> End of Loyalty
>  by SteffaniStar
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 1
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was a sunny day in Equestria. The sun was shining and you could feel happiness in the air. Poines laughed and enjoyed the weather. 


Twilight and the rest waited for Rainbow Dash at the train station. Two months ago, she fulfilled her dream-she became a Wonderbolt. She is already promoted, and now she is the best flier, along with Spitfire. Her friends followed her at her performances, the last one was in Las Pegagus, where the Rainbow was in the center of the show, and in the end was a Sonic Rainboom. You could hear crowd cheering for her as the rainbow was splashing over the sky. It was that moment in which Rainbow felt pride and her friends a couple tears of happiness. After all that hard training, she finaly got a month off. Her friends can't wait for her because Pinkie already planned to throw her a surprise party, and, of course, they need to catch up with all the news.


But, in the morning when she needed to come, Twilight received a short letter from her. It was very suspicious, but the only thing she could do is hope everything is okay. Rainbow only explained that she's needed three more days. Everypony was shocked, especially Pinkie Pie. It looked like she'll explode, but, somehow, she made it. It's practically a miracle.


When the train finaly arrived, her friends were waiting patiently. They couldn't find her, but then Pinkie screamed:
"IT'S HER!!! IT'S RAINBOW!!! THERE SHE IS!!!" she jumped, pointing at the other side of the train.
Rainbow didn't look so happy at first, but when she saw her friends, the smile shun on her face. 


"Hey guys!" Rainbow said, running towards them.


In less than a second, Pinkie jumped at her:
"YOU'RE BAAAAACK!!!" Pinkie hugged her so tight, Rainbow could barely breathe.


"Pinkie...I can't... breathe..." Rainbow squeeked, trying to get out of Pinkie's embrace, but Pinkie didn't care.


"I MISSED YOU SOOOO MUCH!!! Even tho I saw you, and that Sonic Rainboom was AMAZIIIING!!" Pinkie yelled, and all the ponies at the train station looked at her.


"Pinkie... please..." Rainbow again tried to escape, until finaly Pinkie let her go.


"Okey dokey lokey!" 


Rainbow was gasping for air, and when she breath a couple of times, she was able to speak normally.


"We watched all your performances and you were absolutely stunning! Oh my, I still can't believe you are Wonderbolt!" Rarity said, and tears of hapliness blurred her vision.


"I'm so proud of you, sugarcube" Applejack added, and they all hugged.


"Thanks, and I really like the new Wonderbolt flying costume!" Rainbow flew, showing off.


"It does need a bit of fixing, they could always go with something a bit more modern, but if you like it, I also like it" Rarity said and started thinking about better designs for the costume.


Twilight was still carefully looking at Rainbow, but it looked like someone inflated all her happiness from a moment ago like a balloon. Twilight thought it's not the best time to ask her, but she needed to. She was worrying too much to keep it in.


"Rainbow, would you tell us why were you needed three more days?" She asked, but with a calm voice, so Rainbow wouldn't get angry. 


"Yea, I barely survived! Don't ever do this again, okay?" Pinkie was jumping around her.


"Oh, I...I... um... I-I had some job with Spitfire. You know, being a new member of the team and that" She was trying to come up with an excuse. She thought they believed her, but Twilight didn't. She knew she was hiding something. She couldn't keep her mouth shut, so she asked again:


"Are you sure that's the reason? You don't look so happy, and you were talking about that Wonderbolts since the first day I met you" She worried. She tried to comfort herself thinking it's nothing, but it didn't work.


"You know you can tell us what's troubling you" AJ added, smiling at her.


"I know it's hard for you darling, but you'll feel better" Rarity added and hugged Rainbow. She, and all of them, knew very well how hard it was for her to open up, and she wouldn't do it often.


"I'm fine" Rainbow shortly replied. She was holding back the tears and covering them up with anger.


The rest looked at Twilight. She was thinking if it's better to keep asking her or just accept her reply before it turns to fight. Actually, either way, it won't end good.


"Aw, don't be sad Dashie!" Pinkie hugged her, but, this time, Rainbow pulled herself out of her hooves. She turned her head and closed her eyes.


"I'm fine" she again replied, but this time, she sounded angry. That was not a good sign.


"Rainbow, please..." Twilight added, trying to avoid the fight, but she couldn't. Fluttershy noticed that, and tried to calm thinngs down.


"Oh dear... please... if you would just-" Fluttershy whispered, too afraid to raise the voice. She was cut off in a mid-sentence by an angry Rainbow. Fluttershy then hid behing Applejack and Rarity.


"I said I'M FINE!" She shouted and took off to the sky, leaving behind her worried friends and a trace of a disappearing, fading rainbow.


"Rainbow, wait!" Twilight spread her wings, but Applejack stopped her.


"Let her go. Maybe it will be better if we just let her calm down" 


"Did you see her? Oh, I've never seen her like that" Fluttershy whispered, still behing AJ and Rarity.


"Me neither. What happened to her?" Rarity asked, looking at the sky.


"I don't know, but I agree with Applejack, I think she only needs to rest" Twilight explained, but she and the rest, knew very well that there's much more to it than just "rest".


"She's hiding something, but I am up for the challenge!" Pinkie put on her hat, trying to play detective.


"Oh, but what am I going to do with all the conffeti and balloons?" She added. She was planning to throw Rainbow a surprise party.


"Don't worry, Pinkie. She will come to your party" Twilight comforted Pinkie.


"Well, as we wait for Rainbow, you could eat some cake in the meantime!" Pinkie jumped. Yes, she made an extra cake. You could never have enough cake.


"That sounds wonderful!" Twilight added and they went to the Sugarcube Corner.


Meanwhile, Rainbow was in her bed, looking at the old, and a bit of dirty Wonderbolt flag. That was the flag she used to carry around when she was just a filly.
Tears blurred her vision, and they were about to fall down her cheeks any moment, but she didn't let them.


"I didn't have to shout at them like that. They were just worried about me. And I left them alone at the train station. That's not what a loyal friend should do."


The first tear fell down, and she wiped her, angry at herself.


"I'm sorry, my friends, but I need to make it through this alone. To prove I'm tough. To prove myself, and to others, that I can handle anything!"


She knew it was a bad idea, but she was stubborn. As soon as she said those words, she started crying.


"C'mon Dash, keep it together! You can do this!" She said, but when she looked at that old flag, she sobbed.


"Okay, I need to calm down" Dash said, washing her face. After a few minutes, when she was completely sure there are no signs of tears, she looked at the framed picture of her friends.


"I really should go and apologize to them, before it's too late" Rainbow said, but they couldn't still be at the train station. Where could they be?


"Sugarcube Corner! Pinkie is definetly going to throw me a party, she always does" she thought and flew over to Sugarcube Corner. 


When she got there, everypony yelled "SURPRISE!" and there were decorations everywhere. 


"You like the party? Come on, try some cake!" Pinkie jumped. Twilight and the rest followed Pinkie.


"Look, I'm sorry I acted like that. It's just that... thing weren't going so well the last few days and..."


"It's okay, we understand. Do you want to talk about it?" They said, hugging and comforting her.


"I'm fine, really. It's not that bad" 


"NOW LET'S PARTYY" Pinkie said, and turned on Rainbow's favourite song.

> Chapter 2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The party finished late at night, and Luna was slowly lowing the moon, allowing few peeks of Celestia's sun to peek behind the hills. 


Rainbow had to admit that this was the best party ever. Well, every Pinkie's party is the best party.
She was very tired, but before she went to bed, she packed some of her things in her saddlebag, "cleaned" the mess in the room, throwing away all useless papers and bags and whatever things that were just blocking the way. It was very weird of her to do that, but she decided to dedicate the next day to something very important, so she won't have any free time. 


She collapsed on a cloud bed and fell into a deep, resting dream.


Around noon, Pinkie invited all her friends to Sugarcube Corner to hang out and have fun, as usual.
Pinkie prepared nice drinks and cupcakes and set the table with the new, balloon themed cover she bought earlier. And, of course, she decorated the whole place.


The first one to show up was Applejack. She didn't have much chores to do so she was early.


"Hey Pinkie!" Applejack said, opening the door and looking around.


"Hey Applejack! So glad you could make it!" Pinkie immiediately jumped to her.


"Wow, this place looks absolutely wonderful! You decorated it this morning?" 


"Of course! Everything has to be perfect for my bestest friends!"


"Great party last night, Rainbow sure had a lot of fun"


Just as Pinkie was handling AJ the plate with cupcakes, Twilight and Rarity came in.


"Hey everypony! Wow, Pinkie, this place looks great!" Twilight said as she was amazed by the decorations.


"Luckily, I didn't have any special orders today, I'm so happy to be here. I wouldn't like to miss it!" Rarity places her hoof on Pinkie and smiled kindly.


"Are Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash coming? I would really like them to come so all of my best bestest friends would be here!" Pinkie was jumping around, screaming of happiness.


"Fluttershy will come but I'm not so sure about Rainbow. After that party last night, I bet she still isn't up yet" Twilight explained.


"It's okay! I forgive her! I'm so glad she had a fun time last night! I wish we could party every day! Now, feel free to have some cupcakes!" Pinkie said, holding up the plate with delicious cupcakes with colorful icing.
As they were enjoying themselves, the door opened wide and Fluttershy came in. She was a bit tired and started apologizing.


"I'm so sorry I'm late! Angel Bunny ran away again in the woods and I couldn't find him! I was so worried. It looked like he was chasing a shadow, he has been acting very weird last few days" Fluttershy explained with a worried voice.


"It's okay Fluttershy, but have you seen Rainbow Dash? I bet she's still sleeping" Twilight said, laughing a bit.


"I haven't seen her since the last night, I'm starting to worry" Rarity said, looking at Twilight.


"Actually, she just passed me. I saw her as I was flying over here, but she was weird. She had saddlebags, she was worried when she saw me. She looked like she was in a hurry, but she was flying slower than me. When I asked her where she was going, she just turned her head and left" Fluttershy explained.


"What? What is happening to her?" Applejack looked at Twilight.


"I don't know, but we need to figure this out. Everypony, we'll have to follow her, but be careful. If she doesn't want to tell us, we'll have to find out by ourselves!" Twilight said, rushing through the door.


"WAIT!!!" Pinkie yelled, as she was stuffing half of the cupcakes in her mouth and the rest in her mane.
They were rushing towards her house, hoping she isn't too far away, but they saw her flying in the opposite direction.


"Where is she going?" they were thinking, but none of them could come up with a reasonable explanation. Rainbow didn't notice them, which was also very strange. She could spot the tiniest details from a mile away, but now, she wasn't paying attention.


"She is flying to Canterlot! But why would she..." Rarity suddenly noticed, but was soon interupted by Applejack.


"It would be easier for her to just take the train, why would she fly?"
Twilight was trying to figure out and solve this mysterious situation, but she couldn't quite fit all in.
Why would Rainbow fly to Canterlot? What was she going to do there? Unless it was a Wonderbolts show, but she was on a break. Maybe it was some emergency Wonderbolts meeting? But the Princess would sure tell us. Wait, why would she tell anypony besides Dash, she's the Wonderbolt now. We don't have secrets... well, except Rainbow Dash!-the thoughts were racing through her mind. She was trying to solve a puzzle, but she failed everytime. Then she remembered...


"She's not flying to Canterlot. She's flying to Cloudsdale!" Twilight said to them.


"Why would you think that? Why would ever she go there?" Rarity was confused.


"Oh, I don't know. Her home is there, her family, the Wonderbolts, her old friends maybe? But, sure, WHY would she go there?" AJ angrily responded to Rarity.


When they left Ponyville, they had to stop. They hid behing the large bush, peeking through. Rainbow Dash landed. She didn't looked tired, but she was breathing heavily. She then mumbled something to herself, but the rest of the mane 6 couldn't hear it.


"Is she okay? Please tell me she's okay!" Fluttershy squeaked.


"Be quiet, we don't want her to spot us, but she looks fine" Twilight comforted Fluttershy.
Pinkie placed her hoof on her mouth, because she had to keep herself from shouting. Rarity was also holding her, hoping she wouldn't give them away, but it happened.
Pinkie couldn't hold it much longer. She then screamed, almost at the top of her lungs.


"DASHIE, ARE YOU OKAY?!"


Pinkie! Shhh! We have to make sure she..." Twilight and the rest immediately turned to her, but it was too late. Second after, they heard Rainbow's raspy shocked voice and she turned and looked them.


"Pinkie?"

> Chapter 3
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Pinkie?" Rainbow froze at the spot. She was shocked, and her heart almost stopped. At first she thought she was screaming from Sugarcube Corner, because Pinkie's voice can sometimes be so loud it could break mountains, but when she turned her head, she saw hairs from her poofy, easy recognizable dark pink mane. No, she wasn't at Sugarcube Corner. She was mere meters behind her.
How could she be so swept away in her thoughts that she couldn't even tell somepony is following her? She could spot a fly and hear Twilight's crash from a mile away, but now Pinkie was mere meters behind her. She almost started panicking, but she let out a big sigh and somehow put her heartbeat back to a normal level again.

Twilight and the rest didn't move an inch. While others were looking angrily at Pinkie, thoughts raced through Twilight's mind. She started sweating, her brain blocked and she felt like she was caught in a trap. The only solution she could think of was to somehow send Pinkie to Dash, distracting her while others could run, but it was unfair. Pinkie would take all the yelling and anger, while it was Twilight that made them to follow Rainbow and ruined Pinkie's cupcake afternoon.
Then, she thought of something. It will be risky, but it was worth a try.

Just as Rainbow looked at Pinkie, a huge purple aura surrounded the bush Pinkie was hiding behind. Pinkie's mane slowly started to fade away, then reappear again, until a small explosion bursted, launching Twilight few meters back. She didn't do the spell correctly. Rainbow saw them. It was over. Running and hiding was worthless, their cover was destroyed by Pinkie's voice that could be heard even at the ends of Equestria.
She coughed a bit and stood up, ready to take all Rainbow's fear.

Rainbow's shock was even bigger now. How could her friends do this to her? How would they feel if they wanted to just spend the day on something... something so important that you would dedicate a whole day to it? I don't think they even realize what they just did to her.

"Twilight?! You're here too?" Rainbow looked at Twilight's sad eyes. Twilight was still cleaning all that ash on her fur from the failed spell.
Just about when she wanted to speak, Applejack, along with Rarity and Fluttershy, walked to her.

"We're all here" Applejack spoke, while Fluttershy was still hiding behind Rarity. She looked really worried but she was too afraid to speak, because she knew very well how Rainbow can be, and how angry she must be right now. She just hoped Rainbow could calm down and let them speak, but her thoughts were shortly cut off.

