The Beginning of the End

Rise of Dark Equestria: Return of Sombra

Beware this story if you seek innocence within…

By Dragon Feather and AlicornMistress

It was just another normal day in Ponyville; the sky was sunny and clear without a cloud in sight. The ponies of the growing city moved about on their day to day errands. All seemed well on beautiful day in a Equestria like all of the ones prier to it. Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Rarity were all walking through the recently expanded Ponyville, the sleepy little village had grown so large in the last 135 years. It had become Twilight’s Kingdom only 60 years ago since Equestria had gone thru a large population increase in that time.

As the three Element bearers walked through the familiar streets memories of both pain and joy filled their minds and hearts as they made their way to the Ponyville Cemetery. The anniversary of the Cutie Mark Crusaders had come again. The three mares, like they had done every year prior for the last 95 years, had gone to see their little sisters' graves and to grieve at their memorial.

“It has been so long since I have seen Sweetie Belle and I can barely remember what she looks like anymore.” Rarity said somberly, her eyes downcast in sadness.

“Yea I know what ya mean, I have to constantly look at the ol’ photo albums ta remember what all of my family looked like.” Applejack replied placing her hoof on Rarity’s shoulder.

Rainbow Dash just nodded holding back her tears and sorrow at the death of Scootaloo and the other Cutie Mark Crusaders. She would keep her promise to Scootaloo, she would not cry over her and she would never let anyone see her pain. She would always celebrate the premiere Wonderbolt and the Pegasus Tribe diplomat that Scootaloo was. That is what she promised her little sister and the cyan mare would die first before she broke it.

It wasn’t long before the three mares had made it to the iron gates of the cemetery. They were greeted by three Royal Guards, one from each tribe who bowed before opening the gates and allowing them entry. Moments later the three Elements bearers stood before the memorial dedicated to their little sisters, each one baring a reef of flowers to lay at the memorial for their memory.

The three Elements bearers stood in front of the memorial quietly staring, each one lost in her own somber thoughts. They would have stayed like that until Rarity sobs of tortured pain broke the silence. Both Applejack and Rainbow Dash looked at her bewildered by the sudden outburst. Applejack placed her arms around Rarity hugging her tight whilst trying to console the crying white mare to no avail. Rainbow Dash just hung her head in shame. She could do nothing for either of her friends lest she break her promise to Scootaloo, to never show any emotion close to sadness or depression over her loss.

“It’s her fault; it’s all her fault…” Rarity cried painfully into Applejack’s shoulder, “If she never would have come to Ponyville, then events would have never placed us outside of time and doomed us to watch everypony and everything we care about wither and die!”

“Yer not blamin’ Twilight for this are ya Rarity?” Applejack asked softly as she rubbed the sobbing Unicorn’s back. “It’s not her fault, we all chose to be her friends. We all chose to be Elements of Harmony.”

“Did we Applejack? Did we truly choose to be immortal beings stuck outside of time? Did we choose stuck watching everything we know and love die? Did you choose to never have children? Did you choose to never be married and start a family like your parents wanted? Did Rainbow Dash choose to watch the only pony special to her die in such a horrible way? Tell me Applejack did we choose any of this?” Rarity asked before she pushed Applejack from her and glared at the orange mare with a look of fury on her face.

“Ya’ll can’t blame Twilight fer this. She came ta Ponyville on Celestia’s orders.” Applejack stated flatly, “If it wasn’t for the fact that Twilight had come to Ponyville we’d all be livin’ under the iron hoof of Nightmare Moon right now.”

“When I say her I don’t exclude Celestia, my dear Applejack. She has just as much blame as Twilight does. Twilight Sparkle is the same as Celestia. Celestia was the pony who raised, educated, and trained Twilight for most of her life. There really isn't a Twilight Sparkle just Celestia's proxy. So it is Celestia who has helped doom us to this unending hell and all for what? Just so she could get back a sister she herself neglected and turned into the monster. A sister that would have nearly destroyed Equestria if not for Twilight and us? Tell me Applejack how am I wrong in hating them both?” Rarity challenged.

Applejack stared at Rarity at a loss for words; it had been decades since she had thought about the fact they had become immortal in a sense. Could Rarity be right? Did Twilight and Celestia by extension doomed them to an endless life without love or family? No that couldn’t be true, Celestia and Twilight would never do anything that inherently evil. There’s no way Celestia could have known that the Elements of Harmony could make them immortal, could she?

“Come on Rainbow Dash help me out here, ya don’t believe any of this do ya?” Applejack asked the rainbow maned pegasus.

Rainbow Dash shook her head before letting out a sigh, she knew this day was coming for several decades and she hated it. The day that one of her friends would finally say what they had all been thinking at some point in the last 135 or so years. It was one of the few things the cyan mare hated to think about but knew would come up sooner or later. This conversation was the one thing Rainbow Dash knew would test her loyalty to the fullest. A test Rainbow knew she would fail.

“Whether I believe it or not Applejack the fact is all of us have thought about it. You as the Element of Honesty should know it better than any of us about lying to ones self. Rarity isn’t wrong in what she’s thinking but whether its true or not only Twilight and Celestia know.” Dash said before turning her back on her friends. “I’ve lived a long time now and in that time I’ve grown up. I'm not the silly naive mare who only thought about what she wanted most of the time. I think it’s about time you wiped the stars from your eyes and did the same.”

Before Applejack could find the words to reply to RD statement Rarity spoke up. “Rainbow Dash is right Applejack you need to grow up and see that things aren't as they use to be. None of us are happy save for Twilight and when you finally see that you know were to find me, darling.” Rarity said with a sarcastic tone before she left the cemetery heading home for the day.

“Before you say anything Applejack we are still friends and I'm still loyal to our circle of friends without question. I only say this because if you think that everything has been fine and everypony is still happy like when we meet over 135 years ago then you're wrong, dead wrong. You need to stop lying to yourself Element of Honesty. Look at what you have become and then you will see the truth of our words today. When you're ready to embrace the truth come find me and the others at Fluttershy's cottage. We will talk about it then.” Rainbow Dash told Applejack before she took to the sky for parts unknown.

Applejack was stunned at Rainbow Dash’s words, how could she the Element of Loyalty say something like that with straight face? Then there was Rarity and all of the blame she place on two of the four leaders of Equestria. She wanted to blame everything that had happened to them, on Twilight, though it wasn’t really the purple alicorn's fault. When it came to The Elements of Harmony being bound to their very cores, both physically and spiritually no pony could have known that was going to happen. But then there was the possibility of what Rarity had said be the truth? Could Twilight really have had a part in dooming them to this accursed life? Could Celestia really have known this was going to happen? Was it really true that they were trapped to never age and always be looked upon to keep the of peace in Equestria that they had?

'No Rarity and Rainbow Dash have to be wrong, we haven’t lost everything because my family still knows me…' Applejack thought as she decided to headed to her original home so she could prove herself right and the others wrong. If the Apples still loved and accepted her then Rainbow Dash and Rarity were wrong. If they were wrong all they need was good talking to along with the others for moral support.

She made her way home slowly coming up to the gate which led into Sweet Apple Acres. The farm was now four times its original size since the demand for apples and apple products had increased dramatically in the last sixty or so years. Applejack soon spotted some of her family working hard on the farm since it was getting close to Apple Bucking Season. She made her way over to them and went to waving her hoof to get their attention, “Howdy Apples…” She called with a large grin on her face.

An orange maned, red coated stallion turned and looked towards Applejack as she waved. He turned the others in the field with him. He whispered something to them and the others left the field as he walked over to Applejack. As the stallion approached Applejack kept waving until she got a good look at him and quickly her hoof felt back to the ground and she gasped, ‘Was that really Big Mac?’ Applejack thought before running to the stallion and threw her arms around him in a huge hug nearly knocking the wind out of him.

“Big Macintosh Ah can’t believe it yer alive and ya look so dang young too! Ah sure have missed ya ever since…ever since…” Applejack said as both tears of joy and sadness fell down her cheeks. It had been so long since she had seen him and she did miss her big brother so much. She was still hanging onto the farm pony when he tried get away from her.

“Pardon me miss but I think you have me confused with my great grandfather, I am named after him after all. I get a lot of compliments saying that we do share a common look and Cutie Mark…” He pushed Applejack off him being careful not to be too rough because he truly didn’t like being touched much like the original Big Mac.

“Miss? Don't ya'll know yer little sister when ya see her, Big Mac?” Applejack asked with a worried smile. “Alright Ah get it yer just funnin' me is all, right? Okay stop all of the horsin' round and get ta tellin' me how ya'll stayed so young and where is Cheerilee at? Oh yeah where are all of those nieces and nephews of mine?”

“No Miss Applejack I am not Big Macintosh the First and as for my great grandmother Cheerilee well...” Big Mac the third paused and rubbed the back of his head with a hoof. “Well she and him have been dead going on twenty years now, they are buried in the Apple Family plot in the Ponyville Graveyard much like my five generations back grandmother, Granny ‘Victoria’ Smith.” Big Mac III said with very little emotion showing on his face, he was almost completely stoic.

Applejack's face fell as tears filled her eyes as she looked at Big Macintosh the III finally seeing him for who he truly was, her great grandnephew. Big Mac and Cheerilee had died twenty years ago at the ripe old age of 109 and 104. The memories of that funeral in the rain with whisper of anger and fear that she had showed up came flooding back. Apple soon remember the looks of horror and anger on her family's faces when she came to pay her last respects to her beloved older brother.

Her memories had to be lies, just pain take knew forms so she could make it some pony else fault for her sadness. Rarity and Dash couldn't be right, they had to be wrong about everything. But just know Apple jack had realized she had lied to herself about who was standing in front of her.. “Ah'm so sorry... Ah didn't mean ta mistake ya fer my brother, but you look so much like your great grandfather.” Applejack said as she backed away slowly. Had her memory really become that bad in the last twelve decades? Did she really bury all of her more painfully memory to save her own feelings?

'Maybe Rarity was right about us being stuck outside of time. My own memories are playin’ tricks on me and my own family doesn't even know me.' Applejack thought as she looked at her great grandnephew. “Big Macintosh the III do ya know who I am? Do ya know what I mean ta this family?” Applejack asked.

"Of course I know who you are Miss Applejack, your family after all, the pride of the Apple family. But that isn’t anything to tip your hat over, not now of course. At one point it was but now it's... it's the family's shame. You’re one of the reasons a lot of the Apples moved away. They couldn’t stand the fame that you were giving our family name here in the kingdom. It's been seven years since any of the Apple's have gotten together for The Apple Family Reunion but I don’t think it’ll be happening any time soon. Most Apples won’t even step hoof into the kingdom and the journey to the new lands is way too far for such a simple reunion as ours."

Applejack couldn't believe what she was hearing about the Apple Family. There was no way that the Apples could be suffering because she was the Element of Honesty, there was just no way! How could this have happened, she had taken care to make it known that she was just a simple mare coming from simple pony folk. So how and why had her title caused so much harm to her family? Rarity might be right and if she was Twilight and Celestia may be the reasons the Apple Family ends with a whimper under the fame of one of its must humble and hard working members.

“Big Macintosh is ya tellin' me that the whole of the Apple family won't meet up fer the reunion because of me being the Element of Honesty?” Applejack asked and she tried to keep her voice calm but anger was filling her heart and mind. “Please tell me that ain’t the truth? Tell me that Ah'm not the reason why our family is scattered and won't be together like it has always been?”

Big Mac just shook his head and sighed before he brought himself to his full height staring down upon the mare, “Miss Applejack I’m sorry but its true. You are now longer the pride of the Apple Family but its greatest shame. I have ta tell ya the truth and that is that this entire fiasco is your fault. No Apple wants to mention your name or say there related ta ya for fear of all of the rumors and bad talk going around about ya. Though it pains me to say it but I need you to just get off my land and please don't come back ever again. I don’t want to be associating with the wrong pony folk no more or it’ll start making my long time costumers leave as well.” He told Applejack before he turned his back on her and went into the barn. After Big Mac vanished into the building the large white doors slammed closed behind him leaving Applejack alone in the now emptied farm.

Applejack broke down and cried hard as she sat there in the soft dirt. How could this have happened? When did she become a burden to her family? How long had she been living a lie about what had become of her family bond? Had she really just been ignoring what was going thinking that she was doing the right thing? Or had she seen that she was hurting her family but lie to herself about that for the sake of Twilight's happiness? These were the questions Applejack now had to asked herself and the answers to those questions were more painful than the questions themselves. It was all just pain and tears now, a pain she had inflected upon herself for the sake of a friend.

After taking a few moment to dry her face and collect herself Applejack left the farm that had been her home for many years not wanting to burden her family anymore than she had already. The sad and angry orange mare headed back toward the place she now called her permanent home, Harmony Castle, to be alone in her room. She needed time to think. Time to think about what Rarity and Rainbow Dash had said and about what she would say to Twilight and Celestia both. Applejack was never one to be a bully or say things out of malice or hate, now that was never her way of doing things. At that moment the honesty of her heart was nothing but Hate and Contempt for the alicorn she call friend and the Alicorn she bowed to as ruler.

“She is MY FRIEND but she trapped me in an unendin' life. Celestia was her teacher and she never told us that being the elements would make us burdens ta the ones we love. I have lost everythin' because of them and even now as hate fills my heart I can’t bring myself ta truly hate Twilight.” Applejack fumed under her breath to herself as she past the six guards out in front of the castle before heading straight to her room and slammed the door shut before locking it.

She lay in the middle of her bed sobbing hard into a pillow as she thought about all of that she had truly lost in the last 135 years. First was Granny Smith, then Apple Bloom, next was Big Mac and Cheerilee, countless friends and family members and now she had lost the rest of her living family. Applejack cried harder, she was now truly alone for the first time in her long life...

******

Luna lay on her bed reading one of the many newspapers from around Equestria. Since her return Luna had found a great joy in reading the paper as it give her updates on everything from fashion to current events in Equestria. With the help of the newspapers the Princess of the Night was vastly improving her understanding of the more modern Equestrian life style. Plus the comics were very funny and well drawn or that's what Luna thought at least.

Luna was in the middle of reading article about Ponyville hosting the Summer Sun Celebration this year when her magic slowly misted over her eyes. She had seen all that had happened from the orange mare known as her friend Applejack perspective. Luna could see Applejack's past painful memories of her passed away family and the lost of her connection to her living family members. It had truly frightened the Princess of the Night because she felt what emotions Applejack was feeling even now. There was so much hate and confusion filling her heart and mind. Applejack's connection to the elements slowly shattering as she lost what harmony she had left within herself. That was the one absolute condition with the Elements of Harmony, you truly had to have completely harmony within yourself to harness what power they extended to you.

Within her very soul Luna felt a dark stirring, just like back in that time over a 1200 years ago. She could feel Nightmare Moon awakening, the old feelings of hate and pain returning the surface of her mind. With the elements in disarray the harmony that held her two halves together was waning. She could feel her old self awakening and growing stronger but somehow it felt different. Gone was the hatred for the ponies that were not enjoying her night. In its place was hatred for the one mare she thought she loved the most in the world, a pure hatred for Celestia.

Nightmare Moon slowly took a deep breath, she could feel bits of her power returning and it felt so good to breath in the darkness. She felt the pull of the broken harmony still trying to keep her locked away but it no longer felt the same. Her hatred had changed and she partially remembered what had truly happened a 1100 years before. She remembered when her lover had been stolen from her in the middle of the night by another mare. She remembered when she had been taken from her rightful place at his side even through she could not remember his form. The dark alicorn growled softly and her eyes flashed with even more hatred for, Celestia, the one alicorn who had taken her away from her soul mate.

“What has brought me to the forefront of your mind again Luna, I have not seen through your eyes in so long and it vexes me so…” Nightmare Moon hissed and growled softly at her host. Though she would always protect Luna she didn’t care to deal with the lighter blue Alicorn because she was usually very firmly stuck under Celestia’s hoof.

Luna shivered as she felt the power of the darker part of her soul speak to her. This was not good if the harmony that held her soul together was waning then it was only a matter of time before Nightmare Moon began her bid for power again. This was something Luna could not have happen again.

“Nightmare Moon you have awaken and I will not have you trying to control Equestria again. I am not as weak as I once was. So do not take me lightly when I say you shalt have your way this time.” Luna told her other half with a firm tone as she prepared herself for a long mental battle with her dark side.

Nightmare Moon sighed softly. “Do you really think I will bid for power against myself?” she whispered softly into her other half's mind as her dark magic slowly surrounding them and drawing Luna further into her mindscape. “You think that we are so different my little one. But you have been lied to much more in the last 135 or so years than I have before my thousand year slumber it seems. You think I am completely evil but that just shows you that your even further under Celestia’s hoof than I thought.” She sneered at her younger self and turned her head away.

Luna stared at her other self long and hard still trying to figure out what she had meant by the darker alicorn was not evil and that she was under Celestia hoof. It was outrageous to think that Celestia was lying about the evil of Nightmare Moon or any of what happened a 1100 years ago was nothing but the truth. Nightmare Moon had to be lying it was smile as that. Yes she was deception itself in living flesh when she was free so this was all a lie. This was just a way of tricking Luna into letting the dark alicorn free to run amok again.

“Be not capricious in your words Nightmare, you have been away far too long to trick me again. Celestia loves me and wouldn't lie to me about the evil that you are. Why tell falsehoods now when you could just try to take me on in combat for control?” Luna asked getting a bit angry that her darker self would try deception rather than force.

“Because even though I could use force and have a high chance of beating you, I would also have a high chance of killing us both since we reside in the same physical form. Plus there is no reason for me to fight you any longer. I am but a shadow of your true self laying dormant your mind. The place were I resided is the place were the truth has been hidden so only I can see it. Deep in our mind resides what only Celestia would need hidden from you. The truth about you, me, and of course the Star.” Nightmare slowly moved closer to Luna rubbing her misty form against the other self.

“You have been tricked my little one, by the one you love and trust the most. Only I can't tell you the truth because you are so young and not yet strong enough to break free of what binds your true power. The power that we both know is ours and will always be ours, the power over the night and all its inhabitants along with the secrets that we hold.”

Luna shivered at the feeling of her darker self’s touch. It had been so long since she had felt that much of her true power all at once. As Nightmare Moon spoke Luna searched her memories of the last 1100 years and as she did she found gaps in them. Large gaps that gave foundation to what Nightmare was saying. Then there was the mention of the Star. What was the Star? How did it have anything to do with what happened a 1100 years ago. More importantly why would Celestia have any reason to hide it from her?

Luna quickly pulled away from Nightmare Moon and looked down at her hooves trying to find the words, an argument to silence the thoughts about Nightmare being right. She could not find one save for her faith in Celestia. Which at this point was weakening do to the lack of memories to prove her sister was good and not an evil in disguise like Nightmare Moon had said she was.

“If what you say is true, why would our sister lie to me about what happened back when I lost control and tried plunge Equestria in to Eternal Night? Why would Celestia have to lie about this Star thing, you, or me for that matter? Why would she even consider such a things concerning a matter as important as us?” Luna questioned, more out of her want for knowledge than to prove Nightmare Moon wrong.

Nightmare slowly pulled back from Luna her eyes flashing as she saw what Luna did in their shared mindscape. She saw the gaps in the younger alicorn’s mind where there were none like that in her own memories. To Nightmare the gaps in Luna’s mind were much smaller than the gaps she had found existed in the beginning of her own memories. Complete emptiness is all she felt when she tried to remember what had happened after she banished the Crystal Empire and before she had lost control, before Celestia had used the elements to imprison her on the moon. It seemed it was time to tell Luna the truth about the newest Princess of Equestria and to find the answers to what happen to her before she was imprisoned.

“First off the Star is not a what but a who. The who is somepony close to you. In fact this pony is close to Celestia as well. Even this mare does not know the truth hidden within her own flesh. The same flesh Celestia was going to tear for her bones in order to save Equestria, or so she thought. Nightmare Moon said in a matter of fact tone.

Luna thought for a moment about what Nightmare had just said. She thought of who the pony could be that was close to her and Celestia both. As Luna sifted through her memories of all the ponies she had encountered before and after her return her eyes widened in fear and shock as only one pony come to mind.

“You can mean Twilight Sparkle?” Luna asked as she prayed it was not true.

“Yes the one and the same, the talented and most beloved Princess Twilight Sparkle.” Nightmare Moon told Luna with a dark smirk. “I could show you an entire world so different from what you believe Luna but my mind is an extremely dark place. You can choose to forget all of this or to follow me and see how dark our past truly was…” Nightmare said softly before turning her back on Luna and advancing away from her younger self into the pitch black shadows that were her memories.

Luna smiled almost wickedly when she saw her chance to get the truth from Nightmare Moon and Celestia respectively as well as find out what secrets Celestia was hiding along with the memories lost to her from her time on the moon.

“Well that is an offer dear Nightmare but I have another idea. Let us test what you say about Celestia to be truth or falsehoods. If Celestia gives me lies than what you have said is the truth. If that is the case I will aid you in finding out the whole truth before I decide what to do with you afterward. If Celestia gives me the truth and you are found out to be lying then you will submit and be bound again like before. What do you say to that offer my dear Nightmare Moon?” Luna asked as she prepared a rebuttal in case Nightmare decided to get defensive and argue over the terms of the deal.

Nightmare Moon slowly let out a soft laugh her eyes barely being seen from the darkness as she moved around the light Blue Alicorn.“You expect her to tell you the truth dear Luna and you will be sadly disappointed when all she will give you is more falsehoods. She will lie about you, about me and of course about our dear little Twilight Sparkle. But I will agree to your terms if you agree to mine?

“What are your terms Nightmare Moon? Do not try to play games with me!” Luna said suspicious of her darker self intentions.

“It's simple my dear Luna, I will be going with you and by that I don’t inside of your head…” She laughed softly here walking closer to her younger counterpart. “I want you to use what magic you can to give me a corporal body so that I may move around until you are done. That is the only way I will agree to your deal.”

