a wonderful day, Mister Cake," Pinkie said taking in a deep breath of the baked goods.
"It sure is Pinkie," he said.
She resumed her joyful endeavor giggling to herself, and four boins away, found her next friend.
"Here you go Matilda, a quadruple-coated-caramel-carrot-cake; careful, it's cranky." she said winking an eye as she delivered the dessert.
Pinkie could see the confusion on Matilda's face and giggled. To her friend, it must have looked like a bunch of pieces of cake stuck together forming some sorts of deformed circle with legs. "It's like I always say: All you have to do, is turn that frown upside down," Pinkie said demonstrating it by twisting her neck on an impossible angle and turning her head upside down.
Matilda tilted her head trying to imitate her, and finally could make sense of the donkey face shaped desert, with candy fake wig and all. "Oh! thank you, Pinkie," she said smiling with surprise.
"You're welcome. La, lara lala~"
Tink! Sounded the oven's bell.
"Ooh! They're done!" In a pink blur, Pinkie swiftly returned to the kitchen to withdraw the fresh batch. "Mmm, Yummy! Whooo~ wants muffins!" she said raising them up.
"Me, Pinkie, me! Me!" the mare with bubbles for her cutie mark said as she waved her hoof desperately like a filly in school.
"Jijahaha. Of course you want muffins; they are hoofy-licking-tasty!"
"Thank you, Pinkie. Boy, you sure are happy."
"I'm always happy, 'cause am always with friends!"
"Wow, and with Rainbow Dash back, you must be extra happy."
"Extra-sure I am... what?" Pinkie was so stunned, she let the muffin-box she was preparing fall on the counter.
"Yeah, Rainbow Dash. I saw her with Twilight at Rarity's. Hahaha... They must be having so much fun there. Here you go—" she laid nine bits on the bar "—thank you," she said and leaved the shop; being the only one oblivious of what had transpired.
As the front door closed, all sound died with the bells chime. The burning smell of a few muffins left in the oven took up the shop, but nopony acted. The costumers were paralyzed, frozen in place: some, hard breathing in mid bite; others, sweating beans holding their spoon still. All their eyes were moving nervously from side to side. It was an unspoken agreement to remain as quiet and still as they could, fearful that any sudden movement would set off the pink bomb ticking just beyond the counter.
BAM!
The door behind the kitchen violently opened. Everypony jumped down their table holding their heads and shaking, dreading that it was the end, and somehow Pinkie had exploded; instead, a new pony barged in.
The newcomer's face was obscured by a black cowboy hat he wore on top of his wild, puffy, brown mane. His serious demeanor betrayed, by the rubber chicken on his back. With the cold stare of his green eyes, the poncho wearing stallion asked Pinkie in a deep voice, "Are you ready?"
Pinkie Pie didn't need to look back. She narrowed her eyes as she said, "Oh, you bet I am..."
Once again, without knowing what went wrong, Derpy had managed to get Ponyville into serious trouble.
"Yep. We're doomed," a random pony said.
~~<<0>>~~
"Magnifique, pure perfection... Muawhaha! With this work a shall bring Canterlot to its knees," Rarity said admiring her latest work after doing the final stitch. She flaunted the dress on front of her while striking dramatic poses to accentuate each complement. "Such beauty, such grace. Don't you think so, Opal?"
"Meow~" said a pleased Opal.
"Ha! I knew you would agreed with me," she said victorious.
Opal appeared un-amused as she sat down. "Meow..."
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"How strange... I wasn't expecting visitors this early morning. Coming~" she sang exiting her workstation and going to the backdoor at the kitchen.
When she opened the door she saw Twilight accompanied by a cyan-grey pegasus behind. "Twilight! Darling—" She gave her a hug "—You didn't need to come all the way to visit; I was planning on going to your place later on. Who's your friend?" she said trying to see past Twilight.
Rainbow said, "Hi, Rare, eh... long time no see."
