Chapters Chapter One
A small group of six ponies stood at the entrance of the Everfree forest, they knew they had to go into the forest. They had to retrieve the Elements of Harmony from the ancient castle of the Royal Pony Sisters and stop Nightmare Moon.
"Whee! Let's go!" A pink pony with a puffy mane and tail said while bouncing towards the forest. She had a cutie mark of three balloons.
"Not so fast!" Answered a lavender unicorn with a straight blue, purple and pink mane. She had a cutie mark of a large purple star and five smaller white stars. She then continued to speak. "Look, I appreciate the offer, but I'd really rather do this on my own."
"No can do sugar-cube," an orange pony with a yellow mane and tail spoke up. This one had a cutie mark of three red apples. She spoke with a southern accent as she trotted closer to Twilight Sparkle, "We sure ain’t letting any friend of ours go into that creepy place alone. We're sticking to you like caramel on a candy apple."
After speaking up Applejack and the other ponies went into the forest. Pinkie Pie and Applejack in the lead, followed by a yellow pegasus with a flowing pink mane and tail. Her cutie mark depicted three butterflies. after her was a white unicorn with a styled purple mane and three blue gems for a cutie mark. Bringing up the rear was a cyan pegasus with a rainbow colored mane and tail who's cutie mark was a white cloud and a rainbow lightning bolt.
"Especially if there's candy apples in there." Pinkie Pie said while looking back at Twilight, "What? Those things are good." Pinkie added before following Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity and Rainbow Dash into the forest leaving Twilight behind.
Twilight sighed and slowly followed the rest of the group into the forest, moving to catch up and took the lead. The group made slow progress into the forest looking around quietly, "So, none of you have been in here before?" Twilight asked keeping her eyes focused a head.
"Heavens no just look at it. It's dreadful." Rarity said sounding a little panicked to be in the forest.
"And it ain’t natural. Folks say it don't work the same as the rest of Equestria." Applejack said as she looked around, but not noticing a dark blue mist floating along the edge of the cliff face the group was walking on. It worked it's way through the cracks expanding them and slowly started to make the ground weaker.
"What's that suppose to mean?" Twilight asked feeling panic build inside her.
"Noooo pony knows," Rainbow Dash said in a creepy voice floating slowly from the shadows into the light scaring all of them aside from Applejack. "You know why?"
"Rainbow quit it." Applejack said sternly, taking on a more serious attitude to the Pegasus' joking.
"Cause everypony who's ever come in. Has. Never. Come...." Rainbow Dash said, ignoring Applejack as she crept along the ground towards Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie. "Out!" As soon as she finished saying that, the ground crumbled out from under them, the blue mist quickly flying away, completely unseen.
Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash quickly flew up as the ground broke up and crumbled away taking the other four down the side towards a large drop. "Fluttershy, quick!" Rainbow Dash said flying towards the group to try and help as best she could.
"Oh my goodness, oh my goodness!" Fluttershy said as she flew after Rainbow Dash, wanting to help as well.
Rainbow Dash grabbed Pinkie Pie and lifted her into the air as Fluttershy flew past. She grabbed Rarity's tail by the teeth to slow the white unicorn down.
Applejack slid along the ground on her back, grabbing a root in her teeth to stop herself from going any further down the side. She looked down and saw Twilight having trouble stopping herself.
Twilight kept sliding along the ground on her back rolling over just as she got to the edge of the cliff and went over the side, but managed to stop herself enough and hung on by her forelegs, her hind legs kicking at the cliff face to try and push herself back up. Applejack saw her and let go sliding her way down. "Hang on, I'ma comin`," she called down to Twilight as she slid down the slope, grabbing her friend’s forehooves.
"Applejack, what do I do?" Twilight asked in a panic as she did her best to keep from falling. She was now trying to pull herself back up onto the cliff’s edge.
Applejack looked up before looking back down at Twilight, "Let go." Applejack told her trying to be reassuring everything will be fine.
"Are you crazy?" Twilight said upset at what Applejack had said, she didn't want to fall.
"No I ain't, I promise you'll be safe." Applejack said trying to reassure Twilight she would be fine.
"That's not true." Twilight said unconvinced, she felt Applejack was lying to her and wanted her to fall.
"Now listen here, I ain't no liar Twilight," Applejack said, a little angry Twilight would call her a liar. Though in the back of her mind she wasn't sure if Twilight would be safe.
"I'm not letting go!" Twilight said, pulling to get herself back up on the cliff. Her pulling caused Applejack to start sliding closer to the edge of the cliff as well.
"Twilight quit it, yer gonna pull me over with you!" Applejack said feeling herself slide closer to the edge.
Twilight didn't listen, her fear getting the better of her as she felt herself slide closer to falling over the edge, the ground starting to crumble under them from her repeated kicks with her back legs to get better footing. The ground eventually gave way, causing both to fall over the edge.
Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash who had just put down Pinkie Pie and Rarity watched in horror as the two ponies fell. Twilight's horn glowed and flashed as she teleported to the ground mid-fall, the landing causing her to roll but she was otherwise unharmed. Rainbow Dash quickly shot into the air to try and catch Applejack but she just missed as Applejack hit the ground hard with a sickening thud.
The small group rushed over to check on Applejack, but she was already gone. The impact with the ground snapped her neck and crushing her rib cage. The five stood there for a moment, a look of pure horror on their faces. Tears rolled down the cheeks of the group.
Twilight took a long shuddering breath before turning away. "L.. let's keep moving... We'll come back for her body after we defeat Nightmare Moon." She said softly, the rest of the group slowly turning to join them as they continued on their path.
Chapter 2
The group was quiet after the sudden loss of Applejack, even the normally bouncy and happy Pinkie Pie was just silently walking along the path. Fluttershy was sniffling quietly, going over in her mind what she would say to Big Mac, Granny Smith and Applebloom when they returned to Ponyville.
Deeper into the forest, they heard a sudden loud roar of something in pain. The group paused for a moment to look at each other before continuing on a little slower looking around for anything that might jump out at them before seeing the large form of a manticore standing in front of them.
The group stopped just out of sight of the manticore and looked at each other. "What are we going to do? We have to go this way." Twilight said looking at the other ponies.
Rainbow Dash sprang up, "We'll have to make it move." She said before flying quickly towards the manticore and bucking it hard in the face, causing it to roar loudly and swipe with it's claws. Rainbow Dash managed to avoid them but got hit with its tail sending her sliding back along the ground.
"Hurry everypony, let's help!" Twilight said, the group then running out. Twilight released a bolt of magic at the manticore, hitting it in the side and causing it to roar in anger, turning to face Twilight, baring it's fangs.
Pinkie ran over quickly to move Rainbow Dash out of the way so she wouldn't get hurt worse and Rarity threw rocks at the manticore with her magic in an effort to distract it. Twilight used her own magic to push it back to keep it from getting to close.
Fluttershy stood back and watched, her eyes wide. She noticed the manticore kept its right paw up in the air and didn't put it on the ground. While it tried to swipe at Rarity and Twilight who kept assaulting it with magic, Fluttershy noticed something stuck in it's paw. "W... wait... guys hang on." Fluttershy said softly trying to get her friends’ attention.
Rainbow Dash recovered from the tail swipe and flew up into the air again. "I'm not that easy to knock down!" She yelled and flew back at the manticore and started to move around it quickly building up a small tornado until it snapped its tail out and knocked Rainbow Dash aside again.
"W.. wait please stop." Fluttershy repeated, trying to get her friends attention. Seeing Rainbow Dash get hit again caused her to wince slightly.
"Come on girls, don't give up!" Twilight said another blast of magic flying at the manticore hitting it in the chest and sending it sliding back, roaring in pain and anger once more.
Pinkie Pie galloped over and bucked it's hurt paw causing it to rear up. Now in a rage, the beast swiped a claw at Pinkie Pie who managed to avoid the claws. A streak of purple magic caught the manticore in the chest again, knocking it on it's back.
"Wait!" Fluttershy yelled causing the ponies to stop and look at her as she rushed to the manticore. "Shh... it's okay, please stop. We won't hurt you anymore." She said trying to calm the manticore who had rolled onto it's side and got back up.
The manticore snorted and looked at Fluttershy, narrowing it's eyes. Fluttershy moved in closer and leaned in, grasping a dark thorn in her teeth and pulled it loose. The manticore roared in pain and slashed one of its claws at Fluttershy and catching her in the neck, its sharp claws sending a spray of blood in the air that splattered across the ground in front of the group, whose numbers had reduced to just four now.
The group gasped loudly before bolting into the woods and away from the manticore who looked ready to pounce. Seeing the group run the manticore started to chase after them as the thorn turned back into a dark blue mist and floated away.
The group managed to lose the manticore as they went deeper into the thick jungle. Once they was safe they came to a stop and panted hard trying to catch their breath. "F.. Fluttershy... why?" Rainbow Dash said tears streaming down her cheeks.
"I.. I'm so sorry Rainbow Dash, truly I am." Twilight said trying to comfort Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow Dash sat on a log and cried softly as Twilight, Rarity and Pinkie tried to comfort the poor pegasus. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy had grown up together, the loss of the was hardest on her. "I... I should've stopped her..." Rainbow Dash said wiping her eyes with a hoof.
"Rainbow Dash... she was too fast, no one could of stopped her." Rarity said softly looking at the ground. "It all happen so quickly. There was nothing anypony could have done."
"I'm the fastest flier in all of Equestria, I should have tried!" Rainbow Dash said jumping into the air before dropping back onto the log sighing deeply. "Who am I kidding? I couldn't even save Applejack..."