“I accept your terms with the provision that you have your powers mitigated down to just that of an unicorn in both function and form. So we do not make Celestia suspicious of us when we question her. You will have free movement about the castle and city but no farther. If Celestia is lying and has been lying to me then I see no reason in locking you away again. If you have told me the truth Nightmare I promise you your own freedom and life to live free of me.” Luna told Nightmare Moon as she readied the three spells she would need to fulfill her end of the deal. “Just remember you did promise to go back into your dark prison should you be found full of falsehoods Nightmare.”

“Your mind no longer qualify as a prison Luna, but you know that I am at your call to bind and keep my powers if you find me full of falsehoods. I will not lift a hoof to stop you from putting me back where I belong. Provided that you find Celestia not at fault with telling you her own falsehoods.” Nightmare whispered softly and moved closer to Luna rubbing their snouts together. “But you may be surprised that I am speaking true.” She smirked as her eyes narrowed.

Luna did not recoil from the intimate touch of her darker self, she just stood there silently. “I care not if is you or Celestia that gives me the truth. I just wish to know what is real and what are shadows in the night. I need to know before the six mares that have made and kept the peace in Equestria these long 135 years fall into the darkness. Whether you stay within me or live on your own I care not Nightmare. I only wish to protect my little ponies from harm, but I fear I'm already too late for that.” Luna told the darker Alicorn with a sad tone before her horn sparked to life with bright blue glow. “Are you ready to be flesh and blood again? Or do you need some time to prepare yourself?”

Nightmare Moon smiled softly letting her body relax. “I am ready my little one. I wish to be of my own flesh again instead of having to control your body whilst you sleep.” She slowly backed away spreading her wings wide as her horn started to glow along with Luna’s own.

“While it shocks me to know you use our form while I'm in the Lands of Dreams, I will not hold it against you.” Luna replied softly as she cast the first spell separating her and Nightmare Moon into two individual souls.

Once separated Luna quickly link her magic to Nightmare's as she began the second spell pulling Nightmare Moon into the physical world before the third, most powerful and dangerous spell was cast. Luna softly spoke the forbidden incantation, to keep Nightmare from hearing it least she learn it and use it at a later time. Luna force more of her magic to mix with Nightmare's as the flesh born of magic and the elements of the Equus took form.

Luna had to be quick as the Homunculus spell used a lot of magic and could possibly draw Celestia's attention if the white alicorn sensed the imbalance in magic. As Luna concentrated hard using her and Nightmare Moon's magic to create a soulless dull gray coated unicorn body with white mane and tail. In the middle of the floor a soulless body formed and began to breathe slowly. Its eyes were a dull gray and showed no form of soul or intelligence. It was a blank just waiting for a soul to fill it. Once the body was ready Luna shout the final words of the incantation,“Animus Promo Prompsi Promptum Spiritus!” A large bolt of magic shout out of her horn hitting Nightmare Moon ethereal body in the chest making her glow bright blue before she turned in a ball of white light that fused with the blank body.

Once inside the homunculus body Nightmare's soul took hold of the flesh warping it into her own as directed but Luna's spell parameters. The blanks coat was slowly turning a midnight black as Nightmare Moons power started to flow through it shaping the blank into her form. Soon her eyes took on color turning a bright crimson, showing the spark of life and intelligence, a cruel, dark, ancient intelligence. As Nightmare’s height increased and her mane and tail darkened to black in places she felt the loss of about half of her power which was locked away in her very core. This made her effectively an adult Unicorn but would keep her from cast any advanced level magic spell, unless she wanted to do considerable harm to her new body. As the spell finished up she felt heat on her flank and in a flash of light a new cutie mark appeared. It was the full cycle of the moon in a circle. Each phase of the cycle was linked together by a thin red line. She lay on the floor in an undignified heap but she was free though only as a unicorn. This fact made her sad because she lost her wings, though most alicorns don’t like to use their wings, she loved to fly.

She stood from where she was sprawled on the carpeted floor and looked around. Everything in the castle looked vastly different from what she remembered it to be.“What else has happened to the castle whilst I was gone?” Nightmare said with no little amount of shock in her voice at the amount of light colors in Luna's bedroom.

“Many a thing has changed in the time of the Two Pony Sister's, my dear Night Starr. Gone is the castle of yore and this is the new castle in the capital city of Canterlot. There is far too much to tell you about the last 1100 or so years but I will try as you groom yourself before we go to find the truth. Come with me, I will show all of the new things used to take care of one's coat, mane and tail.” Luna told Night Starr as she led her to the large private bathroom in her chambers. “Now you need to be careful not get any of the soap in your eyes otherwise it will sting and if you need some help I will glad offer my assistance.”

***

Few Days Later

***

In the last few days Applejack had avoided Twilight as much as possible while she spent time alone think over what she should say to the others. It seemed the other girls were avoid Twilight too but Twilight was wrapped up in her new royal duties to even mind at the time. After three days of driving herself crazy with own thoughts about what Rarity had said at the cemetery Applejack sought out Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash to talk with them. Applejack had left Rarity out since she wished to confront Rarity after sorting out her own feelings first with the help of the others.

The four mares held their secret meeting in Fluttershy's cottage. Fluttershy's place had been chosen as the meeting place since most of the surrounding land had been given to or bought to make in an animal sanctuary and hospital. This meant the girls would have some advanced warning in case Twilight or Rarity were to show up from one of Fluttershy's employees. Once all four mares where safely in the quiet of Fluttershy's living room with tea and cucumber sandwiches as Applejack laid out her heart and what she had been going through the last few days. The other elements just sat still and quiet listening until Applejack had finished speaking.

“Now that is what Ah been dealin' with. Ah don't want ta admit Rarity is right but after my own kin folk threw me off Apple land cause me bein' an Element. Seems that my fame as an Element of Harmony has been makin' it hard fer them ta do business. Well after all of that Ah can't say Rarity is wrong now can Ah?” Applejack asked the group with somber look on her face.

“Listen Applejack it is about time you faced the facts about our unique situation. Being the Elements of Harmony to protect the peace and harmony of Equestria means that we have to give up everything we were and ever wanted. Fluttershy has practically become a shut in because of it. Everypony around Equestria wants the Element of Kindness to look at their pet for some reason or another. Fluttershy can't even leave her cottage without somepony shoving some kind of animal in her face with some sob story or just wanting Fluttershy's approval. The only ponies she talks to outside of us are her employees and they had to all sign a non-disclosure agreement so Fluttershy could have some type of peace in her own home. Pinkie Pie hasn't thrown a party in months because of her fame. Pinkie Pie can't even show her face in town without somepony on her about throwing them the biggest, bestest Pinkie Party to out do the last one she threw some for some other pony. Pinkie use to love throwing parties and now she can't even say or hear the word party without freaking out... “Rainbow Dash was cut off by Pinkie Pie screaming then lifting the cyan Pegasus up before hiding under her curled up in a sobbing ball of pink fluff.

“See what I mean. This happened every time.” Rainbow said as she adjusted her sitting so her weight was across Pinkie's back before continuing. “I can't even get a moments peace in Cloudsdale with some pegasus want me to train them. I get request out the wazoo for training sessions, tips on tricks, to speak this flight function or some flight camp and to show up for this or that. All of it last minute or they just won't take no for answer. Let's not evening get into all of the lies and rumors about me cheating because of the extra magic I have. I've had to drop of ever flight competition I entered into for the 100 years because Ponies think is unfair to race again a Pegasus with my level of magic. Then there's the Wonderbolts, who have practically black balled me from every one of their events and shows. Why do you ask? The simple reason is because I take attention away from them and they just don't want to be connect the the infamous Rainbow Dash.” Rainbow Dash said in a huff.

“Rarity has barely been able to stay in fashion world but thankful she uses proxies most of the time for her clothing lines. That still hasn't stopped all of the rumors and lies about her having all of her competitors shut down or just sabotaging them left and right. Not to mention the really big thing about her being connected with a bunch of sweatshops and knock off companies over the last thirty years. There were even lies about being connected to giving bits to a Diamond Dog ran pony slave clothing ring a few years back. Then we come to you Applejack, the pride of the Apple family, now you’re the shame of the Apple family. The Element of Honesty is now the thing that makes her own family look dishonest to everypony because of her fame. Do you really think that anypony would believe that the Apple family does so well now just on hard work alone? Especially with a famous mare in the family that can literally do whatever she wants? Honestly Applejack do you think ponies around Equestria don't know who you are and the influence you have? Are you so naive to think everypony just believe you don't help your family stay on top?” Rainbow Dash said as she pointed a hoof at Applejack.

Applejack's mouth fell open is shock as she couldn't believe what RD had just accused her of doing. As if she would use her fame and position to help her family unfairly corner the market on produce. Applejack's eyes lit with anger and she jumped to her hooves and punched Rainbow Dash right in the face knocking the cyan Pegasus to the floor with a loud thud.

“DON'T YA EVER ACCUSE ME OF BEIN' A CHEAT!” Applejack yelled at Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow Dash jumped up from the floor and rubbed her sore jaw with her left hoof as she eyed Applejack with wild look in her eyes. “Been some time since we had a match AJ, hope you haven't gotten soft on me in your old age.” Rainbow Dash said before she punched Applejack in the chest before uppercutting her with her right hoof knock the orange over the couch. “Get up! I know earth ponies have more strength than that. Let’s rumble Applejack.”

Applejack got up from the floor rubbing her jaw as she stared at Rainbow Dash with fury in her green eyes. It had been some time since Rainbow Dash and Applejack had had an argument that led to hooves being thrown at one another. The last one being some thirty years ago which Twilight had to break up with her magic. This time Twilight wasn't here to stop them and AJ was itching to work off some rage. Rainbow Dash had kindly offered to be her punching bag and Applejack would be a bad friend if she didn’t take cyan mare up on her generous offer.

“If it's a fight ya want RD then Ah'll sure as hell give ya one!” Applejack yelled before she jumped back over the couch and threw several punches at Rainbow Dash. Several of the fast blows hit Rainbow Dash in the face and chest knocking her backward out of the living room with Applejack in hot pursuit.

The two mares were in the hallway between the living room and Fluttershy's den where a hail of blows and muffled shouts of pain could be heard. Applejack and Rainbow Dash traded blow after painful blow with no end in sight. Fluttershy was at lost for words and Pinkie Pie just cowered on the couch as the battle of Loyalty versus Honesty raged on in the hallway. It was seconds later the sound of a bone shattering kick to the body was heard and Applejack came flying back into the living room smashing to the over turned couch violently. With a flash of rainbow colors Dash zipped back into the room and was on top of Applejack punching her rapidly in the face and chest.

“You really think your high and mighty Apple family pride will do you any good now Applejack? Everypony thinks you just keep your family on top and why shouldn't they? The Apple’s have always used you to be the best... Everypony doesn't give a shit that they are good at what they do, not now, just who the Apples are connected to. As long you’re the Element of Honesty the Apple family name won't mean shit!” Rainbow Dash yelled as she held Applejack by the mane and slammed her hoof in to the orange mare's face over and over again.

Pinkie Pie was slowly uncurling from the couch as she saw AJ and RD fighting not many feet from her. She slipped off the couch and backed away from the fight. She was not much of a happy pony anymore and this fight bothered her a great deal. This was all wrong and it had to stop now.

She quickly stood up on her hind legs and looked at them whimpering softly for few moments until she screamed loudly, “STOP IT!! You two are supposed to be the bestest of best friends, why are you fighting? We all used to be so close and cared so much about each other…” Suddenly stopped speaking mid-sentence then stooped over, her body looking weak as if she was out breath.

Tears rolled down her face, her body now looked much weaker as she fell down completely on the floor her eyes rolled back in their sockets. Her breath evening out into soft but still harsh pants. The fight stop as the other three mares in the room ran to Pinkie's side shouting her name.

Rainbow Dash rolled Pinkie on to her back and placed her ear to the pink mare's chest checking to see if her heart was beating. The cyan mare was rather relieved to find her friends heart still beating although rather slowly. Rainbow Dash was about to shake Pinkie gentle when Fluttershy pushed her out of the way and began taking Pinkie’s pulse before shining a light into both of her eyes.

“Rainbow Dash, Applejack enough of this! This is serious Pinkie Pie is in shock and we don't have time for this bullshit. Yes, we have all lost a lot but right now taking care of our friend comes first!” Fluttershy said to the other two mares that both looked at their hooves in shame.

“Applejack help me get her on to the couch and Rainbow Dash go get me my first aid kit in the bathroom.” Fluttershy instructed as she and Applejack gently picked Pinkie Pie up and placed her on the couch with a whimper from the pink mare.

Rainbow Dash ran to the bathroom grabbed the large first aid kit then brought it back to Fluttershy. Once the butter yellow Pegasus had the kit she opened it and pulled out some smelling salts and a few pills. “Get a glass of water and you two better work it out and I mean SOON... if you really want to that is.” Fluttershy said to Applejack and Rainbow Dash. Both mares stood there for moment looking at each other before they muttered sorry to each other then Applejack went and got the glass of water for Pinkie Pie.

Once Pinkie was conscious and had taken the pills to calm herself Fluttershy turned to the others to speak with them. Before she could say anything her eyes roll in to the back of her head. The butter yellow mare fell to the floor convulsing hard as she gasped for breath. Rainbow Dash was the first to reach Fluttershy pulling the yellow mare into her arms as she called her name. Applejack was hovering close by when Fluttershy opening her mouth to speak. “Rar... Rarity... don't leave us...” Was all Fluttershy said before she passed out.

Applejack was the first to the door of the cottage throwing it open quickly. “Rainbow we'll hash out our little fight later. Make sure Fluttershy is okay before ya go get Twi. Once ya have told her what's going on meet me at Rarity's place Ah have bad feelin' bout this.” Applejack yelled before she was off in a dead run heading straight to Rarity's manor on the other side of Ponyville.

The farm mare hoped the feeling of dread and growing lost wasn't leading to the one fear that had plagued AJ her whole life, the fear of death and somepony she loved dying.

***

It took Applejack twenty minutes to make it across Ponyville to Rarity's manor the whole way there she yelled for ponies to get out of the way. Halfway there a set of guards spotted her in her mad dash and ran ahead of her clearing the streets to help speed her on her way. Now AJ stood in front of the locked gates to Rarity's large home with six guards behind her all wondering what was going on.

“Miss Applejack what is the matter? Why where you in such a hurry to get to Miss Rarity's home?” Steel Heart, a silver Unicorn stallion with white and blue mane and tail asked.

“Steel Heart Ah can't really explain that all that clear right now. Ah just need ta get inside cause Ah think Rarity is in danger.” AJ told the tall stallion with worry in her green eyes.

After hearing the worry in Applejack's voice and seeing the fear in her eyes Steel Heart ordered his men to break open the gates and secure the property while he accompanied Applejack inside to check on Miss Rarity. It was a trivial matter to bust the lock on the gate, Black Staff, a large black earth pony stallion with a yellow mane and tail, gave swift kick shattering the lock off the gate. Once the gate was open the five guards rushed in and checked the property over for intruders. After the all clear was given Steel Heart escorted Applejack to the front door.

After finding the front doors locked Steel Heart charged his horn and zapped the lock unlocking the door with a loud click. He quickly opened the door but before he could check inside Applejack rushed passed him screaming Rarity's name as she searched the house for the white mare.

“Miss Applejack wait there could be somepony or thing in there waiting for you.” Steel Heart called after her as he gave chase to protect the Element of Honesty.

Applejack ignored Steel Heart's words of warning as she needed to find Rarity and make sure she was safe, that above all else mattered to her at the moment. As the orange mare searched the halls in the manor she found them dark and gloomy, like no one had been walking through them in days. It felt so unlike anything Rarity would do if she could help it. Normally the house was full of the sounds of maids and fashion assistants running to answer Rarity's every beck and call. Now the manor was silent and still as if a shadow of Death had fallen over the house.

None of the curtains were open to allow any natural light to enter into the gloomy manor nor were there any lamps lit either. Applejack was running from room to room looking for Rarity and screaming her name only to find darkness, covered furniture, and several days’ worth of dust. Each room the orange mare searched was the same as the last she searched, covered furniture and no sound other than her own voice and hoof falls.

Applejack became desperate when no sound was heard to point her in the direction of where the white unicorn mare could be. She ran back toward the large staircase intending on searching the upstairs next but was crestfallen when she spotted Steel Heart coming down the stairs shaking his head no. When the whole of the house had been searched to no avail Applejack decided to check the last place she thought the unicorn would be, her studio.

“Steel Heart we're goin’ to Rarity's studio Ah want ya hot on my hooves just in case. Be ready fer anything, okay partner.” Applejack told Steel Heart who just nodded and followed the orange mare with his horn lighting the way.

Applejack, with Steel Heart behind her, slowly walked down the dim and gloomy hall that led to the back of the Manor where Rarity's home fashion studio lay. Chills running up and down AJ's spine, she had never seen Rarity’s home like this before and had never thought she would until today. It was so quite and gloomy as if death had come to stay. When she reached the studio's jeweled doors she gently pushed open one of the doors and looked into the darkness that filled the room.

Applejack could feel another cold chill run down her spine, as if death himself had touched her to welcoming her in to the dark room. AJ swallowed hard then pushed the door open more before entering quickly. Steel Heart was still right behind, the hairs on the back of his neck were standing up, fear filling his stomach, the house was way too quiet and it shouldn't be. As he and Applejack moved in the room they both noticed the light on Rarity's work table was the only light filling half the room with a dim glow. It was in that moment the two ponies saw a sight that would haunt them for days afterward.

Next to the wall of fabric in the simple homey studio was Rarity laying the floor with Spike's much larger form draped across hers. There was some blood on the floor near Spike and both the dragon and mare where still as stone. Applejack covered her mouth with a hoof as she gasped in shock from the sight. Tears spilled from her eyes as she silently prayed to Faust that Rarity and Spike were both okay.

Steel Heart ran to check on the mare and purple drake. He checked on Spike first, with a burst of magic he managed to roll the drake over to find that he had ripped out his own throat. Rolling the drake over had cause his clawed hand to slip from the gaping wound speeding up his blood lose. Steel Heart grabbed a bolt of fabric and used it to apply pressure to the wound to slow the bleeding but the wound was far too large for the unicorn to do anything for the drake. Spike had made sure he could not be saved even if somepony found him.

“Tel...telll the others, I'm s-s-s-s...sorry... “Spike cough as blood rolled out of the corners of his mouth.”I cou... couldn’t leave her. Sh...she left a n-n-n note for them...” The dying drake told Steel Heart as he point out the note lying on the work desk.

“I will make sure they get the note and I will take your words to the others Sir Spike the Great. Is there anything else sir?” Steel Heart asked knowing the drake was in the final moments of his life. “Tell Twi... I blame h-h-her for thisssss...“ Spike rasped before he slowly roll his head to the side looking at Rarity's lifeless form and whispered his final words, "I love you, Rarity my one and only..." In an instant the great drake was gone, the light in his eyes fading with his last breath.

Steel Heart closed the great drake's eyes before rolling him back over so he was cuddling the mare he loved before tears rolled down his cheeks. He quickly wiped them away before grabbing the note on the desk in his magic. He quickly read the note before taking it to a shocked and crying Applejack.

“This is for you and the other Elements ma'am. I will gather the guards and send for platoon to lock up the manor for the time being. I’ll send word to the castle about this to her highness Princess Twilight. I’ll have the undertaker come so funeral preparation can be made.” Steel Heart said before he left the room quickly to do as he must in this sad, sad time.

Applejack held up the note and began to read it out loud,

To my beloved friends,

I, Rarity Serendipity Belle, am truly sorry for what you’re about to read but I can no longer put up with this unending, unchanging life. Although I have made a difference in a great many ponies lives I can no longer stand under this growing wave of sadness. I can no longer stand idly by as everything I love and care for turns to dust and ash. I miss my sweet little sister Sweetie Belle and the rest of my family far too much to continue on. Thought what I do is selfish I do it out of love as well. My love for you all is too great to let you see me slowly slip into madness.

To Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie, I am truly sorry for I never wished to hurt any of you in the way I’m about to. You girls were my best friends and even more so my family when I had none left. So it pains me to leave this note behind for you to find and to do what I must do. Please understand that I never meant to hurt you even though I know when you find my lifeless body it will be the greatest and cruelest blow that I could ever deal to you. I would never even consider this course of action if there was any other path open to me. Since there is not and I don't see any other way out of this unending hell I'm sorry that this the last thing I will ever say to you girls. Believe when I say that I'm truly sorry for that. I can feel the madness slowly over taking me, I feel nothing but rage and hatred all the time and I can no longer take it. Please understand I never wanted it to end like this but death is the only way for me to find peace now.

To my beloved Spikey Wikey, to you I am the most sorry because I never told you how I truly felt. I truly wish that I had found the courage to tell you that I loved you far sooner than in this letter, I am so sorry Spike… Even as I write this now my heart cries out for you. I wish I had had the courage to tell you what you truly meant to me long before you left for Connamaraia. Ever since that bittersweet parting sixty years ago thought of nothing but you and what you meant to me. I wish I hadn’t wasted so much time looking for my soul mate when you were right in front of me the whole time. I know that you had been the one special somepony I was destined for but I kept over looking you until it was too late. Even when I realized my love for you I hide it from you because I was no longer a true mare. I could not give you a family or be a proper wife to you because of my immortal body. To lose you to old age and to have to live on endless without you was something I just could not do. I also didn't want you have watch as I lost my mind to madness that is immortality. I couldn't hurt you like that as I slipped in madness and forget who you were as time passed. Please Spike don’t hate me, that’s the last thing I want is for you to hate me for being so selfish now. I can no longer endure the weight of this suffering.