"AIIIEHH!!!"
She fell back like a bag of potatoes.
Faint voices murmured in the dark as Rarity regained consciousness.
"It's not my fault! What was I supposed to say?"
"I don't know, something more delicate!"
"Like what?"
"Shh! She coming to it."
She opened her eyes and tried to make up the blurry purple that was in front of her.
"Rarity, Rarity, are you alright? Can you hear me?" said Twilight while helping her sit up properly on her couch.
"Yes, Twilight, I'm alright. My, I had the most vivid of dreams. I could have sworn Rainbow Dash was here, in my boutique."
"—I kind of am."
"W-what!?" Rarity shook her head to the back of the couch to where Rainbow was. "Rainbow! Is that you?"
"Who else?"
"Aiieh!" Rarity joyfully squealed.
In one fluid motion, Rarity jumped off the couch and slide it aside with her magic, so she could hug Rainbow. "It's you! It's you! It's you!" she said. "Where have you been? What happened to you? When did you returned?"
"Just a couple days ago."
"Why didn't I hear anything, wait! Were you the reason Twilight was busy yesterday?"
"Yes she was," Twilight said, "and we have something very important to discuss."
"Wait a minute, Twilight," Rainbow intervened, "First, I want to say something to Rarity; then, we'll talk about that."
"Yes, anything you want. What is it? What do you want to say darling?"
Rainbow sighed. "Rarity, when AJ... When I left, I treated you and everypony very badly, you didn't deserved that. I always felt bad about it and... I guess —No, what I want to say, is that I'm sorry for that, and I'll do anything so you'll forgive me," she said crestfallen.
"Oh, Rainbow Dash..." Rarity said with a hoof on her chest, "you don't have to feel bad for anything. All is forgiven, and you don't have to do anything at all; having you here it's the greatest gift anypony could have given me." She got to her side wrapping her foreleg around her shoulders then happily rubbed her cheeks together.
"Thanks Rare..." said Rainbow a bit sad.
"Don't be so gloom Rainbow Dash; it's not time to mope"—she displayed a grand arc with her free foreleg—"it's time to celebrate! Why I believe the whole town will welcome you back. I can't wait to tell everypony. Tell me how have you been? Where have you been? Don't leave out any details, I want to know everything!"
"Wait Rarity; before that, we need to make sure of something," Twilight said.
"Make sure of something?"
"Yeah... Mmm, but... could we... have some tea first?" said Twilight.
"What?" Rainbow said surprised while looking at Twilight.
"I think we gonna need it."
Rarity covered her nuzzle and gasped. "How rude of me. Of course, stay right where you are, I'll be right back."
Rarity walked out of the room to the kitchen but remained close to the door to hear her friends and try to figure out was going on.
Rainbow said, "What's up with that?"
"This is more difficult than I thought."
"Well, mare up Twilight."
It seemed they it was something very delicate that they needed to discuss. Rarity sighed a bit disappointed in herself for eavesdropping and went on with the preparations.
"Here we go," she said as she returned into the room. "Want anything especial Rainbow Dash?"
"Eh... y'know, whatever."
Rarity giggled. "Of course," she said. "And you Twilight? The usual?"
"Yes, please."
After all pleasantest were done, she sat down and happily enjoyed her tea. "Ah... What a wonderful surprise... Who would have ever thought that in this morning, I would be having tea with you two." She giggle to herself.
"Rarity?" Twilight said. "I have something that I need to ask you."
She straitened herself and set down her cup. "Okay, I'm ready. Ask away."
"I need to know how you feel about Applejack."
"What? What's this about? Why are you asking me this?"
"Please, we need to know if we are to continue."
"I-I... It's no mystery that Applejack and I didn't always see eye to eye..."
"But I treasured her... I really did. She was always there to lend a hoof, and when I let myself get carry away she was always so patient, and set me straight. We could always discuss things, and I could trust her to tell me truth and her honest opinion. She always had good advice regarding family matters, especially with Sweetie Belle...
