There exist "Messengers of Magic" who have the power to grant one wish to a chosen girl. However, that girl must then become a Magic Mare and fight against witches, evil creatures born from curses that are responsible for murders and suicides. A schoolgirl named Twilight Sparkle and her friend Rainbow Dash are approached by one of these Messengers of Magic named Spike and a Magic Mare named Fluttershy with an offering to become a Magic Mare. But as this is all happening, Pinkie Pie (a.k.a. Pinkamania), another Magic Mare, tries to prevent Twilight and friends from making such a deal...
Do Twilight and Rainbow make a wish?
Why doesn't Pinkie Pie want Twilight to make a wish?
What friendly or not so friendly ponies will they come in contact with?
And why does Spike want them to be Magic Mares?
For anyone who's seen the anime show Madoka Magica then you know why there is a sad and dark tag. For those of you have not seen it then you'll soon find out why.
Theme: I won't forget the promise we made I'll close my eyes and ascertain it Shaking off the darkness that closed in on me, I advance on When can I see again here the future that I lost? Again and again, I'll tear apart the shadow of distress that spilled out and walk on in this world The time that ticked away ceaselessly now announces the beginning Putting my unchanging feelings into it I'll open the closed door Awoken heart has started to run, in order to draw the future Even if I come to a standstill on a difficult road The sky is always waiting for me in a beautiful blue So I'm not scared By now, no matter what happens, I won't get disheartened
Twilight was running down the black and white checkered hallway. She reached the stairs and at the top she saw an exit sign. She stopped running and walked up the stairs. She went thru the door and saw that she was on a cliff. Looking over the edge she saw pieces of the ground floating in the air. On one peace she saw a Pink pony lying there staring at her, she had long straight pink mane and looked angry. Then a purple and green baby dragon appeared next to Twilight.
"Do you want to help her?" The dragon asked looking up at her.
"Yes...but I don't know how." Twilight closed her eyes as a tear fell.
"Make a contract with me, if you do then I can turn you into a Magic Mare."
"Then I'll be able to help her?" The Pink mare looked scared and she fell from her floating ground.
"You would, now do it before it's too late." Twilight panicked and made her wish.
Twilight awoke from her dream, in a different position than when she had went to bed. She got up and went downstairs to see her father making breakfast.
"Is mama awake?" She asked her dad.
"Shining Armour's waking her up right now."
Twilight went down the hall to her mothers bedroom to see her big brother Shining Armour trying to wake her up.
"Mom wake up! Wake up!"
Twilight went over the the window and opened the curtains to let the light in. Then she snatched the covers off of her mother, who screamed.
"Ahh it burns!!"
"She woke up." Shining said proud of himself even though Twilight was the one to wake her up.
Twilight went in the bathroom and took a shower. She brushed her teeth and washed her face, while having a conversation with her mother.
"Did you sleep good Twilight?"
"Yes mama."
"So how's school going?'
"Rarity got another love letter from her secret admire."
"Hmph why are boys so shy these days. I think it's so silly that you can send a love letter from anonymous but, not be able to give it to the mare in person."
Twilight chuckled as she spit out her tooth paste, both her and her mother gargled water in there mouth and the spit it out in the sink.
"What's so hard about walking up to a mare and saying 'I like you'?" Her mother continued as she put on her make up. Twilight washed her face and reached to find a towel. Her mother put a hoof on the towel and moved it closer to Twilight she she could grab it. Her mother closed her make up kit and looked at herself in the mirror. "Perfect!"
"Which ribbon should I wear?" Twilight said holding out a red ribbon and a yellow ribbon.
"Hmm...the red one."
Twilight looked shocked. "You don't think it's too flashy?"
"No, of course not. Now go eat breakfast."
Twilight tied her mane in a ponytail with the ribbon and went to the table. Shining Armour sat there eating his salad and dropped a tomato.
"Safe." His mother said as she caught it with her piece of toast and put it back on is plate.
"You want more coffee drear?" Twilight's dad asked as her.
She looked at the clock, "hmm..I better not." She drank the rest of her coffee, kissed Shining on the head, kiss her husband, and high hoofed Twilight. "Bye."
"Bye." everyone else said back.
"Oh you guys better get going too. You don't wanna be late for school." Twilight and Shining looked at the clock and ate the rest of their food. Shining was in 12th grade about to join the royal guards and Twilight was in 8th grade about to go to high school next year.
"Bye." They said to their dad and he waved the a good bye as they went out the door. Shining Armour hugged his little sister and went to his high school as Twilight went in the opposite direction to her school.
Twilight walked up the stone path way to her school and met up with her friends Rainbow Dash and Rarity.
"Hey Twilight." Rainbow said waving her over.
"So I got another love letter." Rarity explained. "I'm not ready for a relationship but I don't have the heart to turn down another colt."
"My mother says it's a waste of time to be sending love letters to ponies."
"Oh your mom is so cool." Rainbow Dash said.
"I wish I could get a love letter from somepony at least once."
"Oh so you wanna be a popular mare like Rarity? I bet your mother would say 'Don't waste your time trying to be popular. Focus on school work and the friends you have now.' You wouldn't want to disappoint your mom would you?"
"That is not what she would say."
"Is too."
Twilight and Rainbow went back and forth playing around while Rarity stood there and cleared her throat for them to stop.
In class Miss Cheerilee stood before her students. "Hmm...YOU!" She shouted pointing at Soarin.
He jumped, "eh..m-me?'
"Which is better hard boiled or soft boiled eggs?"
"Um..I think there good both ways."
"Exactly so why should a stallion get mad over how you cook you eggs."
