"Rarity, can I tell you something?"
Rarity stroked her lover's wings, feeling their strength and softness beneath her hooves. "Yes, Rainbow?"
Rainbow Dash shifted with a discomforted expression on her muzzle. "I'm scared." The words were said softly, as if she was leery of being overheard. Which was a reasonable fear, considering where they were.
"Oh?" Rarity asked, her horn lighting up as she did a quick scan to ensure that there were no eavesdroppers. One could never be too sure, after all. "Is this about your mission?"
"Yeah." Rainbow was peering out the window now, her eyes fixed on the Everlasting Moon that shone down on them, bathing them in their Queen's glorious light. "I mean, it's a huge honour, and I can't believe Nightmare Moon picked me to lead the strike team, but these are the Wonderbolts we're talking about. They were my heroes when I was growing up, before, well, everything."
Rarity's hoof stilled as she stiffened, moving to put a slight distance between them on the bed they shared. "You aren't questioning the Queen's orders to have them eliminated, are you?" she asked, a dangerous edge to her voice. Her feelings for Rainbow Dash aside, she wouldn't hesitate to turn in a traitor even after having bedded her.
To her immense relief, Rainbow immediately replied, "Of course not! I know they gotta go down since they sided with her when Nightmare Moon came back. It's just, they were supposed to be the best fliers in Equestria, and we're going to be fighting them soon. I've spent all my time defending the palace from rebels— this is going to be my first mission outside and it's against them?"
"You were chosen for a reason, Rainbow." A smile graced Rarity's lips. "You are the fastest and most capable warrior in our Queen's service. I have no doubts that you will be victorious."
"Well, duh, I know we're gonna win." The utter confidence in Dash's voice reminded Rarity of just why she had fallen for the brash pegasus. Her strength and courage were an inspiration to Rarity, and she loved to bask in it whenever possible. "But that doesn't mean that ponies won't get hurt, or worse."
"That is the nature of battle, I'm afraid," Rarity said. "And I have no doubts in your ability to survive the fight with these so-called freedom fighters."
"It's not me I'm worried about."
Rarity tsked. Rainbow always did have a soft heart. "Those under your command know what they're fighting for. Nightmare Moon has given us so much, brought order and stability to Equestria and granted us the generous gift of her Eternal Night. The least any of us can do is be willing to sacrifice ourselves to preserve her glory. Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori."
"Huh?" Right, of course Rainbow Dash wouldn't be familiar with the classics. It was one of her faults that Rarity tolerated.
"It's from an old poem," Rarity explained patiently. "It means, 'it is sweet and proper to die for one's country.' A poignant sentiment, wouldn't you agree?"
"I guess," Rainbow replied. "I mean, I'm ready to die for Equestria, so I guess they are too."
"That's the spirit!" As a reward, Rarity peppered kisses along her barrel, delighting in how it made Rainbow Dash shiver. "And I'm sure that under your command the losses will be minimal."
"I guess." Rainbow's wing wrapped around Rarity, who paused in her kissing to snuggle her lover. "Thanks for putting up with me."
"Think nothing of it," Rarity replied truthfully. As much as she detested weakness, even a weak Rainbow was stronger than any other pony, and Rarity still loved her for it. "You are not the only pegasus who revered the Wonderbolts before their falling out with the Crown, but if you can see past their illusion of greatness, you should find that they'll fall just like any other foe you've had to face."
"You're right." When Rarity looked up, she saw the confident grin on Rainbow that she so adored. "I'm the most awesome flier in Equestria, and I'm gonna prove it tomorrow."
Rarity leaned in for a kiss on the lips, enjoying the warmth that spread through her at the gesture. "Yes, my love, you will. Now, shall we rest? You have a big night ahead of you, and I have to arrange for some seditionists to disappear when we rise."
"Sure." Rainbow hugged Rarity closer. "I love you, Rarity."
"As I love you, Rainbow." Rarity yawned. "Good night, and dream of the glory of Nightmare Moon."
"Hail Nightmare Moon," Rainbow mumbled before they both drifted off to sleep, under the moonlit light of Night Eternal.
"They've breached the outer perimeter! Fall back!"
Rarity, knowing that she was much more a lover than a fighter, did as Commander Lightning Dust ordered, retreating back from the edges of the battle and into the inner sanctum of Everfree Castle. They would be safe here until the guards could repel the invading forces.
Her heart ached as she heard the sounds of battle outside. The Wonderbolts were bearing down on them in full force, and their presence reminded Rarity of the one she'd lost months ago, when Rainbow had set out to subdue them and never returned. The whole strike team had been written off as dead and a replacement team had been formed.