"She even let me do her mane sometimes," she said with her voice tone going higher, "just because she knew it would make me happy—" she brought a handkerchief to delicately absorb the tear drops from the corners of her eyes "—I really miss her..."
"What about the day she passed, do you regret anything...?"
"Twilight. I don't want to—"
"Rarity, please," Rainbow insisted. "Do it for us."
Rarity took a moment to think about it then said, "That day, I was at the market that morning with Sweetie Belle, when that thing came. At first, we hided in a store, but when Sweetie saw you Twilight, fighting that monster, she just bolted right out calling to me saying 'Come on Rarity, let's go out and help.' I swear, that girl sees me as some kind of super hero...
"I ran desperately after her when a mare appeared out of nowhere and shoved poor Sweetie to the side; but that mare was only the first one. I watched helpless as she was going to get trample by a incoming stampede. When Applejack jumped right in the nick of time and got her out of the way.
"If it wasn't for Applejack... I could never have forgive myself. Yet Sweetie was unconscious, very battered, and in need of assistance. My parent's house was close, and Applejack told me to take her to them, and so I did... I ran as fast as I could but when I came back everything was already over...
"I'm so useless, I couldn't protect Sweetie, and I couldn't help you or Applejack on the least of things. I was just a burden...
"So there. You have your answer... Now, I expect you give me a good reason for making me tell you all of this."
"We have," Twilight said. "But you must promise never to speak to anypony about what are you about to listen, nor hint it or try to find any way to say it, or leave any clues."
"Is that serious?"
They nodded.
"Okay, I Pinkie promise."
"Here we go..."
Rarity was silent mostly, she sipped her tea from time to time, as she listened to Twilight explain, and swallowed hard; she secretly wished it was something stronger —a wine at the least.
She was onboard with the plan at the beginning, no matter how crazy it sounded; if Twilight said that something was possible, that she could do it, then it was true. In the end, all depended mainly on Rainbow's efforts, but it was the finer details that truly unsettle her.
They'll have to steal, not once, but repeatedly, and from Princess Celestia none the less. She was willing to concede that; after all, it would be like a small loan—if everything went well; they'll make sure to returned all once they finished.
The dead, were another matter. They would require a good supply of corpses. Fresh ones. Twilight needed to experiment on them before she could perform the spell properly.
—She said no one would get hurt, but that didn't reassure Rarity at all. Nopony would allow for their family or friends be treated in such a way. They'll have to steal them as well, and wouldn't be able to return them in one piece, or at all.
"Twilight, please, is there no other way?"
"No Rarity... I'm sorry."
"Couldn't you use another kind of spell for it to work. Do we have to... do that?"
"..."
"I see..."
"Rarity, this is why I had to ask you about Applejack, the things we have to do... only if we are committed, we could do it. We have no time to waste, and even if we pull it off, there is no guarantee that it would work. Many things could go wrong; this could ruin our lives forever." Twilight and Rainbow hung their heads.
Rarity now knew it all, Rainbow's return had brought her a great deal of happiness, but the situation has radically changed in a matter of minutes. She made her decision. Now, she had to show Rainbow and Twilight something. "Would you girls come with me for a moment please."
Twilight and Rainbow briefly looked to each other then at Rarity and said, "Sure."
"This way please." She lead them to her work station. There, she stood staring in front of a closet.
"Meow..." Opal called worried as she rubbed her head against Rarity's fore-leg.
"It's alright dear, I'm okay," she said.
She took off Opal's necklace with her magic aura and procure a small key from it. Rainbow and Twilight looked at her confused.
"It's to keep Sweetie from finding it," she said using the key and returning the piece back. She opened the wardrobe and revealed it full with dresses. She took them out and sprayed them on the main table. As they observed the gowns, they noticed all were themed with allusions of the Apple family, and rainbows.
"Those are for you—" she motioned to a few dresses to Rainbow "—and those are... for Applejack."