Rainbow Dash leaned into Twilight and Rarity, "I guess it didn't work out last night." They both chuckled.
"Now class we have a new student today."
"You should have started with that," Rainbow said to her self.
"Miss Pie you can come in now." A mare with long pink mane and tail walked in. Her cutie mark was supposed to be three balloons but the third on looked like it popped. Then Twilight realized that it was the mare from her dream! "Please introduce yourself."
"Hello I'm Pinkamena Pie it's nice to meet you all." Her voice sounded cold and dark.
"Well miss Pie please take a seat." Pinkie glared a Twilight before she sat down.
During their break everypony gathered around Pinkamena. "Miss Pie what was your other school like?"
"Did you have sports?"
"What kind of clubs did you have?"
Twilight and her friends just stood around Twilight's desk.
"The new girl seems kind of mysterious doesn't she?" Rarity asked.
"She was looking at you earlier Twilight. Do you know her from somewhere?" Rainbow asked but Twilight shook her head no.
"I'm sorry I'm not feeling well I think I'll go to the nurse." Pinkie said to the people surrounding her.
"Then I'll come with you."
"Me too."
"No that's okay. I'll ask the nurses aid to take me." She got up and walked towards Twilight. "Twilight Sparkle you're the nurses aid right? Please come with me."
The two of them walked down the hallway Twilight thought she should break the silence. "So miss Pie-"
"Please call me Pinkie."
"Pinkie how did you know I was the nurses aid?"
"The teacher told me."
"Oh right...well it's.."
"This way right?" She said turning the corner.
"Yea, it seems like you already know your way." Twilight chuckled awkwardly. "So..Pinkamena that's a weird name."
"...."
"But I think it's actually kind of..."
".....!"
"..cool.."
Pinkie Pie turned around and faced Twilight. "Do you consider your friends and family valuable?"
"Huh? Yes I do, both of them."
"Then you must not change. Stay the way you are Twilight or else you will lose both." Pinkie walked down the hall.
"And that's what she said to me." Twilight explained to her friends. School was over and they were at Hayburger in the mall.
"Wow really?" Rainbow looked shocked.
Rarity turned to Twilight, "you sure you haven't met her before?"
"Well, I think I met her in a dream...or something." Rainbow Dash and Rarity laughed their heads off. "It's not funny."
"Sorry darling but that does sound hilarious." Rarity looked at her watch and started to get up. "Well I better get going."
"Piano lessons?" Rainbow asked also getting up from her seat.
"No Tea lessons."
"God I'm glad I wasn't born rich."
"See you later."
"Bye." Twilight and Rainbow said together.
"Hey Twilight can we stop at the record store before we go?"
"Sure. You wanna pick up a CD for Thunderlane right?"
"Yeah."
As they were listening to music Twilight heard somepony talking to her. "Help me." She took off her headphones to listen. "Help me." She followed the voice to a floor under maintenance. Then a small creature fell from the ceiling vent. Then in front of her she saw Pinkie Pie.
"Hand him over now."
"What are you gonna do? Please don't hurt him." Pinkie walked closer but was unable to take him away because Rainbow Dash came in and discharged a fire extinguisher on Pinkie.
She was going to follow them when she got caught in an illusion. "Why now."
While fleeing, Twilight and Rainbow were also caught in a strange illusion and approached by strange creatures. They looked like cotton balls with mustaches.
"Die Hexe Du mußt verstehn! Aus Eins mach' Zehn, Und Zwey laß gehn, Und Drey mach' gleich, So bist du reich. Verlier' die Vier! Aus Fünf und Sechs, So sagt die Hex', Mach' Sieben und Acht, So ist's vollbracht: Und Neun ist Eins, Und Zehn ist keins. Das ist das Hexen-Einmal-Eins!"
"What are they saying?" Twilight asked moving away.
"More important what are they?" Rainbow replied moving closer to Twilight.
That's when a yellow mare came in and took out a glowing egg which transformed her. She had on brown boots, white gloves, a brown and yellow dress, and a matching hat, with a white cape. She swung her cape around and about six or more guns appeared. She picked them up one after another and shot the creatures, using every last bullet. After defeating them the illusion went away.
"Hi, I'm Fluttershy."
Pinkie walked up behind them, "give him to me."
"Now you know I can't do that." Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie stared at each other until Pinkie left without saying another word. Fluttershy, even though she was a Pegasus, healed the creature with magic.
Back in Fluttershy's apartment she explained everything. "I'm Fluttershy and this is Spike."
"Um..well I'm." Twilight started.
"We know who you are. Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash." Spike said.
"How were you able to talk to me before?"
"Spike can speak with you telepathically."
"What are you and how were you able to do magic you're a Pegasus." Rainbow chimed in getting straight to the point.
"I'm a Magic Mare. Spike found me and offered me a one wish but, in return I turned into a Magic Mare and I defeat witches and familiars like you saw today. They are what cause murder, suicide, and depression. When one is defeated I get a grief seed it's used to purify your soul gem." She held out a yellow glowing egg.
"But what were they saying? The familiars?" Twilight asked.
Fluttershy looked at Spike hoping he would know. "They were saying 'The Witch This you must ken (understand) From one make ten, And two let be, make even three, Then rich you'll be. Skip o'er the four! From five and six, The Witch's tricks, Make seven and eight, 'Tis finished straight; And nine is one, And ten is none, That is the witch's one-time-one!' though I'm not sure what it means."
"None of it matters now that you're safe. Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash, may I ask for a request from you? " Fluttershy and Spike exchange glances, Spike spoke.
"I want you to make a contract with me and become Magic Mares."