It was foolish of her to dwell on such things, she knew. Rainbow Dash had not been as strong as they had believed, and had paid the price for it, and that was that. There was no room for weakness in Nightmare Moon's Equestria.
And yet, it seemed that Rarity was weak as well, as she felt the beginning of tears roll down her cheeks. Not wanting anypony to see her, she retreated down one of the secret staircases in the castle, wanting to hide in the catacombs and wallow alone in her sadness.
Except, the sound of something being dragged across the floor echoed towards Rarity, washing away her mourning as her eyes narrowed. So, there was a second group of attackers here as well, was there? A clever tactic, and one that Rarity intended to sniff out. She might not have been a fighter, but any information she could relay to the military commanders would help.
She hugged the walls as she crept towards the source of the sound, not wanting to alert the attackers. The damp dirtiness of the catacombs was seeping into her coat, and it would be a nightmare to wash out afterwards, but Rarity was nothing if not dedicated to her Queen.
She turned the corner and saw a barrel of something being pushed along. A moment later, a flash of rainbow-coloured hair darted across her vision.
"Rainbow Dash, what in Nightmare Moon's name are you doing?" The words slipped out before Rarity could stop herself, shock colouring her tone and freezing her in place. Rainbow Dash was alive, had not been lost in that attack against the Wonderbolts. Except, if she was here now...
Her former lover looked up at Rarity with a guilty expression on her face, like a child caught stealing candy. "Oh, hey, Rarity," she waved. "Might wanna get out of here real quick."
"I thought you were dead!" Rarity shrieked, stomping towards her. "I mourned you and cried for you and did everything I wasn't supposed to do! You led my heart astray and now you're just here?"
"I'm sorry," Rainbow replied, holding up her hooves in a placating gesture. "Look, after we lost to the Wonderbolts, they explained how Nightmare Moon was doing all sorts of terrible things to Equestria, and how they needed my help to bring Celestia back."
Rarity rolled her eyes. "Don't tell me you believe their lies. Come with me, and maybe we can fix this little falling out of yours. You won't be beloved in the Queen's eyes anymore, but you might keep your head."
"No." Rainbow shook her head. "I have to do this, Rarity." Moisture began to gather around her hooves as she channelled pegasus magic through them.
"And what exactly are you doing?" Rarity demanded, eyeing her warily. Anger overwhelmed relief and sadness as the weight of Rainbow's betrayal sunk in. "What's in those barrels?" They were everywhere, she noticed now. Several piled around each of the columns surrounding them.
"Some kind of magical explosive," Rainbow said. "I'm not an egghead, but all it'll take is a little lightning and this should collapse the part of the building where Nightmare Moon is hiding. The explosives are enchanted to be able to break through her alicorn-ness too." Electricity crackled around her hooves now, and Rarity's eyes widened.
"You'll die if you set that off," she said, rather redundantly. "You won't be able to survive an explosion that big."
Rainbow's other hoof held up a glowing crystal. "They gave me some kinda teleportation crystal to get me out after. You should probably start running, though. I'll wait until you're far enough away before I set this off." Her expression softened. "I'm sorry I didn't come back to you, Rarity."
"No," Rarity whispered, tears flowing freely from her eyes. "If you are going to tear down everything I've worked for while ripping out my heart, then let it end here for me, right now."
"Seriously, Rarity, don't do this," Rainbow said, her eyes narrowing. "I don't want you to die."
"Then we are at an impasse, then."
For a moment, both lovers stared at one another, a battle of wills raging in their eyes that was just as fierce as the battle above them. And then Rainbow turned away, her head bowed.
"Fine,” she said. Lightning arced from her hooves and struck one of the fuses, causing it to smoulder slowly towards their end. Then, she pressed her hoof into the teleportation crystal, and before Rarity could react, flew over and pressed it against her.
Rarity's eyes widened in horror as she felt the spell bond with her. "What have you done?"
"Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori." Rainbow smiled. "That's what you told me, right? Well, now I realize that Equestria is about more than what Nightmare Moon wants. It's about doing whatever we have to make sure ponies are free, and saving everypony we can. Even if it means giving up our own lives."
The fuse was almost at the barrel, and the spell was almost ready to cast. Rarity stared up at Rainbow, her heart shattering into a million pieces. "You fool," she snarled. "I should have had you executed when you first joined our ranks." Even as she said the words, though, she knew they rang hollow.
"Hopefully you'll be able to forgive me one day, but at least you'll be around to do that. Goodbye, Rarity." The world fell away as the teleportation spell was cast, and the last thing that Rarity saw was a look of intense peace that she had never seen in her lover's expression before.
And then all was light.