At this point, Rainbow couldn't even think right. How could her friends do this to her? No, they can't be called friends anymore. No, not after this. All her anger and sorrow was cooking up in her, but anger took over her, and she yelled, her raspy voice stung her friends' hearts like arrows.

"You were following me!? How could you even think of-" She started shouting, but she was shortly cut off by Twilight and her desperate attempts to set things right, but she couldn't. Nothing can't correct the mistake they just made.

"Rainbow, please. You have to calm down and unders-"

"Calm down!? How could you possibly expect me to calm down! Do you even realize what've you just done!? What have you just done to me!" she shouted, and despite her rage, her eyes started to water a bit.

"Look, we realized our mistake and we...You need to calm down and listen to us. We are really worried about you" Rarity and Applejack explained, but at this point all they could do is try to survive through Rainbow's lound and angry words and regret their mistakes.

Something snapped in Rainbow and warm chills ran through her body. Her shadow darkened for a moment, she felt a sharp pain in her head, but it was over soon. She couldn't take any more of their pathetic "we are worried for you" excuses. All the anger that cooked in her, all the words came to her mouth, but she loved her friends more, and just swallowed back half of her rage.

"I don't want to hear any more of your excuses! I know you just want to save yourselves! And there is a reason why I didn't tell you anything! And I won't! And you just have to let me be and get over it!" she raged back and flew over to the cloud nearest to her. A few tears ran over her cheeks but she quickly wiped them so nopony could see them.

A dark shadow ran over Twilight, her head ached. She was now angry. Nothing works. Rainbow is very stubborn and she won't give up, so maybe it is time for some... extreme measurements. She had it enough. She couldn't take her arrogance and selfishness anymore. She screamed at the cloud Dash was on.

"Fine then! Leave! Be alone! We don't give a flying feather about you! I don't know who could even care the slightest about you, you arrogant, selfish, stubborn pegasus!"

"Twilight, I know she's not the best but stop! You have to stop!" AJ screamed, but Twilight ignored her and continued.

"I don't even know why are we friends! If you weren't Element of Loyalty, I'd probably kick you out! All you do is make fun of other, bully poor Fluttershy and ramble on and on about your stupid Wonderbolts! You don't care about others so why should we about you!?"

"Twilight, stop!" Rarity and Fluttershy spoke up to her, but Twilight pushed them aside, her eyes looking almost like the ones Nightmare Moon had.

"Leave her alone girls, because that's what she is! Pathetic, miserable and alone! Noone cares about you or your Wonderbolt career! Noone cares about your flying tricks! Noone cares about your bragging! And noone cares about YOU! And I don't want to have some arrogant, brash Pegasus for a friend! And I won't! You're not our friend anymore! And I don't care if Equestria tears apart, you're not our friend anymore!" Twilight yelled, almost at the top of her lungs, while Rainbow, strangely, remained quiet on the cloud, untill the last sentence.

"TWILIGHT!" the rest shouted, pushing her over to snap herself out of it, because this wasn't her. Princess of Friendship would never say such things, especially not to her BEST friend. She wasn't normal. She was... she was evil. What was happening to her? 
When Twilight realized what has she just done, she fell on her knees and started sobbing. She wanted to say sorry, to say anything, but her tears drowned her words.
Rainbow finally spoke, in a very calm tone, tears now falling freely. It was time to reveal them her backstory.

"You really wanna know what I've been struggling with my whole life? Why am I so arrogant? Why I want to be a Wonderbolt?" Rainbow calmly spoke. Twilight could only look at her, but she was too ashamed, so she turned her head aside, still sobbing.
Rainbow let out a sigh, and continued.

"One of the reasons why I wanted to be a Wonderbolt, aside because it was my dream to be the best flyer, was because I thought their life was perfect. The fame, the stunts, the skills... and a lot of friends. I've never had any friends, except Fluttershy. And ever since I did that Sonic Rainboom, more ponies were hanging around with me and I thought... I belonged somewhere. But everytime I'm not around, they find somepony else to hang around with, and I'm always left in the dust. I started saying to them that I'm awesome and cool and I was doing those cool tricks to prove them I'm the best, but more importantly, to comfort myself. Since it helped me train for the Wonderbolts, it was even better. Everytime they would tease me, I'd do that same thing. Cloudstale ponies weren't very friendly. Then it practically became the part of my character. I had nopony to tell me that was wrong, except Flutters, but I sometimes didn't let her speak. I was trying to get friends by arrogance so desperately, but, as always, I was left in the dust"

Rainbow took a short pause to wipe her tears and look at her friends, who were sobbing just like her. A tiny spark of happiness could be heard, but later, it was blown away like a lifeless leaf in autumn.

"But everything changed when I moved to Ponyville. All that joy, happines, friendship... I started making some new friends, but when I met you girls, and when I went with Twilight that very first day... I felt a spark. I felt the true friendship between you, something I've never had. I helped you that day because I saw the true friend standing in front of me. I saw the friendship you girls had. I realized Fluttershy's advices and lessons. I realized what is like... to have a friend. And now, after everything we've been through, you tell me our friendship is over?" Rainbow said to her, and she felt the half of her pain from her heart disappear. She now finally revealed her painful, broken past she's been hiding for so long.

Twilight's tears didn't allow her to talk. Her heart was now broken as Rainbow's is. She felt like all the pain from Rainbow came on her back, her regret only growing bigger.

"I'm sorry. It wasn't-" She only quietly whispered, but Rainbow cut her off. Her face turned angry and she wiped away all the tears.

"You've said enough" She said and flew away into the sky, leaving only a trace of a disappearing rainbow.

Twilight and the rest watched hopelessly, unable to do anything, to stop her... to apologize. They just now realized what that tough mare was hiding behid that powerful magenta eyes. It was her past she was running away from. Her heart was shattered into countless pieces, like a broken glass. Her scars didn't heal. They were just pushed over in a deepest corner of her heart, hoping to be forgotten, but they can't. Nothing with cuts that deep can be so easily forgotten. All the hurt, all the tears, fails... she was covering it for so long because she didn't wanted everypony to see how hurt she was. She was screaming for help, but nopony could help her.

Twilight finally calmed herself down and managed to squeak a few words, but whatever she does now will be for nothing. The damage has been made, deal with the consequences.

"I... I didn't know... why didn't she... how could I say those things?" Twilight was feeling as she was a monster. Nothing but a cruel monster that just hurt one of her best friends.
"I thought she was like that long, long ago but..."

"I... I didn't know she was dealing with all that stuff...all alone" AJ took off her hat while looking at the clear sky, Rainbow's colors fade away not long ago.

"Something's wrong, I can sense it... it's not just Rainbow. We need to find her!" Twilight stood up, her legs shaking, and spread her wings, preparing to take off, but Rarity gently put a hoof on her shoulder.

"I think she needs some time alone. You know how hard it is for her to open her feelings, even in front of her best friends. I think she just needs to rethink some stuff... and we don't want to make her even angrier. We already made things bad, please Twilight..." Rarity looked calmly at her, her deep blue eyes comforting Twilight's purple eyes, full of sorrow.

"You're right, Rarity. I've been also dealing with some stuff... and I know how it feels. Sometimes, you just have to work it out with only yourself" AJ said, her eyes tearing up a bit, but she managed to hide that. Thoughts of her parents' death left a painful scar not only on her heart, but on the hearts of the whole Apple family. She had her brother, family and friends to help her out, but nopony helped Rainbow. 
Just the thoughts of that made her tears flow, but because she learnt to deal with it long ago, she managed to pull herself up very quickly.

Everypony put a hoof on Applejack, comforting her, she just smiled gently.
Rarity turned to Fluttershy, who now wasn't hiding behind her, and asked her kindly.

"Did you know that Rainbow was dealing with all that? Did she told you? I know that you were giving her some advices about friendship and her arrogance but..." 

Fluttershy was sad, Pinkie comforting her with a warm smile and a hug, but her mane wasn't poofy as usual. Rainbow's sorrow deflated it like a balloon.

"I... I didn't... she never told me... I could've helped her..." Fluttershy was swept away in her thoughts, but they were soon interupted with her loud scream.
> Chapter 4
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Fluttershy!?" Fluttershy's scream froze her friends' blood. They reacted in less than a second, and what they saw, was the scene from their worst nightmares.

When they turned their heads, they saw a black mist forming just mere meters in front of them. It was ghostly looking, bit sparkling, but it was darker than the night itself. It was darkness, covering half of the ground they were standing on, circling around them. Its presence, and its evil soul was scaring them to their bones. They didn't know what it was, or how it got there. Was that just a prank? Some funny magical spells unicorns wanted to prank them with? Maybe it were just some school ponies that tried to practise for their show or something?
But they soon found out that it wasn't just a prank. Oh, it was so very real, and they didn't know in what danger they were in.

Twilight quickly reacted. She didn't wait a moment. That black mist reminded her of Sombra, and she immieiately thought it was him, seeking revenge. She didn't know how can he return, because he was destroyed by the Crystal Heart's spell but she didn't have time to think about that. She needed to protect her friends, and was all it mattered. She pushed over all of her sadness from earlier, and boosted all her anger to her horn. Her horn glowed with bright purple aura and she prepared for the magic blast and magic shield.

She prepared the spells and fired off. The light from her horn grew lighter and lighter, but instead of a powerful magic blast, she shot a few tiny sparkles, little drops of magic.

"What?! Why doesn't my magic work?! What did you do?!" Twilight screamed. She was confused, and her fear began to grow. She couldn't protect herself nor her friends, and Sombra has returned. He will likely try to take over Equestria once again, and she couldn't let that happen. She looked at her friends, their faces were also painted with fear. She knew that was Sombra's weapon-fear. Our deepest fears. It was also the most powerful weapon because the fear is the most difficult to defeat. You freeze, you scream, you sweat, you panic, you try to run but nothing works. She spread her large alicorn wings, covering their friends behind them, trying to protect them, but how could just a few feathers defeat him?

One thing that was strangely odd for Twilight was the question-why would Sombra go straight to her? Well, the Crystal Empire is under the Crystal Heart's spell, but why didn't he go straight to Canterlot, to Celestia and Luna? Maybe he is too weak, and he needs to gain more strenght so he could even think of overthrowing them, so he would naturally go to Twilight. That has to be it. Sombra has returned. It was no time to lose.

"You were defeated once, and you will be defeated once again, Sombra! You won't win this time! The Crystal Empire has fallen once, it will not fall again!" Twilight screamed at the shadow, but it swiftly moved around them, like a predator trying to hunt his prey.
Twilight's words were soon followed by a maniac laugh, and evil eyes peeking from the darknes. But, surprise, surprise, that wasn't Sombra.

The eyes weren't like the ones Sombra had. They were dark blue, like the night, with a burning red flame in the middle, burning as white as the sun, followed by a trace of dark grey, almost identical black sparkly mist. Just the look that creature gave them ran chills through their bodies. They recognized a dark black horn with the red blade at the top. The creature spreaded its huge black sharp wings with the sharp blades at the ends, hurting anything that would stand close to them. Its mane was a floating red flame which burned their eyes just by looking at it.

As they looked in horror, fear taking their voices away, the creature formed its shape, wiping away the rest of the mist like dust. Behind it, an army of black unicorns, similar to this alicorn, was forming. Creature gave them a smile, revealing its sharp teeth. They looked as if one move could trigger them, and they would ride into destruction, killing anything and leaving nothing behind but a lifeless wasteland.

They were trapped. They couldn't just fight it, it is too powerful. Twilight's thoughts that raced through her mind were shortly cut off by the deep, raspy voice. It was coming from that creature.

"Oh, my dear, sorry to disappoint you, but I am not King Sombra. I am the one who will free the banished ones"

Moment later, black mist caught them, and they blacked out.

----------------------------------------------------

Canterlot was peaceful that day, but the streets were busy, as usual. The ponies were joyfully chatting, visiting shops, looking around and enjoying themselves in the nice sunny day. Celestia's sun was shining all over Canterlot, there was not a single cloud at the sky.
While others were rushing their way or just eating some cake in the many shops of Canterlot, Celestia was calmly sitting on her throne, which she shared with her beloved young sister, princess Luna. She was signing some of the papers on her desk and enjoying in the beautiful view through the large windows.
Luna has been flying and chatting with ponies in Canterlot for a few hours, and Celestia knew she should be back soon, so she waited for her patiently.

She decided to take a short break and go for a walk through the long hallways. As she was looking over the large windows, each one of them brought a memory to her, another saved day. She saw Discord first. She remembered when she and Luna first found the Tree of Harmony, the Elements, and her faitful student, now a princess, Twilight Sparkle and her brave friends.
She walked over to Sombra. She remembered giving Twilight the test, and how Spike saved the Empire. That moment she knew, her student was ready. One more saved day that could've been a total destruction of Equestria.
Then, she walked to the one where Nightmare Moon was. It brought her a bit more bad memories of Luna's jealousy, but how she was now-she truly changed. She was different than she was before. She no longer was that evil jealousy spirit, she was now just her younger sister she, and everypony else, adored so much.
Then, she reached the end of the hallway. There was nothing but a plain window, with few black cracks.

She knew very well why it was plain. Twilight used to ask her that a lot, but she just told her she didn't like its position and it was broken couple of times, so she eventually left it like that, but both Celestia and Luna knew why it was plain.
It was the villain Ceelstia didn't want to remember, nor had its reminder, because it brought so many destruction, anger and sorrow. It was the villain that could not be destroyed, only pernamently kept away, because its power grew larger an larger every single day.
Celestia turned her head, trying to look away from it, but she couldn't erase the memories of it.

She turned around to walk back to her throne room, but then, out of nowhere, she heard a whisper. She quickly turned around, but there was nothing. She thought it was all in her head, so she kept going, comforting herself, but she knew very well it wasn't just "nothing".

"Well, well, look who's here" she heard a whisper. She immieiately recognized who that was, but she just remained quiet. The only thing she could do now is hope Luna will be here soon to end this nightmare, but this nightmare will never end. And it was all her fault. 

"The great and wise and powerful Celestia. Oh, boy, it's been a long time" the voice was deep, a bit raspy, but Celestia knew what that was. She didn't move the slightest. She started preparing for the river of insults and lies that will soon flow.

Luna, please come home, Celestia thought, hoping that her sister might hear her, but Luna was the Princess of the night and dreams, not thoughts.

"Powerful? I don't think so" Celestia's rage grew as she was looking around, trying to find the shadow, the mist, but they were hiding very well. It was very easy to find them. They have remained hidden for centuries.