Ending: Someday the light of love you lit within your eyes will transcend time and certainly destroy one of the dreams of a world racing towards destruction. Now that you've drunk every ounce of your hesitation What do you desire? Will there be a fleeting tomorrow for the course of this greedy admiration? Like the ancient magic I saw in my dreams when I was young I want to see you, smiling with the power to destroy even the dark The courage from the flower that was plucked lays in my frightened hands. Only my feelings are all that I rely on My wish will awaken the light.
After bringing Twilight and Rainbow to her house, Fluttershy, along with Spike, provides the girls with some much-needed explanations.
"A Soul Gem gives a Magic Mare her power, and it is born out of a contract made with Spike." Fluttershy said while giving the girls some cake.
"I have the power to grant any wish, but in exchange, those who make wishes must become Magic Mare in order to fight witches." Spike explained.
"Hey? Is that true?" Rainbow Dash asked with a mouth full of cake.
"A wish is ..." Twilight started.
"Anything you want, even if it is a miracle, I can grant it!"
"That sounds wonderful." Twilight began to eat her cake while thinking of wishes to make.
" I know that it's a difficult choice, and that's why I wanna take you with me on a witch hunt, in order to help you decide if there's a wish worth risking your lives for."
"But what about Pinkie Pie she tried to attack Twilight." Rainbow Dash didn't want her friend getting hurt again.
"The target was not Twilight, but me. She intended to prevent us from meeting. Her reasons are unknown, but it could be to avoid competition." Spike explained.
"Competition?" Twilight was confused she had thought everypony was on the same side.
"Vanquishing witches brings rewards to the victor, for which Magic Mares occasionally clash." Fluttershy explained.
"I don't know if I wanna do this Rainbow Dash."
"Don't worry Twi we're just gonna scoop the seen, help find some witches, and see if we like it or not. I'll be with you one hundred percent of the way." Twilight gave her an uncertain look.
The next day, Twilight woke up hoping all of it was just a dream but, when she looked over at her desk, Spike was there. He decided to accompany Twilight and Rainbow Dash to school, to Rainbow Dash's surprise. But it seems that Spike is only seen by ponies he already has or is trying to make a contract with. They met up with Rarity on the stone pathway to school.
Ponies really can't see him. Twilight thought to herself.
No, you and the other Magic Mares are the only ones who can see and hear me.
Twilight and Rainbow Dash jumped. "Darlings are you alright?" Rarity asked confused.
"No, we're fine, right Twilight." Twilight nodded in agreement. Spike why did we just hear your voice in our heads.
I'm able to speak with you telepathically.
"What happened to you guys yesterday?" Rarity asked suspicious and confused.
"Nothing!" Twilight protested, she wasn't a great liar.
"We just spent some quality time together, right?" Twilight nodded along with Rainbow Dash.
Rarity's eyes got big realizing what had happened. "No. You guys didn't? You did! Didn't you?" Twilight and Rainbow Dash exchanged glances knowing that they were busted. "But you guys can't feel this way about each other. I know you're close friends and may love each other very much but you just can't. You're both mares it's not right."
"Wait Rarity that's not what happened." Rainbow Dash tried to explain but Rarity ran away. They signed in relief but now their friend thinks they're gay.
"I'll never understand these human relationships." Spike added in.
Miss Cheerilee pointed to Soarin again, "do you like pastries?"
"Uh..yes very much."
"Exactly who doesn't like pastries? So what if they were crunchy, that's what you get for not eating it while they were hot!"
Rainbow Dash leaned into her friends again, "another date gone wrong." Once again they chuckled. Rainbow Dash looked over to Pinkie's desk to find her staring at them. "She's really starting to piss me off."
Don't let her get to you Rainbow Dash. Fluttershy is that you?
Yeah I'm in the room down the hall from you guys. She was scaring her but Twilight couldn't help but wonder why they couldn't be friends.
On their lunch break Twilight and Rainbow went on the rooftop to discuss their future. "So have you thought of a wish yet?" Twilight asked.
"No, you?" Twilight shook her head no.
Pinkie Pie approached Twilight once again. "You again!" Rainbow Dash said facing her. "Why were you trying to kill us back there?"
Don't worry you guys I'm here. They all turned to see Fluttershy on the roof of a neighboring building.
"I wasn't after you." She saw Spike in Twilight's hands. "My objective was to keep Spike from making a contact with Twilight."
"Just as I suspected." Spike stated proud of himself for knowing.
"Now that I have failed..." Pinkie Pie clenched her fist. "Twilight remember what I said to you before. If you try to change...you will lose."
She started walking away, "What was your wish?" Twilight asked but Pinkie, visibly disturbed, remains silent and continued to walk away.
"Hey guys wanna hang out?" Rarity asked after school.
"Sorry Rarity but we have to do something important." Twilight said as Rainbow Dash nodded in agreement.
Rarity's eyes got big again, "oh no are you guys gonna spend more 'quality' time with each other?"
"That's not-" Rainbow tried to explain but Rarity ran away again shouting that's not right. "You have to wrong idea!" Rainbow yelled after her hoping she'd get the picture.
Twilight and Rainbow Dash meet Fluttershy for the witch hunt.
"Wait, I brought something just in case." Rainbow Dash pulls out a baseball bat. "I thought I could help out a little." Rainbow and Fluttershy turned to Twilight. "What did you bring?"
Twilight shows them sketches of Magic Mare designs, including one of herself, drawn in class. "I thought if I'm gonna be a Magic Mare then I'd think of something to wear." Everyone laughed at her and Twilight blushed in embarrassment.