Rainbow and Twilight got closer and began felling the fabric while appreciating the designs. They stared back at Rarity for an explanation.
She said, "I keep coming with these ideas for dresses for her; I don't know why. Sometimes I just woke at night and begin working on them. They always seem to lack something; I always think that she wouldn't like them...
"It's like I don't know her at all. I always try, but no matter what I do, it's never something she would use, or even appreciate.
"I thought of give them to Apple Bloom when she's a bit older... but, sniff"—her voice tone went up—"I really don't want to."
"Rarity..." Twilight said.
Rarity rose her head determined and said, "I feel the same way you do girls. Our hearts are one; always and forever. You can count on me..."
"Where are we going, Pinkie?" asked Cheese Sandwich as he and pinkie crawled under a bench, then jumped and hid behind a tree.
Pinkie Pie said, "To where I hid my secret party stash." They rolled into a bush next to the tree and sprung behind a house. "Jijijaja, this is going to be the biggest and greatest surprise party of all."
"Oooh... a surprise," said an echoing voice, "I like surprises..."
"Dizzy? Where are you?" she said while trying to locate the voice around.
Pinkie's shadow elongated, disfigured, and snaked on the ground away from her. The shadow stood up like a black piece of paper or dark cloth with see-through eyes, that it later spurred horns, arms and legs. It put its thumb in its mouth and simulated to inflated itself, popping as Discord, into the three dimensional world.
He said, "Oh, I just saw you and your western partner sneaking around and I thought to myself, 'That looks like fun.' So, what are we doing?"
"Dizzy, you're not going to believe this! But Rainbow, THE Rainbow Dash, is back in town! And she is with Rarity and Twilight right now! And I am going to throw her the best surprise welcome party EVER!"
"Oh my. I'm shock. Mind if I help you with that?" he said tenting his fingers.
"So you see," Twilight said, "we only have a small amount of time, before Applejack..."
"I understand," Rarity said.
"So we have to hurry and gather the bits quickly for the spell."
Rainbow said, "And that's where you come in."
"I?"
"Yes," Twilight said, "you are the only one I can think that could come up with that much bits in such a short amount of time."
"Oh... so you just need me for the bits..."
"I'm sorry..." Twilight said.
"No, it's alright. After all, I don't have fast wings, or your talent in magic. If this is the only way I can help; then I be truly honor to do so. Well, tell me, how much are we talking about?"
"..."
"Well?"
"Mmm... fifty million bits...?"
"My! fifteen million bits... well, I guess... if we take a big loan... and sell my boutique..."
"Eh... Rarity? She said fifty million, not fifteen..."
"Fif-fi-fi-fi-fifty... million... bits...?" Rarity's eyes began swirling and her head spun as she rose a hoof to her forehead.
Rainbow said as Rarity wobbled, "Aaaaand—out she goes again..."
Darkness again, but not for long. Rarity, being so expertly acquainted with fainting—fake or otherwise—quickly regained consciousness as she heard the voices in the background and recalled the last events.
"And you were telling me to be more delicate."
"I should have known..."
"Hey! She's coming back."
Rarity quickly crawled to Twilight and shook her from the shoulders as she said, "Twilight, tell me it isn't true. Tell me, you don't want me to rise fifty million bits!"
Twilight offered her her best seller smile.
"Are you crazy! If I could come up with that kind of bits I would have done so myself! Honestly, how do you expect me to do it, and in less than three years, it's impossible!"
"Please Rarity, you're the only one that could do it. I might be smart in magic related areas, but not this."
"Yeah, come on Rarity, you'll have our help. Just tell us what to do and we'll do it. Think about it, you'll have the help of the faster flyer in all history, and an alicorn princess expert in magic; there has to be a way."
"Unless you want to storm the royal treasure, I have no idea!"
"Now you're talking! That doesn't sound too bad."
"No!"—Twilight stomped—"We are not stealing the treasury."