"Oh, right. She can never handle the problem herself. She always sends her little, so called "friends" to do all the dirty work. While they fight for their lives, she eats!" Celestia put her hooves around her ears not to hear the whispers, but they only grew louder. It was all in her head, it was all in her head, it was all in head...

"She doesn't even know their names, yet she pretends to love them" It's not true, it's not true, Celestia thought. She was very weak when it came to taking insults. She was very kind and wise, but she could stand very long when somepony was mocking her.

"The only thing she knows is get the frickin' "magic stuff that shoots rainbows" and POW! The villain is turned into a flower for the next thousand years"

"If she just payed a bit more attention to Luna, she could've saved her from the deep depression and loneliness!"

"Stop!" Celestia begged, but the whispers now turned to screams.

"I bet she doesn't even care for her student! Nor her friends who are ready to die for her, yet she didn't even say them a frickin' "Thank you"! You owe them your life AND your kingdom!"

"Stop! Please!" Celestia now started crying. Unfortunately, all that they were saying was truth, the hard truth she couldn't hide or deny anymore.

"I like this one: "Are you feeling lonely again, my sister?" She has been on the moon for a thousand years, what do you expect!" it screamed, soon followed by a maniac laughter.

"I bet she can't even protect her "friends" nor her kingdom! She never could and she never will!"

"STOP! I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!" Celestia now sobbed, clutched on the floor, begging for it to stop.

Minutes later, her sister Luna finally came, and she was shocked when she saw her sister sobbing.
She dropped all the bags with things she bought and ran to her. She hugged her tightly, comforting her and humming a soft lullaby their parents sang them when they were little.

"Is everything okay, my sister?" Luna asked. She was very worried because she has never seen her sister like that.

Celestia only whispered a few words.

"It's back"

Luna knew what her sister was reffering to. She knew what horrible lies they must've told her, and jugding by the state her sister is in, it must've been something about her or Twilight's friends. She was always sensitive when it came to talk about that topics, especially Luna's past and her banishment.

They swiftly ran back to the throne room, loudly opening the door and telling the guards to leave them alone. Luna quickly took a quell and a scroll and started writing to Twilight and her friends. Celestia calmed herself down, hugging Luna tightly.

"They said all those horrible things to me... I thought I went insane..." Luna was comforting her, singing her a lullaby. She sent the scroll and waited.

-------

Luna started rising her moon, and the calming night fell, but still no words from Twilight. Luna has already suggested to check on them, but Celestia forbidden. She was too scared and she hated to admit that to her sister.

"You really think she will respond?" a maniac laughter was heard. Luna tried to cover her sister, but she knew it was worthless. The force they are fighting against was far too strong.

"You really think you will see her ever again?" Celestia was now in shock. She should've let Luna check on them. It's too late now. They have already captured them. Tears started to roll down her cheecks once again.

"What did you do with them! Let them go!" Luna angrily shouted. 

"Well, isn't it our "beloved" princess Luna. Well, I don't really have time for the games now, so I'm going to cut to the chase now-we got all five of them, and I want to know where is the sixth!"

There was still hope. One of them was left. They need to go to Ponyville right now.

"She is in Las Pegasus. Now, please, leave us alone!" Luna raged at them, and Celestia pretended to be in shock.

"Luna, how could you..."

"You're bigger coward than your sister!" the whispers then disappeared. Luna and Celestia quickly flew to Ponyville. They didn't have much time. As they were asking around Ponyville, waking up the ponies, some of them told they saw Rainbow Dash just a moment ago flying. She is always up late.

The princesses found her immieiately. Rainbow couldn't even say a word because Luna cut her off with a few short words.

"We need your help"
> Chapter 5
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rainbow Dash was in her home, resting on a cloudy, comfortable bed. She was thinking about all the things that happened today. She couldn't believe what her friends did to her, what Twilight said, and, most importantly, how she expressed her feelings, her true feelings. She didn't like to talk about emotions or show them very often, unless it's a common „awesome Rainbow Dash“ behavior, but that was just a mask. Her true feeling and her troubling past... that was something else. She didn't even like to open to her own best friends, but now, when she finally did, her heart felt lighter. She didn't need to carry that trouble alone, because she had her friends, but, stubborn as she is, she kept yet another secret. And she knew very well what would happen if she kept it a secret, but she did. And now, she's all alone, with yet another fight on her back. She hurt her friends, but she had to prove to herself she's tough enough.

She just wished she could turn back time and correct her mistakes, or simply erase this day forever, or at least from her memory, but even if she did, it wouldn't solve the problem, it would just temporary cover it, until it rises again or simply fades away. Even although it was night, she was hoping her friends would now knock on her door, apologize to eaach other and then go to sleep peacefully, with another big day full of unpredictable adventures waiting them.

Suddently, she heard a knock on her door. At first she thought maybe Tank bumped into something again, because she wasn't expecting guests, but somepony knocked again. She know realized that somepony was indeed knocking. Her heart skipped, a sparkle of happiness shined in her eyes when she was quickly flying to open the door, hoping that were her friends.

When she opened them, the sparkle of happiness turned into a big question mark of confusion. There, on her front porch, two tall alicorns were standing, one as dark as the night, stars filled her name and moon was graved in her necklace, her coat painted in dark blue, while the other one was bright as the day, shining as the sun, her mane long and sparkly, gently flowing in the wind and her coat pure white. They were worried and in a big hurry.

Why would princess Luna and princess Celestia come to her, she didn't know. Why wouldn't they go visit Twilight, she's Celestia's prized pupil and the princess of Friendship. And they should be asleep, it was getting late. She prayed her friends were okay, because she hasn't seen them since the fight. When she tried to speak, ask what in Equestria was goiong on, Luna cut off her thoughts.

„We need your help, Rainbow Dash“ Luna looked at her, thinking how much time do they still have untill it comes back. They needed to hurry back to Canterlot and quickly come up with a strategy and a plan for fight. Not a second of time should be wasted; event he second can sometimes define somepony's life.

„What's going on? Are my friends okay?!“ Rainbow asked them, her eyes watering a bit. If something did happen to them, she would blame herself. It would be only her fault.

„We'll explain later. Now, you need to come with us to Canterlot, we're runnig out of time“ Celestia responded to her. How are they going to defeat it? She didn't know, but she didn't allow herself to panic. It wasn't the right moment. She is going to think of something, and save Twilight and her friends.

--------------------------------

Twilight was slowly waking up. Her head ached. She didn't know what happened after that creature spoke. The last thing she saw was the burning eyes and black mist surrounded her, hitting her in the head. She slowly opened her eyes, her blurry vision becoming clearer as she was turning her head around to see where she was. She was greeted by darkness, with a small light bright enough to see few inches around herself, and cold stone walls, with a sound of few drops that were dripping from the ceeling. Hard, metal grids, besides the cold walls, were the only thing she saw.

Pain in the head was slowly fading away, but her hooves were numb and cold. She was freezing, but she tried to move them to feel even a tiny bit of warmth.

„H…h…hello?“ she was barely able to speak, her throat was sour. Her muscles were tired, but she managed to stand up, her legs shaking, but when she stood up, her spine was touching the wall above her, and she immieiately collapsed back again, starting to feel claustrophobic.
The cell was small and she could barely move. She pushed her head to the grids, trying to shout, but it was just a quiet whisper.

„G…girls?“ she tried to push her head through the bars but she could barely fit in her muzzle.
Nopony spoke. Silence filled the air and Twilight could feel her heart starting to beat quickly. Seconds pased, nothing. She saw there were more cells around her, but she couldn't see are they empty or not. She couldn't see her way out, nor she could know are her friends okay, or where are they.

When she was about to think the worst, she head a quiet voice that might have just given her back her life.
„T…t…Twilight?“ she heard somepony's voice. It was Fluttershy's voice. She felt happiness, because she heard her friend's voice. They are alive and they are going to escape this prison, together.

„Fluttershy? Are you okay?“ Twilight responded back. She could almost feel Fluttershy's shaking and her insecure voice.

„I…I'm cold…“ Fluttershy gently spoke. She was shivering and she was really scared. Why did this happen? Why did it have to be this way? And what is this creature? Or, more like, this monster.

„We'll try to escape, and we will, I promise you that, Fluttershy“ Twilight said, comforting Fluttershy, but she didn't know can she keep this promise. Will they really escape and find Rainbow, or will that promise be shattered in million pieces? It is up to them.

Soon she heard the rest of her friends. The next one to wake up was Applejack.

„Ugh… what the…“ she mumbled. Twilight immieiately responded to her.

„Applejack! We need to find a way to escape. My magic is still not working and I don't know what that monster is, and I don't know is Rainbow Dash safe, or did they get her too and I can't get message to princess Celestia…“ Twilight spoke to her, and Applejack was slowly coming back to normal.

„Twilight… please… everything's gonna be fine, and I think Rainbow's safe, I'm just worried 'bout what harm could that creature do to Equestria. They probably caught us 'cause we're the Elements of Harmony so if one of us isn't here, it'll take a lot more time to find somepony else to wield that Element“ Twilight could hear worry in AJ's voice. Thoughts of escape were racing through her mind, but all of them were either impossible, or just plain silly.

After Rarity and Pinkie woke up, they started discussing about the possible ways out.

„This bars are impossible to break“ Applejack said after she tried to buck them down, but she wasn't strong enough and her hooves were still numb, probably from the cold. That monster must've drugged them all with some crazy magical spell or something.

„Oh, why did this happen? Why can't we have just one day at peace…“ Fluttershy softly spoke, her voice still shivering and she sounded like she was about to pass put.

„Fluttershy, dear, are you okay? You don't sound so good“ Rarity asked her, but Fluttershy didn't respond. She just sat in the corner, hoping to keep the last drops of warmth that she still had. 

„Uh-oh…“ Pinkie mumbled to herself. Her bubbly behavior now turned into sad, monotone sound that was just plainn scary. Nopony ever saw Pinkie like that, she turned her back to the bars and stared at the cold wall, as she was hoping it would just collapse. Things would be much better if it could be so easy like that.

„Oh, Pinkie… What happened to you? What have they done to you? To us?“ Twilight looked at her best friends, the ones she spent most of her life with, smiles that could never fade, happiness that could never end, but now they sunk deep into sorrow, their colours faded away.

„Now, c'mon y'all, don't give up now! That's exactly what that monster wants-to make us give in! But we won't! I'm sure Celestia, Luna and Rainbow Dash are on their ways to save us!“ Applejack wanted to encourage other, even just a little bit, so they could at least feel some hope. When she said those words, that creature came to pay them a visit.

„Oh, yes, your precious Celestia“ a deep voice could be heard. That voice brought strong anger in Applejack, and she felt she could tear down the bars just with her teeth. Monster, with a cape of black mist, came in.

„Let us go!“ Twilight immieiately screamed, but she didn't know why. Of course that monster isn't going to let them go, but she would feel like she would betray her friends if she didn't at least try.

The creature ignored her words and continued.

„I'm sure she'll be here any second. She just LOVES you so much she would risk her own life to save you“ the creature laughed, it's mane burning so bright that it's litting up the room.

„She does love us!“ Twilight continued raging, but she started to doubt her own words. Does Celestia REALLY love them THAT much, she would put her life, and by that, also the fate of her kingdom, just to save their lives? Sure, they were the Elements, but what if they weren't? Would Celestia still love them, or is just because of that?

Doubt started growing in her heart. She hated to admit it, but that monster… was right. Celestia didn't even tried to defend her kingdom, and when she did, she was easily overpowered. She just called Twilight to get the Elements, because she knew they couldn't say no, and she knew they would do anything for her. They were out there, risking their lives, while she was, what, resting on her couch? At least Luna had some worries, but she… she just let them go straight in the heart of danger. She wasn't putting at least bit of efford, she… didn't care. 

Twilight saw it with her own eyes. When she was fighting with Starlight and travelling through all those different futures, especially in Sombra's one, she saw Celestia didn't really tried to defend the kingdom. She can raise a frickin' sun, but she can't overpower a few Sombra's soldiers? Or few changelings? What happened to „the wise and POWERFUL princess Celestia“?

In that moment, the black mist shining from the creature's eyes shined brightly. The creature widened its eyes and curiosly looked at Twilight.

„Well, well, looks somepony here agrees with me“ creature spoke, and the black mist surrounded Twilight. That… thing can read minds? 
What?!

„T-Twilight?“ Applejack looked at her, and Twilight didn't know what to do. She just looked away from her, because she started to feel that creature is trying to take her into the darkness and evil.

„Oh, come on, don't blame her. All of you know, deep inside, that Celestia doesn't even give a flying feather about you! She only cares about you because you are the Elements of Harmony, and Twilight did saw what would happen if they never met. Oh, by the way, don't get too happy that your sixth friend is still free. My army is headed to Las Pegasus to find her“ the creature laughed, walking to the hallway to exit. 

And Rainbow could get some more time, if Twilight kept her mouth shut.

„Wait a minute… Las Pegasus? She's in Las Pegasus?“

„WHAT?! Luna lied to us?!“ the creature jumped in shock. Twilight then realized what has she just done. Luna probably lied to them so they could get some more time to find Rainbow. Now, they're gonna find Rainbow, and it'll be all her fault!

„Well, thank you Twilight for the great dicovery. When we win, I'll dedicate this victory to you. Hopefully, you'll be alive“ maniac laugh was heard, and the black mist was gone in les than a second.

Twilight then lied on the cold floor and sobbed.

------------------------------------------

„That monster is called Deathmist. Luna and I have defeated it long ago, but it cannot be defeated-only pernamently locked“ Celestia explained to Rainbow.

„I don't understand, how can they be that powerful?“ 

„They feed of the negative energy, mostly causing fights. They find somepony that has, hidden or not, a lot of rage in their hearts, and they use it against you. It's like their main source of energy“

Rainbow looked away, immieiately remebering the argument, but she quickly shook her head and listened to Celestia. That explaines the sharp pain, Twilight's words, and the black shadow. All was clear now. 

„They did stike four times long ago, but the last two times… it was different. They realized they aren't powerful enough against the Elements, so they started to help villains in their escape from Tartarus, and they have been remained hidden for a thousand years, probably gaining energy to help other villains, and to probably, if powerful enough, strike on their own. All the terror they caused… I don't like to remember it, it brings me very bad memories“ Luna added, turning her head.

„I… I saw it today. I saw Deathmist“ Rainbow said to Luna, preparing to tell them about the fight she and Twilight had.