"Okay enough play let's get serious." Fluttershy said taking out her Soul Gem and used it to trace the aura of the witch from the previous day back to an abandoned building. "Now you guys this is very dangerous and scary I don't want any of you getting hurt do you want to turn back now?"
Twilight shook her head no, "I wanna help."
Rainbow Dash nodded in agreement, "If Twilight's going then I'm going.
Fluttershy smiled. "Good now about the dangers witches present to the human population. They tend to pick the ones who are already starting to break down and make it worse. If a Magic Mare doesn't kill the witch it usually ends in a murder or suicide. Look!" Fluttershy pointed to the top of the building.
They arrive just in time for Fluttershy to transform and save a mare from committing suicide by jumping off the building's roof. She points to a strange mark on her neck. "A 'witches kiss'. This mean that she's being controlled by a near by witch."
Entering the building, the witch's barrier reacts to Fluttershy's Soul Gem, opening a portal, "wait." Fluttershy turns Rainbow's bat into a magical bat. "This will shield you from the familiars." The girls go through the portal. They fought their way through a maze filled with numerous familiars, until they reach the lair of the witch. "Gertrud is her name. Stay here I got this." Fluttershy engages her alone, summoning and firing a large number of rifles at the witch. "Ah!" Fluttershy screamed as the familiars manage to bind Fluttershy, slamming her forcibly against a wall.
"No! Fluttershy..." Twilight and Rainbow Dash looked in horror, she appeared to be unconscious. The Fluttershy calmly opens her eyes and reassures them.
Her previous shots had summoned strings, which now have completely immobilized the witch and her familiars. Taking the opportunity, she summons a large cannon and fires her ultimate attack. "Trio Finale!"
After the barriers dissolves, she picks up a strange object from the ground. "This is a Grief Seed, a 'witch's egg.' It's the reward you get that cleanses your Soul Gem. Using magic depletes your Soul Gem's power, as shown by the dimming of its light."
Using a Grief Seed, the dim is absorbed by it, leaving the Soul Gem brighter and restoring the lost power. After using it, she throws it down a dark hallway. A hiding Pinkie Pie appears, it seemed that she watched over the events. "Here, sharing is caring after all."
"I refuse to share this with you. It was your kill." Pinkie threw it back to Fluttershy. She then leaves, much to the other girls' annoyance.
"Man she really pisses me off." Rainbow Dash said clenching her fist.
Fluttershy wakes up and comforts the mare she saved from suicide. "What's your name?"
"Derpy...Derpy Hooves...oh my gosh, what was I about to do?!" The mare cried into Fluttershy's shoulder, while Twilight and Rainbow Dash watched with admiration.
"It's okay now Derpy you're safe."
Later, in her room, Twilight colors her drawing. Fluttershy gets to help all those ponies. Twilight thought as she smiled to herself. If I could help everypony...that would be wonderful.
Rainbow Dash ran down the hospital hallway. Room 124. Rainbow Dash closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly, but happily, opened the door. She saw Thunderlane laying down looking at the window. "Hi Thunderlane." Rainbow dash smiled as he turned to look at her.
"Rainbow Dash..." Thunderlane smiled warmly at her making Rainbow blush.
"I brought another classical CD for us to listen to." Suddenly Thunderlane's mood changed from happy to gloomy. "Okay." Rainbow Dash put the headphones in the CD player and they both listened.
Thunderlane used to be a violin player and a sky dance that Rainbow admired when she was little. But then Thunderlane got into a serious accident, injuring his wings and wrist. He'll never be able to dance or play again. Rainbow brings him CD's to listen to, to try and cheer him up.
They listen to classical music together rather happily, but then Thunderlane starts crying quietly. Rainbow thinks about using her wish on to help him but, she remembers what Fluttershy said the other day when they were on their witch hunt.
After she defeated a familiar, Ulla, Fluttershy tells Twilight and Rainbow that she was involved in a deadly traffic accident. "I didn't have time to think about my wish. Twilight, Rainbow Dash, be aware of your true intentions while wishing for other people's sake, the precedent I know is not a happy one."
All Rainbow Dash could do was hug Thunderlane for as long as she could, and cry with him.
Twilight woke up in the middle of the night by a stumble. She went down the stairs and saw her drunken mother on the floor. "Not again." She woke up her father and they helped put her mother in bed. Her dad made made both of them some hot chocolate. "Dad, why does mom come home like this?"
"Because she works hard and needs the relaxation." He took a sip of his Coco.
"But is work stresses her out then why does she work there?" Twilight thought that if her mother was doing something she didn't want to do and if coming home like this, then what would happen to her she when she becomes a Magic Mare.
"You see, your mother doesn't do this because she wants to, it's because she has to. She doesn't only do it to provide for the family but to provide for others. She wants to help people get through the tough times and make them believe that there's still hope in the world."
"But what if there isn't hope?"
"Well if we all believe that there is, even when there isn't, then everyone will work just a little bit harder to make that hope real." Twilight then knew why Fluttershy helped defeat witches instead of making her wish and walking away. She knew that she also wanted to do the same.
Fluttershy is approached by Pinkie Pie, who warns her about making Twilight a Magic Mare. "Twilight's life is fine the way it is, don't put this on her."
Fluttershy looked at Pinkie Pie with a calm yet confused look on her face. "Why don't you want her to become one?"
"That's none of your business."
"I think it is, I wanna make sure that Twilight is safe."
"She'll be safe when you leave her alone."
"But why? Do you want her gone?"
"Just stay out of this and leave her alone. I won't stop until my deed is done." Pinkie Pie walked away leaving Fluttershy behind her wondering why.
The next day, Twilight met Rainbow Dash at the hospital. "Rainbow Dash how'd it go?"