As for you Twilight and our so called Princess Celestia, all that I am about to do is your fault. If anypony is to blame for me being driven to this desperate act to end my own suffering it is the two of you. Because of you two I have lost so much. I have lost, the love of life, my creativity, the one soul that I was meant to be with, and worst of all that which was the dearest to my heart, my beloved family. Even as I write this the madness claws at my mind filling me with sadness and rage at the both of you. Because of you two and your quest for what you believed was right and still see as right I have lost the ability to continue the Belle line. Because of your arrogance my family’s legacy died with Sweetie Belle as you have left me unable to have children with this eternal body. Yes, this is your fault, not only have you taken from me my family but my ability to start a family. Thank you for denying me the ability to have foals and dooming me to live a solitary and loveless life.

As for all that belongs to me I give the original Carousel Boutique to Fluttershy, as you my beloved friend shared in my passion for sewing. To Berry Pommel and the Pommel family I leave my fashion empire for the sake of good fashion. To what is left of the Apple family still living in Ponyville and my dear and sweet friend Applejack I leave a very large sum of bits in a Trust to be used as The Apple Family Scholarship. This is so that future ponies who wish to become farmers will have funds to do so in the Apple family name. To Pinkie Pie I leave the deed to Sugarcube Corners. I took ownership of it when the Cakes were in finance troubles but let the Cakes keep ownership of it and now that Cup and Carrot are gone I leave it to you Pinkie. To Rainbow Dash I leave the journals of the Cutie Mark Crusaders as Sweetie Belle was the keeper of their many adventures, all three girls would have wanted you to have those especially Scootaloo.

To ‘Princess’ Twilight Sparkle I leave to you the one thing that I hope will let you understand what you have done and will prevent you from making the same mistake in the future. I leave to you my personal journal and my hope chest. Hopefully the items inside will give you pause and will allow you to see the error in what you have done. I hope and pray that all that I have given you will keep you from doing this or anything like this to other ponies in the future. Know this Twilight that in the moment of true despair and madness that I don't hate you but hate what you are becoming. Don't let 'her' steal your soul make you in a 'true heartless monster' like she is. Turn back before another pony is driven to the point that death will be their only comfort. Please don't let my death before nothing.

The rest of my vast holdings are to be divided up equally amongst the many charities that I have supported over the years. Even in death I still make sure that ponies who are down on their luck or less fortunate will always have some pony looking out for them.

Again to all of my loved ones I am sorry I just could no longer stand against this suffering, I miss my family, I miss the possible family I could have had with the one I truly loved. Please don’t think me selfish even though this is an extremely selfish act. I never meant to hurt any of you but all I want to do now is just rest. I am so tired and full of despair, I just want the pain to stop so I can finally rest. Please bury me along side Sweetie Belle as I wish to be reunited with my sister even in death.

Farewell my beloved Friends,

Rarity Serendipity Belle

TO BE CONTINUED…

The Fall of Harmony Part 1: The Lost Generosity

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Rise of Dark Equestria: Return of Sombra

“Between Love and Loss is the place where Hate lives. It waits for a single Mare who doesn't know herself…”

By Dragon Feather and AlicornMistress

Chapter 2: The Fall of Harmony

Part One: The lost Generosity

The Elements all stood in the foyer of Rarity's house none of them wanted to look in on that scene in the studio ever again. It hadn't taken long for Twilight and the others to get to the manor nor did it take the guards long to have the whole estate on lock down. After learning the details of what had taken place. The undertaker was in there now with his assistants and three guards collecting Rarity and Spike's bodies to take them to the funeral home. None of the girls could really speak as they were all in shock over the situation until Applejack mentioned Rarity’s note. Rainbow Dash just narrowed her eyes at the long piece of paper having a bad feeling about it. Before for the cyan mare could say anything Twilight had urged Applejack to read the note to them.

Applejack held up Rarity's note and read it out loud for the others to hear. As she read those sad and pain filled words for the second time her voice cracked and tears spilled from her eyes. Everypony stayed quiet while Applejack read the heart breaking words again and when she was done everypony was in tears save for Rainbow Dash. The cyan mare could no longer contain her rage and just punched a wall in fury. Pinkie Pie broke down and began crying uncontrollably as her mane and tail deflated going completely straight after losing much of their bright coloration. Fluttershy held on to the sobbing pink mare as she tried to calm her.

“This is what I was telling you about Applejack! Rarity of all of us has lost the most and now she's dead and so is Spike. The only thing left behind are the feelings of hate and regret felt by the both of them. What is left for us now? Somepony tell me, what is left for us now?” Rainbow Dash asked before she turned to face away from the others and gritted her teeth in frustration and grief.

While she had her differences with Rarity on many things Rarity was her friend and Rainbow wasn't blind to the white mare's pain. No, Dash had been aware of it for decades but could never bring herself to comfort or try to comfort Rarity because her of promise. She wished she had at least tried once to reach out to her, to really offer a shoulder to cry on but she hadn't and now it was far too late.

There was a long silence after the cyan mare's angry words, nopony dared speak for a fear of what Rainbow Dash would say in reply. Twilight was the first to speak to Dash. What transpired seconds after Twilight opened her mouth nopony saw coming.

Twilight stepped up to Rainbow Dash getting into her face, her lavender wings spread as her violet eyes flashed with anger. Twilight's face was stern and full of authority before she slapped the rainbow maned mare hard across the face. Rainbow Dash just looked at Twilight in disbelief and fury as her cheek turned dark red from the hard blow. The other girls all drew in quick breaths as they wait for the inevitable fight to come like a sudden massive thunderstorm on a clear and sunny day.

“How could you say something so cold about your own friends? This is hard on all of us. We all loved Rarity and I raised Spike from an egg. He was more like my son rather than a little brother. This hurts me more than any of you yet...” Twilight never got to finish her thought as Rainbow Dash pushed the young alicorn out of her face.

“Do you really think I give a damn about you raising Spike!? Oh yeah, some mother you were your Royal Highness! In case you were wondering a real mother protects her child from shit like this! That's right, Spike would still be alive and so would Rarity if you had the foresight to see that all of us were suffering in the wake of your Princessdom!” Rainbow Dash shouted back at Twilight as she pointed an accusing hoof.

“What are you say Rainbow Dash? That... this is all my fault?” Twilight questioned unsure of what to think now or why Rainbow Dash was so angry.

“Yes this your fault! Newsflash Princess Egghead, of your five closest friends Rarity had lost everything she cared about because she was the Element of Generosity. Oh she tried to forget about everything that she lost being immortal in a way just to make you happy. Lying to herself for the sake of your happiness was fine until Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo died. She and I broke that day. We have been secretly hating you and Celestia since the day we put our little sisters in the ground 95 years ago. Because of you and your precious Princess Celestia, your best friends have lost everything dear to them and now Rarity and Spike are dead.” Rainbow Dash told Twilight as she point toward the back of the Belle Manor.

“You can't be serious Rainbow Dash? I had... There was... nothing to be done about the tragedy that took the Cutie Mark Crusaders from us. There was nothing any of us could do, you know that better than me. You held Scootaloo as she...”

“DONT! DON'T YOU DARE SAY MY LITTLE SISTER'S NAME, YOU IMMORTAL BITCH!” Rainbow Dash yelled as tears streamed down her cheeks. Later she would have to go to Scootaloo's grave and apologize for getting emotional but Twilight needed to know how the cyan mare felt.

“Tell me Twilight what else must we give you before you’re satisfied? What else must be sacrificed until you two are both satiated? How much more innocent blood must be spilled before you see what you have done to us?” Rainbow Dash yelled before getting ready to lunge at Twilight.

“Rainbow Dash! That's enough!” Fluttershy yelled, “just go and don't come back until the funeral. This is hard enough without you saying all of that. Please, for the sake of us all, just go.”

Rainbow Dash just looked at the tear stained face of Fluttershy as she held on to Pinkie still trying to calm the broken mare. 'This wasn't supposed to happen, why had it ended like this? Things used to be so much happier. What had happened to me and my friends in the last 135 years? Why is there so much sadness and hate filling my heart now? Why did it have to be so... so unawesome? If I could take it all back, if I could be the only one to suffer, I would. I would do that, for Rarity and Spike, just so I wouldn't have to make the one mare I love cry like this.' Rainbow Dash thought as she stared at her broken friend's tear drenched face.

For a brief instant the cyan mare opened her mouth to speak to Fluttershy. There was a long pause then Dash thought she better not speak again, she had already said way more than she should have already. Fluttershy was right she should go until summoned for the funeral. If she said anymore she risked breaking the all ready thin bond to her element. The cyan mare sighed with frustration before she turned her back to the group and grunted in anger. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she flew away from the house, leaving as Fluttershy had asked.

“What... what was all of that about? What's wrong with her?” Twilight asked the others who all just looked away from the Princess of Friendship. Twilight was shocked when all of her friends couldn't look her in the eyes. “What's going on here girls? Don't tell me you all feel the same way as Rainbow Dash? You all can't possibly blame me for this tragedy?”

“The truth is Twi that what Rarity said in her note is the truth. All of us have been sufferin' fer the last hundred or so years, some of us more than others. Ah just learned bout the other girls' problems earlier today. It was a few days ago that Rares told me of how she was full of hate fer ya and Celestia. Ah can't stand here and say she was wrong fer it neither. She loved Spike and we all knew Spike loved her but because of what we have become she couldn't give him what she felt he deserved.” Applejack told Twilight as more tears spilled down her cheeks.

“You can't mean that Applejack? How can you blame me or Celestia for this... or any of it?” Twilight said in shock as she looked from Applejack to Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie.

“Twilight now is not the time be discussing this. The pains of these tragic events are much too fresh for this conversation to do anypony any good. We all need time to process Rarity's and Spike's decisions before we talk about why they did it and the things we have all suffered.” Fluttershy told Twilight as she stroked Pinkie's mane to keep the hysterical mare quiet and calm.

“Fluttershy... what are you saying? You can't mean that all of you feel the same way about this? You all don't blame me for this?” Twilight asked as tears welled up in her eyes.

It was heartbreaking to think that all of her friends thought she was the cause of the tragic events that had taken place. As the crowned Princess of Friendship it was her responsibility to see and fix problems involving friendship. To not know Rarity felt the way she did was something Twilight just couldn't let go of.

“I'm the Princess of Friendship so you can't expect me to take this lightly. It was my responsibility and duty to see that my friends were and are happy. For Rarity to do this and me not to know she was unhappy, that any of you were unhappy it’s... it’s...”

“TWILIGHT JUST STOP IT!” the butter yellow mare yelled causing everyone in the house to freeze as her loud voice filled the nearly silent manor.

Twilight was shocked by Fluttershy's outburst but stayed quiet as the mare looked at her sternly, almost giving her the Stare. “This isn't just about your feelings or you duty as the Princess of Friendship. What both Applejack and Rainbow Dash said is true but it's also just the pain of what's happened talking as well. All of us have suffered a great deal do to the fact we are the Elements of Harmony. You didn't see it because in part we hid it from you and the other part was you didn't want to see it. You were happy that we had stopped aging since you would normally have out lived us all to begin with. Alicorns have Time while other ponies have Legacy to mark their place in history. Celestia told you that after you become an alicorn, remember?” Fluttershy asked Twilight.

“Yes I remember that but what does that have to do with this?” the lavender alicorn asked her mane becoming frazzled from the growing worries and hurt in her heart.

“That is the one LESSON you have yet to learn and taken to heart. Ponies like Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and myself are not meant for an eternal life like you and the other Princesses. We are only meant to be here a short time, to have families. To make memories with the ones we love to leave our mark on this world before we pass on to the next life. When we gained the powers of Rainbow Harmony the five of us lost our Legacy. Whether you knew that or not that is not why we are upset. Princess Celestia should have known this was going to happen to us. She has lived for thousands of years and has had time to study the Elements of Harmony long before we were fused with their powers. Why she never told you this or even looked into it I can't say but that fact is why Rainbow Dash is upset. That fact is one of the reasons we all have growing hate and blame for you and Princess Celestia for the suffering we have endured.” Fluttershy explained with tears running down her cheeks the whole time.

“Girls... I never... I thought by all of us having more time, we all could... I'm so sorry... I...” The lavender mare never finished her statement. There was a bright magenta glow from her horn and she vanished from sight in the wake of a teleportation spell.

There was a cold long silence in the room between the three mares as the guards and movers moved about the manor. It would take some time to clean up and move all of the things in the Belle Manor to storage until Rarity's estate could be put in order so her final wishes could be taken care of.

“Fluttershy why did ya just say all of that ta her? Ya'll know how obsessive Twi can be bout things like this, so why?” Applejack questioned the Element of Kindness as the orange mare stared at her in disbelief.

“I'm sorry Applejack but she had to know the truth or at least part of it otherwise she would never be able to move on. We were not meant to live this long and she knew that but refused to let go of that fact. She was given time to make sure future generations knew the truth about the Magic of Friendship. She will be the one to carry our story into the future long after we pass into memory.” The butter yellow mare said in a soft almost sage like tone.

“Fluttershy Ah know that but that was cruel even fer you. Twi may not recover from this. What will ya'll do if she flies off the deep end and goes on some crazy magical hunt ta get Rarity and Spike back from the dead?” Applejack asked worried about what Twilight would do.

“I'm sorry Applejack but sometimes the kindest thing you can do is tell somepony the cruelest of truths.” Fluttershy said flatly as she continued to comfort Pinkie. “If she does try to bring Rarity and Spike back we will stop her. Rarity’s final wish was to be with Sweetie Belle and the rest of her family. I won't let anypony take that away from her, not now. Spike is with Rarity, he made his choice, I don't like it but I will honor that choice as his friend. I won't let Twilight take away their peace just too ease her own pain or the guilt she feels about this.”

“Fluttershy!?” was all AJ could say in response to the yellow mare's words.

“I know it sounds cruel of me but Celestia was right about one thing, Twilight must learn to deal with loss. We all have had to deal with a lot of loss over the last 135 years. You more than any of us so you should understand that pain far better than Twilight does right now. This has to happen, she has to feel this pain, Applejack. It's the only way Twilight will learn to deal with loss properly. Because she never had to deal with possibility of ever losing us Twilight has forgotten the simple truth that the Princesses as alicorns will see so many ponies come and go. They are the guardians of history, protecting the ponies of this world so they may enjoy happiness for the short time that they are here. We are also to blame for what happened here as well. Rarity and Spike's blood is on our hooves too. We could have prevented this but we said nothing for far too long. Because of that we all lost the right to truly be upset with Twilight about it.” Fluttershy told Applejack before helping Pinkie Pie back to her hooves.

“Steel Heart could you please have a carriage brought to the front so I can take Pinkie Pie to my cottage to rest? Today has been a long troubling day and the poor dear needs some time to rest and process all this.” Fluttershy ask the unicorn stallion, who had been standing nearby direction the crews in the manor and listening for a call from the Elements or his Highness, Princess Twilight.

“Yes Miss Fluttershy at once. I'll have a private carriage take you two back to your cottage.” Steel Heart replied before saluting and rushing off to get the task done.

Moments later an unmarked brown and white carriage with dark drapes in the windows pulled up in front of the manor. Steel Heart helped Fluttershy put Pinkie Pie in the carriage before he helped Fluttershy in. After the doors were closed the carriage sped away to Fluttershy's home. Applejack stood there for a minute as she watched the carriage speed off being pulled by two guard ponies. She was still pondering Fluttershy's words.

“For what's it’s worth Miss Applejack, that shy mare’s words are wise. She is partly right about what she said.” Steel Heart told AJ with a somber look on his face.

“How can ya say that Steel Heart? She said we all have Rarity and Spike's blood on our hooves. How is any of this or that right in any form?” Applejack demanded the stallion to tell her.

“You do have their blood on your hooves, because you all knew about the growing sadness in each others' hearts. You said yourself that you had been ignoring it all this time trying to keep happy for Princess Twilight's sake. In that respect Miss Fluttershy is right, you could have prevent this. You all could have said something as soon as you had realized you had lost the power of Legacy like Miss Fluttershy said.” Steel Heart pointed out.

“I don't know much about ancient magicks or the powers of the alicorns, nor do I want to any time soon. It's all too damn complicated if you ask me. What I do know is this Miss Applejack, I'm here for a short time so how I use that time is what makes it worthwhile. You might want think about what you have done with your time now and what you plan to do with the time you have ahead of you.” Steel Heart told Applejack before excusing himself back to his duties.

Applejack stood there in the wake of Steel Heart's words and for the first time in her long life she was uncertain of what she should do beyond just living. For so long had her life been simple, it had just been filled with a routine: wake up, do farm work, sell apples, eat a meal with the family, go to bed and repeat the next morning. Then came Twilight Sparkle, the other girls to a lesser extant, the Elements of Harmony and the Princesses into her life. Everything was fine still if not exciting every now and then but life still had a routine to it. Life was still simple and clean cut. After Twilight become a Princess, they got the new powers of Rainbow Harmony, and Ponyville had become Twilight's Kingdom things started to change drastically. Before Applejack knew her life no longer had a simple clear cut routine to it that involved the Apple Family, Sweet Apple Acres, or her doing what she loved, apple bucking on the farm. When had it all changed? When had it all started to become such a problem?

'When had I fallen out of sync with my element? Why had I started lying to myself about my own pain? Was it all just to keep Twilight happy or something else?' Applejack was now questioning her own memories and feelings of the past but finding no answers to satisfy the pain in her heart.

As the orange farm mare stood there trying to sort out her feelings on Fluttershy and Steel Heart's words, Rainbow Dash's anger, Twilight's guilt, and Spike and Rarity's deaths. She knew one thing to be true. The sadness she felt now was only the start of a greater cycle of pain and loss that was crashing down on Ponyville, no on all of Equestria. Had Rarity really done the only thing she could to ease her pain or had she just become a key to something far darker than anypony was ready to face?

************

Several days had passed, in that time the news of the Fashion Mogul Rarity Belle and the dragon known the world round as Sir Spike the Great untimely deaths had sweep throughout all of Equus. There was a great uproar and shock about the loss of one of the Elements of Harmony through all of Equestria. In all of Equestria and several parts of Equus a great many creatures mourned the loses of a truly creative and generous mare and a dragon of noble honor and deed.

So over come by the death of Spike were the Connamaraians, who lived to the south of Equestria, they sent all nine of its Dragon Khalessi to help prepare Spike's body for burial as well as to give him a proper Dragon Funeral. Equestria welcomed this gesture of good will and condolences with open arms. Twilight was far too broken up about Spike's death to protest and Princess Celestia couldn't turn down the help especially while all of Equestria mourned the lost of two of its own.

It wasn't long before a day in the early autumn was picked for the funeral. It had been decided by Fluttershy that both Rarity and Spike would be buried next to each on the same day. In life they had not been about to be together so in death they would never be parted. Fluttershy with the help of Applejack and Berry Pommel had made all the preparations for Rarity's burial. The Nine Khalessi and the servants they had brought coordinated with Fluttershy to ensure both Spike and Rarity were united in the end.

The large church was decorated in a mix of wedding and and funeral fare. In truth it was both a wedding and a funeral. Rarity had expressed her desire to be with Spike as his wife and Spike had sacrificed himself to be with the mare he loved. It was only fitting that, that love be acknowledged by all who knew them. Before anypony was let into the church the Nine Dragon Khalessi, the Elements of Harmony, all of the Princesses, and compliment of guards from both Equestria and Connamaraia as witness for a closed marriage ceremony. Dragon Khalessi Sunburst conducted the ceremony at Fluttershy's request. The white dragon mare was more than honored to fulfill the request since she thought it was only fitting that they be married before going to eternal rest together.

After the marriage ceremony was concluded and the rings that had been especially made for the occasion had slipped on a clawed finger and horn respectively, the church was open to all of the mourners. Moments later the church was filled with ponies, dragons, and dragon ponies alike all dressed in black expressing the heart felt sadness. After everyone was settled the services began and the church was filled with cries of loss, the words for the dearly departed and songs of faith.

The sky had a deathly sad look to it, it was a mash up of black and gray as rain clouds dotted it heavily, it was if Equus itself was weeping for the loss of two of her children to fate. After the heart felt church service there were two solid lines of black clad ponies and dragons moving slowly moving forward toward the cemetery, sadness and tears of many flowed as the precession moved onward.

Twin coffins, one carved from crystal decorated in the finest dragon stones found in Connamaraia housed Spike clad in white and blue armor befitting a knight bearing the crest of Equestria and Connamaraia alike. The other a glass and crystal coffin decorated in similar fashion housed Rarity dressed in a fine white and blue dress with a white veil over her smiling face, making her look like an angelic sleeping bride.

Four of the Nine Dragon Khalessi of Connamaraia acted as pallbearers for Spike's large crystal coffin. Each alicorn mare wore the full Khalessi armor only in black and with white trim. Each in her full dragon soul form showing of their dragon traits in respect to Spike's greatness as a dragon. As they walked through the streets of Ponyville each chanted the song of safe passage to the lands of the dead. The precession behind them full of dragons, dragon ponies and crystal ponies all clad in black wailed in sorrow.

Right next to the Khalessi were Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Black Staff, and Steel Heart, these four had been selected by Fluttershy to bear Rarity to her final resting place. Behind them walked Fluttershy helping Pinkie Pie along as she cried her eyes out, next was Shining Armor and Cadence on either side of Twilight whose face was plastered with guilt and sorrow, they were followed by Luna and Celestia both with sullen looks on their veil covered faces, behind them a detachment of six guards then the whole of Ponyville.

It wasn't long before both coffins had been delivered to there final place of rest. As per Rarity's final wishes she was being placed right next to Sweetie Belle. To honor Spike's wish to never leave Rarity again he was being buried right next to her with the sides of their coffins touching. It didn't take long for the coffins to be lowered into the ground as prayers to Faust, Savaris, and Alimaria were offered up as flowers were thrown on to the coffins.