„I…I kept a secret from my friends. But that doesn't matter. Anyway, Twilight was very, and I mean, VERY angry about it. I never saw her like that… we had a fight, and she was… evil. It wasn't her. The sharp pain, the eyes, the dark shadow… now I know why was she like that“ Rainbow said, wiping away one tear from her eye.

„Their castle is deep in the Everfree Forest. We must go soon, if we hope that monster still hasn't harmed them“ Celestia said, spreading her wings, but Rainbow stopped her.

„Wait! I may have an idea“ Rainbow realized.

„What is it, Rainbow Dash? And please hurry“ Luna looked at her.

„You said they have this, so called „main source“, right?“

„Correct“

„And, they probably used Twilight and me as a source, but it didn't effect me. They couldn't force me, my loyalty was far stronger“ Rainbow explained.

„Hm, that… could be true, but what is your point?“ Luna was confused.

Rainbow turned her head, and looked back at the princessed. She was determined in this decision. She made one mistake, and she isn't going to make the next one again.

„I'll let them capture me. I will free my friends. I will defeat that monster“

> Chapter 6
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

„Rainbow Dash, I am sorry, but are you out of your mind?!“ Luna slightly shouted at Rainbow, not believing the words she has just heard come out of her mouth. The cyan pegasus was a bit offended with Luna's words, but still determined in her decision.

„It's my fault they're gone now. They're in danger because of me. If I didn't…“ Rainbow replied to Luna, her voice cracking due to emotions she was keeping in. She held back her tears who came to her eye even at the slightest reminder of that fight. She did argue with Twilight before, but never like this. All because of the one little secret Rainbow didn't share with them. I'm sure others have them, but this one made a huge mess that was hard to clean up.

„Rainbow, it is not your fault. Don't ever say something like that. And it is not only your duty to save them. Luna and I fought them before, there must be a way to defeat them now. I understand they are your best friends, but I'm sorry, I can't let you do this on your own“ Celestia spoke in a gentle tone, trying to talk away her from such a crazy idea.

„You don't know the risks. You don't know what… disaster that monster did in the past. And every time it comes back, it is stronger than before. My sister and I barely defeated it in the past, how are you going to stand against it alone?“ Luna calmed down her voice, warning Rainbow about the danger that will wait for her on that impossible journey. 

„I know what you told me. Enough for me“ Rainbow surely replied to her, forgetting for a moment she was talking to the princesses, the rulers of Equestria, and not to her fellows in Cloudstale or Ponyville, but she stood still, knowing princesses would once again try to stop her, but she had iron will, and being the Element of Loyalty, it is very clear the princesses' desperate attempts are worthless.

„But you don't know the full story! And there is a very good reason for that! There is always a good reason why somepony keeps secrets! And the reason to this one is the painful truth that everypony wants either to hide or to forget“ Luna raised her voice to Rainbow. She was angry, because their time was running out, and Rainbow was determined and stubborn as ever. She wanted to end this, sooner as possible, but Rainbow wouldn't let go. She desperately looked to Celestia, hoping she could somehow solve this problem, but Celestia was at the border of panic. She let out a small sigh, and talked to Rainbow.

„Rainbow, we're running out of time. You are coming with us, and that's an order“ Celestia commanded, spreaded her wings along with Luna and rushed through castle's golden doors. Rainbow was still desperate. She couldn't just stand up against the princesses, but she wanted to do this on her own. She didn't know what to do, or what she could do, so she kept pace with the princesses. 

In front of the castle, Rainbow again noticed that same dark shadow climbing on the castle. Deathmist is here, probably looking for her. This was her only chance.

When the princesses softly spreaded their large feather wings, Rainbow rushed to fly to the back of the castle. Her wings flapped fast, wind flowed through her mane and through her feathers. She looked behind to make sure the princesses weren't behind her. Luna and Celestia were looking around, searching for Rainbow, only to  spot her at the last second, but it was too late because Dash was a few meters away from the shadow.

It didn't take long for Deathmist to notice the cyan mare and her signature rainbow hair. It didn't take a second for them to wrap her in black smoke and disappear, leaving no trace or sound.

When Celestia and Luna came to the place Rainbow was just a second ago, they were shocked and confused.

„What… where did she go?“ Luna asked, her eyes wide. She was circling around the castle. Oh, how could she be so foolish? She should've known Rainbow would try to escape. She was too determined and loyal to just stay put. She should've noticed that.

„Deathmist came back to get us, but Rainbow probably surrounded. She let them capture her!“ Celestia now started to panic. The last Element of Harmony was taken, Deathmist grew stronger, they didn't have a plan or strategy to defeat them and their time was running out. She started to shiver and to sweat. Luna was worried aswell, but she still tried to calm down her sister because panic won't help them, it'll only make the things worse than they already are.

„Sister, please, we need to hurry, but you need to calm down. It's only going to make things worse“ Luna shortly replied to her, giving her a comforting hug. She could feel sister's rapid hearthbeat and short breaths slowly coming back to normal. After only a few precious seconds they could afford, Celestia calmed down and looked at Luna.

„I know you are worried, and so am I, but we will never find our friends if all we do is panic. We have to stay calm. Promise me that, my sister. Please, I cannot look at you when you're like that“ the dark coated alicorn said to her sister, hugging her once more.

„I promise. I'm sorry, I just couldn't think straight. I don't know how could panic get me at this moment. But leave that for now. We must hurry to Everfree forest. Who knows what that monster could be up to“ Celestia raised her head and looked at Luna. Together, they flew above the streets of Canterlot, many ponies looking at them, some of them smiling to see the two royal alicorn sisters together. They were moving towards the borders of Canterlot.


Rainbow woke up in a dark cell. Her vision was blurry and the room was dark. The pain in her head was showly fading away, with a few ice cold drops of water from the ceiling dropping on her head. Her head was rested on a wet boulder underneath, which was giving her sharp neck pain and freezing touch. 
She was welcomed with a cold breeze around her fur and unbearable cold. Her wings were in an uncomfortable position, somewhere bruised and hurt. She felt weak, and her legs were folded together, numb at the end. She moved her head, and noticed the cell was small and she could barely fit her muzzle through the heavy bars.

„Hey…let me… go, you… cowards!“ she wanted to scream, she wanted to scream so bad, but who knows what that Deathmist did to her, or what that monster did to her friends.

Maybe they're close. Maybe they're somewhere close to her. Maybe they're still okay. Maybe there was still a chance. She needed to try.

“T…Twilight…are you… there?” Rainbow whispered. What kind of spell was she under? She could barely move, and her loud voice was now so weak and quiet, even Fluttershy’s voice was now louder than her’s, but she continued.

“Twilight” she didn’t lose hope. Her voice was still too quiet, but it was slowly recovering. They’re somewhere out there, she could feel it. She needs to be strong, she’ll rescue them.

“Maybe I should’ve listened to Celestia and Luna. How am I going to defeat them all alone? I’m not an alicorn” her heart sank. She really should’ve thought about this better. Now she got her friends AND herself in trouble.

“No. I can do this. Come on, Rainbow Dash. Try again” she quietly mumbled to herself. She can’t just give up now. She can’t leave them alone. She’ll rescue them. What kind of friend would she be then?

“Twilight! Girls!” her voice almost fully recovered now. If they don’t hear her now…

“Girls! It’s me, Rainbow Dash! Are you okay?” Rainbow’s throat still felt sour, but atleast she could speak normally. She was almost completely sure they’ll hear her. She heard some mumbling from far away. It’s them! It must be them!

“Twilight! Is that you? Girls!” her heart filled with joy, knowing her friends are out there, alive, waiting for her. She wanted to jump from happiness, but the low ceiling and narrow walls didn’t allow her that. Still, her spark of happiness kept growing, until it was shattered in a countless pieces by a deep evil voice.

“Well, you sure are one brave mare” the black smoke entered the room. Rainbow felt a cold touch on her cheek and frightnening chills down her spine. The black smoke then touched the floor, forming a cloud, and from that cloud, the black alicorn with the burning mane rose upon. It was the last thing Rainbow wanted to see right now. It was Deathmist. It probably heard her shouting. And those mumbles… it was probably the guards. How could she be so stupid? 

“Where are my friends!? What did you do to them!?” Rainbow shouted, now with her voice fully recovered. Anger rushed through her body like a beast and she wanted to kill that monster right away, but instead she just hit her hooves on the bars, but she could barely feel the pain, but she wasn’t sure was it because the rage and fire in her veins or the unbearable cold.

“Oh they’re fine. For now” Deathmist laughed maniacly, her wings spreaded and her mane burning fire. Rainbow could feel those precious drops of warmth that reached her, but they would soon fade away. The evil monster continued to provokate Rainbow, enjoying in every moment of her rage.

“I heard you were calling for your precious princess Twilight. Well, I think you will be more than happy to hear she was the one that brought you here” the grin on Deathmist’s face grew wider every second.

“Well then, I’ll thank her as soon as I kick your flank!” Rainbow once again kicked the bars, harder this time. She started to kick them, struggling, but Deathmist soon ended her desperate attempts.

“You sure are one tough and brave mare. Do you not know in front of who you stand?!” evil voice pierced her ears. Deathmist rose higher, spreading her wings with sharp feathers, leaning towards Rainbow.

“How in Celestia’s name could you stand up in this tiny cell? You had to think about this earlier” now Rainbow’s grin grew wider. She now enjoyed seeing the furious face on her enemy. She didn’t care about that monster; for her, it was just another evil villain to defeat, but perhaps, she didn’t have to mess with Deathmist. She didn’t know its true power.

“I don’t like your attitude, and especially your annoying voice!” the creature raged, and Rainbow started to feel afraid. Her fear was slowly growing; she wasn’t here to have fun, she was here to save her friends, and surely it would help to provoke it! 
She remembered Luna’s words. Maybe it was better if she just listened for once!

Deathmist’s horn glowed in dark blue aura, her horn almost touching Rainbow, and even though she felt fear, she didn’t back down. Instead, she held her head strong and high.
Blue magic surrounded Rainbow, freezing her in place. Magic rays now travelled around her neck, slowly fading, while Rainbow’s confusion and fear kept growing.

“Oh, and keep mentioning Celestia. Maybe, who knows, she could save you now. I’m sure she REALLY cares about you!” Deathmist said, furiously leaving the room, ordering her guards to go to her friends and start preparing.

When Rainbow wanted to reply, she couldn’t. She opened her mouth, but no words came out. She started screaming, but all it was heard was a deep sigh. She widened her eyes in shock. That monster took her voice! Her only chance to call her friends! 

“I…I can’t speak…I can’t speak!!!” Rainbow thought. That monster is going to pay for everything.
“How am I going to call them now? I really should’ve thought about this earlier. I should’ve listened to Luna! I was supposed to save them! How am I going to save them now?” Rainbow sat in a corner, bursting in tears. How could she be so stupid? If she stayed with Luna and Celestia, that monster would already be gone and they would be free, but now… now she just got them in even a bigger trouble. It was all her fault.

She looked across the cell and through the bars, hoping to find an answer. Across the cold, heavy walls and through the bars. Through the bars… through the BARS…

“Maybe there is a way out” she thought and looked at the bars. Maybe, if she kicked hard enough…

She didn’t wait a second. She started kicking as hard as she could. Deathmist maybe took her voice, but it didn’t take her strength. At first, it only produced a large noise, but after a few kicks, Rainbow could see the dust falling off the walls.


Twilight and the rest were helplessly laying in their cells, when suddenly, Applejack heard a noise.

“Do you hear that?” AJ said, hear ears twitching.

“Hear what?” Pinkie monotonely said. Her face was filled with sorrow and she played with her hair, but AJ wasn’t imagining it. After a few seconds, Pinkie heard something too, along with others.

“It sounds like somepony is trying to knock down the bars” Twilight guessed. Then she realized. Only one pony was that determined to save her friends.

“You think… this might be Rainbow?” AJ looked at Twilight, her eyes starting to fill with hope.

“Oh, I know this is her! Rainbow! It’s me, Twilight!” Twilight shouted, others joining aswell.

“Rainbow! Can you hear us?!” they all shouted, hoping that Rainbow isn’t far, and that she already told everything to Celestia and Luna. They’re probably on their way!



On the other side of the hallway, Rainbow almost knocked the bars over. Her hooves were bruised, but it didn’t matter to her. What mattered to her was to get out and find her friends. Her head stood up, when she heard somepony calling her. She recognized the voices. It was her friends! It was them! They’re alive!

Her heart, now filled with joy, was once again shattered as she heard the familiar evil voice silencing them.

> Chapter 7
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“No! Oh no, you won’t take my friends away! Hang in there, girls!” Rainbow reacted, getting an urge to just bash the door and save them, but she remembered to keep quiet. She couldn’t do anything that could help them, but just imagining that monster even getting close to them triggered her, but it also made her guilt grow. She still blamed herself for the fight, and the events later on. Maybe if she just wasn’t…


“No, stop thinking about it! You’re not going to help them by blaming yourself, you’re just going to make things worse!” she thought, still not able to speak, but her thoughts kept chasing her no matter how hard she wanted to run away from them.


She leaned her head to the stone wall and sighed. She finally let all the thoughts to flow. She finally gained the strength to face them and accept them.


“It really is my fault. If I wasn’t so stubborn, maybe all of this would’ve been avoided in the first place. I explain them everything, they comfort me, we face the problem together, find something happier to think about and BOOM!, everypony lived happily ever after. But NO, I had to be such a coward to even admit my feelings. If I did, we would now be in Sugarcube Corner, all together, but instead we’re held by this sick monster! Nice try, Rainbow Dash, you always have to mess everything up. Maybe we could warn Celestia sooner about Deathmist, and all this mess would’ve never happened. Well, nice try, Rainbow Dash, you always have to mess everything up. What a great friend I am” Rainbow shut her eyes, letting tears slowly flow down her cheeks and her heart shattering to pieces. She finally let everything out, but her tears didn’t wash away the guilt. The only thing that could wash away her guilt was a miracle that would get them out.


“Maybe if I stayed with Celestia and Luna, we could come up with a solution together. Instead, I just HAD to ruin everything again and just thoughtlessly jump into the shadows. Now I only made things worse. Now Celestia and Luna have to save me too… and Deathmist could easily get rid of them now, using us against the Princesses. Why do I have to always ruin everything?” Rainbow quietly sobbed, but her ears twitched when she heard cell doors open at the place where her friends are. Where is Deathmist taking them?

-----------------------

„Quiet!“ loud voice was heard, and a very strong blast of magic followed it, making Twilight and the rest hit the wall behind them. Their heads hit the hard stone, which made their vision blurry and their headache so painful they almost fainted. With their hooves still numb and weak, they could barely drag themselves up again.