"Thunderlane's still adjusting to never playing or flying again, but he'll be okay." They started to walk down the street when Twilight spotted a Grief Seed that is close to activating.
"Rainbow Dash do you have Fluttershy's number?" Rainbow shook her head no and Twilight didn't have her number either. "I'm going to look for her you stay here."
"I can track her down using my telepathically powers." Spike suggested. "This way you'll know where each other are."
"I'm coming with you." Rainbow insisted.
"No you need to stay here and make sure no one gets hurt, Spike will stay with you."
Twilight goes in search of Fluttershy, whilst Rainbow Dash and Spike remain near the seed. But not long after Twilight left the seed formed a barrier and are engulfed by it. Twilight soon returns with Fluttershy, but as they enter the barrier, Pinkie Pie confronts them.
"Do you know about the witch you are gonna face? Her name is Charlotte and she's very strong. You can't defeat her on your own."
"I can and I will, and just so you don't slow me down." Fluttershy places Pinkie Pie in a bind to stop her from following them. They continued to leave.
"Fluttershy...I'm sorry for being so useless. I really want to help and at first I didn't know how."
"Do you know now?"
"Yes I do my wish is to simply to be a magical girl and help others."
"I used to think that way. You shouldn't wish for things like that, they come with a steeper price. My job as a Magic Mare has left me lonely and...afraid. My job cut in the way of my social life and I had no friends. I was alone with nopony by my side." Fluttershy started to cry. "I'm so afraid, please don't leave me...please."
"Fluttershy," Twilight began. "My wish is to fight alongside you, no matter what." Twilight and Fluttershy hugged, relieved to know she wasn't alone anymore.
"You guys it would be nice to have some help here!" Rainbow Said telepathically.
Fluttershy and Twilight started to run but, by the time they caught up with Spike and Rainbow the Grief Seed began to activate. "I got this." A happy Fluttershy fights off the minions of the witch. "I feel light. It's the first time I've been this happy while fighting. I'm not afraid of anything anymore. I'm not alone anymore."
She reached the witch's lair, draws out a huge gun and does her finishing move. "Tiro Finale!" She did it she killed the witch and she didn't even need Pinkie Pie's help. Suddenly the witch transforms into a giant caterpillar, catching Fluttershy off-guard and decapitating her with a huge bite. She transforms out of her Magic Mare form. As Fluttershy's headless body falls to the floor, the witch continues to chomp on her remains, as the horrified Twilight and Rainbow Dash can only watch.
"Girls quick make a contract with me so you can transform." Spike pleads for them to make their wishes quickly, but before they can do so, Pinkie Pie, bonds dissolving with Fluttershy's demise, steps in and defeats the witch using a bomb. She claims the Grief Seed.
"Give it back....That belongs to Fluttershy!" Rainbow Dash yelled in sadness and anger.
"I defeated the witch so it's mine. This Grief Seed doesn't belong to none Magic Girls." she departs, leaving a deeply saddened Twilight and Rainbow Dash alone, grieving for Fluttershy.
Twilight couldn't believe what just happened. Right when Fluttershy was becoming happy, when Twilight was just about to make her wish. After Fluttershy's death Twilight and Rainbow Dash are both crushed and frightened.
"Is something wrong Twilight?" Her mother asked her at the breakfast table.
"Twily?" Her brother said after she didn't answer.
Twilight was too busy lost in her thoughts about what had happened the other night. She began to cry, she didn't care who saw she just needed to cry. On her way to school she met up with Rarity and Rainbow Dash. Um..Rainbow Dash about last night..
Can we talk about this some other time. Rainbow Dash brushed her off and pretended to be happy. She walk to the school building while talking with Rarity. Twilight walked by Fluttershy's room and saw her seat empty. In class Pinkie Pie also pretended everything was okay, not like she had feelings in the first place. During lunch Rainbow Dash and Twilight took their normal spot sitting on a bench on the roof.
Twilight began to cry, "I can't do it. I'm sorry Spike I want to help people but, after what happened to Fluttershy... I just can't! I'm too scared to become one at the moment."
Rainbow Dash held Twilight in her hoofs. "I'm not becoming one if Twilight doesn't."
Spike nodded, "I can never understand ponies feelings towards each other. If none of you won't become a Magic Mare then, I'm sorry I wasted you time." Spike jumped out of Twilight's lap and began walking away.
Later that day Twilight visited Fluttershy's apartment, crying, only to meet Pinkie Pie outside as she leaves.
"Why? Why did this happen to Fluttershy?!"
"This is the fate of all Magic Mares."
"But if I had been there with her-"
"It wouldn't have changed her fate. She was too confident that she had beaten it. Even if you were there she still would have let her guard down. She still wouldn't be here."
"B-but what if I used my wish to bring her back?"
"THAT'D BE EVEN WORSE! You know the consequences for making a wish for somepony else. Fluttershy didn't have any close relatives and no friends. If you die in the Magic realm then you remain a missing pony forever."
"So even though she's gone no one would know it, or care. That's horrible."
"This is the fate of all Magic Mares. It's Fluttershy's fate, my fate, and yours if you make your wish. So I'll warn you again. Stay as you are Twilight Sparkle, stay as you are and you'll be fine."
Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash continues visiting Thunderlane at the hospital. She puts on some more classical music for them to listened to.
After some quiet time Thunderlane speaks up. "Do you enjoy hurting me, Rainbow Dash?"
"What..." Rainbow was confused she thought he was enjoying himself.
"I'll never be able to play again or fly." He chuckled to himself, eyes full of tears. "A Pegasus who can't fly! You know how embarrassing that is?"