“Everything returns to the dust from wince it came. Nothing can escape death as it completes the cycle and begins it anew. Today we commit a Son of Equestria and a Brother of Connamaraia to the earth to rest peacefully until his time to wake anew in this world comes again. Spike the Great was a true dragon of the finest scales. I only knew him a short time but in that time I never met a more committed soul to the ideals of Connamaraia and Equestria at the same time. Loyal, Intelligent, Kind, Courageous, Fierce and most of all Loving was Spike, The Drake of Burning Magic. Thought his body may lay cold in the earth beneath our hooves and talons, his flame and memory will burn on forever in the hearts and minds of all the lives he touched.” Dragon Khalessi Sunburst said as she stood in front of Spike's grave.

She was flanked by her other eight fellow Khalessi in a triangular formation. Each bore a look of sorrow and honor for the dead as they all chanted the final pray softly in the ancient tongue. The white dragon mare with mane and tail of red, orange, and yellow waving like a flame raised hoof to head in salute. The rest of the Khalessi followed suit in this gesture as did every guard standing in the cemetery. Over head the Wonderbolts as well as the Connamaraian Dragon Aces flew in the miss man formation. Both groups had one of their members pill off as the formation continued across the sky.

“Forever in our hearts and never forgotten. May your journey with the one you love to the Grand Spiral be one of peace and joy, young dragon.” All of the Khalessi said in unison before the dropped the hooves and moving back to make way for Celestia, Luna, Cadence, and Twilight.

Celestia took the forefront with Princess Luna at her side, both Cadence and Twilight stay just a bit behind the elder alicorns with their heads slightly bowed. Celestia looked over the faces of her people, she could see the fear and uncertainty in their eyes. The loss of Rarity had been a devastating blow to the country moral.

So many were worried about the country’s defense again the darkness and evils like Lord Tirek. What if Discord went rouge again? What if an evil like King Sombra attacked? These were just a few of the worries that plague her people about Rarity's passing. Now was the time to for her to put those fears to rest as well as honor Rarity for her long years of service to the crown and the people of Equestria.

“Today my little ponies we weep as a whole nation as we return one of our own to the womb of Mother Equus to rest eternally. Rarity was sister to many of us, mother to others, daughter to many more but all of us called her friend. Many of you knew her personally, some of you only knew her in passing but all of us were touched deep by her generosity. Rarity gave of herself without question, never did she have the thought of a returned reward for it, nor did she give of herself in the hopes getting anything more than a smile from anypony she helped. She was the true embodiment of the Element of Generosity, an example to us all of how to be selfless. Though she is gone her memory will live on in the hearts of each and every pony in Equestria.” Celestia told all gathered in the cemetery with her head held high and her voice dripping with the honey of a ruler coming to her people's aid. She stood silent for several minutes to let her words sink in before continuing with even more passion.

“Even in this time of sadness and tragedy there is still hope. Even with this sad loss of our loved one there is still light that shall keep away the darkness.” Celestia said with brightness in her eyes. This caused a great murmuring among the Equestrians. The Sun Goddess let this go on for a few moments until it become a great uproar of questions about what she meant.

Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Fluttershy all looked on with a growing anger as Celestia was using Rarity's funeral to quiet the rumors about Equestria being defenseless in the wake of the unicorn's death. The three angry elements all looked to Twilight, who just stood there saying nothing, she just looked down at her hooves sadly. All three mares felt rage and hatred rise in their chests for both of the Princess of the Sun and the Princess of Friendship, Celestia for using a tragedy like this for political gain and Twilight for allowing it to happen. Grief or no grief this was Rarity’s final moment in the spotlight and Celestia was stealing it while Twilight allowed her, that was unforgivable. That was the final straw for all three mares and after the funeral when things calmed down the three of them were going to put a stop to Celestia's subtle manipulations of their lives once and for all.

“Many of you have voiced your concerns about the passing of the Element of Generosity. Wondering if we are left without our most powerful defense against the forces of darkness and disharmony. Well I can tell you now to fear not my little ponies as I have done some research on the Elements of Harmony and found out when one of the element users falls their element returns to the the controller of the Element of Magic. Princess Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship, is the Element of Magic and in her now rests the Element of Generosity. She is now the hold of the two of the Elements of Harmony and with the other element users they can still protect Equestria's peace and harmony. So mourn the lose of Rarity Belle and her generous heart but fear not as her power lives on in your Princess of Friendship, Princess Twilight Sparkle!” Celestia told everyone assembled in the cemetery.

There was silence that ran throughout the whole of the cemetery after Celestia words rang out, even with the news that the Elements of Harmony still held power to defend Equestria this good news still could not overshadow the lost of two of Equestria's most beloved unicorn and dragons, Rarity Belle and Sir Spike the Great. While the news that Equestria was still safe the lost of Rarity and Spike was just too great for that good news to do any good for the ponies of Ponyville.

“Even with this good news still our hearts are heavy with sadness so mourn this loss of loved ones my little ponies but remember that Rarity and Sir Spike now live in our hearts, memories, and deeds.” Celestia said before she and Luna move back and motioning Twilight forward to speak.

“In the wake of our loss I, Princess Twilight Sparkle of Ponyville, will work even harder to prevent another tragedy like this from ever happening again. I along with the other Elements of Harmony will work hard to ensure our power will always be here to defend Equestria. We will also work hard to make sure Rarity Belle and Sir Spike's legacies will be remembered for generations to come. Rarity was my friend and close to me like a sister and Sir Spike, I raised him from an egg. He was my son and brother, I loved him so very much. Both of them will be missed greatly but now is not the time for tears. We must not mourn them for too long, they wouldn't want us to be sad over there deaths. We must instead celebrate them for who they were, a pony and dragon dear to our hearts. Next week, and every year there after on the same days, there will be two day set aside for both Rarity and Spike to celebrate them and all they had done for the whole of Equestria.” Twilight told the whole of the funeral party before all present linked hooves and claws and offered one last prayer of safe journey to their fallen loved ones.

With that the funeral was concluded as the grave diggers got ready for their final duty that day. All of the ponies, dragons, and dragon ponies began to leave the cemetery, all of them headed for different gatherings for a good meal, to speak of the fallen, and to deal with their grief in their own ways. Luna, Shining Armor, and Cadence left with guards as Celestia stayed to be alone for awhile with her thoughts.

Twilight went to be with her friends to share in their grief, but found out from Steel Heart that Fluttershy had taken Pinkie Pie and Applejack with her in a carriage back to her cottage for the evening. Steel Heart informed Princess Twilight that Fluttershy had wanted to get Pinkie Pie inside to rest after such a long and stressful day and that Applejack had gone along to speak with Fluttershy in private. Twilight had been a little surprised and hurt that her friends had not waited for her since she wanted to talk them about everything and fix the problems that were tearing them apart.

Twilight soon spotted Rainbow Dash moments after her talk with Steel Heart. Dash was standing near several of the pegasus Royal Guards speaking quietly with them about something. She really wanted to talk to Rainbow Dash first anyway, to apologized for the scene at Rarity's Manor and to try and find a way to make it up to her and the other girls. Twilight wanted to give them back what they had lost on her behalf. In the days before the funeral the lavender alicorn had come realize that Fluttershy was right, that she had Time and all they had was Legacy. So to atone for her sins Twilight had resolved to find away to give that Legacy back to her friends, even if she would lose them all in the long run.

When the Princess of Friendship approached the cyan mare calling her name softly she was greeted with a glare of hatred when Rainbow Dash turned toward her. Twilight stopped dead in her tracks, eyes wide with shock, her mouth agape as she stared into pink eyes. Eyes that showed nothing but the purest of hatred for her. Twilight tried to find her voice to speak to Dash, to ask why but before she could the cyan mare took to the air with great speed becoming blur of black and blue. Where the cyan mare was headed to no pony knew but what Twilight did know at that moment was that she was slowly losing her friends.

Twilight stood there in the damp grass in utter disbelief of what had just happened as tears rolled down her cheeks. She had really made a huge mistake and it was going to cost her all of her closest friends, the only ponies that had ever truly loved her unconditionally. This time she couldn't blame it on some evil trying to tear them apart. This time it was all her fault for being naive and selfish. She had failed them and it didn't look like an entry in their Friendship Journal or the Magic of Friendship would fix this problem any time soon.

************

Standing at the grave site in the shade of a large tree far behind all of the ponies leaving the cemetery stood Celestia. Her face was sullen and if any one were to see her they would think that the sadness in her eyes was about what had transpired in the last week or so. No, this sadness was not about the passing of Rarity and Spike, while that did weigh heavily on Celestia's heart the sadness she felt now was from a pain far older and deeply rooted in her past. The misery she felt, the heartache that clawed at her heart, was for the actions she had taken over a thousand years ago. Terrible deeds that she wished she could undo, just to prevent the sad tragedy of the past week and the ones to come because of one mare's selfish act.

Remembering back to the birth of a foal that had changed her life, her dear sweet Luna's life, and the whole of Equestria. In truth she had tried to love the Star since her birth but the sins of the past are heavy ones and in a thousand years love had yet to take root and truly bloom. Not that the Sun Goddess hadn't tried to but the fact that The Star was the daughter of that stallion that had taken so much from her. He had taken her sister for a time, taken her lover's innocence, and even tried to take claim as Equestria's rightful ruler. He was the evil one and his daughter The Star would be just the same given time but despite that Celestia had tried to love her. Now with the loss of one of the element users the white mare of the sun wondered if The Star even understood would love and loss of a friend truly meant.

In her sullen state Celestia did not hear the approach of the white dragon mare, not that Sunburst made much noise to begin with. Sunburst had sought Celestia out to talk with her one last time on a matter that was a thousand years old and unresolved between them.

“Princess Celestia my I have a moment of your time?” Came the voice of Dragon Khalessi Sunburst as she walked up and stopped a foot from Celestia side.

Celestia was shaken from her thoughts and turned her head to see the pony that had asked of her time. She frowned and her brow knitted in frustration at the sight of Sunburst. The last time she saw her dragon pony counterpart was over a thousand years ago when she had come to meddle in her affairs after the banishing of King Sombra. The Sun Goddess was sick of this mare and her Council of Elders interfering with her and her decisions about the safety and rules of Equestria and its people. If it hadn't been for Sunburst and the Sun Goddess' moment of weakness things might be different right now. Celestia sighed then put on a fake smile before answering.

“For you Sunburst a moment, a lifetime or any amount of time in-between is fine so long as no pony has to die.” Celestia said with voice full of sarcasm while still holding on to her fake smile.

“No need to be with dark humor. I see that pleasantries are beyond you at this point. Since that is the case I will make my point and take my leave. I have no need for false kindness.” Sunburst said with a look of irritation crossing her face. The white sun mare always seemed to get under Sunburst's coat and skin like a hate filled tick.

“We both know of the sins of the past and that which has been done can not be undone. Even with that, should the Star fall into despair and threaten the world with darkness everlasting, we the Dragon Khalessi of Connamaraia will, more to the point I will not hesitate to kill her and you without fail.” Sunburst said with a stern look on her face as her orange eyes flashed with power.

“Do not take me for a fool Sunburst, I'm well aware of what I did back then and what I did to correct it after the fact. Should The Star fall into darkness I will be the one to extinguish its light completely. But you should remember I wanted to do just that a thousand years ago so this wouldn't have to be considered now. It was you and your Council of Elders who stopped me from silencing The Star when she was first born with the threat of war.” Celestia fumed with a rage a thousand years old.

“A war over what? One foal that should have never been born, as if that were a good or sane reason for a war? What is the life of one foal versus the lives of countless creatures on Equus should she fall into darkness?” Celestia asked in a shout with venom in her voice. She ruffled her wings then shook them out as if shaking of an evil curse from what she had said moments ago before setting an even but emotionless gaze on Sunburst.

Sunburst stared at Celestia with righteous fury building in her chest and a face set in anger. Of all things to say when a foal's life was precious no matter what the circumstances of its birth. Yes, the Connamaraians had threatened war since the foal in question, The Star, was the rightful heir to the Crystal Empire and all of the frozen north. It didn't matter to the Connamaraians that her father had a dark past but what mattered was that he and his heir were the rightful rulers of the Crystal Empire. While the laws of Connamaraia prevented Sunburst from interfering directly in the War of Crystal Heart, the law did allow her to protect The Star. Now that a thousand years had passed the fight between Celestia and Sunburst about The Star had returned. This time Sunburst wished to finish it.

“She was only a foal and regardless of who her father was she deserved a chance at life! It was you that chose to keep The Star when I told you I would take her. I wanted to become her mother, to raise her in a home full of love, to protect her from the darkness of her birth. If The Star falls it is your fault as you have raised and watched over her these last thousand years. Should the sins of that day be repeated I will cut you and her down, that is all there is to it, the rest is silence.” Sunburst said before bowing then walking away in silence.

“You acted as if you loving her would have made a difference. She is her father's daughter after all. In the end Sunburst you would have made the same choice you stopped me from carrying out a thousand years ago at some point. You could never love a foal that can only hate and will only know hate in the end. Why you blame me for that I will never know but in the end it was really Velvet's fault for betraying me and wanting keep both of his foul foals alive.” Celestia whispered to herself with a dark look on her face as she stomped her hoof in frustration.

Soon she would have to deal with memories and sins from the past and in the end she would once again have blood on her hooves. Not that any of that blood would be from any innocent ponies, but still it left a bad taste in the Sun Goddess' mouth. Hopeful if fate would be kind The Star would end her own life after ensuring that another would inherit her element.

To be Continued...

The Fall of Harmony Part 2: Twilight's Lament and Discord's Tears

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Rise of Dark Equestria: Return of Sombra

“What will you do when faced with the hate of the ones you love the most? That is the question one mare must answer if she is to find herself after being lost in a sea of Hate and Lies...”

By Dragon Feather and AlicornMistress

Chapter 2: The Fall of Harmony

Part Two: Twilight's Lament and Discord's Tears

In the days following the funeral services the remaining Elements of Harmony, save for the Princess of Friendship, began to go through some radical changes. Do the fact the harmony between them had been broken by the death of the Element of Generosity the magic that had held the others in an ageless state was now gone. So the 135 years they had not aged was now catching up with them rapidly.

It all started off slow with all of them reporting aches and pains, stiff joints and feeling tired more often than usual. Pinkie had found a few gray hairs in her mane and tail but thought nothing of them. The last two week or so had been very stressful for everypony. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy had lost a few feathers and found a few that had lost their color completely. After getting over the shock of the discovery and some much needed preening the whole thing was soon forgotten. Applejack was complaining about some minor pain and discomfort in her right hip but pushed it aside since she had been training with guards lately to pass the time.

None of the four mares had seen or spoken to Twilight since the funeral, they were all taking great care to avoid the Princess of Friendship right now. None of the other Elements wanted to say the wrong thing to Twilight or make the already bad situation worse. The last thing the Elements wanted to do was push an already stressed and guilt ridden Twilight over the edge. The last thing that anypony had heard or seen of Twilight she hadn't left her private study since the close of the Sir Spike the Great's Memorial Day parade a week ago. What the purple alicorn was doing in her study no pony knew but it did worry Fluttershy and the others.

The lives of the Elements of Harmony had now calmed down as the citizens of Equestria had opted to leave them be to deal with their grief over the deaths of two of their closest friends. In the wake of this all of the bad blood between Rainbow Dash and the Wonderbolts died out overnight. The pegasi of Cloudsdale became very sympathetic to her pain and stopped hounding her for attention. In the following weeks life went back to the way it had been fifty years ago for the cyan mare.

Fluttershy soon found that the ponies of Equestria had stopped seeking her out to train their exotic pets or for approval of pet choices. Fluttershy was once again able to leave her house and visit the city she loved without fear of being accosted by some pet owner unless it was an emergency.

Applejack in the passing days was approached by her family who seemed to show regret for the way they had treated her and thrown her off the family land. The whole of the Apple Family had gathered together for a family reunion to apologize to the pride of their family. All of the rumors about Applejack keeping her family on top of the produce trade faded into memory and soon it was if that it had never happened. Weeks after that Applejack moved back to the farm to live with her family once again. Her life had come full circle taking her back to were it began, back on the farm.

Unlike her friends who seemed to have grieved then move on with life Pinkie was more than suffering as time passed. The death of Rarity and Spike had crushed the pink mare's spirit far more than the others. With Twilight shut up in her castle Pinkie fell deeper into her depressed state. As time passed Pinkie lost the will to party even after everypony stopped hounding her to out do her last party. In the passing days the pink party pony slowly stopped throwing parties altogether and left party planning to the great granddaughter of Cheese Sandwich, Panini.

In her still depressed state Pinkie began to notice that it was getting harder to move around. She was tired most of the time, found that it was harder to keep to her diet of mostly sugary confections, she had lost the bounce in her step and both her mane and tail had stayed straight. It had even lost a lot of its vibrant pink coloration. Everypony just thought she was still grieving over her friends death and the fact the mare she loved wasn't talking to her so they just let her be. Everypony felt that all she needed was time to process her feelings.

Other than the few outbursts of sadness here and there life in Equestria seemed to be getting back on track more or less. It seemed like everypony was doing their best to try and live happy lives in the aftermath of the great tragedy.

************

In was on a rather cold day in mid-winter that Fluttershy called Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Pinkie Pie to her cottage to speak with them about what was to be done about Twilight. Fluttershy had heard from Steel Heart that Twilight had not left her study for weeks. The Captain of Guards also reported that she was barely eating or sleeping. She seemed to only be working on something dealing with the Elements of Harmony and their connection to the Element users. Twilight had become so obsessed with her research that she had appointed a regent to deal with most of her royal duties.

The other three mares sat around the coffee table silent as Fluttershy told them what Steel Heart had seen along with what the other guards and servants had reported to him. Rainbow Dash had an impassive look on her face when she heard the news, as if she had already seen this coming. Applejack had a concerned look on her face but was at loss for words. Pinkie's depressed look seemed to get deeper as she processed the news of Twilight's mental and emotional state.

“I'm worried about her mental health now. Nopony outside of the castle has seen her in weeks. She stopped holding royal courts and even the servants have become afraid to say anything to her. I'm scared that she's trying to do something drastic like pull all of the Elements into her own body to give
us a normal life again.” Fluttershy stated in a sullen and worried tone.

“What would you have us do then Fluttershy?” Rainbow Dash asked in a flat tone.” It's not like she will see anypony at this point. You said it yourself that she is obsessed with getting us back our normal lives. You know that when Twilight gets like this, that short of beating it into her she's not going to see reason or listen to anything anypony has to say.”

“Rainbow Dash is right bout one thing, Twi won't listen ta anypony at this point, but we aint just anypony, now are we? We're her friends and it's bout time we started actin' like it. We need ta go set her straight is all and right soon. There's no tellin' what she'll do if'n we don't talk ta her soon.” Applejack stated.

“I agree with that. Lets go right now... if that's okay with everypony else that is.” Fluttershy said in her classic shy way.

“Fine but if she gets to going on about how sorry she is over all of this crap or starts defending Sun-Butt in any way I may have to bail at best or kick her ass at worst. I'm just done with this shit all together. Life has just gotten back to normal for all of us in a way. I'm not about to get drug back into that cycle of self-serving bullshit Celestia started at Rarity's funeral. I haven't forgotten and I'm still pissed about it.” Dash made it clear she was ready to fight if the situation turned ugly.

Fluttershy just frowned at the statement and was going to say something when Applejack stopped her. AJ knew that it was pointless to say anything to Dash right. Dash need to get that off of her chest and once Twilight was taken care Applejack had plans to let Dash do just that, but with Celestia. That was the source of all of this and that is were the girls were going to put an end to all of the political double talk and self-serving bullshit Dash mentioned.

“That's fine Dash if'n ya'll want ta fight be my guest Ah don't care about any of that bucking crap either. Ah just want ta make sure Twi is okay, the rest we can sort out later with Celestia herself if need be.” Applejack clarified as she looked at her three friends. “So are we agreed ta talk ta Twilight and get her off this crazy magical hunt before she hurts herself?”

“Agreed.” The other three mares said in unison before they all left for the castle.

************

Harmony Castle seemed like it had lost its shine in the last few weeks. An air of depression hung over the castle coating it in a layer of gloom. The once bright shining blue crystal looked gray and dirty, as if it had been covered in centuries of grime. The depressed and guilty ridden state of the Princess of Friendship in some strange magical form manifested in a presence that was seen and felt by all in her castle. Even the guards had lost the shine in their manes, coats, and tails. Even their eyes were dull almost lifeless, as if their very souls had been broken.

The guards at the main gate didn't even look up when the Element users walked past them into the castle. The four Element users could tell that Twilight was in a terrible state and it was literally affecting the whole of her castle and the ponies in it. If this kept up it was likely to spread to the whole of Ponyville or worse all of Equestria. The four mares decide it was best to find Twilight as soon as possible before her depressed state got any worse and this magical gloom spread beyond the castle.

It didn't take long for the girls to find Twilight's private study where Twilight was busy searching through several books. She was also writing on a chalkboard that was covered in magical theory pertaining to the Elements of Harmony. Her mane and tail were a mess, her coat was grimy as if she hadn't bathed in days, and she had bags under her eyes from going days without sleep. It seemed the lavender alicorn had lost a great deal of weight too from not eating properly or eating at all.

When the girls entered the room the smell in the room was horrid, it smelled of dusty old books and body odor. The smell was so strong Dash almost lost her lunch in the doorway. The other three girls covered their noses as they made sour faces. The problem with Twilight was far worse than they originally thought, they needed to intervene now.

“Twilight you have to stop this now. You're hurting yourself and everypony around you by doing this.” Pinkie said as she rushed over to Twilight's side and hugged her.

“Pinkie I... I can't stop now I'm so close to giving you back your Legacy. I don't want to be the one pony keeping you unhappy. I won't let what happened with Rarity... With Rarity..” Twilight never finished her sentence as she broke down crying into Pinkie's warm embrace.