Suddenly, they were dragged out of their cells. Even if they wanted, they couldn’t struggle or provide any resistance. Dark blue aura had too much magic and held them too hard. They were apparently going to the other side of the castle, heading upstairs. Twilight could finally feel her blood rushing from the sudden heat wave. She could feel a bit of warmth in her wings and in her hooves, but she still didn’t have her magic back. Even if she did, she was still too weak to face it on her own. 


She slowly turned her head around, but she could only turn it just enough to see Pinkie on her left and Applejack on her right. Pinkie looked tired, her eyes staring at the floor and her look emotionless. She’s given up. She realized all the struggle was useless and just accepted the fact nopony could help them. She was slowly breathing, closing her eyes. 



Twilight’s heart was breaking, knowing that once cheerful, crazy Pinkie, was now just an emotional wreck, broken spirit with no hope. She couldn’t stop the tears, but she also couldn’t stop angry thoughts and plans of revenge against Deathmist. She was just hoping Celestia and Luna will figure the way to defeat this twisted monster. 



Applejack wasn’t much different. The same look, the same broken will of once hopeful, strong earth pony was showing. Twilight didn’t want to sadden herself more, so she closed her eyes, her tears soaking into her fur.



Suddenly, a black unicorn approached Deathmist. It spoke loudly, in a commanding voice.

“Where is the rainbow one? Was I not clear that I asked ALL of them to be brought to the tower?!” loud voice was stabbing Twilight’s ears, but she got a small glimmer of hope in her soul. Rainbow might get enough time to get out, or at least try to. She might be the one that gets them out!

“Y-yes, but we spotted something that we w-wanted to inform you about” unicorn said, avoiding to look his master in the eyes. He feared his response.

“What is it?” Deathmist said, impatiently looking at his loyal subject, while Twilight and the rest were shivering, fearing the response.

“We spotted the Princesses moving towards us, but they’re still far away. They might be here in about 15 minutes, which is more than enough that we need. However, we must hurry, and we could only destroy one of them, because we don’t have much time to collect the maximum power” unicorn said, standing still, waiting for the next command.


“Alright then, go and start with the preparations. Start immieiately after everypony is ready” Deathmist said, and after the unicorn was gone, turned to Twilight and the rest, who were still kept by the dark blue aura. 

“You’re lucky your princesses care about you. Your rainbow friend might still have the chance to escape, but don’t think we won’t come back to make up for this shortened trip” Deathmist angrily spoke to them, but still keeping that evil grin on his face. He enjoyed watching fear in their eyes, but he remembered they must hurry.


When they went to the tower of the castle, they entered one large room, full with black unicorns who were shooting blasts of magic to the one who was larger than the rest, then fading away. In the centre were four large chains, just in front of the larger unicorn. Twilight then realized what was their plan. 



“Put Twilight in the chains and hold the others. Let’s get this over with” Deathmist commanded, and Twilight was dragged to the chains in the middle of the room. Her friends struggled and screamed, but Deathmist’s threats silenced them.

“Proceed as planned” he commanded, and unicorn kept shooting magic blasts out of their horns.

“Celestia, please hurry up” Twilight though. Tears were washing her cheek while chains held her in place. She remained calm as she watched her terrible death approaching.


“I’m sorry, Rainbow. I know you can’t hear me now, but I’m sorry, for everything” Twilight thought, turning her head to her best friends, and giving them sad, but comforting smile and nod. She closed her eyes and turned back to the unicorn.


Rainbow waited until she couldn’t hear hoofsteps, and made her decision.

“Now it’s my chance” she thought and kicked the half open bars with all strength she saved. She was getting stronger with each kick, but she couldn’t tell was it because of the anger, or guilt, or maybe the pressure she was under to save her friends.



After the last kick, the bars finally broke. Rainbow took a few seconds to catch her breath, and then she rushed through the hallways searching for her friends.



Celestia and Luna were flying as fast as they could, but it wasn’t enough. They were too slow.

“My sister, we need to hurry up! Who knows what Deathmist is up to, and with every passing second, we’re giving him the precious advantage he could use against us” Luna spoke to her sister, who was flapping her wings as fast as she could, but she couldn’t fly any faster.


“I know, Luna, but I can’t go faster. We might not be able to save them!” Celestia screamed and landed on the grass below them. She started sobbing loudly. Luna gave her a warm hug.

“Please, sister, we’re almost there. Hold on for just a little bit more. Don’t let panic take you. Please, Tia…” Luna calmly whispered to her. She could feel her magic slowly fading away, which meant they were getting closer.

Celestia still sobbed, thinking about all the past horror Deathmist has done, making herself worse. She made a few deep sighs, and managed to get up.


“I know you didn’t fly this much in a long time, but you’ll have to hold on. We will save them and everything will be fine, you hear me?” Luna placed her hooves on her sister’s shoulder. Celestia lifted her head, looking at Luna’s eyes. She wiped off her tears, and hugged her sister once more, before taking off to the sky again.

Rainbow still couldn’t shout, but she tried to follow every single sound she heard, which eventually led to discovery that there are a lot of rats at this place. Rainbow almost vomited when she saw one. Celestia knows how old is this place. For some reason, there were no guards either.


When she turned and searched every single room there is in three hallways, she collapsed on the floor and sobbed. She is never going to find them like that.


“They could be anywhere, and this castle is huge. If I don’t save them now, this would all be for nothing…” she thought, and looked through the window, hoping to see Celestia and Luna approaching, but instead, she saw a tall tower and flickering light. She jumped from the joy and rushed towards it. She couldn’t break the window, and they would probably spot her, so she decided to somehow find a way through the countless stairs and hallways. 

“Don’t worry girls, I’m coming!” she thought while rushing through the hallways. There were countless, and she was feeling dizzy and confused. There were no sings or anything, so all she could rely on were the windows and the view. She believed she was getting closer, and didn’t waste a single second.

------------------------

“Almost at the full power…” Deathmist spoke, smiling at Twilight and her frightened friends who were washing their faces with wet tears. Twilight, however, stood perfectly still. She accepted the fact that only a miracle could save her now. She faced with a terrible fate, and she was watching it right in the eyes, with no fear. She remembered all the happy times and memories she had with her friends, tears flowing down.

When she looked over to her friends to give them the last look and to say goodbye, she saw a cyan blur at the door, looking at her. She thought she was hallucinating, but when she blinked she realized it was Rainbow. It was her! Unfortunately, she didn’t have time to react or think if somepony else saw her too, because… it was too late.


“Fire!” Deathmist commanded, and unicorn shot large magic blast. The room filled with dust, and when the air cleared, there were no chains on anypony’s hooves, and Deathmist wasn’t there, probably because Celestia and Luna were getting close, and they lost the most of their power with this magic blast.


Twilight opened her eyes. 

“I… I’m alive? But how?! That was supposed to hit me, how did I survive?!” she thought, shocked to find herself perfectly fine, not even a scratch was on her fur. Then, she realized what happened.

“RAINBOW!!!” they all screamed, running towards her.

Rainbow’s body was on the other side of the room, lying lifelessly on the floor. Her body was bruised from the blast, and her wings were spreaded, tired from flying. Her eyes were closed, and her breath couldn’t be heard. 


Twilight and the rest immieiately rushed to her, sobbing. Twilight couldn’t belive what just happened.

“Rainbow, no! Oh Rainbow, I’m so sorry! Don’t leave me, Rainbow! Why did you… please, Rainbow… Rainbow!” Twilight screamed, hugging her, but she didn’t move. She hoped she will just jump up and say “Got ya!” but she didn’t. She sacrificed her life to save Twilight, even after that fight, even after everything… she was ready to do it. And she did it.


Celestia and Luna were shocked to see Twilight and the rest sobbing around Rainbow. Luna immediately checked her pulse, and sobbed even harder after there was none. Celestia turned her head, quietly sobbing.

“No… she was the Element of Loyalty… how are we going to…” she quietly whispered, but was shortly cut off by Twilight.


“What did you say, Celestia?” Twilight whispered and turned her head, repeating the same sentence, but now louder.


“What. Did. You. Say? She was the Element of Loyalty?” Twilight turned her rage to Celestia. Despite Celestia’s confusion, she continued.


“She was the Element of Loyalty?! She just sacrificed her life to save me! You just lost one of the best ponies in Equestria, and what do you care about?! ELEMENTS! Frickin’ Elements! Are Elements the only thing important to you?! Don’t you care just at least for her?! Do you care for us even the slightest?! Would you care about any of us if we weren’t the Elements?! You think you have the right to disrespect her like that?! We go out there, sacrifice our lives to save you and Equestria, while you do what?! Eat?! Read?! Just sit on your throne pretending to care about any of us?! When was the last time you faced the villain?! When?! The changelings, for example! But you still couldn’t save your own flank! We needed to do it for you! You can raise a frickin’ sun but can’t defeat a couple of changelings?! Are you such a coward?! How dare you, and I repeat, HOW DARE YOU, to do that? How aren’t you ashamed of yourself? You only know to call us, get some magic stones and just let us on our own! Don’t you know how did you change our lives, and how much you held us back just because you were such a coward?!”

Twilight screamed and sobbed at Celestia, who’s heart was breaking in thousand pieces, because all of that was true. Luna remained quiet, while everypony turned to Twilight and Celestia. She took one step towards Twilight, but she yelled at her.

“Go away! I don’t want to see you ever again! That monster was right about you! You are a coward! Now, go away! GO AWAY!” Twilight raged at Celestia, tears still flowing down her cheeks. She saw Celestia’s tears, but she didn’t care. She pushed her towards the door. 


Celestia’s heart was shattered and from the shame and guilt, she ran away down the hallways, while Twilight continued to sob.

> Chapter 8
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight hugged Rainbow tightly in her embrace, her tears were dripping on her cyan fur. Each tear was one pray that this was dream or just a prank, and she will wake up and everything will go back to normal, but with each passing second, which seemed like an eternity, her hope was fading away.



Luna rushed through the door, searching for her sister. She was foolish not to stop Twilight, and she couldn’t leave them alone, but somepony needed to find Celestia.


Time stopped. Nothing was important. She didn’t care about Celestia, about Deathmist. She didn’t pay attention at the rest of her friends who were sobbing with her. Her soul was slowly crushed by guilt and anger. Strong wish for vengeance was rushing blood through her hooves. Looking at her best friend, dead because of her, made her tears run faster. Her horn was touching Rainbow’s forehead, but the dark spell was still casted on her horn, making her magic powerless against anything.


Twilight laid Rainbow, her head in her arms. She was brushing her rainbow mane with almost faded colours. Twilight was shocked when she saw Rainbow’s back legs hurt and bruised from escape, and her wings hanging by the side, muscles still tense from the flying.


Applejack took off her hat in the sign of respect and let the tears fall freely. This wasn’t the time to act tough. She turned her head away from Rainbow, hoping that will help to delete what happened. If you can’t see it, it’s not real, but she couldn’t deny the painful truth she was facing with right now.


Fluttershy and Rarity were hugging each other. Fluttershy was hiding her head in Rarity’s warm embrace, comforting her, but her heart was aching. Losing somepony so meaningful to her was too hard to handle so she was looking at least some kind of escape. Rarity was looking in shock, her legs bruised and grey from the heavy chains. She felt she was going to pass out, her legs shaking, but she didn’t move because of Fluttershy.


For Pinkie, this was the last straw. The whole experience was too tragic for her anyway. She felt sick and weak. Her steps slowly broke the silence in the room as she was walking to Twilight and Rainbow. Looking at her, she dropped on the floor next to her, hoping to die with her. She closed her eyes and put her hoof on Rainbow’s chest.


Twilight placed her hoof on Pinkie’s, feeling Rainbow’s heartbeat slowing.



But, they all stepped away when they heard Rainbow’s heartbeat drastically rising.



“Tia! Where are you? Tia!” Luna was searching around the castle, looking for Celestia. She couldn’t ignore insults, especially from her student.


Luna found her behind the tree next to the river, crying. She rushed to her, and gave her a warm hug, soaking her tears.


“Tia, she didn’t mean it…”


“But it is true! All she said now and all he said in the castle is true!” Celestia leaned her head at Luna’s shoulder, folding her wings.
“I’m nothing but a coward! How could I let this happen? I broke their friendship, I ruined lives of many ponies! I even banished you, my own sister, to the Moon! I made so much mistakes, Luna! How can I correct them? How can I even call myself Princess, or the ruler? I’m just a coward! Nothing but a selfish coward!”



“No, you’re not, Tia! I don’t want you to say that anymore! We all make mistakes, and you are no exception. But no matter what they say, they need you, Tia. We need you. I know how much pain and suffering you’ve seen in your life, and I know how hard it is to deal with it, but I will help you. And I know we can get through this, but now, we need to focus on Deathmist. Now with Rainbow Dash gone, we need to go back to the castle. This isn’t the time for tears Tia. Please, hold on. For me. For Equestria. For Rainbow. Please Tia, I know it’ll be hard but I need you to hold on. Please, Tia” Luna looked her in the eyes. Celestia managed to calm down, and returned the hug. Why would she always have to cry in hard times? Is she weakening?


Celestia slowly nodded, once again hugging Luna, and then slowly walked towards the castle.

------------

Twilight’s heart skipped, and Pinkie opened her eyes and gave her a weak smile, standing up.



“Rainbow?!”  Twilight screamed along with others. “I’m sorry, I promise never to fight with you again! I’m so glad you’re alive!” Twilight gave Rainbow another warm embrace, but her skin felt cold at touch. Rainbow furiously broke their embrace.


“Rainbow? I know you’re angry at me, but please…”



“Don’t say a word” she responded angrily.



Rainbow stood up on her hooves and slowly walked towards the door and locked them. Everypony stood in shock.



“R-Rainbow, are you okay?” Rarity asked her, her voice shivering from fear.



“Of course I am, but why are you speaking like that?” Rainbow said, still not turning her head to look at them. Her voice sounded deeper than her normal voice.



“You fear me?”



Rainbow turned around, her eyes dark blue with a burning flame. Black smoke surrounded her, and Twilight and the rest could only watch in terror. When the smoke cleared, in revealed tall dark Pegasus with a flowing rainbow mane, staring at them.



“Rainbow, snap out of it! This isn’t you!” Twilight screamed, wanting to run towards her, but instead she stood still along with others. What did that monster do to her? This can’t be true. They are trapped. Deathmist is now using her as his puppet, but how are they going to cut the threads?



“Oh, Twilight, don’t you recognize me? That’s very odd for you, being the “Princess of Friendship” and all that, but you help other ponies more than your friends. Quite ironic, don’t you think?” Rainbow laughed, scaring her best friends.