"Thunderlane..."
"So do you enjoy seeing me in pain, is that why you make me listen to this stuff?!" Thunderlane smashed his injured hoof breaking the CD player. Rainbow Dash grabbed as she saw shards of glass and blood on his hoof. "See! I can't even feel it! It doesn't hurt!" Seeing her friend, her crush, like this made Rainbow Dash cry. "I'll be like this forever, there's no magic or marital that can save me."
Rainbow Dash got angry at herself for not being able to protect him. "Miracles and magic are real!" She shouted with tears stains on her coat. That when she saw Spike's shadow in the window.
Rainbow Dash be careful with what you're saying.
The same day, after Twilight had gone to Fluttershy's apartment, she runs into Rarity and discovers that Rarity has a witch's kiss and is seemingly in a trance. "Twilight come follow me"
Sensing a dangerous situation incoming, Twilight then agrees to follow her, only to find out that she was meeting others for a collective suicide. "Rarity what's going on, you don't have to do this."
"But death is our friend. He's welcoming all of us in his house."
Twilight noticed that they were mixing two chemicals, she remembers her mom saying something about that. "These two are fine apart but deadly when mixed together." Twilight wanted to stop it but everypony else was holding her back. At the last minute Twilight broke free and she throw the bucket and chemicals out the window. Not soon after she was swallowed by a witch's barrier.
The witch uses mind reading to demoralize Twilight with images of Fluttershy's death. Twilight, on the floor crying, thinking she was gonna die that this was the end. Then Rainbow Dash appears in the form of a sword-wielding warrior to rescue Twilight. She fought the witch and defeated her.
"Rainbow Dash, you're..."
"A Magic Mare."
"But your wish?"
"I used it to heal Thunderlane."
"But wishing for other ponies..."
"Looking back, I still didn't know anything. Neither the meaning of the miracle that I wished for, nor what it would cost to me."
At the hospital Thunderlane, still a little angry, hit his hoof on the table. "Ow... no way." He felt it! He could feel his hoof again. He picked up a glass of water. It was true his hoof had regained full function.
Rainbow Dash is now a magical girl, a fact that doesn't seem to please Pinkie Pie. "I warned you before, now it's too late."
Rainbow Dash put her tongue out at Pinkie ignoring her. She was happy with what she had did, but not for long.
On the top of some random building Spike was sitting next to a blonde maned Magic Mare. "So Spike, can ah be the Magic Mare guardian of Ponyville now that Fluttershy's gone?"
"No, Applejack, there's already a guardian of Ponyville."
Rainbow Dash fulfills her contract with Spike on the hospital's roof. Her soul gem is forged and she makes her debut as a Magic Mare. The next day Rainbow Dash visits the newly healed Thunderlane at the hospital.
"I'll have to stay here for a little while longer until my legs recover and his miraculous healing is investigated." Thunderlane chuckled, this made Rainbow smile with joy. It was the first time she had seen him so happy since he was in the hospital. "Rainbow Dash, I want to apologize for being so rude earlier."
Rainbow Dash put a hoof over his lips. "It's okay Thunderlane but, know there's something I have to show you." She cheerfully escorts him to the roof in a wheel chair. Once there they see his parents and the hospital staff. "Since you're gonna be out soon We wanted to give you something."
His father walked up to him, holding a box. "I know you told me to get rid of it but, I just knew that one day you would play it again." He opened the box and inside was his violin. "Will you play it for us?"
Everypony stared at Thunderlane and he just simply nodded. Rainbow Dash, listening as he plays it beautifully, reaching the pinnacle of happiness.
Meanwhile Twilight is deeply worried about Rainbow Dash. "I just don't want you to get hurt. I fear that you might meet Fluttershy's cruel fate."
An optimistic Rainbow Dash reassures Twilight. "Don't worry so much I'll be careful. I'm ready for anything."
Nevertheless, Twilight arranges a date with Pinkie Pie in the cafe to ask the veteran to protect Rainbow Dash. "Or at least befriend and team up with her. I don't want Rainbow Dash getting hurt and I don't want her to end up like Fluttershy."
"No."
Tears came to Twilight's eyes, "Please help her. I know she can be stubborn but she's my friend."
"She won't want me there but, I'll try. But I'm not making any promises that I can't keep. Magic Mares have given up everything for their wishes and are beyond any hope of salvation. After becoming a magical girl, there's no way to go back. A contract means you have to give up everything for a single wish. I suggest you give up on Rainbow Dash now before you get hurt."
That didn't make Twilight feel better, it actually made her feel worse. Still worried as ever, Twilight decides to accompany Rainbow Dash on her patrols of the city. Rainbow Dash hugs Twilight and cries into her arms.
"To tell you the truth I'm so scared. I didn't want to be alone.. I'm so happy that you're here." She wiped away her tears, "now lets go kill some witches!"
After a while Rainbow Dash tracks down a familiar, Anja, and engages it in combat. "Stay back Twilight."
Watching in awe as Rainbow Dash fights the familiar Twilight holds Spike and tries not to get in her way. However, the rival Magic Mare Applejack abruptly stops the fight. "The names Applejack. You shouldn't waste your power on a fight with a mere familiar, Rainbow Dash. I use a technique called 'farming witches' I lets familiars attack civilians, and wait until they've fed on enough humans to become full-fledged witches with grief seeds for me to harvest."
Rainbow Dash is outraged, "how can you just sit back and watch. It's our jobs as Magic Mares to stop the attacks on humans. I refuse to tolerate such sinful behavior."