“Twilight we don't care about that anymore we just want you to stop hurting yourself like this. We were wrong to tell you all of that stuff and not trying to explain the reasons why we felt like that. We are so sorry that we let you suffer like this but we were all so hurt by Rarity and Spike's deaths. Please Twilight stop it before you hurt yourself anymore.” Pinkie pleaded with the alicorn mare as she cried into her shoulder as they hugged each other tightly.

The other girls let Twilight cry it out with Pinkie as they went around the room cleaning all of the loose papers up and opening the windows to air the room out. When the sour smell in the room was gone Fluttershy went to the private bathroom in the study and ran some warm bathwater for Twilight. Applejack left the room to get Twilight something proper to eat from the kitchen while Rainbow Dash was busy putting away all of the books that littered ever available surface.

After what seemed like hours of crying Twilight and Pinkie both looked at each other with red puffy eyes and smiled softly.

“Pinkie I'm sorry for all of this. If I had known this would have happen I would have...” Twilight started but was hushed by Pinkie's hoof pressed gentle to her lips.

“No more Twilight. Let it go, it's in the past. We need to work on the now. You know that we love you and you need to worry about getting better. First you're getting a bath, then a good meal, and some rest before we all sit down to talk about this. You don't get a say in the matter as you have been out of control for weeks now. So hush up and come with me so we can get you cleaned up, you smell awful, no offense Twilight.”

Twilight backed up a bit and gave her foreleg a sniff and made a sour face at her own smell. She smelled so sour and sweaty from days of not bathing. Twilight blushed then lowered her head before she nodded yes. Pinkie smiled back before she helped Twilight up, taking her to the bathroom were Fluttershy was waiting. After giving Fluttershy a quick hug and a nervous smile Pinkie helped Twilight into the bath and helped her bathe while Fluttershy busied herself helping Rainbow Dash clean up.

When Applejack got back with several trays of food for everypony she placed them on the cleared off table before helping the others finish putting the books away. By the time Twilight was done with her bath the whole room was cleaned up and Applejack was sweeping up.

“Pinkie did you really have to shampoo my mane and tail three times?” Twilight asked as she walked out of the bathroom with towel draped over her shoulders.

“Yes I did. You were super smelly and your mane and tail were a mess. I'm surprised that all of the dirt and grime come out with just three times. You're not allowed to ever get that dirty ever again.” Pinkie told Twilight as she came out the bathroom seconds behind Twilight.

“Girls I want to say that I'm truly sorry for all of this. I never meant for any of you to suffer like you all have.” Twilight said softly before she took a seat at the table while the others gathered around her.

“Twi ya don't have say any of that. We can talk all bout it after you got a good meal in ya and some sleep. Leave the rest of the rulin' stuff ta us fer the time bein'. You just get yourself better okay.” Applejack told Twilight as she pushed a plate full of steamed vegetables in front of her. “Now get ta eatin' you're lookin' a might thin right now.”

Twilight opened her mouth to protest but when all her friends give her their version of the “Stare” she quickly swallowed hard and started eating. After a few tense moments and Twilight had finished a full plate of food the other girls relaxed. Soon the five mares were all sitting down eating and having small talk like they had in years past. Everypony was careful not to mention anything about Rarity, Spike, Celestia, or the Elements of Harmony.

After an hour of small talk and eating, in that time Twilight ended up devouring five plates of food and four helpings of sweet cakes, the girls took the full and very sleepy Princess to her room and put her to bed. The girls left Pinkie to watch over Twilight to make sure she would sleep for a few hours. Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash went to the throne room to deal with the Regent and all of the built up work Twilight had left him.

In Twilight's absence a mound of paperwork had built up and the line to get a royal audience was days long. Starry Night, a light blue coated unicorn with a green and blue mane and tail, had tried his best to keep up with everything. But there were so many ponies that needed to see Twilight and the paperwork that needed royal approval had piled up quickly. Far to quickly for the young unicorn fresh out of magical college to deal with in any orderly fashion. It was a miracle he hadn't quit or killed himself under all of the stress.

After sorting things out into four piles, papers dealing with trade and supply production for Applejack, weather and travel for Rainbow Dash, town issues and requests for Fluttershy, and all other more official royal matters for Starry Night, the four ponies busied themselves with getting everything signed and filed away. Once the paperwork was handled after four hours of reading, signing and stamping with the royal seal the four ponies set about getting ready to hold an emergency royal court. There were so many appointments to deal with that had been neglected in the last few weeks.

It took several hours for the girls along with the help of Starry Night to get through half the of list of appointments. Once they had closed the royal court the four overworked ponies sat down to rest in the throne room.

“Ah can't believe how many ponies depend on Twilight. Ah can't even imagine what would happen ta this place if'n we hadn't come ta check on Twilight as soon as we did.” Applejack said as she pulled her hat down over her eyes as she lay across her throne. “So what is left on the list fer tomorrow's royal court, Dash?”

“Uhhhhgaa... We have like a dozen more audiences with ponies that still have friendship problems, there are several requests for business permits by 20 or so ponies trying to set up shops, we have a three hour meeting with the Mayor on the schedule to go over the all of the stuff Twilight missed in the town meeting last month and we have to make a public appearance for the new park dedication.” Rainbow Dash said with a tone of frustration as she held up a scroll with the schedule on it.

“Don't forget we have a meeting with Steel Heart tomorrow to go over the list of new recruits for the castle and town guards. Not to mention that we have the interviews with all of candidates for the medical staff for the castle also.” Fluttershy said with a tired yawn before holding up the scroll that had the list of names on it.

“I want to thank you all for coming to help. I tried my best to keep up with all of the work but I'm still pretty new at this and the Princess only gave me three days of rushed training before she went into seclusion.” Starry Night said sheepishly.

“It's fine partner, Twilight has been under a lot of stress since the funerals so pay it no mind. The rest of us are here now so until Twilight feels better the Elements will be runnin' the Kingdom of Friendship.” Applejack told Starry Night before she stretched and sat up in her seat.

The sound of Applejack's bones popping and cracking echoed through the room followed by Applejack groaning in pain. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy looked at the farm mare in concern, “Oh dear Applejack that doesn't sound good, are your sure your okay?” Fluttershy said with concern.

“Nah Ah'm fine sugarcube. Just a little sore is all. Ah'm alright Ah just need a hot bath and a little rest. After that Ah'll be right as rain.” Applejack said as she rubbed her right hip. It was a lie but Fluttershy didn't need to know about her advancing arthritis just yet.

Rainbow Dash slowly stood going to stretch out her wings just for them to cramp as she to let out an oomph of pain, “Stupid wings. This is just all I needed right now. Looks like I'm not going back to Cloudsdale tonight.” Rainbow Dash groaned. “Hey Starry Night are the guest rooms made up? Looks like I'm crashing here.”

“Yes of course, anything for the Elements of Harmony.” Starry Night said with respect in his tone.

“The both of your are going to go see the medical staff tomorrow after we choose them..well..umm if you really need to?” Fluttershy had started with an order but as usual she ended it in her cute meek tone.

“That's fine with me, my wings have been bothering me the last few days anyway.” RD said and again let out another grunt of pain as she folded her wings.

“Fine by me too, been meaning to get this hip checked out anyway. Its been pahwerful sore as of late. Well night ya'll see everypony in the mornin' bright n'early.” Applejack said as she walked of to her room already knowing where they would be staying as she had lived there.

Everypony said their good nights and left for the night to their own sleeping quarters to get some rest after the long and stressful day.

************

After a dozen audiences with ponies that still had friendship problems, hours of signing business permits. The three hour meeting with Mayor Mare and three public park dedications the mares were finally finished. A sore AJ was glaring at Rainbow Dash from a crossed the throne room table.

“Ah thought ya said there was jus' one park dedication?” Applejack said with a grunt as she plopped down on the cold crystal floor exhausted.

“So I missed two of the stinking park dedications big deal. You didn't seem to mind them after you gave a forty-five minute speech each time.” Rainbow Dash complained as she picked more confetti out of her tail.

“Girls enough of that. Its already been a long day and it's still not even over yet.” Fluttershy told the two angry mares. “We still have to meet with Steel Heart for the selecting of the new recruits. Since your already an EUP Air Calvary member Rainbow Dash you can do that. Applejack please come with me. We're going to go deal with the medical staff, that way you can get that hip looked at after we finish up the interviews and paperwork.”

“That's cool. Its been a while since I've gotten to yell at some new recruits. Time to find Steel Heart and yell at some newbs.” Rainbow Dash said before she trotted off excitedly.

“Sometimes Ah don't get that mare. Alright Fluttershy lets go get through these medical staff interviews. And then somethin' ta eat Ah'm pahwerful hungry.” Applejack said before she got up and followed Fluttershy.

“Ah wonder how Twilight's doin' today? Ah hope she well rested and feelin' better.” Applejack said after a while to break the silence between her and Fluttershy.

“She doing fine. I checked on her and Pinkie Pie just after got back to the castle from this mornings meetings. Pinkie's keeping her busy and away from her study just like we talked about. Once we get Ponyville and castle sorted out we all need to sit down with Twilight and talk to her about all of this.” Fluttershy said back with slowing down or even turning to face Applejack.

“Ah know but it goin' be hard tellin' her bout our feelin's and talkin' bout Rarity and Spike.” Applejack replied after a moment.

“I know but it has to been done otherwise this will happen again. That can wait fro now, we still have a lot of work to do.” Fluttershy said softly before they made to interview room were they spotted the long line of ponies waiting a few feet from the doors.

When Applejack saw the long line of doctors and nurses she just groaned while Fluttershy giggled lightly before went into the interview room to begin the selection process.

************

It had been at least twenty-four hours for Twilight since her friends had ordered her to eat and sleep. Precious time she could have been spending finishing the spell to take the Elements from them. She needed to atone for Rarity and Spike's deaths by giving her remaining friends back their legacy. Twilight felt like she was wasting time by eating and sleeping. It really was an unnecessary act in the alicorn's mind, but they had left Pinkie as her guardian. With the Pinkie sense there was no way Twilight could get back to her study without Pinkie finding out about it and stopping her.

Twilight sighed as she picked up the dice to take her turn on another one of the many board games that Pinkie had been making her play since she woke up and eaten breakfast. She really needed to find a way to get Pinkie to let her out of her room. But so far she couldn't come up with any usable excuses that would make the pink mare give up her guard duty. She had even tried pulling rank and stating that Pinkie was to let her go by order of The Princess of Friendship. All that got her was six straight game sessions of Super Pony Land, which Pinkie Pie won every time.

Now they were playing Equestrian Conqueror and once again Pinkie was displaying her unique ability at ruling 'any' board game. Twilight's Equestrian forces had been pushed all the way back to Appaloosa by Pinkie's Changeling Hordes. 'If only Chrysalis could have as easy a time as this with Conquering Equestria.'Twilight thought sarcastically before she rolled the dice. Both dice came up as sixes versus Pinkie's three and four allowing Twilight to keep hold of Appaloosa for at least one more turn.

“Pinkie do we really have to finish this game? There's other stuff we could be doing.” Twilight said as she pushed the white and black defense dice over to the pink mare.

“Twilight if you're asking to go back to your study again the answer is no.”

“No I just want to get out of my room for a little while. Maybe we could take a walk around Ponyville?” Twilight asked trying to seem if she wasn't being deceptive.

Pinkie Pie sat back on the edge of the bed and thought about it for a minute. The other girls did say that she was to keep Twilight out of her study, they didn't say she would have to stay put in the castle. And it had been some time since Pinkie had really stretched her legs. So maybe an hour or two in Ponyville wouldn't be too bad.

“Okay Twilight we'll go for a walk around Ponyville for a little while but only if you Pinkie Promise that you won't try and escape to go back to your study.”

Twilight kicked herself mentally for not seeing that coming, the other girls had really done their homework on the alicorn's obsessive need to find a solution to a problem. The other girls had left the one pony that couldn't be reasoned with, bribed or coerced into giving up her assigned task when she was focused on nothing but that task. If they had left Applejack she could have just badgered AJ until she gave up and let her go to the study, Fluttershy was a push over, and all she'd have to do for Rainbow Dash was start saying words that the pegasus couldn't understand until Dash cracked, called her an egghead and left. No Pinkie was different when she was focused and with the dreaded power of the Pinkie Promise her power as guardian was absolute. Twilight would have to try a different approach, maybe after the walk she would try again.

“Okay Pinkie, I Pinkie Promise that I won't try to escape and get back to my study and work. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cup cake in my eye.” Twilight told the pink mare as she made an X over her heart, flapped her forelegs like wings, then touched her closed right eye with her hoof softly.

Pinkie Pie was watching the entire time and finally when Twilight was done giggled, “You could have just used your wings silly!”

“Hehe... Yeah forgot I had those.” Twilight embarrassingly said as she fluttered her wings.

Twilight got out of bed and was already walking out when Pinkie hold up her winter coat, scarf, and boots. Twilight grinned sheepishly before taking hold of them in her magic and putting them on. It was getting close to Hearth's Warming Eve again. How much time had passed since she began her quest to save her friends?

“Okay c'mon you silly filly finish getting dressed, its cold outside. Just remember you made a Pinkie Promise and if you break a Pinkie Promise you'll lose a friend... forever” Pinkie finished ominously before she walked along side Twilight heading out of her room then out of the castle.

Twenty minutes later found both Pinkie Pie and Twilight trotting through the snowy streets of Ponyville. Twilight would have preferred to been back in her study but this was a welcome change. It had been some time since she had seen the ponies of Ponyville happy. It was as if that unpleasantness months again hadn't happened. Everypony seemed to be going about their normal day, she thought Ponyville would be in utter chaos with her being locked up in her study for the last few months. Her friends had really come through in her absence. They had kept Ponyville running without any problems. Twilight felt ashamed for having neglected her duties as Princess in favor of dealing with her own guilt.

“Equus to Twilight. You okay you seem a little lost? Well I mean you've seemed a little lost for the last few weeks but right then you seemed really lost. Are you okay? Are you feeling well? Oh your catching a cold? We should take you right back to the castle if your catching a cold.” Pinkie Pie said in a giggly yet caring and motherly fashion.

“No I'm okay Pinkie but it seems that I've missed a lot while I was locked away.” Twilight said somberly as she wrapped her scarf around her neck a little tighter. “I had forgotten it was winter already. Hearth's Warming Eve will be here soon then Winter Wrap up a few weeks after that. How much have I missed?”

“Quite a lot but the other girls are handling that with Starry Night. My job is to keep you happy and away from your study.” Pinkie Pie told Twilight. “But don't worry about it AJ said that once they got all of it taken care of that they would have Starry Night present you with a report on it. So turn that frown upside down, cause all I want is a smile, smile, smile.”

Twilight just smiled and nodded her head, Pinkie Pie was right she spent far too much time being depressed and worrying about giving back what she accidentally had taken. Right now she just needed to concentrate on feeling better, she'd worry about everything else later. “Hey Pinkie can we go get something to eat? I'm a little hungry.”

“Sure Twilight we can go wherever you want.”

“How about The Mac n' Cheese Bistro Pinkie?” She said as she led the pink mare around a corner and into what looked like a small foreign cafe.

Pinkie followed Twilight almost stumbling over her hooves in the process as they chose a table relatively close to the door. To their left was a large bay window, the glass in it was enchanted to display scenes from a section of Equestria. This particular window was set to look over one of the fields near Canterlot castle. Periodically the scene would change, showing the field but in a different time of the year. When Pinkie Pie and Twilight sat down the window was displaying the field in mid-summer.

A waitress walked up to their table and set down two menus in front of them with a smile, “Welcome to Mac n' Cheese Bistro I'm Panini and I'll be your waitress. Oh, hello Princess Twilight and good afternoon to you Pinkie Pie. It's good to see you both out and about even on a cold day like this.” Panini said with a happy smile.

“Hello Panini it's good to see you too. I see your new Bistro is doing well.” Twilight said with a smile.

“Yeah it's been going really well and all of the party planning stuff I do allows me to use the Bistro as catering service as well so I'm busy, busy, busy most days.” Panini said with a half giggle. “Oh Pinkie thanks for all of the party planning books and things. Your records have come in handy for lot of parties. Are you sure you don't want any of that stuff back?”

“No Panini, I want you to have it. Consider it a gift from myself and your Great Grandpa, Cheese Sandwich. I was originally going to give them to him when I retired but as you are his heir the best place for them is in your hooves.” Pinkie said then smiled at the young mare.

“Okay I'll keep them but if you ever want them back you know they will be. Alright back to business now. What can I get you two to drink?” The Panini asked as she held a note pad and a pencil in the light yellow glow from her horn.

Twilight was the first to pick up her menu and smile but that was before she looked at Pinkie struggling to read the menu. The pink mare was holding the menu close to her face and squinting. Twilight just shook off her friends strange actions and began to read the menu. “I think I'll have a cup of black tea with cream and honey please.”

“I'll just have a glass of water with a wedge of lemon please.” Pinkie said as she set her menu down and looked to Twilight with a huge nervous smile.

“Okay I'll go get your drinks and then give you a bit to look the menu over.” Panini said with cheery smile before walking off to the kitchen.

“Wow never thought I'd see the day when Pinkie Pie wouldn't order something super sugary and sweet.” Twilight said with a curious glance at her friend, “Pinkie are you feeling okay?”

“Sure I am Twilight, I'm Okie Dokie Lokie.” Pinkie lied, how could she tell Twilight what the doctor's had told her weeks ago. If Twilight knew about her condition that would only drive her back into her study and under no circumstances was she to allow Twilight back into that study again.

“Well if your okay then what was that all of that stuff about you giving Panini all of your party planning records?” Twilight asked.

“Well I been planing parties for years now and it's time that somepony else takes over doing that. I just want to live the quiet life for a little while.” Pinkie lied again. She really didn't have the energy or the time to plan parties like she use too. Plus time was get short for her and there was still a lot she had left to do.

“Well I can understand that. A lot has happened in the last few months so I can see why you want to live the quiet life for a while.” Twilight replied softly. She still watched Pinkie curiously for a while though.

For several minutes both Pinkie and Twilight both stared at the menu for a long while before Pinkie put her menu down and spoke.“Since the menu is in Istallion and I can't read it how about you order for us Twilight? It will be like we're on a date.”

“Okay, sure Pinkie...” Twilight said curiously before looked over the Istallion text again.

Under each entry was the standard earth pony script of every item, so why was Pinkie having a hard time reading the menu? Something wasn't right with the pink mare. Pinkie's coat and mane were a dull lifeless almost grayish pink color, she was avoiding sweets for the most part as if her diet had drastically changed, and now she was having trouble reading. All of which were signs of advanced age.

Twilight was worried for her earth pony friend and that worry showed in her large violet eyes. She looked over at Pinkie keeping the menu up to hide that she was watching the earth pony. She would have to keep an eye on her and the rest of her friends just in case her thoughts were right and Pinkie and the others were rapidly aging.

Once Panini had brought them their drinks, she left Twilight and Pinkie to look at the menu's again. Twilight took a sip from her tea and smiled slightly as she picked up her menu and went back to reading it. She took the time to tell Pinkie about every thing on the menu before she picked out the sandwich she wanted for lunch before Panini show up a minute or two later.

When Panini came back she smiled at Twilight and Pinkie as she held the pencil and notepad in her magic, “So are you ready to order or do you still need some more time?”

“No we've decided, I'll be having the Istalliano on ciabatta with provolone cheese and Pinkie will be having the hummus supreme hold the pomegranate molasses.”

Panini wrote both orders down before taking the menus, “It will be just a few minutes and then I'll bring your food.” Panini said politely before she walked back into the kitchen.

Twilight and Pinkie engaged in small talk until their food arrived. Twilight was careful not to mention anything related to the fact that all her friends seemed to be aging rapidly or her work on removing the elements from them. The whole time they ate Twilight kept stopping and starting sentences, it was rather hard not to mention the obvious signs that something was wrong with Pinkie. Twilight was just about to break down and ask Pinkie what was wrong when Pinkie did it for her.

Pinkie stopped in the middle of eating when an alarm went off. Pinkie reached into her coat to pull out a small black case. She opened it pulling out an alcohol swab and the sugar testing unit before she proceeded to test her blood sugar. After she was all done she cleaned everything up placing it all inside of a small bag inside the case. She turned to Twilight with a dower look on her face before giving a heavy sigh.

“I know you've noticed that I haven't been acting like myself lately Twilight so there is just no getting around it. I might as well just tell you the truth. I've been to the doctor recently and I found out I'm diabetic, I'm also losing my eyesight due to Age-related Macular Degeneration and Diabetic Retinopathy.” Pinkie told Twilight without looking up at her.

“Pinkie why didn't you tell me about this sooner? How long has this been going on? Are the other girls affected to?” Twilight asked worried but tried to keep her voice even so as not to upset her friend or draw attention to their conversation.

“So far only AJ and I are the most affected that's why she's been avoiding going to the doctor. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy have also been showing signs of aging but not as bad as AJ and I. Fluttershy doesn't know anything about it and Rainbow Dash wants to keep it that way, at least for a little while. I wasn't supposed to tell you but because of the way you've been watching me so closely there's no avoiding it now.” Pinkie Pie replied unsure of what Twilight was thinking as her face was impassive at the moment.

Twilight remained quiet for a long time as she just staring at Pinkie Pie impassively. The whole time she stared the gears in her head turned rapidly. It all seemed to make sense now; Pinkie's odd behavior, Applejack's complaints about aches and pains, the fact that they had all been avoiding her the past few months. Her worse fears had been realized, her theory about Rarity's death had just been proven. Since the harmony between them had been broken the stasis that held her friends in an unchanging state was now gone. Time was catching up with them, 135 years of time to be precise, they were going to now age 135 years and most likely die soon.