“I think we should play around a little. We’re all going to have fun. But, mostly me. Shall we start?” Rainbow looked at Twilight, who hid her friends behind her lavender alicorn wings. Rainbow enjoyed seeing their fear. She noticed angry Applejack, tapping her hooves.



“Oh Applejack, what’s the matter? Do you have something you wouldn’t like to share with us? Well, I think it’s not healthy to keep all that anger bottled up like Twilight did, and then pay for some terrible consequences” 



Applejack and Twilight looked at each other, but Applejack didn’t have time to speak. Rainbow continued, and Applejack turned her head to side.



“I will say it for you, because you need to save your breath for “honest words” oh, honest Applejack” Rainbow laughed. “Don’t you know, Twilight, how much pain you’ve caused to Applejack? What disaster did you make? Judging by your face, I’m guessing you haven’t even thought of it, am I right? What, you never thought about how much is Applejack needed at the farm? Every time you went on a mission to save Equestria because of Celestia’s laziness, Big Mac would have to work double to keep farm from bankruptcy. You think being a farmer is easy? You think they get much profit? You think they can afford some fancy stuff to make their work easier? Applejack didn’t even get a proper schooling! Not to mention Big Mac. He had to drop out of university in Manehattan to help at the farm after their parents died. He was one test away from finishing it, and he was one of the best students there” after that words, Applejack was sobbing.



“And nopony appreciates what she does! Twilight has loving family, Twilight’s always the hero, Twilight’s always the best, oh look, Twilight became a frickin’ Princess, Twilight has a castle, Twilight’s the personal student of Celestia, Twilight saved the world, Twilight helped ponies, Twilight saved the world once again, Twilight, Twilight, TWILIGHT! And what are you? Just an earth-pony who can’t even spell Twilight’s name! And not to mention Rainbow Dash. You were always jealous of her too, weren’t you Applejack? She did the Sonic Rainboom countless times, she is a living legend, captain of the Wonderbolts, and what does she do? She takes naps and crashes into trees. Ah, Rarity is another great example. Having her own boutique… pardon, TWO, the most popular fashion designer in Equestria, and what does she do? Whine and cry. For some reason, you hated Pinkie as well. You found her annoying and crazy, but yet, everypony likes you, while they mock you for your accent and your job. The only thing you comforted yourself with was that you are better than Fluttershy, because EVERYPONY is better than her. What, she liked animals and is afraid of EVERYTHING? Seriously?” Rainbow circled around, mocking them. Applejack didn’t dare to look in the eyes of anypony, especially Twilight. She knew everything she said was true, but how could she read their minds? Or maybe she’s really bad at hiding it.



“Now that we mentioned Fluttershy…” Rainbow turned to her. She was hugging Rarity, sobbing harder than before. 
“Would you mind telling them about that rope you have in your closet? The one you keep away from your sight, yet it is the first thing you see when you open it?” Rainbow knew she hit the nerve. Fluttershy was now hiding behind her mane, still hugging Rarity.
“I noticed it that day when I flew through your window. It was early afternoon and I was begging you to see my new trick. You said you very busy but I was persistent so I waited in your room. I looked around the room and saw your closet had a weird knot at the top. When you came, I hugged you so tightly and started apologizing, then I just flew back. You never knew why? You never suspected anything? You hate yourself, you hate how weak you are, how fearful you are, you fear how will others judge you if you make a mistake, but also, you are afraid your talent is meaningless. Sure, you convinced Discord, you saved your friends couple times thanks to your animals skill, but other than that, you had no use of it. Everypony was using their talent for something-Twilight became a Princess, Rarity owns two boutiques, Rainbow became a Wonderbolt, Applejack won rodeo competitions and is the head of the farm, Pinkie is known for her randomness and party skills all over Equestria, but you? What are you doing with your talent? Feeding Angel Bunny, who is the worst animal ever. He never listens to you, he never respects you and he always throws his food. You started your pet clinic, but nopony was coming and you closed after a few days. It was hard but you moved on like nothing happened. And when you finally wanted to apply to some animal competition or whatever is it called, you couldn’t because of Shining Armor’s wedding. You thought you’ll make it, but it was already too late. And you blamed Twilight for it. Sure, she couldn’t predict changelings, but you could’ve travelled a day earlier. You never wanted to be in that “Elements of Harmony” mess anyway. And the only things keeping you alive is your element and your friends’ love. And hope you’ll find your talent” Fluttershy sobbed. How did she know all that? And how could she say it out loud? She…she threw that rope weeks ago anyway. No need to worry Fluttershy, this isn’t Rainbow. This isn’t her, this isn’t her…



“Oh, Rarity… I’m gonna be short on you. How the hell are you Element of Generosity? Sure, you make dresses and stuff, but seriously? When was the last time you gave somepony something, but you wanted to give it to them? And how cruel is to use Spike to be your slave, just because he has a crush on you? Do you even care about others? Start from somepony closest to you-your sister. Every time she tries to help you or impress you, you shout at her and get an emotional breakdown because of the mess she made. And then you whine and cry and she feels guilty. That camping trip you had with AJ and Rainbow and their sister? You made her do everything for you. “Sweetie Belle! Do me a favour and get some fresh flowers for my vase! Oh, what is that smell? I enjoy spending time with my little sister!” Sure, she just LOVES to carry your three tons luggage. And then Rainbow is the bad sister. Not to mention you like to show off more than her. Did you forget the Young Fliers Competition? And I don’t even wanna start counting the rest, we’ll be stuck here for eternity” Rarity was ashamed by her words, also looking away. She thought this was all a nightmare, but it was very much real.



“You, Pinkie, are quite interesting, but don’t you know that dealing with depression all alone isn’t going to help it?” Rainbow pointed at the pink earth pony, hiding in the back.



“When nopony’s looking, you go in your room and hug that two pictures you have on your nightstand. The one of your family, and the other one of a Pegasus pony with a puffy yellow mane similar to yours. I believe her name is Surprise. You never told anypony about her or the strange relationship with your so-called “family”. Did you really believe her when she said Maud Pie and the rest were her real family? All of them have cutie marks related to something with rocks and they are all similar shade, earthy colours, but you are vibrant pink. And you never wondered why she bounces so much? Why you see her sometimes tie balloons to her and just let them fly freely in the air? That Pegasus mare was your sister. Your real sister. There were parents and just the two of you. She was older that you. But one day there was an accident and your parents died. Your small fragile wings were broken, and they had to remove them, even the bone that connected them to your spine. That’s why you have no weird bones sticking out of your back. You barely survived, your sister too. She broke her neck and front legs, but she survived. Since you didn’t have any relatives, one Pegasus family adopted her and raised her as their own. She had a decent life. She probably told you everything in the letters and when you met in Canterlot four months ago. You were sent to the people you call “family” because they needed another pony to work with them on the farm, but shortly after you got your cutie mark, you moved to Ponyville. Two months ago, your sister died. Nopony knows how. Just few days before you decided to make her a surprise party and invite her to Ponyville. Since you didn’t have wings, you tied the balloons and flew with her. So on that day, you tied them again. You never told anypony about her and fell into deep depression. How sad” Pinkie was now sobbing, ashamed. She couldn’t believe how cruelly Rainbow could just expose that to others.



Just about when Rainbow wanted to give them a final punch, there was a loud bang and the door opened.
> Chapter 9
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Leave them alone!” Celestia shouted, giving Rainbow Dash angry look. Luna immediately rushed towards the girls, checking if they are okay. They were shivering, feeling sad and ashamed. Twilight rushed to hug Princess Luna, who was shocked, but took her in the embrace anyway. Twilight was lucky Celestia and Luna got just in time, but that couldn’t be said for the rest of her friends. After all they found out about each other, they will feel ashamed, but also relieved, after finally sharing their secrets.



“Well, well, look who FINALLY decided to show up. Bravo, Celestia, I truly wasn’t expecting this from you.” Rainbow said, smiling at Celestia. Celestia was afraid, but stood still, not even flicking.
“Had another breakdown? How sad. But look at them! They could’ve been fine, but you couldn’t hold your tears, could you? Your timing is always perfect. But hey, you showed up. There you go. That’s a good start. It takes a bit practice, but you’ll figure it out.” Celestia wiped away her tears. She won’t let Dash provoke her. Not this time.



“Take me. Take me instead of them. It’s me you want, isn’t it? Why must they suffer?” Celestia spoke. Rainbow shook her head, turning it aside, but looked again towards Celestia.


“Why would I want you? You’re worthless to me. They, on the other hoof, are the Elements of Harmony. Without them, Equestria would be vulnerable for another thousand years” Rainbow gave Twilight evil grin, but she only turned her head to Luna, not letting her go. She wanted to escape so badly, she wanted so badly for all of this mess to end. She missed her castle, her warm bed, her library, quiet evenings. Why can’t they have just one day at peace? Their life turned upside down ever since they’ve become the bearers of the Elements. 



Luna looked down at Twilight, who was shivering in her embrace. Anger slowly started to bottle up in her, but she decided to keep it down unless things get out of control. She shook her wings, spread them and brought the rest of the mane 6 close to her. Her dark feathers felt warm and soft, like a silk, and was giving them some needed warmth and comfort.



“How could you be so foolish to free villains from Tartarus? You know they won’t give you anything in return. They will trick you, just like Tirek tricked Discord!” Celestia rose her voice. She didn’t think that monster could really succeed in its plan, because the flaws were obvious. You can’t trust them. If they return, they’ll be full of will for vengeance, so they wouldn’t be able to think straight. Only anger will be on their mind.



“Oh, I’m foolish? They won’t give me anything in return? If you’re really interested, they give me power. Every second, I grow stronger and stronger, and if they try to bring me down, they will go with me. But how could you call me foolish? You mean, THEY are foolish?” Rainbow pointed to Twilight and the rest, hidden in Luna’s embrace. They didn’t dare to look back.
“They won’t give me anything in return? Oh, you mean, YOU won’t give THEM anything in return? When was the last time you visited Twilight? When was the last time you attended one of Pinkie’s parties? When was the last time you had a tea party with Fluttershy? When was the last time you tried one of Applejack’s pies or jams? When was the last time you visited Rarity’s boutique? Or maybe went to Rainbow Dash’s Wonderbolt show? When, Celestia? When was the last time you actually showed respect to them? When?! You think they like giving up their lives to save yours? You think they like to live like this? Not one week without some dangerous villain Celestia forgot to kill threatening Equestria? You could at least, if you are too lazy to do something, just, oh I don’t know, show some respect for everything they’re doing for you?!” Rainbow shouted at Celestia, who still wasn’t moving, only her tears were rolling down her white cheeks, soaking into her fur.



“A-actually… she visited me… two weeks ago…” Twilight dared to whisper. Even though Celestia wasn’t always the best, she had feelings too, and she couldn’t just let her teacher, who was like her second mother, being attacked like that.



“Oh shut up!” Rainbow turned to her, showing her sharp teeth. She was slowly walking towards her, not very liking Twilight’s sudden courage. Twilight slightly shook, tightening her hooves around Luna. Her sudden courage distracted Rainbow away from Celestia, but brought her to them.
“You really think you’re so special? You really think your friends have nerves for your “huge” problems? Oh no, I had to send my paper to Celestia today, but I didn’t, so now I’m going to freak out and cast some demonic spells on my old toys to make all Ponyville go nuts, oh no. Oh, look, my library needs to be rescheduled or the world will end, oh no, but I got three tons of books so it will take me whole weekend, better call my friends and ruin their weekends too!” Rainbow mocked Twilight, who was hiding her head in Luna’s fur. Her words hurt her like arrows, but the thing that hurt the most was- those words were true, no matter how hard she was trying to deny them.
“You think YOU have the biggest problems in the world, little Miss Perfect? You wanna know how’s like to deal with real issues? How’s like to deal with depression and suicide? Financial problems? Troubled past? Or maybe find out you’re adopted and you real family is dead?! How would you like that?! Ha?! Would you like to put yourself in hooves of your friends? You have no idea how’s like to wake up and go through the same hell every day. Every. Frickin. Day. How’s like to feel like garbage, or maybe work your hooves until they bleed but then find out half of that was for nothing? How’s like to not have courage to even look at yourself in the mirror and hide that hell from others? Would you like to deal with that? Would you?! But oh no, the world’s gonna tear apart if I don’t re-reschedule my already re-rescheduled schedule! Maybe triple check triple checked checklist, just so the Princess wouldn’t be mad at you for selecting a wrong colour for the decorations for some event she doesn’t even care about!” Rainbow raged, while Twilight was shaking, regretting everything she said. Her sudden courage, and just the will to make things at least tolerable, made things worse.



Her friends now turned their heads from her, not wanting to look at her. Twilight’s heart was breaking in pieces. That monster did it. It took Rainbow Dash and divided the rest. She could no longer call them “friends”. It wasn’t the friends she used to know- they were wrecks. But it’s gonna get better. She believed that firmly. Everything’s gonna be alright. Right?



“How, Luna? How can you do that? How can you hug and protect those who were once your enemies?” Rainbow turned to Luna, who was keeping in her bottling anger.
“You were the pony with the most potential. Your envy was so strong that you could, with our help, conquer Equestria easily. But hey, Celestia used some magic rocks and rainbows and sent you to the Moon! Yes, she said she’s sorry, but “sorry” didn’t bring you back, did it?” Rainbow circled around her.



“Don’t get her involved in this!” Celestia stomped her hooves. Rainbow enjoyed every second. She loved to see Celestia furious like that.



“Oh, I’m sorry, did I open some old wounds and forgotten memories? You could’ve actually saved her, if you just paid attention to her for once! She was your younger sister, for pony’s sake! And sisters take care for each other! Oh, NOW you remembered she exists and suddenly felt empathy for her. You don’t know what kind of hell she was dealing with! Every single night, she begged for you to look at her moon. To see the beautiful stars. To enjoy the night with her. But no, some royal paper stuff was more important that her. But she was persistent. On and on, every single night. Until one night, she locked herself in her room. And cried. Oh, how hard she cried. All night. And you were up all night doing what, signing some contracts or whatever the hell you were doing. After that, nothing was the same. She saw how much you were loved, and she thought it was because you were on some meetings, dealing with some “important” ponies, so she decided to do the same. After scheduling a meeting, she prepared everything and was ready to present the problem and its solution, until you found out and cancelled it. “I’m terribly sorry, my little sister wants to get my attention and get involved in politics but I don’t want her to do that because I’m the only ruler of Equestria.” You wanted to protect her. Well guess what, your “protection” played a big part in her rebellion! After that, she drifted away, until she finally turned to Nightmare Moon, and I guess you all know the rest. You never truly understood her. You never truly appreciated her work and effort. You never truly loved her!” Rainbow yelled at Celestia, who was almost at the breaking point. She loved Luna, and her troubled past was troubling Celestia as well, more than she wanted to admit, but she was too caught up in paperwork and politics. She didn’t like to talk much about Luna’s past and their past behaviours. The past is in the past.