"Well then I guess you shouldn't be the one in charge!" Applejack tries to beat Rainbow Dash into submission, but that proves futile as the rookie heals herself and shrugs off wounds intended to put her out of commission for three months. Applejack swallows the last bite of her taiyaki that she'd been chewing and initiates a duel to the death.
They fight Rainbow Dash using a sword, Applejack using a staff that turns into a spear. Twilight tried to stop them but it was no use. "Only another Magic Mare can stop them now." Explained Spike as he watched the battle. Rainbow Dash was clearly losing, taking blow after blow from Applejack.
"why don't you just give up already?!" Applejack was furious that she kept coming back.
"I risked my life to save somepony, I really cared about, from himself. There's no way I'll ever regret it! Which means there's no way I'll ever lose to you!"
Applejack smiled, "that's to bad, because you've already lost." Applejack throw the spear towards Rainbow Dash's neck, it would have decapitated her just like Fluttershy. That is, until Pinkie Pie suddenly appears to protect Rainbow Dash...
Applejack almost finishes off Rainbow Dash, only to discover that her spear is stabbing thin air and Pinkie Pie has intervened. Rainbow Dash is quickly knocked out by Pinkie Pie.
"Hey! Whose side are you on?!" Asked an annoyed, Applejack.
"I'm always with the cool-thinking people and against the troublemakers, which group do you belong to?"
"Shut up!" Applejack complains, but retreats.
"Did you come to save Rainbow Dash?" Twilight ask but, Pinkie Pie berates her.
"You didn't follow my advice at all. Next time I may consider other, presumably brutal, options to make you listen." She left leaving Twilight horrified.
Back in her apartment Rainbow Dash uses a Grief Seed to clean her Soul Gem. "Spike, how important is it to clean out your Soul Gem?".
"It's needed to strengthen your magic. I advise you to get more Grief Seeds in order to become stronger. If Twilight were to make a contract, both of you would have the power to defeat rivals like Applejack."
"No, I refuse to get Twilight involved."
Meanwhile Pinkie Pie approaches Applejack in an arcade. "What do you want?" She ask with both eye focused on her game.
"I want to propose a deal."
Applejack bit into a Pocky stick, still focused on the game. "I'm listening."
"I going to let you have the city as your territory but, you can't attack Rainbow Dash."
Considering this Applejack offers Pinkie Pie a Pocky Stick in a gesture of cooperation. Meanwhile Twilight, concerned about the violence between Rainbow Dash and Applejack, tries to persuade her to seek a truce. "You guys are both Magic Mares, who are supposed to battle witches, not each other."
"No way, only selfish Magic Mares such as Applejack intentionally let familiars attack ponies, resulting in the deaths of innocent victims. Next time, it may even be your parents or Shining Armour."
Later that evening Twilight is still deeply worried about Rainbow Dash and asks her mother for advice.
"Twilight you're the perfect child. You always do the right thing and I'm happy that you do but, unfortunately, only doing the right thing doesn't always end happily. Ponies sometimes need to make mistakes. So just make a mistake, somepony has to be in the wrong to balance out there need to be "correct". If there's no right answer, it's necessary to be wrong. Looking back after a while, you realize that was actually the best choice in the end. That's something I believe you must learn how to do gracefully in order to become a smart young Mare."
The next evening, Rainbow Dash is once again confronted by Applejack, who goads her into another fight on top of a highway bridge. However, before the battle starts, Twilight arrives. "Rainbow Dash stop it."
"This has nothing to do with you Twilight." Rainbow Dash tried to warn her but Twilight was already running towards her.
She seizes Rainbow Dash's Soul Gem, the source of a Magic Mares's energy, throwing it off the bridge in the hope of stopping the fight. To Twilight and Applejack's shock, this causes Rainbow Dash to suddenly collapse, lifeless. Then Pinkie Pie pops out of nowhere, probably watching them. "What have you done?"
"Twilight has just thrown Rainbow Dash away." Explains Spike.
"What are you talking about?" Twilight had tears in her eyes.
"As part of the contract, the Soul Gem literally contains a Magic Mare's soul, with their body becoming a mere shell that turns limp and lifeless if the Soul Gem is more than 100 meters away from them."
Appalled, Applejack explodes, "so you're practically turning mares into zombies!"
"I'll never understand all mares repulsion towards the idea. They never see how useful the arrangement is for enabling mares to survive witches' attacks."
Meanwhile, Pinkie Pie had rushed to retrieve the Soul Gem from the bumper of a truck. She brings it back to Rainbow Dash in order to revive her. Twilight hugs Pinkie Pie, "thank you so much."
Not changing her lifeless expression Pinkie Pie tells her to be careful getting Rainbow Dash home. That she shouldn't be seen carrying a body around. That night Rainbow Dash wakes up, not remembering anything that happened after Twilight threw her gem away. "What's going on?"
"Nothing...I'm just glad you're safe." Twilight cries into a confused, yet comforting, Rainbow Dash's arms.
Rainbow Dash was in her room, outraged at the fact that Spike lied to her and Twilight about the relocation of a Magic Mare's soul upon making the contract.
"I offered you the contract, and you accepted, in return for a wish, you had dedicated your life to fighting witches." Spike explained. "You never asked about the details, so I saw no need to tell you. But because a Magic Mare's consciousness is separated from her body, she is able to endure pain that would break a normal person." He touched Rainbow Dashes Soul Gem, inflicting a pain on her equivalent to being stabbed by a spear. "This is what the pain would be like if your soul were not transferred into the Soul Gem." She collapses and contorts on the floor for several seconds. "Although you can completely ignore any pain if you so choose, doing so can drastically reduce reaction time to injuries."