With they way Pinkie Pie looked now Twilight feared she would only have a few months at best. Pretty soon the other girls would be showing advanced signs of aging if they weren't already. Twilight had no choice, she had to get back into her study, she had to continue her work. If she didn't find away to stop this she was going to lose all of her friends sooner than later.

“When did all of you decide that you should keep this from me?” Twilight asked with no emotion in her voice.

“It was actually AJ's decision she said it would be best if we didn't tell you right away. You were already under a lot of stress as it was anyway. Twilight please don't be mad, we thought it was best if you didn't know. In fact I wanted to tell you but we put it to a vote and I lost, two to one.” Pinkie reached across the table and laid her hoof over Twilight's giving a sympathetic smile.

Twilight looked at Pinkie Pie her eyes narrowing and her brow knitted in anger. She couldn't believe her friends would blatantly lie to her like this and keep such important information from her. That would end now.

“No, Pinkie Pie I'm extremely upset with you and the others. I could handle you all ignoring me because of what happened at the funeral. I could understand keeping me from working because I was stressing myself out and not eating or sleeping enough. But what I cannot handle nor will I tolerate is all of you lying to me about something so important and before you say this is about me being the Princess of Friendship, its much deeper than that. When it comes to you girls I'm your friend first and a Princess second and we all Pinkie Promised to come to each other whenever any of us were in trouble. Finish lunch because when we're done we are going back to the castle and I'm putting an end to all of this nonsense once and for all.”

“Twilight I'm sorry I never meant to hurt you, your the last pony I ever wanted to hurt.” Pinkie said with tears rolling down her cheeks. If her mane hadn't already gone flat it would have just then as her heart ached for the mare she wished she could confess her love to.

Twilight's anger faded when she saw that Pinkie was truly sad because she wasn't able to tell her the truth. She turned her friends hoof over and gripped it with both her own. “It's alright Pinkie, you don't need to cry. I'm upset but not hurt, you know I can't stay upset at you for very long.” Twilight whispered to her friend as she raised a napkin to her cheek and wiped away the stray tears.

After their touching moment both mares went back to eating in relative silence until their meals were done. Once they were ready to leave Twilight called Panini over to pay the bill. The young unicorn mare wouldn't hear of the Princess or Pinkie Pie paying. The whole thing was on the house as a thank you to them both. After saying their goodbyes and agreeing to come back sometime soon Twilight and Pinkie headed back to the castle.

************

Applejack walked back in the throne room rubbing her sore flank as she eyed Fluttershy with an angry expression. Never had the farm mare been poked, prodded, and examined like that before and that was just the interviews with the medical staff candidates. Thankfully Fluttershy had chosen most of the new staff, after all she was an EUP Field Medic and knew more about medical stuff than Applejack. Picking the new Medical staff should have been the end of it but it wasn't.

After the medical staff had been selected and the contracts signed Fluttershy threw Applejack to the Timberwolves, or at least that's how Applejack saw it. No sooner then the last paper was signed Fluttershy announced that Applejack would be their first patient. AJ tried to make a break for it but the new nurses were earth ponies and former college track stars so the orange farm mare didn't get far. In fact she made into the hallway when they caught her.

Rainbow Dash and Steel Heart got an eye full of the two nurses dragging a kicking and cussing Applejack back into the Infirmary. Rainbow Dash burst into loud boisterous laughter in the hallway at the scene only to have two very large pegasi nurses pick her up and carry her off to the Infirmary for her check up seconds later.

Steel Heart stood in hallway holding his cap to his chest in silent memory of Dash as she yelled one final time as the needle meet her flank. Next to be heard were sounds of protest from both Applejack and Rainbow over the next set of shots they would be receiving. Steel heart took that as his cue to run for it lest he be next on the examination list.

All of that had been an hour and half ago and now Applejack had a bone to pick with Fluttershy. The shy butter yellow mare sat across from Applejack with head down still apologizing for the fact that the farm mare had been handled so roughly. AJ wasn't really listening as she was trying to find away to sit down without putting too much pressure on her sore flank.

“I so sorry Applejack I didn't think that Dr. Rose would be so through with her examination.” Fluttershy told AJ in small meek voice.

“Ah'm not mad about the examine Fluttershy but Ah'm ticked off that ya didn't give me a chance to get ready fer all of that. Oh my flank will never be the same after all that.” Applejack whined as she tried to sit once again.

“You think you had it bad. I'm grounded for the next three weeks thanks to Dr. Ruby Needles and the Nurse Ratchet crew. So what if my wings are a little bruised, I'm a stunt flier I get bruises all the time and why did they have to bind my wings so tight? I can't even flap them at all like this.” Rainbow Dash grunted as she tried stretch her wings.

Both wings were bound in clean white bandages all the way to her shoulders. RD could move them and even fold them up but the extra weight from the bandages and the strange herbal salve that had been rubbed on her wings made flying difficult. Dash had tried to fly with the bandages on and nearly crashed into the wall, thankfully to two pegasi nurses were there to catch her before she hurt herself even more. After that Dr. Rose threatened to put Dash in wing binders if she didn't behave herself and follow the very specific care instructions until her injuries healed.

“Three whole weeks of no flying and being stuck on the ground like an earth pony. I'll die for sure!” Dash wailed as she draped herself over her throne dramatically.

“An what's wrong with bein' on the ground or bein' an earth pony? Whatcha tryin' ta say there Dash?” Applejack asked as she glared in Dash's direction.

Rainbow Dash glared right back at Applejack, “There's nothing wrong with being an earth pony I didn't mean it like it was a bad thing. Being stuck on the ground and not able to fly for a pegasus is like you going without apple bucking or any of that other farm junk you do.”

“What's that supposed ta mean? Are ya'll tryin' ta compare flyin' ta farmin'? Because that ain't like comparin' apples ta oranges. All that farmin' junk is what feeds everypony, Ah don't see yer stunt flyin' helping anypony out.” Applejack said while she continued to glare angrily at Rainbow Dash. “Oh Ah get it, yer just upset because yer useless now. Fer three weeks Equestria's fastest flier is grounded, no better than a chicken.”

“A chicken? Are you calling me a chicken?” Rainbow Dash yelled as she got nose to nose with Applejack.

“If'n the feathers fit and the bird don't fly Rainbow Chicken.” Applejack replied in a mocking tone as she pressed her forehead to Rainbow Dash's pushing the rainbow maned mare back.

“Take it back.” Rainbow Dash yelled as she pushed Applejack back “Make Me.” Applejack replied shoving Rainbow Dash back.

The two mares were about to go to blows when suddenly they were wrapped in the coils of their maniacal ex-villain friend, Discord. The God of Chaos was in his more serpentine like form as he wrapped his 'coils' around them. They completely forgot about their spat as the laughing male settled most of his weight on their backs.

“Hello girls, why the shouting and angry looks? Best friends don't fight like you two were about to do. I've just returned from my fifteen year trip around Equus without magic and it seems I have appeared just in time to stop you two from going to blows.” Discord said matter-of-factly as he moved off them. A throne much like the others appeared but it was made of rainbow colored stone instead, Discord slipped into it turning back into his 'normal' form as bags appeared around his feet, each colored like one of the mane six.

“I've brought presents for all of you too. So were are the other three of my favorite six ponies in the whole of Equus? Oh yes can't forget the fun loving gem eating drake Spike, I got him some very tasty candied gems from Connamaraia while I was traveling.” Discord said with giggle as a seventh bag appeared colored purple and green like Spike.

As soon as Spike's name was said all three of the mares in the room got quite and just looked at one another with sad expressions. It seemed that news of Rarity and Spike's deaths had not reached Discord while he was traveling without the use of his magic. Now it was time to tell him about the tragedy that befell Equestria but no pony seemed to want to speak of it.

“Fluttershy why so down my dear friend?” discord as asked as he appeared behind her with the bag called pink and yellow. “I got you two new and wonderfully rare birds for you choir. I got you a rare Snowfall Blue Nightingale from Griffonia and an even rarer Black Crested Thresh Flier from Zebrica. The latter of the two I had to work for this nice zebra mare named Nyuni, who own a pottery shop, for six months to purchase it.” Discord said happily as he snapped fingers and the bag opened and two golden bird cages floated out in front of Fluttershy.

“Oh Discord their so beautiful but I have to tell you...” Fluttershy was cut as the draconequus vanished suddenly and appeared next to Applejack.

“Applejack I brought you something that you and your whole family will enjoy.” Discord said with a bright smile before he snapped his fingers and the orange and blonde bag opened. Several small saplings floated out. “I got you several different types of apple tree saplings from around Equus for the farm and books on raising them. I'm sure you will enjoy the taste of these apples and making them into fine and tasty apple products.”

“Discord this is uhm... Ah don't know what ta say but thank ya partner.”Applejack said softly with tears in her eyes.

“Think nothing of it Applejack as we are friends. Now dry those eyes, no need for tears my friend.” Discord told Applejack as he summoned a box of tissues for her.

Next on his list was the premiere stunt flier of Equestria, he appeared floating just above Rainbow Dash with her bag floating next to him. Rainbow Dash looked up at the floating God of Chaos and frowned deeply. He was being his random self and at a time like this his antics would keep her and the others from telling him about what was going on.

“Discord we don't have time for your games. There is something impor orr...ummm....” Dash was cut my Discord covering her mouth and telling her to shush.

“Now, now Dashie we will have time for that after the presents are given out. So for you the best flier in all of Equestria, maybe even the whole of Equus, what would be the best gift?” Discord asked as he still covered Dash's mouth and scratched his chin as if thinking about it. “I know the best gift of all is this.” Discord said after a few moments of mock thinking.

Once again he snapped his fingers and the light blue bag with rainbow colored handles opened then several large signed books and magazines floated out and landed next to Dash. “Here you are signed flight and stunt manuals from around Equus from all of the top fliers in every country. I even got Crimson Talons of the Griffionia Military to personal sign the Fliers Month issue he was interviewed for.”

Dash stopped struggling in Discord's grip and just stared at him for a long while before tears rolled from her eyes just like with Applejack. Discord removed his hand moments later and looked at Rainbow Dash with concern.

“Discord I don't... I can't... Discord your so … your so AWESOME!” Dash yelled as she hugged the blushing draconequus tightly.

“Uh, thank you Rainbow Dash. You don't know ho much that means to me.” Discord said softly as he hugged the cyan mare back.

As Discord was hugging Dash Twilight and Pinkie walked in to the throne room. Twilight didn't look happy in the slightest and Pinkie was a few steps behind her with a sad frown on her face. Applejack and Rainbow Dash both knew that Twilight now knew they were all rapidly aging and that they had intentionally keep that fact from her.

“Applejack and Rainbow Dash I have a serious bone to pick with the both of you! How could you both li...” Twilight started but was stopped by Discord appearing in front of her and hugging her tightly. He picked up the Princess of Friendship and swing her around in several circles while hugging her.

“Oh if it isn't my favorite Princess in all of Equestria. Princess Twilight Sparkle I have missed you so much. And I have to thank you for the great suggestion of seen all of Equus without using my magic. I learned so much about the Magic of Friendship and made so many new friends along the way.” Discord told Twilight as she held away from him and smiled.

“Discord that's great but I really need to talk to the other girls about...” Twilight was also cut off my the draconequus exuberance in greeting his friends,

“Now, now Twilight there will be time for that in a few minutes as I have gifts for you,” Discord said as he sat down on plush couch much like the one Rarity would faint on. “For the Princess of Friendship I have brought what is the a collimation of the sum total of what is the know magical knowledge of all of Equus.” Discord said with a proud smile before he snapped his fingers and trumpets sounded before the bag colored like Twilight opened.

From the bag pour out a large stack of magical tomes and old books. It took the bag several minutes to finish pouring out of the books and in total there were at least two thousand or more books on all types on magic from the modern to the ancient from every country on Equus.

“Discord! I'm, I'm, I'm... SO HAPPY!” Twilight shouted as she was surround by stacks upon stack of magical knowledge. Her earlier anger and concerns where soon forgotten for the moment. “How did you find some of these? Some of these books are said to be lost to time. Where did you find all of them?”

“I'm so glad you like your present Twilight. It took me a good five years track a lot of them down and I had to jump thru a few hops literally for a few of them. But it was all worth it just to see you smile like that.” Discord said blushed as he rubbed the back of his neck.

“Well on to the next of my friends.” Discord said with light laugh before he spotted Pinkie Pie. The normally happy and vibrant mare looked down and almost gray in color.

“Oh Pinkie Pie you look so sad but I know what will turn that frown upside down as you always say.” Discord said as he appeared to Pinkie Pie then hugged her.

Seconds after Discord hugged the pink mare a bag colored like she normally looked opened up and several large bags jumped from it. The larger bags were filled with party supplies from around Equus. Discord let go of Pinkie and stuck his lion arm into the bag colored like Pinkie for a few moments. He ran his paw around in the bag a few time before he fished out several large books with colorful covers.

“Here you go Pinkie, these should brighten your day. I collected party planning books and materials on parties and holiday planning in every country I visited. I even got to celebrate few of them with a lot of new friends. The best part was that when I mentioned I had pony friend that loves planning parties my news friend helped me gather all of these things for me to bring back to you.” Discord said with a giggle to his voice. “Isn't it wonderful Pinkie? I can't wait to until you plan your next party with some of the stuff I brought back for you. And the best part Rarity can make all of the outfits for the party with the gift I got her.”

Discord snapped his fingers again and the white and purple bag with jeweled handles opened and what seemed like a ton of different colored fabrics and patterns poured of out of it. There were stack of threads with an assortment of sewing needles, and a few crates or gems, buttons, and other accessories to go along with any outfit that was made. There were several dress racks full of dress from several different countries made for ponies, gryphons and few other assorted creatures of Equus. Discord even fished out a stack of fashion books and dress maker guides.

“Yes all of this you took me a year and a half of working odd jobs to make the bits to buy it all. It will be well worth it when I get to see all of the unique and original designs that Rarity will make from them. So where is the premiere Fashionista? I thought she be here by now with the commotion of my arrival. So is she in the castle or do I have to pack all of this up and go to her manor and surprise her there?” Discord asked with smile.

His smile soon faded as she looked around the throne room and so all of the sad faces of his friends. Discords could see that there was something very wrong and that it was centered around Rarity. It struck him as odd that she wasn't already with the others girls when he arrived or that she had not walked in with Twilight and Pinkie Pie. In his joy of being back with the mares that had become his first true friends he had not seen that everything was out of place or just not right. Why were they all sad? Why was Rainbow Dash's wing all bandaged up? Why did Applejack look so tired and run down? Pinkie looked like she had lost one of her best friends, it was in that thought that Discord sensed what was truly wrong.

“Don't tell me something has happened to Rarity? Girls please tell me that everything is all right and your just trying to prank me?” Discord asked as tears welled up in his eyes. He prayed that was just them pranking him for all of the pranks he had pulled on them over the years.

“Discord, please sit down we have something important to tell you.” Fluttershy said softly as she lead the nearly crying draconequus to the throne he had made for himself. As Fluttershy led Discord to his throne he snapped his fingers and Rarity's gift packed itself away in the bag once again.

The other girls gather around but remained quite as Fluttershy sat Discord down. For a long time no pony spoke they just sat still in the sad silence of the moment. Fluttershy looked up at Discord after a while with tears in her eyes before she spoke the words none of the others wanted to say or hear ever again.

“Rarity is gone Discord. She could no longer live the life of an immortal and she took her own life. Spike found her before we did along with a note she left for us. After he read it he took his own life to be with her always. I'm sorry Discord but their both gone now.” Fluttershy said before she broke in to tears.

Seconds later Rainbow Dash was at her side hold her softly as she cried. Discord just sat there in disbelief for a long time not saying a word, not moving. He just sat sat there trying to process what he just heard. He would have stayed like that longer but he felt Twilight's hoof touch his side and he turned to her with tears running down his face.

“Discord I'm so sorry but this is all my fault. If I had done more research on the Elements of Harmony I could have prevent this. I'm the pony you should be angry at, if you need some pony to hate its me.” Twilight told Discord with tears in her eyes.

Discord just stared at the crying mare in front of him for some time before he hugged her tightly and cried with her for a long while. The other girls just stood by silently and watched as the Twilight cried out her pain with Discord. For the first time in over a thousand years the God of Chaos knew the sadness of losing somepony he loved dearly again.

Twilight and Discord cried for what seemed like hours before they had puff red eyes and were tired. After what seemed like a hours of sadness Twilight and Discord separated and everything Discord had missed was explained even the subject of the other girls advanced aging. Both Twilight and Fluttershy yelled at Dash and AJ for lying to them about the aging effects they were experiencing. Discord was none to happy about it or the decision to not involve Celestia in the situation that Twilight had made.

After argue about it for an hour it was finally decided that Twilight would go back to her rule as Princess in a day or two since Discord wanted to spend some time talking with Twilight about her research before he took it over. It was also decided the Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy would be given a medical check-up twice a day until the solution to the rapid aging could be found. The other three Princess and Shining Armor would be kept out of the loop until all possibilities had been exhausted or the girls health fell to critical levels.

Rainbow Dash begrudgingly agreed to this after getting a lecture from Twilight and ten straight minutes of the 'stare' from Fluttershy. After everything was settle Applejack went to go lay down for a while as she was rather tired. Rainbow Dash wondered off with Fluttershy to talk as they seemed to be having a lover's quarrel over Dash's decision to not tell Fluttershy about her health. Pinkie went to go lay down as well as she was feeling bit drained from the days events. She told Twilight she would see her later for dinner if she wasn't still upset with her. Twilight told Pinkie they would be having every meal together for the foreseeable future before she let the pink mare go and rest.

Both Discord and Twilight walked from the throne room to her private study side by said both of them sullen and quite. As they both walked down the hallway they would looked over at each other as if they were going to say something but both remained quite until they reached the study. Once in the study the only words shared between the alicorn and the draconequus where about the work Twilight had already done and what solutions to the problem before them she had word out so far.

Four hours there was very little said between the two immortals as the work was all the conversation they need for the time being. The work was all that matter for it would culmination of two very sad but powerful things. The first being Twilight’s lamented feelings and guilt for fifty years of stolen feelings, hopes, and dreams. The second thing, being equal in sadness, were Discords tears. Tears shed in silence for two friends, two beloved friends that he was unable to save after they had given him so much in the last 135 years.

The Fall of Harmony Part 3: Desperate Decisions and Realized Truths

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Rise of Dark Equestria: Return of Sombra

“The truth of our heart is something so sacred that we hide it from ourselves. What are you willing to do to find that truth? Will you be able to endure the pain of loss to find it? Will you make the ultimate sacrifice to gain it? The Star and Chaos Incarcerate will soon have to make that same choice... ”

By Dragon Feather and AlicornMistress

Chapter 2: The Fall of Harmony

Part Three: Desperate Decisions and Realized Truths

Several weeks had past since the fight over the girls rapid aging. Discord had been working day and night on a solution to the rapid again problem the entire time. Even with all of the research and work that Twilight had already done before he started the chaotic draconequus had yet to come up with anything that would help. The main problem seemed to be with the elements themselves. Since the power of the Elements of Harmony had fused with the girls very life force the lost of harmony was in fact draining the life right out of them. So the question was do they just remove elements magic from the girls or cut their connection to them?

Removing the elements was out of the question since the power had fused to the girls very life force completely. The one pony that would survive the magical extraction process would be Twilight since she was an alicorn and nearly indestructible when came life threatening things. The other four mares would not survive the complicated and painful process. If they did some how make it through the several hours of being magically torture to remove the elements they would only languish in sheer agony for a few hours to days before dying anyway. No normal pony's body could take the amount of magical punishment the extraction process or being without any magic in their bodies while the days of healing took place.

The second choice would only speed up the aging process. While it was true Elements of Harmony were in fact draining the life out Fluttershy, Applejack, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash they were the only things keep the girls from just instantly dying. The magic from the elements had tied the six friends all together with Twilight magical aura as the template. Since Twilight magical aura had made her ageless with the magic of all three tribes of ponies the magic of harmony between the girls had tried to do the same to the other five. The only problem was the other five girls were not alicorns so the magic did the next best thing, it made the others all ageless and unchanging but not true immortals like an alicorn. While it was true that girls could survive a great deal of bodily harm and trauma they were not indestructible or invulnerable. After all Rarity was about to end her own life with poison, all though the concentrated dose was enough to kill a whole large city of ponies.

The fact they were not able to age or change was what broke Rarity and led her to made her desperate decision. Now that Rarity was gone the other girls save for Twilight were losing or had lost their connection to their Element of Harmony. It was that lost of self that was killing them. It was also that very variable that was the hardest to quantify in the complex magical equation that was the Elements of Harmony.

Discord paced back and forth in front of the large blackboard filled with several magical theories and formulas as well as the mathematical representation of the magic that was the Elements of Harmony. He had been staring at the mass of formulas and equations for the last 72 hours straight and still he couldn't come up with a solution to save his friends. Even when he plugged in his own chaotic reality warping magic into all of the research models and equations it always end the same. All of the girls died and Twilight ended up with all of the elements in her body. Nothing seemed to work, none of the solutions he had come up with or found in the many books and notes Twilight had provided seemed to help. It was as if Death and Fate had conspired to take his friends lives.

“No, no, no, no! It has to work, I won't let any of them die. I can lose anymore of my friends!” Discord screamed in frustration as he tossed one of the many stack of notes and papers across the table in anger.

He had to find a way to stop the aging or at least slow it down to give them more time so he could find a permanent solution that wouldn't mean crippling or killing his friends to save them. Discord sighed as he look at the mass of papers all over the table and floor of the study. The whole room was a wealth of knowledge on everything remotely magical in nature complied by Twilight for the sole purpose of saving her friends and yet none of was helping. There had to be a way to fix this, there must be something he was missing. The overworked draconequus sighed again and began gathering up all of the tossed papers in their proper order to go over all of the research and notes again. He would find the answer or die trying.

