Was I So Wrong?

Twilight stepped into the clearing, where her friends had already arrived. "Well, now that that's settled, why don't we head back to Ponyville?" Twilight was about to suggest dinner at her home, but stopped when she noticed the faces worn by the rest of the Elements of Harmony.

"Girls, what's the matter? It's not about... this," she gestured to the blood staining her hooves, "is it? Look, girls. I did what we had to do. Celestia needed that done, but it's over now. We can all just forget it. Okay?"

The other five mares shifted a bit. Pinkie Pie was sitting still for the first time in months. Rarity had a pained look on her face. Fluttershy seemed ready to cry. Applejack wasn't even looking in Twilight's direction. Rainbow Dash, however, seemed most conflicted about the situation.

"Girls? C'mon! Look at me! I had to do it! Celestia told us to get rid of her! Why are you treating me like this?" Twilight put her hoof on Applejack's shoulder. "Applejack?" Apple jack stood suddenly, pushing Twilight away.

"No. Not right now Twilight. I can't talk to you or I might- I'll-" Applejack stomped a hoof in frustration. "Just leave me alone! Okay?" Applejack galloped of, through the woods.

"Applejack!" Twilight called after her, but it was no use. She turned toward Pinkie Pie, "Pinkie? You're always happy, c'mon, say something. Lighten up the mood! Please, Anything!" Pinkie Pie flinched, backing away from the unicorn. Twilight noticed that her mane had slowly been deflating as she spoke.

"Applejack's right, Twilight. I don't want to talk to you right now." Thankfully, Pinkie at least stayed seated in the clearing.

Twilight turned towards Fluttershy. She was the Element of Kindness, surely she would talk to Twilight.

"Fluttershy, I'm sorry, but you heard the Princess, I had to-"

"NO! Twilight! You didn't have to anything!" Everypony stared, shocked at Fluttershy's outburst. "Listen Twilight. You MURDERED her. There is no excuse for killing somepony, and-"

"But she wasn't even a pony, she was-" Twilight was interrupted by the stinging surprise of Fluttershy's hoof hitting her cheek. Hard.

"Dammit, Twilight! Shut up! What right do you have to kill any living thing!? You heartless- You- You-" Fluttershy's entire face was twitching now, tears poured down her cheeks, falling to the ground, wetting the dirt. "You BITCH!" Fluttershy slapped Twilight again, and ran.

Twilight watched Fluttershy's receding form silently. She couldn't speak. She put a hoof up to her cheek where her friend had hit her. Shocked, she pulled it back. Fresh blood covered her hoof. Only this time, it was her own blood.

Twilight looked up from her hoof to find that only Rainbow Dash remained in the clearing. "Rain-"

"I'm sorry Twilight. I need to go find Fluttershy. You're an egghead, go write about what you did tonight. Maybe then you'll realize your mistake." Rainbow Dash turned and followed the path Fluttershy had galloped away on.

Twilight fell to the ground, laying face down in the moist grass. What had she done? She hadn't had a choice. It wasn't her fault. Right?