"Ha... thanks Twilight, for a moment I thought you all have gone crazy."
"Of course—It would draw to much attention, and we wouldn't be able to spend it."
Rarity eye twitched.
"I got it!" Rainbow said while smashing one fore-hoof on top of the other. "We could ask Discord to help, right? We are bodies with him now, aren't we? I bet the if we put the pressure on him he could cough tens of millions of bits, at least."
"No, I don't think so. Celestia and Luna had him on a monitor spell, so stuff like that doesn't happen again..."
"Don't bother taking all this out Pinkie Pie," Discord said as he rubbed his hands in anticipation. "I'll make new and chaos-improved ones outside."
Pinkie rested a hoof on his leg closing her eyes, while shaking her head and said, "Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk... Silly, Dizzy, Dino, Discord. And you were doing so well..."
"What? What did I do?"
She opened her eyes and raised an eyebrow. "Remember the coin fountains?"
"Bah! That was months ago! In my defense, I was learning "generosity" from Rarity. Who would have ever thought, that ponies would go crazy bickering over a few flowing bits."
"Dizzy?" she asked in a condescending tone. "What did Princess Celestia told you about making bits and stuff out of nowhere?"
"That's is bad for the economy—I know, I know."
"Now, now—you don't have to pout, I thought it was a great idea! Making endless bits flow out of the water fountains was fantastic! But the law is the law, and that's forgery. Just help Cheese move everything where he tells you. You silly, you know better than just make things appear out of nothing."
"But, I'll make them disappear after we used them!"
She narrowed her eyes and threatened. "Dizzy..."
"Alright, Alright."
"Now, the only thing left to do is get Fluttershy and the girls..."
"Don't worry my random prankster, I got this."
"Discord?" Fluttershy asked the chaos embodiment while searching the various shelves of her cottage.
"Have you seen Tank's food-plate? I don't seem to find it anywhere, and it soon would be time for his snack."
"Discord? Discord? Are you okay? You seem distracted."
"Ah yes, sorry Fluttershy dear, half my mind seem to be someplace else, what where you saying?"
"I was wondering if you'd seen Tank's food-plate."
"Hmm... Did I put it in the freezer, the oven or the closet? Maybe the toilet? I don't seem to recall."
"Why would you do that?"
"—Why not?"
"Right," Rainbow said, "so we're just going to make forty million bits—in record time—with nopony noticing it."
"Yeah... we'll need a front cover," Twilight said rubbing her chin.
"Girls? Speaking of coverts, what are we going to tell Fluttershy." Rarity gasped. "Twilight! Pinkie! What are we going to do about Pinkie!"
"I completely forgot!"
"What? Ugh... what now?"
"Wow... Is a big place you have here Pinkie," said Cheese Sandwich as he admired the hollow caver filled with party treasures.
"It's my Party Bunker. This is where I keep all my party supplies, for a Code Rainbow emergency."
"You have everything in here. Roller coasters, boats, helicopters, cannons, tanks, ships; Inflatable pools, slides and castles; tons of food, streamers, fireworks, balloons and everything in between! How did you come with such a big and marvelous place?"
"Twilight made it. She said I could store the reserves in here. And finally, I get to use it all!"
"You made Pinkie Pie an underground bunker! What were you thinking!"
"It is a panic room, and it wasn't for Pinkie; it was for Ponyville; with all the disaster the town experienced, I thought it was about time to have a more reliable safe-house than Town Hall."
"That's not all Rainbow Dash, Pinkie said she's been saving for all the parties you missed; she has supplies there for more than a hundred parties!"
"We have to hide you until we can get rid of some of those supplies, or get a hold of her; she had at least three tons of salt in there."
"And all the wine and apple cider!"
"Apple, cider?" Rainbow eye twitched as she swallowed. "That doesn't sound, so bad..."