After all of the parers were organized again the exhausted and frazzled draconequus sat down in a chair as he laid his head in her mismatched hands and cried. He had only know the girls a short time and yet they had become a part of his heart. Each one of them had taught him something about friendship and Spike had been the little brother he never had but always wanted. He loved all six of the mares that at one time would have turned him to stone with a second thought. Why was this so hard? Why could he not find a way to save them? Hr had in this study for weeks going over all of the collected data and even add his observations and research to it all but nothing was working. It was like the was something missing. Like he had forgotten a large piece of the puzzle that was hidden right in front of him but still just out of reach. What was it about the Elements of Harmony that he had forgotten for thousands of years ago? What as it about this problem that felt so familiar and yet was so foreign to him? What ever it was it was the key, the very puzzle piece he need to save his friends yet he could not find it.

Discord was about to throw another fit when he heard the hoof falls of somepony entering the room. Seconds later he heard a familiar voice call out his name. In his tired and frustrated state the wary draconequus couldn't place a name to the voice calling him. Discord had been up for the last four weeks straight without much food or sleep so he was a little loopy to say the least. He was complete oblivious to the fact the Twilight was the pony calling his name. He just ignored the lavender alicorn in favor of staring at the last health report on the girls.

Twilight could see that Discord had lost himself to the research much like she had done in the beginning. She now understood why Pinkie Pie and the other girls were so mad at her and why they had lied to her to about what was happening to them. Discord was losing himself to this, he had bags under his eyes from lack of sleep, he had lost a great deal of his color and his body looked dull and lifeless. He was in a dirty lab coat whose edges were tatter and black in spots, not to mention he smelled rather sour and musty from being shut up in the study for the last few weeks by himself. He had been at this so long that he had used up a great deal of his magic and seemed to be doing everything by paw and talon.

Twilight saw what she had looked like to her friends when they had come to put a stop to her mad plans of redemption through the sacrifice of her sanity. She had to stop Discord before he completely lost himself and what little sanity he had left. If she couldn't save her other friends she'd at least save Discord from himself.

“Discord, you have to stop. Discord please listen to me stop before you hurt yourself anymore than you already have. You need some sleep... and a bath from the smell in here. Just stop for a little while, okay? Discord are you listening to me?” Twilight asked as she poked at the wary draconequus with her hoof lightly.

Discord grunted in angry as he kept hearing the voice of some pony talking to him and now was poking him to get his attention. What could this pony possible want? Couldn't they see he was busy trying to save lives? Where the ponies of Equestria so insensitive to his and Twilight plight? Discord continued to ignore the bothersome voice as he went back to shuffling to some the research Twilight had been doing on magical energy conversion theory. Maybe converting some of the energy back in to life force would help or at the very least slow the aging down.

He was reading through one of the longer research paper when the voice of the pony in the room got louder and more insistent. Discord sighed heavily, he didn't have time for dealing with some lost scribe or hoof servant looking for Twilight or the others. He had important work to get back to as lives depended on him find an answer soon. 'Better deal with this servant or guard of what every pony it is now. I don't have time for this since Twilight will be here later to check on my progress. I really want to have some to show for all of the time I have wasted so far.' Discord thought before he directed his attention to the pony in the room but he didn't turn around.

“Oh what is my good pony? Please don't bother me now can't you see I'm in the middle of important research for Princess Twilight. If you're looking for the Princess she should be in the throne room holding one of her royal courts right now. If it's the other elements you're looking for, they all should be in the infirmary right now or in the dinning hall as it is about lunch time.” Discord said dismissively without turning around as he waved the pony off.

Twilight looked up at the dismissive draconequus with a look of irritation filling her face. He was so wrapped up in his guilt and sadness he wouldn't even bother to see the pony he had been so dismissive with was the Princess he was doing research for. Enough was enough Discord was going to stop right now, have a bath, get something to eat, then go to bed for the next two days and Twilight wasn't taken no for answer.

Twilight teleported from behind Discord to in front of him, the bright flash of magic made Discord jumped up from his seat falling on to his back on the floor with a startled scream. When he looked up to get a better view of the pony that had scared him his eyes fell on an angry Twilight Sparkle standing on the table looking down at him. The shocked and slight annoyed draconequus quickly got to his feet and dust himself off before greeting the angry Princess of Friendship.

“Well hello there Twilight, I was just thinking about you. As you can see I'm still hard at work on the problem. I haven't found a solution that will work permanently yet but I have found a few things that might buy us a little time. I was just compiling the data when I was inter-” Discord never got to finish as Twilight wrapped his mouth in the magenta glow of her magic silencing him.

“Discord, shut up!”Twilight told the draconequus as she eyed him angrily. Discord start to raise his lion paw but was soon subdued by Twilight’s magic. “I talk and you listen, that's how this works right now.”

Discord wiggled in the bands of magic that bound him up and found he was indeed trap so he just nodded his yes before focusing his attention on Twilight.

“You have been at this for weeks now and this has to stop... no it's going to stop and today. You are here by ordered to stop all research into the Element Aging Project, take a bath, get something to eat and go to bed for no less than forty-eight hours. If you do not I will be forced to have you locked in iron and Nth metal chains before I have guards and servants make you do what I just ordered you to do. Am I clear?” Twilight asked just before she removed the magical grip from the draconequus' mouth to let him speak.

“But Twilight we have to keep working on this... I have to keep working on this otherwise... otherwise...” Discord trailed off as tears spilled from his eyes.

Twilight's heart sank at Discord's plight and the lavender alicorn knew well the pain Discord was feeling and yet it was so much greater than her own pain somehow. But if they were going to save the other girls Twilight needed Discord to be at his full strength and sane, or as sane as the chaotic draconequus could be. “I know Discord, I want to save them all too but we can't do that if you kill yourself by overworking. Get some rest and after that we will tackle this together.”

Discord just stared at Twilight for a long while with tears in his eyes before he bowed his head and nodded yes. “Okay, Twilight you win. I'll stop for now and go rest for a bit. I have been working rather hard in the last few weeks.”

Twilight quickly released Discord then hugged him tightly as tears poured for hers eyes as well. Discord hugged the lavender alicorn back and cried with her for a moment. They both need to cry and to hold each other for comfort. At times it seemed like they were the only two soul that understand the true depths of the sins that had been committed against the other five girls and Spike. In a way they both blamed themselves for this great tragedy but in truth it was Discord who knew the full truth of what was really going on, if only he could remember it all from so long ago.

“Discord I'm scared and I don't know if I can take losing anymore of them to this.” Twilight said softly as she held Discord tightly ignoring his less than pleasant smell at the moment.

“I know Twilight. I don't want to lose any of you like to this. I know at some point that the other girls would have pass on into memory. I know full well that they would all grow old and die eventually leaving you and I behind to keep their memory alive. But to lose them to death like this, after they have suffered so much is... We won't let it happen, we can't let them go, not like this. I will got get rest for a while and when I have my magic back we will find a way no matter what. Even if we have to put them in a magical slumber in a timeless pocket dimension until we find a cure. We will save our friends and give them back what we stolefrom them.” Discord said through his tears and sniffles.

“What we stole from them? Discord what do you... You don't mean this has something to do with you as well?” Twilight asked quickly as she pulled away from Discord in surprise at what he had implied.

“Yes I do and while I can't remember all of the details but this started a long time ago back before I went crazy. I don't remember why I become so crazed or why I started ruining the lives of the ponies of Equestria back then. I do know that the Elements of Harmony didn't exist until after I had lost my marbles, so to speak. The elements were created to comfort me, not imprison me, but I can't remember who made them for me or why she had to in the first place. I can say this though, across the sea just past the country of Cervidas eastern boarder is The Lost World. It's a place of chaos and ancient magic but maybe there still is a library the holds the answers we seek and may fill in the gaps in my Swiss cheese of a memory.” Discord told Twilight as he stared into her eyes.

“We have to go at once! I'll get an airship and some guards ready to travel within the hour. You can sleep on the way but we have to find that library and soon. I'll get everything ready while you go bathe and eat by the time your done we will be ready...” Discord cut Twilight off by press a talon to her lips softly and shook his head no.

“No Twilight, that place is dangerous even for a being as powerful and old as me let along a young alicorn who is yet to learn her true limits. I would have a hard enough time protecting myself let along you, the girls, and a whole complement of EUP soldiers. I will go find the library myself with your help through a magical link when I have my magic and strength back. This way one of us is here watching the girls and continuing the work while the other goes and find the source of all this. In the end we will find the answers we need.”

Twilight stood there for several minutes thinking over Discord's proposal and what it would mean if he found them the answers they need to save the other girls, She also thought about what to do if Discord got hurt or worse while he was in The Lost World. Twilight didn't want to think about losing Discord too but they did need answers. She could always talk to Celestia and Luna about this but her friends were still angry with the older alicorns. Twilight really need some advice but she didn't want anger her friends or have Celestia tell her to let them pass on as it was what was suppose to happen. After debating with herself for several minutes she finally made her decision.

“Alright Discord I will let you go but on one condition, before you go we'll preform the Caster to Caster link spell. This way we can talk in real time and I can see and hear everything that's going around you. That way I can help with any translations, offer up some of my magic if you need it, and I'll be an extra set of eyes and ears for you. If anything goes wrong I will have a magical lock on you so I can teleport you back here.” Twilight told Discord in a firm tone. She would not let him say no and if he did she would just prevent him from leaving on his own with a Soul Bond spell. The spell would tether the two of them together at the core of their magic and souls. This made so that the two creature in question couldn't go to far with the other being magically pulled along. If Twilight cast that spell Discord wouldn't be able to go more than one hundred feet without the young alicorn being magically pulled along behind him.

Discord just sighed and knew full well that Twilight could just as stubborn as Applejack when it come to their friends so arguing the point with her right now wouldn't get him anywhere but magically stuck with Twilight. The best thing to do was let her win, go bathe, eat, and get a few days worth of sleep. After he was rested he could debate with her about her plan or lack there of when came to The Lost World and all of its many dangers. If worst came to worst he could just leave when she wasn't looking.

“Fine you win Twilight I'm too tired to debate with you right now. We will talk about it in a few days and work out the details. I'll see you then. Please try not be lose yourself in here and promise me you won't try to go The Lost World without me.” Discord said before looking sternly at Twilight.

“On my honor as Princess and as your friend IPinkie Promise that I will not try to go to The Lost World without you. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” Twilight told Discord as she made an X over her heart, flapped her wings this time, then touched her closed right eye with her hoof softly.

“Thank you for that Twilight, I can rest peacefully knowing that you are safe and your watching over the other girls when I'm not around.” Discord said with a yawn before he tiredly walked out of the study heading back to his room where a bath, a hot meal, and soft bed were waiting all waiting for him.

Twilight stood there after Discord left the room staring at the the disarray and chaos of papers and research scattered about. She signed softly then set about cleaning it up with her magic. Once the room was neatly organized again Twilight pause by the thick leather journal that Discord had been keeping his progress and thoughts about the rapid aging problem in. Twilight open it and leafed through the pages reading up on where Discord had continued her original work. The chaotic draconequus had made some surprising discovers that would farther advance modern magical and medical sciences by decades. He even found a few ways to slow the age process down in normal ponies to give a longer life span by fifty to ninety years in some cases. But for all of that he had yet to find a way to cure the girls. He had few practical theories that would slow down the aging but nothing that would buy them the much need time to find a permanent cure.

After reading some of Discord's more depressing thoughts about his failure to help his friends and to help Twilight in her time of need the young alicorn closed the book and left her study. She need to get some more help with this project, some discreet help. There was only one place in Equestria that had the ponies with the magical power and intelligence to help her now. It was time to call in a few favors from the magical college founded in her name.

************

Pinkie Pie sat on the the examination table in the pale green paper gown waiting for Dr. Rose to come back in with her test results but she already knew that it wasn't going to be good news. Pinkie already knew she only had short time left, everypony was hoping for a few more years or even a few months but Pinkie knew her time left was measured in weeks and nothing more. Already her Age-related Macular Degeneration and Diabetic Retinopathy had rendered her almost blind. Pinkie was now classified as legally blind since she had lost over eighty-five percent of her visual acuity. Her vision was now 20/200 or worse, meaning that what a legally blind pony can see at 20 feet the average pony can see clearly at 200 feet. She was now reduced to using a cane and the seeing eye dog named Goldie, that Fluttershy had trained for her, to get around on her own.

The time was coming for Pinkie to make the preparations for her final resting place and to put the last of her affairs in order. Once all of the arrangements with the bank and the lawyer were made about Sugarcube Corners and her vast savings only one thing would be left undone. The last bit of business that would be left was what she need to say to Twilight before she didn't have the time to say it.

Pinkie was mentally going over her list of things to do when Dr. Rose come back in the room. Pinkie could tell it was her from the scent of rose and lilac perfume and the tell-tale jiggle of her wedding bands on her right foreleg. Pinkie turned her head in the direction of the sweet smell and smiled. All thought she could still see the vague blurry shadow outline of the doctor in the little bit of light her eyes could still perceive Pinkie still used her nose and ears to locate the doctor.

The charcoal gray mare entered the examine room with the file folder held in her rose pink glow of her magic, her reddish purple mane was wrap up in a bun on the back of her head and she had a less than happy look on her face. As a doctor Ruby had delivered some hard news to a lot of ponies but now she had to deliver the hardest news of poor health to a pony she owed her life too. For Ruby this was worst thing to happen to her and one of her patients, she wished that the pony in front of her could be anyone other than the famous Pinkie Pie.

Dr. Rose pulled out the rolling stool and sat in front of Pinkie Pie with nervous smile even though Pinkie wore a happy one. Dr. Rose cleared her throat before she open the file held in her magic and look it over for a few moments before looking up at Pinkie Pie.

“Well Pinkie I have some bad news for you. All of your test have come back and I'm afraid that you only have three weeks left, four and half weeks if you keep taking your medications and the magical energy infusions. You will lose your eyesight completely in a day or two as the cells in you eyes are dying at much faster rate than any other cells in your body. I'm sorry but at this point there is nothing we can do medically to prevent the enviable. As per the Princess' orders on this matter I have to take my findings to her so Discord can prepare magical stasis for you until something more can be done to reverse the rapid aging process.” Ruby told Pinkie Pie with somber tone.

“Don't be sad Ruby I have known that my time was short for a while now and I'm okay with it. Don't get me wrong I would love to have another fifty or sixty years to live so I can get few more things crossed off my bucket list. I mean I would love the extra time to tell my special somepony how I feel about her, date her, get proposed to by her, start a family with her, and grew old in her arms. Even though I want to have the extra time I'm still happy with the life I have lived. I meet you Ruby, I helped you found your special talent, and now you save ponies every day. I'm happy with what I gotten done in my life now its time for me to rest Ruby and there is nothing wrong with that.” Pinkie said with happy tone to her voice.

“But Pinkie I don't... There are so many ponies that will need you in the future, that still need you now. I don't want to lose you. I owe you my life and the fact I can't save you is the worst part of this for me as your friend and as a doctor.” Ruby said as tears spilled from her eyes as started at Pinkie.

Pinkie slipped from the examination table and walked over to Ruby and pulled her into a tight hug. The pink mare let Ruby cry it out on her shoulder as she rubbed her back. It was a few minutes until the gray mare had her emotions under control and Pinkie step back to smile at Ruby. “It's okay Ruby I knew that you care for me a lot and I care you just as much. I love you and all of the ponies I have helped over the years but nothing last forever. Even the laughter must die after a time. Don't be sad just remember me for I will live on in all of deeds of the ponies I have helped over the years. I will also live on in the memories of all of my friends.”

For a long time Ruby just stared at Pinkie Pie for a while, she study the all of the lines in her face and the curves of her cheeks. Ruby wanted to remember ever line, ever wrinkle, her happy smile, even the sparkle in the mare's nearly milky white eyes. This was Pinkie Pie, the Element of Laughter, the pony that would do any and everything under the sun to make a pony smile.

This simple smiling mare was the one that had saved Ruby from making a huge mistake in trying to take her own life when she was just a filly. Pinkie had been the one pony to believe in Ruby's desire to help others which lead the gray mare to her cutiemark and desire to be a doctor. Pinkie Pie was the mare that had help Ruby tell her loving husband Black Staff she had feelings for him when they were still in high school. Pinkie had been the one pony there when her daughter Black Rose and her son Black Feather had been born. Pinkie was the one that had help Ruby gain the life she had now. To not be able to save the mare that had given her so much hurt Ruby to her core.

“I understand Pinkie but I have to give my findings to Discord and the Princess today. I have no choice it's a royal order. What do you want me to do?” Ruby asked Pinkie looking for any way out of having to force the pink mare into being kept alive against her wishes. “I will do whatever you ask of me, I owe you that much.” Ruby Rose told Pinkie as she held on her hoof tightly.

“I don't want you to get trouble with Twilight so give her the test results but just wait a day or two before you give them to her. I'll tell her that my appointment with you is in a day or two later today. That way she won't ask about my test results for a bit. This will give me time to finish up some business in town and start on my way back home.” Pinkie explained softly.

“Pinkie are you going home to… to...” Ruby couldn't even finish the sentence as she didn't want to think about Pinkie dying let along say it.

“Yes I am.” Pinkie said matter-of-fact tone. “All of my family have been buried on that land and as a Pie it is were I want to be buried. I'm just going back there to get ready for my final party is all Ruby. This party will be my finest party ever, a party to end all parties and I want you and your family to be there for me okay.”

“Of course Pinkie we will all be there and we will be the last ponies to leave it in honor of you.” Ruby said with tears rolling down her cheeks.

“Good Ruby so turn that frown upside and smile, smile, smile for me.” Pinkie asked in her heart warming way. Ruby smiled through tears and hugged Pinkie one last time.

“Okay and I will hold on the results for a few days but can you do me one last favor before you leave for home?” Ruby asked softly.

“Sure, what is it?” Pinkie ask as she slipped off the paper gown and reach for her walking cane.

“Have dinner with me and my family one last time. Let us remember you as the super happy fun loving mare that loves everypony.”

“I liked that very much Ruby. I'll see you on Friday at 7:00pm for dinner. Well I'm off now to make ponies smile, smile, smile.” Pinkie said before she made her way out of the infirmary to the waiting area where Goldie was waiting to lead her back to the Sugarcube Corners.

************

A week had passed since the last test result for the girls health check-ups had come in, well all of them but Pinkie Pie's. The prognosis wasn't good, the girls age related aliments were getting worse and soon there would be no time left to save them. Twilight had already made preparation for Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash to be put into long term magical stasis in the next three of four months. Pinkie Pie was another story entirely, until she found how bad Pinkie's situation was she couldn't make preparations for her long term care.

Twilight had gone to see Dr. Ruby Rose since she had some time before she was to meet with Discord before he left for the Lost World. She would find out what was taking so long for the test results first hoof. Twilight entered Ruby's office finding the charcoal gray mare sitting behind her desk doing paperwork.

“Hello Princess Twilight, the test results are right there in that folder on my desk. I have my letter of resignation ready for you too. I just need to finish up this paperwork so that my replacement doesn't have anything to worry about at least until you order preparation made for the other Elements long term care.” Ruby said without even looking up from the work she was doing.

“Letter of resignation? Why would you need that? I have no complaints about your professionalism or your skills as a medical physician. So why are you quitting?” Twilight asked a bit curious and afraid of of what the answer would be.

Ruby looked up from the last few papers she had yet to sign with tired eyes. She sighed softly before setting the paperwork aside and leveling her gaze on Twilight. “You will know once you read what's in that file and I'm fully prepared to suffer the consequences of the actions that I have taken. I have done what was asked of me and I went as far as I have out of love. Love for the mare that has save me life and help me get the happiness that I have today. For that mare I would do whatever she asked, even if that was killing Princess Celestia, to make her happy. Luckily her final request wasn't that extreme but I fulfilled it and more to insure she would have the time she needed for her final party preparation.”

“What in the hay are you talking about Ruby? What do you mean you fulfilled Pinkie's final request?” Twilight asking getting a bit flustered and agitated by Ruby's cryptic words.

“It's all in the file so you should read it for yourself. Afterward no matter what you have to say or do I'm prepared for whatever punishment you have for me for what I have done. I did it out of love for Pinkie Pie, the mare that saved my life.” Ruby said softly before she pushed the file over in the rose pink glow of her magic.

Twilight picked up the file in her own magic and opened it. The lavender alicorn read through the file finding out that Pinkie's Age-related Macular Degeneration and Diabetic Retinopathy had rendered her almost blind, she had a severe calcium deficiency, advance osteoporosis and arthritis. Her type two diabetes was under control but it was making her ability to heal suffer which was compounded by the fact she was aging two to four years every week. If everything in the file was correct Pinkie only had three to four weeks left and the report was a week old!

Twilight slammed the file down on the desk as a low growl of anger escaped her lips. Her bangs hid her her eyes which were almost a bright red from rage. The lavender alicorn was quickly filling with rage at being kept in the dark about how bad Pinkie's condition was. “Where is she?” Was all Twilight asked without a single hint of emotion in her voice.

“Pinkie Pie should be all the way back home by now?” Ruby said softly before she looked away with tears in her eyes.

“She isn't in Ponyville, I would sense her presence and the pulse of her element if she was. So don't tell me she at home cause I know that's a lie!” Twilight half yelled as she slammed her hoof a tremendous amount of force on the polish oak desk that it cracked the top in half as the legs splintered a bit. “I will only ask one last time, where is she Ruby?”

“I told you the truth she went home. But not here in Ponyville. Pinkie went to the place where her journey started and so it will be the place where it will end. Pinkie has gone back home, her true home, back to the place where you and the other Elements first became connected.” Ruby told Twilight before she wiped her eyes. “You know the place, she has spoken of it before and it is the place were her family is waiting for her.”

“Did she go back to the rock farm?” Twilight asked and Ruby just nodded yes.

“Did she go alone?”