“You do not know the whole story, and that is none of your business! And unless you want to be banished to Tartarus along with your army, let Rainbow go!” Luna shouted and stood up to her hooves, leaving Twilight and the rest hidden in the corner.
“Face me, you coward! It is me you are talking about, so why don’t you say your insults to my face?!” Luna walked to Celestia, protecting her. Celestia took a few steps back and looked in horror.



Rainbow gladly accepted the offer.
“How does it feel like to always be the second best? To always be in the shadow? To always be hated by the rest? Forgotten, broken, living in fear and sorrow?” 



“SNAP OUT OF IT!” Luna yelled at Dash and pushed her so hard that she hit her head on the wall. Luna’s bottled anger came to the surface. She couldn’t believe what Deathmist did to Dash. What happened to her loyalty? Her undefeatable loyalty? Fight it, Rainbow! 



Rainbow let out a painful sound. Her vision became blurry and sharp pain penetrated her head. She didn’t expect Luna to react like that, but she will pay for that. She forgot she still can’t use her magic.


“You’re going to save her by killing her? Really Luna?”



“This isn’t you, Rainbow Dash! Where is your loyalty?” Luna cried, but noticed Rainbow’s in pain.



“Her loyalty died long ago! Along with Rarity’s generosity! Just because they once behaved like that doesn’t mean they are the same now!” Deathmist roared.



“And what, you’re such a coward you don’t dare to face us on our own, but instead you corrupt an innocent pony?! If you really are that strong, show yourself!” Luna replied back.



Moments after, black dust swiped away from Rainbow and her cyan fur began to show up. Deathmist formed right next to her and kicked her across the room. Giving Luna evil grin, he rose highly to his hooves. Twilight shouted as she and the rest ran towards Rainbow. 


“Rainbow!”


Twilight took Rainbow’s head in her hooves, brushing her mane and her wounds. Tears ran down her cheeks. 


“C’mon sugarcube! Fight it, Rainbow! Talk to me! Say something!”



Celestia took a few steps back, touching the wall with her wings, looking at Deathmist, now more powerful than ever. Luna watched in shock, but decided to keep herself calm as long as possible, but her rage was boiling at this point.



“Ready to send us a postcard from the Moon?” Deathmist laughed at her.




“Go to hell” Luna said and ran towards him, ready to fight.
> Chapter 10
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Rainbow! Come on, Dash, speak to me!” Twilight hugged wounded Rainbow Dash. The darkness left terrible consequences on her. She was in pain, full of bruises and cuts, and her body was cold and numb. Twilight’s heart was drowning in sorrow, as she brushed Rainbow’s mane.



“C’mon girl! Wake up! We need you! Wake up…” Applejack shouted, not paying attention to anything else. She was holding Rainbow’s cold hoof, trying to keep it warm, while tears were running down her muddy cheeks. When she realized Rainbow isn’t moving, she fell into Pinkie’s embrace, sobbing even harder, while Pinkie stared at the dot in the floor, feeling nothing but sorrow, while tears were quietly falling down her fur.



Rarity was holding Fluttershy, who was hiding in her curled violet mane, not wanting to look at lifeless Rainbow’s body. Rarity’s vision was blurred, voices unclear. She couldn’t take in all the events that occurred. She couldn’t admit her best friend’s death. It all happened too quickly. Too sudden. 



“It’s all my fault! I shouldn’t have shouted at her like that, I should’ve known, how could I let this happen?! Rainbow, come on! Don’t let me live like this! Please! It’s all my fault, I’m so sorry!” Twilight screamed, sobbing. Heavy guilt pressed her heart, which was beating fast, and Twilight was feeling like it was going to burst. Rainbow still wasn’t moving, which made the pressure of guilt and sadness on Twilight’s heart stronger every second. 



“Twilight, it’s not your fault, don’t bring this upon yourself. It’s already hard enough” Pinkie spoke to Twilight, her voice blank and monotone. Twilight’s crying eyes looked at her, finding some comfort in her words, but still feeling guilty. As much as she wanted to admit that to herself, she couldn’t. She felt she was the responsible one for Rainbow’s death, and it was her fault and her fault only. 



“How is this not my fault? I’m the one that made her run away!” Twilight said to Pinkie, looking at her sea blue eyes and streaming tears, then again at Rainbow.



“But it wasn’t you, it was Deathmist! He made you hurt her!” Pinkie yelled back, but was shortly cut off by Twilight’s response.



“But all he made me say was true!” Twilight shouted and lowered her head above Rainbow’s chest, sobbing harder, and trying to feel Rainbow’s heartbeat, while others were looking at her in shock.
“What he made me say was true! He doesn’t make up stuff about us to make us ashamed, he reveals our true feelings to make us fight! And I did think she was arrogant! And I didn’t like her when I first met her! And every time she does something stupid, I regret that day!  Every time I see she hurt one of you, just because of her ego and arrogance, I regret that day! And I want her to sometimes feel the way she makes us feel! I often though about if she wasn’t the Element of Loyalty, would I still let her be my friend. I didn’t think she deserved that element. I’m sure there are plenty of other ponies as loyal as her, if not more, but don’t get any recognition. She wasn’t doing anything “loyal”, in fact, just the opposite. But every time, I would push that anger, saying that maybe, she will see, she will change, until Deathmist stepped in, but now… now I realized how wrong was I! Now she’s laying here, dead, because of me, because of her loyalty! It should’ve been me! I should be in her place now! She was supposed to live! Why she didn’t save herself, why did she have to follow her stupid loyalty?!” Twilight yelled, bringing her head back to Rainbow’s chest, quiet as the night. Nopony said anything to her. They just lowered their heads and wiped their tears. They didn’t even notice the fight behind them.


Luna galloped towards Deathmist, lowering her horn, which was still unable to summon magic. Her muscles were tense, her hair was flowing and her hoofsteps echoed through the room. She was ready to take down this monster and protect her sister and her friends. She didn’t take off her eyes of Deathmist’s evil smile, that same smile she had while fighting with Twilight as Nightmare Moon. That same smile of underestimation, yet she was stronger than her.



Deathmist couldn’t take his smile off his face. He was keeping his laughter, trying not to burst out laughing. He was obviously more powerful than her, he was stronger, but at the same time, he was admiring her foolishness and her courage. He didn’t decide to stay in place either. He rushed towards her, expecting them to meet horn to horn.



Just before they were about to meet horn to horn, Luna disappeared into purple smoke. Deathmist stood in confusion, looking around, but he only saw crying Twilight and scared, shivering Celestia, hiding in the corner. He started panicking. How could she disappear just like that? She isn’t a shadow pony, and he’s sure she isn’t King Sombra, nor a changeling. His wings shook, and he started panicking and yelling.



“Where are you!? How is it possible!?”



All he heard was an evil, sickening laugh.



“You were always hiding in the shadows, claiming to rule in the night. But have you forgotten, who is the real ruler of the night?”



In that moment, the room started shaking, soon covered in black light. The black light surrounded what it appeared to be purple mist. That purple mist soon turned into silhouette of a dark tall alicorn, who landed its hooves on the ground. It revealed its black fur and royal purple armour, the shoes, the helmet and the necklace, and beautiful purple hair. When it raised its head, it revealed green eyes with thin pupils and sharp teeth. Deathmist froze in place. The tall dark alicorn who stood in front of him was none other than…



“Nightmare Moon?! But how?!” Deathmist took a few steps back and watched in horror, as well as Celestia. She feared her envy will again overpower her, but all she could do was sit and watch. Twilight gasped, looking at Nightmare Moon, thinking if Deathmist got the better of her, but he looked terrified. Almost like an instinct, she spread her wings to hide her friends.



“Princess Luna! No!” Twilight yelled, spreading her wings, and looking at her terrified friends.



“Luna! No! Please! Luna, sister, don’t do this!” Celestia shouted, but Luna didn’t even look at her. Her eyes, full of rage, were at Deathmist.



“You seem to forget who the one superior to your pathetic shadows is. You think you are more powerful than any other monster that tried to conquer our throne, and all failed?!” Nightmare Moon said, and roared towards Deathmist, hitting him with his horn. He ached in pain, hitting his head on the hard brick wall. Nightmare Moon fired blue light towards him, and he soon felt warm and painful chills running through his body, making his vision blurry and his head ache. 



“You are nothing compared to them! You are nothing compared to me!” Nightmare Moon yelled, and fired another blast, making his body numb for a second. Deathmist was in pain but he managed to get up, now angrier than before. He roared at her, and rushed towards her, following his anger. Fire in his eyes was now burning brighter that before, and he was determined to take her down. He didn’t know how she was able to transform even under his strong spell, but he didn’t care. All he cared about was how to defeat her, because she seemed very strong.



“Oh, bring it on! What, you think just because you got yourself new coat colour and a couple of new accessories, it makes you stronger?!”Deathmist yelled, and they met horn to horn. The sparks flew and Deathmist kept missing while aiming at Nightmare Moon, while she was hitting him repeatedly. It was very painful for him, because the sharp pain in his head was increasing, and his vision was getting blurry after every kick.



“Go back to Tartarus where you came from!” Nightmare Moon shouted, and fired a powerful blast. That made Deathmist scream in pain, and turned him into grey cloud of mist, which crawled through the window and disappeared.



Purple smoke surrounded Nightmare Moon, soon turning her back to Luna. Celestia immediately rushed and took her in a warm embrace, crying in happiness. Luna smiled and hugged Celestia back.



“No need to worry, my sister, I’m okay”



“Oh Luna! You… he’s gone. You defeated him. It is finally over”



“Sister, he will be back again, but it will not be any time soon” Luna smiled, but then looked sadly at Rainbow Dash. Tears began running down her dark fur. Twilight took Rainbow Dash on her back, and slowly walked to the door.



“Let’s take her home” Luna said as they were walking down the hallways. They were soon flying towards Ponyville, leaving the old castle demolished in the woods.

> Chapter 11
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

When the doors of Twilight’s castle opened, Luna and Twilight rushed to prepare a bed to lay Rainbow on, while others were looking for bandages for her. She was still unconscious.



Applejack and Rarity rushed to get all medical supplies they may need, while Pinkie decided to go in the kitchen to bring them all some fresh water, at least to just soak their painful, dry throats. Luna and Celestia remain by the side of Dash’s bed, quietly weeping, while Twilight was cleaning her wounds and wrapping them in clean bandages.



Nopony spoke. Their wounds about their deepest secrets were still fresh, still open. They didn’t even dare to look each other in the eyes. Soon after, they all separated in different corners of the room, trying to help Rainbow as best as they could.



Pinkie took empty glasses from the shelf and opened the tap. She struggled to keep it from leaking, because her hooves were still shaking from the shock. She let out a sigh, trying to calm herself down. After she filled seven glasses, she placed them on a platter and slowly walked, hoof by hoof, trying not to spill or break them. Unfortunately, one bandage rolled over and she didn’t see it. She accidentally stepped on it, but luckily, all the glasses stayed in place. Except for one that fell on the nearby table Twilight was holding her medical supplies on. The glass didn’t hurt anypony, but the water soaked a couple of bandages and spilled right on Rainbow’s face. Pinkie’s eyes widened, so she quickly placed the glasses on the table and rushed to Rainbow.



Soon after, they heard a painful moan and sharp coughing. Twilight’s tears once again began to fall, as she was watching Rainbow slowly opening her eyes.




“Uh…w-what…where am…I?” Rainbow quietly spoke, while her eyes were looking over the room. She quickly recognized familiar faces. Warn relief of happiness ran through her heart, but was shortly cut off by Twilight’s warm embrace.



“Rainbow! You’re alive! I’m so sorry for everything that happened! I’m so happy you’re alive!” Twilight hugged her, and soon joined the rest of her friends, screaming of happiness. Twilight’s nightmare was finally over, turned into back to another beautiful dream.



“It’s my fault… I… I should’ve… but I’m so happy you’re alive!” Rainbow returned the embrace and let the tears fall. “But… Deathmist… what… what happened to you? What happened to him? Is he gone? I can’t remember anything after I was hit…” Rainbow asked, but nopony said anything in response. They were all turning their heads away from her, until Luna finally spoke.



“I… perhaps, it will be better if Twilight explains everything to you”


----------------------------

“I… I can’t believe it! How… why did he… but that was…” Rainbow couldn’t select the right words to describe the situation. However, Twilight didn’t mention her about Deathmist exposing their secrets. She felt that was topic to discuss later, after all this mess is cleared. Maybe… maybe somepony could mention it now?



“Yes, it was quite shocking, even for me, to again use my dark powers, but I could not just betray you like that. I have had enough of this monster, and I could not stand him hurting you like that” Luna spoke, looking at Rainbow. She then glanced to Celestia, who stood up, preparing to leave.



“I must apologize, but the royal duties cannot be put away. I’m afraid it is time to go. Luna, shall we?”




“We shall, my sister. I am glad you are safe, and if anything happens in the meantime, we will come as soon as possible” Luna said and walked over to Celestia. Celestia’s horn glowed in gold aura, and with a bright flash, they disappeared. Now, room was filled with silence, which was soon broken by Applejack’s words.



“Um, Twilight? I was… I was wondering… about… about what happened at the castle…”



“What happened at the castle? Except for Luna being super awesome? Wait… are you hiding something from me?” Rainbow replied to Applejack. To her surprise, Applejack looked away. Fluttershy and Pinkie did the same.



“I… if you want to, and I think it would be better for all of us, we can discuss it now” Twilight suggested, feeling a little bit uneasy.



“Discuss what?” Rainbow spoke, now feeling a bit angry. She didn’t like when girls acted mysterious.



“There was something I didn’t mention you. At the castle, when that creature captured you, you… well, Deathmist, started talking about our… hidden secrets, thinking it would make us fight. And… now, I think we should all finally admit our emotions, and finally get rid of that stone that’s pressing our heart…” Twilight spoke, glancing over the room. Applejack decided to go first.



