With a little help from Donut Joe, Rainbow Dash hobbled across the flickering scene. The fire from the collapsed cider mill had been contained, and the police had corded off the smoldering remains. Night had fallen, and—with the aid of several lightning bug lamps and glowing horns—several groups of Fillyda's finest did their best to scour the site for clues and evidence.
Stu Leaves was talking to an officer, staring at the debris, when he heard Rainbow's approach. The stallion turned around and instantly beamed. "Rainbow! Oh my gosh!" He galloped over and skidded to a stop, scattering dirt and leaves. "I mean... it's... it's really good to see you up and at 'em! You had me worried for a moment there!"
"You kiddin'?" Donut Joe smirked, patting Rainbow's shoulder before parting ways with the mare. "She's fit as a fiddle! Just needed a little pick-me-up!"
Stu glanced from the stallion to her. "Pick me up?"
"Yes, uhhhh..." Rainbow glanced back at the wagon. She had tucked her belongings under one of the wheels... along with a deeply obscured shard of dark stone. "...just a little piece of home." She turned towards him with a shuddering sigh. "I'm okay." She gulped, smiling. "Really."
"Isn't this crazy?" Stu shook his head, gesturing at the mess. "And after all the nightmares we endured, those two still got away." He gnashed his teeth. "Wh-what was I thinking?! I had my wings! For Celestia's sake! Gustave and I could have flown after them and—"
"Stu..."
"They have no reason being let loose on Equestria! Those scumbags care about as much for equine life as—"
"Stu," Rainbow wheezed. "What matters is that you helped get the bunch of us out safely." She winced slightly. "Luna knows I wasn't very useful when I needed to be..." She fidgeted in place, her limbs still tingling. "Eheh..."
"Are you kidding?" Stu gaped at her. "You were the whole reason we survived in there! I dunno what empowers you, Rainbow. Some sort of... of... pegasus zen or something... but it's amazing." Stu gulped a lump down his throat. "We'd all be living vegetables if you hadn't saved the day."
"Mrmmfff... yeah, well..." Rainbow gazed aside at a group of police officers carrying something towards a colored wagon. "...I wouldn't have gotten close to saving the day if you haven't thrown yourself into Cider Space... ... ...and inspired me..." Her eyes narrowed.
In the flicker of lanternlight, Rainbow saw the unmistakable glint of a curved goblet. The ancient artifact's smooth black surface wasn't the least bit scratched by the collapsing cider mill. The mare watched as the Fillyda officers fully confiscated the item, locking it inside a thick trunk.
"Just... just what happened in there, Rainbow?"
"Hmmm?" Rainbow turned back to look at Stu.
He was gazing at her with a soft expression. "I thought all was lost. The dream ripped apart. The whole lot of us went flying off into the waking world... but you? You stayed behind. What did you do?"
"Uhhhh..."
"I mean... Applejack was unreachable!" Stu exclaimed. "She was the 'Cider Princess!' Shindig's sons had her under her spell! I... I was so devastated when I woke. But then..." He exhaled, his wingtips fluttering as he smiled. "...then Applejack woke up... as strong and as clear as any other day. I know it must have been you, somehow. You did something awesome to bring her back, didn't you?"
"Heh... eh heh heh..." Rainbow slicked her mane back, avoiding his gaze. She mentally thanked the darkness of night for obscuring her blushing features. "It was something awesome, alright."
Stu chuckled as well. Then, after a moment, he went silent. "Did... did you see Epcot before you woke up?"
Rainbow's pupils shrank. She looked off. "Yeah..."
"Was she... I mean... did... did she look...?"
"She's the same thing she's always been, Stu," Rainbow muttered. "An invention of alicorns, made to serve as an eternal guardian of an empty dream world."
Stu winced. "She's... alone there now without us, isn't she?"
Rainbow nodded, staring at the ground. "Pretty much."
"I... uh... I guess she's always been like that."
"Yeah, but only now—thanks to us—I bet she realizes it."
Stu bit his lip. Clearing his throat, he nevertheless said, "But... she gave us her all. She did everything she could to make sure we got out of there... all of us. I... I think she'd be happy, Rainbow."
"Hmmm?"
Stu smiled at her. "To know that we did it. You did it." He sniffled slightly. "You saved Applejack."
Rainbow's ears twitched. Fumbling, she leaned forward. "Uhm... speaking of which... where is AJ anyway?"