“Yes, she left a week ago. I was suppose to hold the results of the test back for a day but I knew that if I did that you would only stop her so I have waited until today to give you that file. I wanted to give her enough time to get all the way home and get everything ready for her final party. It was her last request and I could not refuse it nor could I let you stop her. I knew that if I told you about her test results the day after I told Pinkie you would of had time to stop her. I couldn't let you talk her out of doing what she needed to do. I could not oppose you directly so I just lied to you to give Pinkie the time she needed. Now that she is home you can do whatever you wish.” Ruby said in a matter-of-fact manner to Twilight.

Twilight just stood there without saying a word as she filled with a unending rage at the mare in front of her. How dare she assume that Twilight didn't have Pinkie's best interest in mind? What made Ruby Rose think her love for Pinkie was greater than the love and regret Twilight had at what she had taken from Pinkie Pie and the others? What gave this mare the right to lie to the one pony that LOVED Pinkie Pie most in the world?

It was in that moment that Twilight realized that she was in love with Pinkie Pie, that Pinkie was probably in love with her too. No she had been in love with Pinkie Pie for the last 135 or so years but could never say the words that she felt in her heart. Pinkie had been more open but still shy about her true feelings. In the moment it all seemed so clear to Twilight that Pinkie had been trying to tell her she was in love with the clueless alicorn for the last 135 years.

”How could I have been so bucking clueless all this time? She had been trying to tell she was in love with me for the last three decades and I wasted all of that time...” Twilight yelled at herself as she grounded her teeth together in fury and regret at her own carelessness.

How could she have missed something so obvious and why hadn't anypony pointed it out to her before now? It was now almost too late and the lavender princess may not have the chance to say “I love you” to the mare she cared for so deeply. This fact must have been why Pinkie was so broken up when she had told Twilight about her age related problems.

If the data in the file was true Twilight only had a few days to a week at the most to be with Pinkie Pie. She was already well past the point that magical stasis could help so it was all about about making Pinkie as comfortable as possible until the end. Twilight was determined to do just that and after it was all over and she buried her friend and special somepony, the Princess of Friendship would deal with the good Dr. Rose.

“When I get back from the rock farm we will finish this matter Doctor Rose. I promise you this, it will not end well for either of us.” Twilight said coldly before she tossed the file back on the broken desk before she walked away slamming the door behind her.

“It doesn't matter Princess since the worst punishment I could receive was not being able to save Pinkie Pie from this. You can't do anything to me worse than that.” Ruby said softly before she broke down crying.

************

Discord was surprised to see so many ponies in lab coats and several large pieces of scientific equipment in the study when he arrived to speak with Twilight about his trip to the Lost World. Before Discord could say anything there were several unicorns and pegasi hovering above and around him. Within seconds they were taking his measurements, collecting samples of his fur, scales, feathers, shaving from his horns and hooves. After that was done the collection team took a sample ever body fluid Discord had and few he didn't know he had.

The whole examination and sample collection lasted all of a five minutes but after it was over Discord felt a tad bit violated and very curious about why it had happened in the first place. While the slightly irritated draconequus was rubbing his tender dragon scaled tail in the place that several loose scales had been removed he noticed that no pony was paying any attention to him save for one. A pink unicorn mare wearing a lab coat with blue rimmed spectacles on the bridge of her nose. The mare's red and white mane was braided in a prench style then wrapped up in bun on top of her head. Discord also noticed her tail was in the same prench braided style as well.

“Greetings Lord Discord. My name is Rosetta Stone and I am to give you the briefing on the equipment you will be using on your quest to The Lost World. Princess Twilight wanted you to have the latest magical devices to help you out as much as possible so you wouldn't have to over use your own magic.” Rosetta told Discord with bright smile.

“Well I expected Twilight to go all out in her preparation for my trip but I wasn't expecting this. So Miss Stone could you tell me why my pony was just violated in the name of science?” Discord asked softly as she rubbed his tail.

“Well to answer your question Lord Discord all of the samples were taken so we have base line of your physical structure before you leave. We even took scans of your brain wave activity and chaotic magic level as well. Since we don't know what the magic levels of The lost World are like we need to make sure that when you get back there will be no adverse affects to your health from pro longed exposure. Its one of the many safety protocols that the Princess has put into effect for this research mission.” Rosetta explained.

Discord looked away for a second and he thought about what he had just been told. While it was true that The Lost World was a place of magic far older then himself he should be relatively okay going there. But on the other hoof he wouldn't do the girls any good if saving them cost him his life. “Well Twilight you sure have gone all out for this and with good reason. If that what you wish I will play along for now.” Discord said to himself and he scratched his chin before focus his attention back on Rosetta.

“Okay that is a good point you make there Miss Stone. No sense in getting all bent out of shape over Twilight's safety rules at this point.” Discord said with a laugh as he bent himself into several weird angles until he looked like living a Picasso painting.

Rosetta giggle at Discords' antics before composing herself and getting back to the matter at hoof. “If you will follow me over to the the portal area after you pull yourself together, I will give you the equipment briefing. After that you are to meet with Princess Twilight for the caster spell link.”

Discord straighten out his psychical form before he followed behind Rosetta over to a large crystal arch way that had several runes on it ever few inches. All of the runes were ancient equestrian some of them Discord could read while other were a complete mystery to him. One thing was clear they all pointed to one thing, travel or Traveler. This arch was a travel gate similar to the ones used hundreds of years ago in the time of Starswirl the Bearded. How the castle knew they need it or why the castle had selected such an archaic method of travel was beyond Discord. Although he had feeling it had something to do with Tree of Harmony and the Elements themselves.

Discord didn't have time to raise any questions about the portal as Rosetta had already stared going over the equipment he would be using on his mission. The whole briefing took 45 minutes to complete since Rosetta explained every item in detail as well as its use. The most important ones being the dragon crystal visors would allow him see several energy formations and arcane power sources that would normal go undetected by standard spells and some of the more advanced level detection spells. There was the Bag of Holding Back Pack which had a pocket dimension in it much like the ones he normally created. The only difference was this was self sustaining so the was no need to feed it magical energy to keep it working. It had weight limit of 1000 pounds but the pack would only weigh a light 50 pounds even when it was completely full. The Communication Crystal or Comms. Crystal, which was mounted on a leather brand so Discord could wear it on his forearm, was for communicating with ponies in the study when ever he wasn't in directed contact with Twilight should something come up or he need a something translated.

The last items of importance were the book holder pouches lined with Nth stones. Nth stone was a rare rainbow colored mineral rock that blocked magic. Nth stone had the same anti-magical properties as the rare metal Orisidium, but with two major differences. The first being when Nth stone is altered in any physical way like cutting it or crushing it into a powder it still retained its full anti-magical properties based on the quantity of the stone. Physically altering Orisidium like melting it down to forge it into a blade reduces its anti-magical properties by 1.2% based on the quantity of the metal. The second difference was that Nth stone casts a field of anti-magic base on the size of the stone. One ounce of the stone produces a one square foot field of anti-magic, so the more Nth stone present the larger the area covered in anti-magic.

The only known way to block the anti-magical effects of Nth stone or Orisidium was with tree sap based leather. The anti-magical fields the two elements produced would be completely blocked by tree sap leather an inch or more thick. The outsides of the 9 book holders were made of heavy tree sap leather about two inches thick while the inside was regular leather. The holders had been designed to hold five two inch thick Nth stone plates on all four sides and the bottom. The book holders could contain three or four tomes of substantial size. They had been crafted just in case so Discord could transport any books he found of use back with him. The Nth stone plates were there if any of those books were magical in nature and might be dangerous to any pony of less than immortal power or life span.

They had also had prepared a Orisidium sword and dagger in thick sap leather sheaths for Discord if he faced anything of greater power than himself. Orisdium was the only metal known to be able to kill anything of legendary or immortal power. It was rumored to be the metal that felled many of the Alicorns of old during the Immortal Alicorn Wars. There was only a small amount of Orisidium around, with the largest supply of it was held by the Minotaur Empire with Equestria having a small stock pile just in case the Princesses ever lost control of their powers or turned evil.

“Well that's everything Lord Discord. You have four replacement visors in the backpack should you damage the one your wearing and two back up Comms. Crystals. There are several magical parchments, ink and several quills should you need them in case all other forms of communication fail. The sword and dagger or last resort weapons if should you find yourself in danger from something of ancient power. Please try to refrain from using them, but use them if you have no other options for survival. The Princess should be along for your final briefing in a moment. May Faust be with you on your mission Lord Discord, as all of our prayers go with you.” Rosetta said softly before she gave Discord a soft hug.

“Thank you so much Rosetta Stone. I don't know why you are here, I think Twilight may have called in a few favors why I was sleeping. Whatever the reason I'm glad that you are all the same. Please take good care of the work Twilight and I have started while I'm gone.” Discord told the mare softly before returning her hug.

“Of course Lord Discord all of Equestria owes its good fortune and well being to the Element bearers and you. I will do whatever it takes to insure theirs and your happiness like you all have ours for the last fifty years. That is how all of the ponies in this study feel as well as the ponies of the advance team waiting for you at the Cervidas border.” Rosetta replied.

Before Discord could reply to that Twilight showed up. Rosetta excused herself as Twilight walked up and stood before Discord with a frown on her face. Discord looked Twilight over for moment before carefully choosing the next words he would let slip out.

“What has gone wrong now? I know that unhappy look all too well. If I had to guess on what cause you to have that look...” Discord said as he rubbed his chin, “I would have to say it has something to do with Pinkie Pie, right?”

“How did you know...?” Twilight started say before she stopped talking abruptly. Now was not the time to get into her feelings about Pinkie when so much was at stake. “Nevermind that. I will explain it to you later right let just make the spell connection so you get get going. I take it Rosetta Stone has explained everything to you already?”

“Yes she has and I'm impressed with how you got around your “Pinkie Promise” about The Lost World. I know I'm to meet with the advanced team and rely my findings to them as well as any updates on my health and safety conditions. They are there for my protection as well as your peace of mind. Yes, yes I know everything about the mission Twilight. Just promise me while I'm gone you will take care of yourself and girls, please?” Discord asked as he offered his claw to Twilight.

Twilight reach out and place her hoof in Discord outstretched claw before looking up at him. “I promise you I will. I have another promise to keep. I need to tell something very important to an exceptional mare.” Twilight said softly as she filled her horn with magic.

Discord in response filled his claw with his chaotic magic. In seconds it began to glow a soft swirl changing rainbow colors. Moments later the magic that filled Twilight horn flowed out of the keratin appendage and down her foreleg into her hoof making it glow a soft purple. When the two magicks touched they slowly swirled together creating spiral of pulsing white magic in the space between hoof and claw. Slowly with a steady and practiced voice Twilight began the spell to connect herself to Discord magical. As the spell words drift out into the room Twilight's eyes change form her soft violet to solid white. In response to the spell Discord's magic started to move up Twilight's foreleg.

At the half way point in the Spell Discord began his part as Twilight's voiced fade out. As the ancient words of power filled the room in Discord deep baritone the walls seemed to vibrate from the resonance of the two immortal casters arcane power. Slowly Discord eyes turned from yellow with red pupils to a solid white as Twilight's magic began to move up his arm. All of the ponies in the room fell silent as the watched the exchange of power as a deep bond of magic formed and the casters heart became connect to one another. In that moment Discord's could feel Twilight's magical core as well a the swirl of feelings and thoughts running through her mind. The spell was near completion as both casters took on the glow of the others magic tinted with the color of their own. In the final moment of spell both Discord and Twilight voice rang out in unison, “Magic to magic, Caster to Caster, our hearts and minds are one. We are of one soul and one magic until the contract is broken or the mission is complete. So sayth the pact of Caster to Caster!”

In a flash of lavender light the pact was made connecting Discord and Twilight together as one magical being with two forms. In the final moment both Discord and Twilight saw a flash of swirling blueish white light form beyond the Ether. Seconds later they heard a soft female voice crying for them to stop, to turn back before it was too late. The blueish white light of the vision vanished turning into a dark red mist as the first voice cut out. After the first voice fade away a second more powerful but female voice could be heard laughing darkly. The laughter abruptly stopped as a large claw seemed to reach out of the mystical vision toward the two casters before they broke contact with each other with scream. Both the alicorn and draconequus were staggering back away from each other a few steps as they rubbing their temples trying to clear their heads of the pain from the vision.

“What in the nine levels of Tartarus was that? What was that thing? It was reaching out from beyond the Ether to get at us. Nothing but.... nothing but an Over Go... No nothing can do that, nothing! Not even I can do that and I'm chaos incarnate. What was that thing and why was it...?” Discord said in a shaky voice as he closed his eyes to clear his double vision.

Twilight was stand still on shaky hooves several steps away from Discord with her eyes closed, wings spread as she panted hard. Several ponies rush over to help but Twilight waved them away before she opened her eyes. “I'm fine my little ponies don't worry. I will be alright there was a lot of magic transferred between the two us. So it will take some time for us to adjust to being linked like this.” Twilight lied knowing full well that the spell shouldn't have effect them like it had.

“But Princess Twilight, Lord Discord spoke of something reaching for the two you. We should run some tests on you and Lord Discord.” One of the ponies said but Twilight dismissed his concerns.

“There is no time for that right now. Discord and I will spoke on this matter later. I have another pressing matter to attend to. After that matter is resolved you make run as many tests on me as you wish my little ponies.” Twilight said softly to her research team and hoped they wouldn't object.

“Princess Twilight this is highly irregular but I know that you will not let us argue you in to in-action. So I request that you take Clear Thought and Sweet Memory with you to monitor you for any side effects. This way we can prepare for the tests and be updated if anything happens to you. Is this fair Princess?” Precious Metal asked.

Twilight was going to argue but she felt Discord thoughts stir within her mind. She heard him ask her to just agree and go to Pinkie's side, that time was running out. Twilight wanted to tell Discord to mind his own business on the Pinkie issue but she felt his sadness over the situation. Rather than hurt the draconequus feelings more Twilight agreed to his and Precious Metal requests.

After a few arrangements were made for several tests to be ran on Twilight when she returned and a few scans ran on Discord before his departure both Twilight and Discord said their goodbyes. With that out the way the two immortals were off on their respective missions. One was going to say farewell to a dear loved one, the other was going to find a way to save his loved ones.

************

Twilight stared out of the simple unmarked carriage window at the surrounding countryside and the mineral rich salt flats in the southwest of Equestria. The sight of the open desert landscape near Appleloosa would have been something to stir up Twilight passion for giving out guidebook information but the trip itself had Twilight's mind elsewhere.

Sitting next to Twilight was, a yellow coated unicorn mare with blue and light green mane and tail wearing a yellow and white vest with a red rose on the pocket, Clear Thought. She silently watched Twilight looking for any abnormal behavior but was having trouble discerning any side effects from the spell ritual from Twilight's saddened state over the situation with Pinkie Pie.

Pinkie Pie was the only thing on Twilight's mind and everything else wasn't even a close second place or even third. The lavender alicorn had left so much unsaid and now she didn't have any time at all to say any of the things she needed to. That's the funny thing about having Time over Legacy, you forget that you may not have the time to say I love you to the ponies you love. This had happened to Twilight. She had put off telling Pinkie Pie the truth of her feelings and now she had to say I love just before she said farewell forever.

Twilight gave a heavy sigh as she continued to stare out the window. If it wasn't for the fact the others had insisted they go along and Applejack didn't hate teleporting so much the grief stricken and distressed alicorn would already have been at Pinkie's side. Traveling by train then by carriage was taking far too long, just so she could be watched for magical feedback side effects, Twilight thought. In fact Twilight figured she could have flown there faster than they were currently moving and would have only had to deal with Rainbow Dash and several Pegasus guards tagging along.

Applejack could see that Twilight was not taking the news or the long slow trip well. It was only a matter of time before Twilight would be once again be shut up in her study. Only this time she would have a whole research team of ponies Tartarus bent on getting the Mad Princess what she wanted. Discord was gone for the time being and none of the others wanted to call on Celestia or Luna for help. That only left Princess Cadence and Shining Armor for help. Applejack figured she might as well send word to the Crystal Empire once all of this unpleasantness was over and get ready for the worst if they lost Pinkie.

“Twi you got ta calm down, sugarcube. We'll be there in an hour or so.” Applejack said to the sullen alicorn. “Ya got ta know that Pinkie only did this cause she didn't want ta burden anypony.”

“Applejack I'm not mad about her going back to the rock farm. In fact I expected she would want to be there in her final moments. It is the place where she began and holds a lot of memories for her, no the the trip is not what has me frustrated right now.” Twilight said simply before she let out another sigh.

“Then what has ya lower than a snake's belly Twilight? It can be the fact we have ta go to the rock farm so we can take Pinkie back to the castle ta help her, is it?” Applejack asked worried at why Twilight was so distressed and evasive with her answers.

“No, Applejack, I'm not upset about going to the rock farm. But you're mistaken about why we are going the rock farm though.” Twilight said softly with little to no emotion left in her voice. The Alicorn of Friendship had reached her limit emotional and she was ready to break. “I'm not going to the rock farm to take Pinkie back home with us. I'm going to say goodbye to her.”

“What are you saying Twilight? Of course we are taking Pinkie back home to Ponyville to give all of those magical treatments you and Discord have created.” Rainbow Dash said with more force the she intended. “We going to save her, you said that you would save all of us, remember that? That's really why we are going, right? We going to save Pinkie Pie, right?”

Twilight didn't even turn her head toward the rainbow maned mare before she answered her. “No, we are not.” Twilight said flatly. “If I had found out about her condition a week ago I could have put her in magical stasis to prolong her life until we found a cure. I planned that for all of you once we got close to the 'Zero Point' in your timelines. But that's not possible with Pinkie, not now. I can't save her no matter what I do. There is nothing that can be done to save Pinkie even with the nearly infinite magical power I have at my hooves. I'm powerless to stop time for her, all I can do is be by her side until the very last moment.”

“WHAT! That's a lie. You have to be lying!” Rainbow Dash yelled as she pointed a shaking hoof at Twilight.

Twilight slowly turn around letting every pony in the carriage see her face. All eyes were on the Princess of Friendship's sad face, they all saw the tears that spilled endlessly down her cheeks as she wept. They could see her pain, they could feel the sadness and dread of the situation thick in the air around the lavender alicorn. It was in the moment that everypony in the carriage knew that Twilight was serious about what she had said. No pony wanted to believe it but the truth was Pinkie was going die and there was nothing anypony could do to stop it.

Rainbow Dash stared at Twilight as tears ran down the cyan mare's cheeks. Of all the crazy things Twilight had done over the years not once had she ever given up or accepted fate as it was laid out before her. This time however she had done just that. Twilight had given up and was just going to let Pinkie Pie die. How could she? How dare she? What was wrong with Twilight? All of those and more questions pounded around in Rainbow Dash skull before she couldn't take it anymore.

“No I won't accept this, do you hear me! I won't accept you just giving up on Pinkie like this! Twilight I know you love Pinkie Pie. Hell we all knew that she loved you for years. So fight to keep her, to save her. Don't let Pinkie die.” Rainbow Dash pleaded.

“Don't you think I know that Dash! I don't want any of you to die like this but what would you have me do?” Twilight shouted back as more tears ran down her face, “I've loved her for the last 135 years but could never bring myself to say it. I didn't even want to believe it myself so I just buried those feelings in my own mind. I thought I had forever to be with all of you. I thought I would always be with Pinkie so I would never need to say I love you out loud. I was wrong, so very wrong about it all. Now I don't have any time to say what I need to say or to do what I need to do. I won't make her suffer just to save my own heart or yours. I love her too much for that. I will let her go on her own terms, I will just hold her until the end. This is what I will do for Pinkie Pie, the mare I love.”

Everypony in the the carriage froze after Twilight finished speaking. No pony knew what to say or do after that. The only sound in the carriage was Twilight sobs and the everypony elses slow breathing. Several minutes of silence later the only sound in the carriage was Rainbow Dash trying to open the carriage door to get out. Applejack snapped out of her daze when she heard Dash trying to pull the locked door open with frantic shaking hooves.

“Dash what in the hay are ya doin'?” “Applejack asked as she tried to stop the shaking cyan mare.

“No Applejack don't try and stop me! I won't go and watch Pinkie die, I refuse to say goodbye like this. I can't do this, I won't do this! I don't want to watch both Pinkie and Twilight die in each others arms!” Dash shouted before she got the lock undone and open the carriage and take to the sky in a blur rainbow color.

Applejack just stared as the door flapped in the wind about to be torn off until it was enclosed in the dark blue glow of magic. The door was pulled closed then locked again as the dark blue unicorn mare with a sliver and white mane and tail looked every pony in the carriage over.

“Are you alright Miss Applejack? Did you get hit with any debris when the door opened?” Sweet Memory asked Applejack.

“No... uh... Ah'm fine. Ah'm just a little shook up is all. Ya'll should check on Twilight. She'll be needin' ya more than me real soon.” Applejack said softly and she processed what had just happened.

Sweet Memory just nodded before turning to help Clear Thought comfort Twilight. The Princess of Friendship was in a very emotional and agitated state and if she stayed like that for to long she was in risk of having a nervous breakdown. It took the two unicorns several minutes to calm Twilight down but they finally got her to stop crying. The whole time this was all going on only one passenger in the carriage had remain silent, unmoving, just watching as everything unfolded.

Steel Heart sat there next the the window just noting everything, feeling that it wasn't his place to interfere just yet. No, he was just waiting for moment when he would be need to offer his words, his magic, and his strong back for what was to come. Soon would come the time to say farewell and bury a trusted friend, a beloved cousin, a mare loved so deeply that it hurt to even think about. Steel Heart sat quietly waiting for the time that he would need to become the emotional rock that his Princess and her friends would need to tether to, to keep them from being lost in a sea of despair and uncertainty.

In only a half hour would the carriage reach its destination and then a farewell to Pinkamena Diane Pie would begin...