"Rainbow! With all that salt, cider, music and games will be lucky if there is a town left after the party. We have to act quick. We'll hide you here and—"
"And what Twilight?" Pinkie said and giggled from somewhere, "You thought you could surprise me, huh? But you didn't know that I have a secret agent, with eyes watching everywhere."
They all turned up and watched pinkie decent from the ceiling being carried by a group of balloons and said, "PINKIE!"
"Hi, Rainbow Dash! What... whatcha..."—her eyes watered—"whatcha...sniff, whatcha doin'? sniff—" She used her foreleg to wipe her eyes and clean her muzzle "—Shuts, I tried to welcome you back with a big smile, but I just started crying... I'm sorry Rainbow."
"Come on Pinkie, you don't have to apologize for anything, I'm also very happy to see you."
"Are we finally goin' to be together again? Have fun together again?"
"Yes we are."
"Weeeee!"
Pinkie jumped and hugged Rainbow to the point she was almost strangling her then stretched her arms far and grabbed Twilight and Rarity, pulling them into the hug, and evening the strength to bearable levels.
The edges of front door of The Carousel Boutique glowed and opened. In, came a very confused and mildly scared Fluttershy. Watching closely, you could see that behind her, instead of the outside road of Ponyville, was the inside of her house. Further inside, was Discord pushing a "running" Tank with his tail, next to her hooves.
"W-what? W-where the closet go?" Fluttershy's eyes opened wide as she gasped. "Rainbow..." she said above a whisper.
"Fluttershy..." Rainbow said upon noticing her.
Slowly, Fluttershy approached the center of the group; starry eyes hopefully looking ahead. The girls separated enough so she could talk to Rainbow freely. As she got closer, her eyes started to water but she remained quiet. Her gaze darted from Rainbow's overall rugged appearance to her scars. She slowly raised a hoof and tried to touch to ones on her chest—but flinched at the last moment. She took courage and softly placed her hoof on her chest and started to cry. She started to raise her hoof attempting to feel the scar over Rainbow's eye, but stopped. She then positioned herself closer in a way to better use her wings. Rainbow closed her left eye as Fluttershy used her wingtip and began tracing the wound from the top, all the way down.
Fluttershy then said between sobs, "You're hurt, you're hurt—" She felt Rainbow grab her hoof in her owns. She turned her sight from the scars to Rainbow and saw a smile that said it was okay, but she didn't believed it so.
Sorrow slowly contorted Fluttershy's face as she said, "I'm sorry, Rainbow. Please don't leave again. I can change if you want to, I'll be brave, I won't bother you with my problems, I promise. But please, don't leave—" she buried her face in her chest "—Don't leave."
"Flutter... don't. You don't have to do anything; I don't want you to change. If anypony should change and ask for forgiveness is me. You'd been suffering all this time because of me. I'm really sorry; for saying all those things, for going away, for leaving you alone, I'm so sorry Fluttershy."
"So you won't leave?"
"No. I Won't." Fluttershy and Rainbow, hugged and cried.
By the time this happened, Tank finally made it and leaned on Rainbow's hoof. As she held Fluttershy, she looked down and silently mouthed, 'Hey, pal, I missed you too,' to which his response was a slow smile and a lonely tear. Twilight, Rarity and Pinkie couldn't held much longer, and burst to smiles and tears as they rushed to be included in the hug.
Discord entered the room and closed the door. He quickly serpentined trough the air as he went behind the group-hug and said, "Isn't this a happy surprise. See Fluttershy, I promised a beautiful Rainbow. Did I delivered or not?"
She could only nod as she held Rainbow and cried.
"And believed or not Rainbow Dash, I'm also happy to have you back. Fluttershy hasn't been the same without you around." He hugged the group and Pushed them to the front door. "And as present for this happy occasion..."
The door opened and confetti and balloons began falling from the town skies as rocket explosions of all forms and colors filled the air, while all of Ponyville, with Spike leading in front, shouted, "WELCOME BACK RAINBOW DASH!"