“I… what Deathmist said… it was true. It was all true” Applejack’s eyes watered.
“I couldn’t stand all that bragging about Twilight. I’m sorry, but I just couldn’t. Yes, my family is well respected in Ponyville, but Twilight was always the number one. I couldn’t stand it. Every day, every event, every adventure, every villain… it was like we were always helpless, and Twilight was always the hero. All that Elements of Harmony mess… ”
“But every time, the farm suffered. I could no longer stand seeing my brother dead tired every day, but even after all the sacrifices he’s made, he’s still willing to sacrifice everything to keep the farm going”
“I admit, I was jealous. There, I said it. I was jealous. You all built great carriers anypony would be proud of, and me? I’m just a muddy earth pony. I’m not, nor will I be something as big as you. And because of that, I would sometimes cry myself to sleep, knowing that I couldn’t change anything. But I still kept going. And I will. I accepted my destiny and now… I learned how to live with it” Applejack said, with fresh tears in her eyes. Her friends comforted her with a warm embrace, and she no longer felt that anger and envy she felt before. She felt easier and happier.



“I… I tried to change. I really tried. But I couldn’t. Every effort was worthless. And I always make a mistake. And I always regret it. But the scars remain.” Rarity lowered her head, and continued.



“When I was still starting to discover talents of my cutie mark, I received a large order. I thought I could make it, but I didn’t. Everypony laughed at me, and I cried for days. I swore to never make another dress again, but eventually, as the mocking stopped, I was slowly coming out of my shadow, but since then… everything had to be perfect. And that’s why I’m always mad at Sweetie. I don’t really mean it, but I’m afraid… I’m afraid that mistake will happen to me again. And I couldn’t take it”
“And… the reason I like to… show off is because… nopony actually noticed me until I met you. I would always be alone at the lunch, I barely had any friends, and I was sick of it. I was sick of being alone. But every time I tried to make some friends, they would cut me off the next minute. The boys thought I was weird because I was always alone, they thought I was a freak, but in reality… I only needed a friend!” Rarity wept in Twilight’s embrace. After a couple of moments, she calmed herself down, and sighed in relief.



Rainbow was at the breaking point. Sure, she noticed her friends were behaving odd sometimes, but how could they keep all this in? Well, the same way she does.



“I always thought I was useless. Ever since flight school.” Fluttershy wiped away her tears and spoke.
“I couldn't even fly properly! And seeing all those ponies around me being successful… it hurts. It hurts to see that. I am happy for all of them, I really am, but I can’t stop wondering how it feels to succeed, how it feels to be the winner. How it feels to lay in your bed every night, and think: ‘I did something I am proud of.’ I tried that by opening a pet clinic, but it failed after a few days. I never felt so miserable in my whole life!”
“I’ve tried to get over it, but seeing you, and then looking at me… I felt worse every single day. I thought nopony loved me, because I was so afraid of everything. And that rope in my closet…” Fluttershy began to sob harder. Rainbow gave her a comforting embrace.
“I was even afraid to commit suicide! I felt like the biggest coward ever!” Fluttershy hid her head in Rainbow’s chest, weeping. Rainbow was brushing her mane, tears also falling down her cheeks.



“I found out about my real family when I found an old picture in the attic at the rock farm. My parent then told me anything. I… I can’t describe how I felt that moment, or especially after I finally met Surprise in Canterlot. That was the best day of my life” Pinkie finally spoke.
“I loved to fly with her. I felt… I felt so happy… but I was afraid how you would react to her. You didn’t really get along with Maud, and you already have trouble with me, now imagine me twice. And with wings!” 
“I waited for some time, but I waited too long. And when she… I felt like somepony took a piece of my heart. A piece of my soul. I couldn’t fight the depression. I didn’t want to tell you because I couldn’t stand you sad, and sad because of me. My only goal is to make everypony smile, especially my friends, and that is the most serious of serious promises I will never break” Pinkie smiled, fresh tears soaking her fur. Twilight and the rest broke into tears and hugged. Walls of secrets are down. They felt easier and free. No more secrets were on their way. No more fighting. All that is left now is comfort and friendship, friendship that will carry on.

--------------------

FEW HOURS LATER

“Rainbow, I don’t want to pressure you, but… is there something you want to tell us?” Twilight asked, while holding a book in her hoof. They were gathered at the library, enjoying themselves. Twilight still didn’t forget Rainbow’s odd behaviour. She tried to ask her politely this time, learning from her past mistakes.



To her surprise, Rainbow replied.



“There is, actually. But first, I need to visit one place…”

> Chapter 12
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

After a few hours, Rainbow returned back to the library. Her friends were still there, laughing and enjoying themselves. They were sitting in the throne room, drinking tea and patiently waiting for Rainbow. This time, they waited, instead of making the same mistake again. They felt if she really wanted, she’d explain everything to them. They didn’t want to force her to anything. 



They all went silent when the door opened and Rainbow walked in. She slowly walked to her throne and threw the saddlebags on the floor, staring blankly at the desk. Girls immediately noticed something’s wrong. She seemed full of sorrow, and she didn’t even look them in the eyes. She was tired, tired of everything, and she barely slept a few hours. She curled up in the soft crystals, sighing. 



Twilight and the rest put their cups of tea down on the table and looked at her. Their hearts were breaking, they couldn’t bear seeing her like this. After everything she’s been through… it wasn’t very easy for her. Deathmist took the life out of her.
This wasn’t, of course, the first time they were fighting a villain, but it was the scariest and the hardest. She looked tired, but… it was the kind of tired sleep wouldn’t fix.



“Sugarcube…you alright?” Applejack spoke first, breaking the silence. Rainbow ignored her and closed her eyes. She started humming something, like a lullaby or a song, while girls were exchanging worried looks. They didn’t know how to reply, how to continue the conversation, how to help her, because she wasn’t giving them any sign or hint. They were dying of curiosity, but decided to approach her kindly.



“Look, Rainbow, we… if something’s troubling you, no matter how big or small it is, we will always be there for you. You can talk with us about everything. We know you don’t like to show your feelings often, but… just because you cry, it doesn’t mean you are weak. Now, I will ask you one more time, if you don’t want to, we can forget everything and move on, but if you want to, we’ll listen; is everything okay?” Twilight kindly responded, almost with a motherly voice. She wanted to help her, because nopony should ever go through something difficult all alone. They need somepony to talk to, somepony to help them, somepony to be their light in the darkness, the brightest smile in the deepest sadness. That’s what friends are for, and that’s what Twilight was prepared to do for Rainbow, but she didn’t want to force her. Last time she did… well, she didn’t want to remember that.



Rainbow lift her head up, not saying a word. After breaking the eye contact with Twilight, she spread her wings and shut the door behind her, leaving the throne room.



“I suppose that’s no.” Rarity sighed in defeat, taking a sip of her tea.



“Where did she go? Did she go back home?” Fluttershy asked.



“I…I suppose, but I think we should check on her anyway. In a state she was in… this ain’t stalking, this is just a friend worrying” Applejack said and began walking towards the door. She didn’t have to search long. Rainbow stood just outside the door, and she looked she was about to cry.



“I… I can’t! I just can’t!” Rainbow shouted, her voice cracking. Her eyes started to water, and she lowered her head.



Twilight spoke as gently as possible, like mother talking to her filly, asking her once again.
“Rainbow, is everything alright?”



That motherly tone in Twilight’s voice broke Rainbow. It was the last straw for her, and she fell into her embrace, crying, while Twilight started gently brushing her mane, surprised by Rainbow’s reaction.



“It’s… It’s…” Rainbow tried to speak, but instead, she broke into uncontrollable sobs. All girls wrapped their hooves around her, comforting her.



“It’s my mother!” Rainbow finally spoke, continuing to cry.



Something struck Applejack in the heart. She knew that feeling very well. It was the worst feeling in the world; knowing somepony who raised you, who gave you comfort, who supported you through your whole life, just disappear forever. It leaves a terrible heartache. She didn’t want anypony to experience it, but it was unavoidable. She couldn’t believe Rainbow lasted this long without crying. She truly was one tough mare.



“She had cancer! I had to leave the Academy sometimes to visit her. The cancer was spreading faster every day, and she barely survived surgery! I was always with her, praying she would get better, but she didn’t! She never did!” Rainbow was speaking, still in tears. She was shaking her head in anger, her body shivering.
“She was… she was so proud of me when she heard I made it. She was so proud of me when I showed her the uniform. She was so proud of me when she saw me up in the air, the star of the show. She was supporting me the whole time. She helped me to go on, she was my hero, my hope!”
“When I saw her, lying in hospital bed, attached to all those tubes and monitors…”


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Rainbow, along with a light purple Pegasus with similar rainbow mane, her father Spectrum, was rushing down the hospital hallways, searching for the room 319. 
She hated hospitals. The white ocean of walls made her feel dizzy, and the numbers of countless rooms were mixing in her mind. Sterile smell of the hospital and just the look to all medical stuff and hurt ponies made her stomach turn. 



They were rushing past the nurses, and finally found the room 319. When they opened the door, they saw a light pink Pegasus with the dark blue mane, laying in the bed. Tubes and a breathing mask was attached to her, together with a heart rate monitor, which was beeping regularly. 



“Mother!” Rainbow shouted and hugged her, her tears falling. Looking at her tired mother made all her hope of her getting better, disappear. She hated, she hated to even think about it, but she had to accept… her mother is dying. And there is nothing she could do about it.



“Firefly!” Spectrum shouted and took her hoof, hugging her wife.



Firefly looked at them with her tired eyes. The therapy left her in a worse state that before, but she didn’t lose hope. She fought for every breath, every moment of life, but unfortunately… she lost the battle.
She slowly spoke through the mask, taking in deep breaths.
“You’re…here…”



“Of course we’re here! How could I ever leave you?” Rainbow laid her head on the side of the bed, feeling her heart shatter in countless pieces. She felt defeated, lost, hopeless. But she soon felt a motherly touch on her face, rising her head up. Her mother gave her a kind smile.
“My Wonderbolt… I’m so proud of you…”



“I love you! Don’t leave me, please! How will I live without you? Who will cheer for me?” Rainbow sobbed harder, hugging her mother tighter.



“Firefly…” Spectrum softly spoke, looking at her dying wife. Their loving memories flashed in his mind, making his tears fall. Seeing his loving one dying… his life and his heart was shattering. He thought, one day, when they grow old together, they would look at where’ve they come, what’ve they done, and smile, remembering the old times when they were young. That is now nothing but an impossible dream.



“I love you… I’m so proud of you… don’t you ever forget that, Dashie…” Firefly softly spoke, coughing.



“Mother, please, no…”



“Even if I’m not there with you… I will always live… in your heart and in your memories… don’t forget that... I will always be there for you, because I’m your mother, and I will always love you, no matter what… But you have to do something for me…”



“What? Anything for you! I will do anything!”



“Stay strong… Don’t… give up, no matter what. Remember how were you bullied in flight school? You thought you will always be just an ordinary Pegasus, because you wanted to be the best so badly… yet look how far you’ve come… ponies will always talk… society will always try to bring you down, because they’re jealous… don’t let them. Don’t let them change you, don’t let them see you fail… because that’s what they want. You need to focus on your dream, and work your way up. Carry on through your life, even if it means without me… I will always support you… I will watch over you from the sky… we will meet again, on the other side of the river…”



In that time, heart monitor began to drop and beep loudly. Doctors rushed, nurses panicked, Dash screamed.



“Mother! No! Mother!” Dash yelled, shaking her mother, begging her to wake up, but the doctor took her and her father out of the room, closing the door.



“Firefly!” Spectrum was banging on the door, almost punching a hole. Rainbow sat down on a chair, covering her face with her hooves. Last sound she heard coming from that room was a monotone sound. She sobbed harder.



“I’m sorry” doctor opened the door and looked sadly at Spectrum and Rainbow Dash. 



The words struck Rainbow’s heart and she fell into her father’s embrace. A part of her died. She felt dizzy, and all she wanted was to leave that hospital, bury the bad memories.



“She…she’s gone…she’s gone!”


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“That three days I was gone… it was… her funeral… I never felt so broken in my entire life… and now, I went to collect some things from the cloud home in Cloudsdale… and seeing all those photos, when she was happy and alive…” Rainbow finished, wiping the tears.



Twilight and the rest were in shock, crying as well, struck by Rainbow’s tragic words. What she needed now was support and comfort from her best friends, and they all gave her a warm embrace. Twilight then got the idea. Maybe… maybe it could help her. It was worth a try.



“Can… can we visit her grave now?”


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Twilight and the rest laid the flowers on the ground. The grave was simple, a dark grey stone with her cutie mark and her name engraved in it. They stepped back, and let Rainbow speak. She came closer to the grave, laid her flowers on the dirt and began to spoke.



“I… I was never good with words… and I was never one of the sappy ones, but all I wanted to say… and I feel it is something I didn’t say you very often…maybe you already knew it but…thank you. For everything.”
“You and dad were always there for me…That time I did my first Rainboom… I don’t think I’ve ever seen somepony so proud. And seeing you, made me feel proud. I was talking about it for a whole week, telling you over and over how it happened, and you listened every time. You never got bored of it. You were amazed every time, and you could listen to it all day. Even if dad sometimes complained about it, you never did.”
“I think I will never forget the day you and dad took me to my first Wonderbolt show. You saw the talent in me, and you thought I would be amazed. At first I thought you were kidding, how you could ever think some ponies in uniforms with cool hair, be cool to me. Yet, here I am, that same silly Pegasus in that same silly uniform. You were cheering for me so hard I could even hear you up there in the air.”
“I will never forget those nights when you were preening my feathers. You could sit there for hours, carefully preening my wings. You used to do that when I was a filly, but I still remember when I came back home, tired from the show… it’s not the same… I guess, motherly touch really is different… and special… I miss those days… I wish I could turn back time…”
“Lastly, thank you for giving me hope every day. Many times I wanted to give up, to leave everything, to go at the end of Equestria and never come back. And I would’ve, if it weren’t for you. You were always telling me not to give up. To be strong. That there is a spot for me on the top, just waiting for me. I didn’t believe you. I thought you were only saying that because… well, you are my mom. It’s your job. You were always saying not to worry about what other ponies are saying, that they’re just jealous. Now, I see you were right. You were right about everything. I see that now.”
“Thank you for giving me hope, for taking care of me. For having patience with me, for all the good memories. Thank you for everything, because if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be the pony I am today. Watch me from the sky and wait for me on the other side of the river.” Rainbow finished and laid an old Wonderbolt flag on the ground, the one from her first show, and let it wave in the wind. She turned to her friends and slowly walked away from the grave.



She hugged her friends, sighing. Twilight gave her a soft smile. The new chapter of their lives, and their friendship, was about to begin.



As they were leaving, Rainbow looked in the sky, pink light shining on her face, wiping her tears. She gave the clouds a soft smile, softly whispering, “Thank you mom. Thank you…”