The next day, Twilight meets up with Rarity on the path to school. "Where's Rainbow Dash?"
"I haven't seen her, maybe she's already inside."
Once in class Twilight notices that Rainbow Dash is absent from school and begins to worry. During lunch break, Twilight meets with Pinkie Pie on the roof of the school. "Why didn't you tell us about the true nature of the Soul Gem?"
"I had tried to do so before with others, but no one believed me. I again advise you to avoid involving herself with Rainbow Dash, and You should not confuse gratitude with responsibility. Even though Rainbow Dash had saved your life, you're not in debt."
"I know but, she's my friend and I don't want to abandon her."
"When a Magic Mare makes a contract with Spike, they are receiving a miracle that may well be worth more than a life."
"So even if Rainbow Dash had spent her entire life caring for Thunderlane, there would have been no chance of him returning to playing the violin?"
"Spike grants the impossible, and thus a Magic Mare's side of the contract is dedicating the rest of her life to fighting."
"Is there any way for it to end? What if I-"
"Give up on her, Twilight. Magic Mares are beyond saving."
"No! I will not give up on her. I know she can be saved. How can you be so cold?"
"Perhaps it is because I am no longer pony."
Meanwhile, as Rainbow Dash is laying in her bed, tortured by her emotions over Thunderlane, she receives a telepathic message from Applejack who is outside her house, holding a bag of apples. I want to talk to you.
Why?
Just follow me.
Rainbow Dash complies and the two head towards an abandoned church. "Why did you bring me here?" Rainbow Dash asks when they arrive at the church. Applejack offers her an apple but when she throws it away. "I'm not here for a stupid apple, now why am I here?!"
Applejack angrily walks over to her and lifts her up by the collar, "don't you dare waste food." After she calms down, she starts telling Rainbow Dash about her past and why she chose to become a Magic Mare as well as the wish she made.
"Back when I was younger, my father used to preach at a church. However, his preachings began to stray from the original church's teachings, and he was excommunicated. This left me and my family poor, and I hated that no one listened to my father's words, so I made my pact with Spike to become a Magic Mare. My wish was for people to listen to my father. People came in droves to listen to his preaching, and I fought witches in return for the wish, believing idealistically that me and my father would change the world through this way. One day, he found out about my wish, and that the people who came to worship did not do so out of faith, but out of magic. He called me a witch who tempted men's souls, my father snapped under the realization, and one night drank himself into a rage, and Killed my mother and sister and brother then killed himself. The cops called it a murder-suicide. I was the only one left alive."
"Why did you tell me this?" Rainbow ask after Applejack finishes telling her tale.
"Your headed on the same path as I once was when I became a Magic Mare, and I want you to avoid those mistakes, and live for yourself instead of for others."
"I'm sorry AJ for misunderstanding you, but I will never regret making a wish for someone else. I strongly believe that I will use my powers to save others, and keep those around me safe. By the way, if you're so alone then, where did you purchase those apples?"
Applejack is unable to answer, "the apples were stolen weren't they?" She turns away, "I cannot accept stolen food, and cannot in good conscience be thankful for your offer in the first place." She then leaves the church, secure in her morals, leaving Applejack in frustration.
Rainbow Dash attends school the next day, and is joined by Twilight and Rarity. Where were you yesterday? Twilight worries.
Don't worry I'm fine. Rainbow Dash assures her. Rainbow's close friend Thunderlane is also in attendance for the first time after being discharged from the hospital.
"Rainbow Dash you should go and see him." Twilight suggest.
"No thanks I think he might be getting tired of seeing me." Rainbow Dash chuckles but, smiles happily to herself.
After school, Rarity asks Rainbow Dash to meet her at a cafe. "Rainbow Dash I've had a crush on Thunderlane for a long time." This startles Rainbow Dash. "I know you also have feelings for him but, I'll give you one day to confess. Though if you cannot confess in one day, I will. I have decided not to lie to myself any longer. How about you, Rainbow Dash? Can you face your true feelings?"
As night approaches, a depressed and confused Rainbow Dash is heading out to hunt witches. She finds Twilight waiting outside. "Can I come along?"
This triggers Rainbow Dash's held-back emotions. She begins to cry, "for a moment, I had regretted saving Rarity's life before. I'm no good as a moral figure of justice. I feel as though I can't ever face Thunderlane with a shell of a body. I've lost both my humanity and my chance to be with the one I love." After being comforted by Twilight, Rainbow Dash appears to regain composure, and they head out.
Atop a scaffolding, Applejack is idly watching a witch's barrier while eating an ice cream bar. Pinkie Pie appears silently behind her, "are you going to allow Rainbow Dash to take your kill?"
Applejack at first brushes this off, "since it's an actual witch and will drop a Grief Seed, that it isn't a waste like before. However, I notice strange behavior in the barrier, Rainbow Dash is botching the fight."
Rainbow Dash and Twilight are within the barrier, the witch is seated in a prayer like position on top of a long arm holding a monstrance. Rainbow Dash charges forth at the witch, Elsa Maria, which defends itself with snakelike animals and gnarled branches and vines. It fends off Rainbow Dash, injuring her, and Applejack soon comes to her rescue. Applejack is about to attack the witch, "stay out of this." Rainbow Dash tells he and gets up. She again rushes forward, this time cutting past the vines, and reaches the witch. She slashes at the witch repeatedly, and begins to laugh insanely while blood splatters on her face.
"Spike was right. If I don't want it to, it doesn't hurt at all!" She bisects the witch but, continues to stab her. Not caring about the blood soaking into her clothes and probably skin. She laughs like a mad pony as Twilight says, "Stop. Please stop."
