Elements of Failure

Chapter 4

Twilight, Rainbow Dash and Rarity were very quiet after getting back on the path that lead towards the castle of the Royal Pony Sisters. Twilight's mood was particularly dark, it was the first time she had killed a pony, even if it was purely an act of mercy . The act left a bitter taste in her mouth, and she knew Pinkie's face and last words would haunt her in her sleep.

Rainbow Dash and Rarity followed after Twilight quietly, neither of them knowing what to say. They knew what she did and knew she had a good reason. Rarity lowered her head for a moment before speaking. "Twilight... darling are you going to be alright?" She asked concerned about her friend.

Twilight didn't answer at first as they kept walking, she considered not answering at all for a moment before sighing and shaking her head lightly. "I don't know Rarity.... I didn't want her to suffer, she was in so much pain. Even still...."

"You did the right thing," Rainbow Dash said looking at Twilight then back at the ground. "I'd want you to do it, if it was me." The thought of losing her legs, or her wings terrified her since she was always so active.

Twilight stopped and turned to look back at Rarity and Rainbow Dash. "Thank you, both. For trying to cheer me up. But what I did, I'm going to have to live with."

"Twilight dear, neither of us knew Pinkie that well... but from what I do know of her. I don't think she holds any malice towards you." Rarity said walking over to Twilight and putting a hoof on her shoulder. "Maybe, if we had gotten there sooner we could have helped her. However, what you did was the next best thing, being eaten alive is a terrifying prospect for any pony."

Rainbow Dash nodded in agreement with Rarity and Twilight gave a faint smile. "Thank you, Rarity. I'll do my best to try and keep that in mind." Twilight said before turning to walk along the path.

The group continued down the path until they reached a churning river and Twilight sighed. "How are we going to cross this?" She knew Rainbow Dash could easily fly across and she could teleport. But she wasn't sure how Rarity would get across with the river being so rough.

They soon heard crying and started to looked around before seeing a large serpent in the river thrashing around and crying. "What a world, what a world!" the serpent said as it thrashed it's body in the water and bring its hands down into the water with a mighty splash.

"Excuse me sir." Twilight started looking up at the large serpent Rarity and Rainbow Dash standing next to her. "Why are you crying?"

"Well I don't know, I was just sitting here. Minding my own business when this tacky little cloud of blue smoke just whisked passed me and tore half of my beloved moustache clean off." The large serpent said leaning his head down and pointing at where his mustache had been cut. "And now I look simply horrid!" he wailed before falling over into the river, sending a tremendous wave of water over the small group of ponies, soaking them.

"Oh give me a break." Rainbow Dash said looking annoyed at the drama. "That's what the problem is?"

"Why, of course it is!" Rarity said coming up next to Rainbow Dash, looking over at her. "How can you be so insensitive. Ooohh just look at him, such lovely luminescent scales." Rarity continued walk over to the serpent and rubbing his chin with her hoof.

The serpent sniffs looking at Rarity while his head rested on the bank of the river. "I know."

"And your expertly quaffed mane," Rarity said looking up at him, he seemed to be pretty friendly so she wasn't too concerned.

"Oh I know, I know, I know!" The serpent said raising up and running a hand through his hair.

"Your fabulous manicure," Rarity continued to smooth talk the large serpent smiling up at him.

"Ohhh it's so true." The serpent said enjoying the faltering talk from Rarity.

"All ruined without your beautiful mustache." Rarity continued to speak looking up at him.

"It's true, I'm hideous," He said covering his face with his arms.

"I simply can not let such a crime against fabulosity go uncorrected." Rarity said, narrowing her eyes before leaning over and biting one of the serpent's scales firmly in her teeth and pulled it off.

"Owww!" The serpent yelled, his mood changing dramatically, the pain from the scale being pulled out caused the serpent's friendly personality to change suddenly and he gave a loud roar looking down at Rarity who held the scale in her mouth.

"Oh no, Rarity, run!" Twilight yelled turning to run from the river. Rainbow Dash taking to the air and flying away.

Rarity dropped the scale and turned to run, but she wasn't fast enough. The serpent's head snapped forward and grabbed Rarity's back leg lifting her in the air. "No! Let me go!" She screamed in both pain and fear, feeling the teeth of the serpent biting onto her leg. "Rainbow Dash! Twilight! Somepony help me!"

The serpent grabbed Rarity around the front legs with his hands and pulled sharply, ripping her back leg off, causing Rarity to scream in pain. He swallowed the leg and bit into her other leg, firmly tugging again to tear away another limb and swallowing it. Rarity screamed out in pain again and called for help.

Twilight stopped and turned. Seeing what was happening to Rarity, she just stared in horror. She was too far away to do anything, but if she got any closer then the serpent could easily grab a hold of her. She closed her eyes tight and covered her ears trying to drown out the cries of pain and calls for help.

The serpent's other hand grabbed her around the barrel and lifted her up, staring into her face, his eyes burning red with anger at the assault. Rarity looked him in fear. "P... please... don't... I didn't mean to hurt you..." She stammered out in pain and desperation.

The serpent didn't seem to want to listen. He tossed her into his mouth and started to chew her up, still alive. Her muffled screams of pain slowly started to die down as the chewing finished her off. After a few moments, his eyes returned to normal and he sank back into the water.