"Oh Dashie...." Pinkie Pie said softly wiping her own tears from her eyes. "You tried, no one could have reached her in time..." The normally happy pony said, trying to cheer Rainbow Dash up.
The small group sat quietly for a few minutes before Rainbow Dash got up off the log and looked at Twilight. "Come on, let's get that Nightmare Moon." Rainbow Dash said with determination. The group nodded in agreement before starting towards the Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters once more.
Chapter 3
The small group made its way slowly along the path, with the death of Fluttershy, the group had become even more somber and quiet. The dark blue mist slipped past them quietly and unnoticed, moving deeper into the woods.
Rainbow Dash was still softly sniffling over the loss of her friend, Pinkie Pie doing her best to help Rainbow Dash feel better, but even Pinkie was having a hard time dealing with the loss.
Twilight took a deep breath and broke the silence as they walked towards the castle. "Look girls, things are too dangerous out here," she started as she came to a stop and turned to face them. "We've already lost two ponies on this trip, I wouldn't blame you if you girls want to turn back. I can continue on my own."
Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and Rarity looked at each other then back towards Twilight. "Twilight dear, things look bad now but we've come too far to give up now." Rarity said giving her a weak smile.
"Yea, we're in this together, let's stop that meanie Nightmare Moon." Pinkie agreed. Rarity nodded as she looked at Twilight, putting on her best smile. The three turned towards Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow Dash looked back at the three, quiet for a few moments before she spoke up. "I'm not going back, I'm going to see this through to the end Twilight. You can count on it." Rainbow Dash said rearing up and clopping her hooves together. "I owe Fluttershy that much."
Twilight smiled back at them and nodded. "Thank you, let's try to be more careful as we go." She said looking back at the path. "Looks like the forest gets darker." She said noticing the tree line get thicker and the canopy cutting off what little moonlight they had.
They pushed on and moved deeper into the forest, taking it slow as it started to get darker. As the canopy got thicker overhead, their path became harder to navigate.
"This is getting bad Twilight dear, maybe we should use our magic to help." Rarity suggested as she nearly tripped over a tree root. "I can barely see my hoof in front of my muzzle."
"Your right Rarity, hang on a moment." Twilight replied and the group came to a stop. Twilight's horn started to light up as she pushed magic into her horn, light slowly starting to brighten up the area.
Once there was a enough light in the area, Rarity gave a cry of shock at the sight of the trees surrounding them. The group looked around at all the ghastly features on the trees. Panic started to build up inside of the ponies.
Pinkie Pie pushed her fear down as best she could and walked up to one. Twilight turned towards Pinkie Pie, and the shadows on the tree shifted. "Pinkie! Run!" Twilight yelled one of the branches on the tree moving like it was going to hit Pinkie Pie.
Pinkie Pie looked over at Twilight then back at the tree, the features of the tree shifted into a evil grin and Pinkie Pie gave a shocked cry of surprise and bolted into the woods away from the tree.
"Pinkie!" Rarity yelled and the group tried to run after her, but the trees seemed to move to block the path Pinkie Pie was taking and the group had to find a way around to get out of the grove of trees.
In Pinkie's panicked state, she lost her sense of direction and leapt to get over a falling tree. She landed in a small lake and splashed to get her bearings, coughing. Her splashing attracted a small group of crocodiles that slowly made their way over to her, not making a sound.
Pinkie Pie didn't notice the crocodiles as she started to swim towards shore. She let out a loud cry of pain as she felt something bite into one of her hind legs. She tugged her leg and looked back at the crocodile holding her leg in its mouth.
Twilight, Rarity and Rainbow Dash had found their way out of the grove of trees and started to look for Pinkie Pie. They heard her cries of pain and started to gallop towards the sounds. The brush and brambles made the path to the lake hard to navigate, slowing them down.
Pinkie Pie screamed in pain again as the crocodile holding onto her hind leg twisted around and pulled as it bit down harder, shattering the bone. She pulled her hind leg hard before suddenly feeling it come loose. She looked back and screamed seeing her leg was gone.
The loss of her back leg made her panic more and start to thrash around as she tried to get to shore. But her progress was slow and her thrashing attracted more of the crocodiles. She screamed in pain again as her other back leg was caught in the jaws of another crocodile.
She kicked her front legs hard to try and pull herself free, looking ahead she saw Twilight, Rarity and Rainbow Dash come from the brush, eyes widening when they saw her in the lake with the bask of crocodiles. "H.. help me!" Pinkie Pie screamed towards them.
The three of them watched in horror and shock as the crocodile holding her back leg twisted and ripped it free, Pinkie Pie letting out another scream of pain. She struggled and thrashed in the water, much more desperate to get out of the water. Just then, another crocodile grabbed onto her left haunch tearing loose a chunk of flesh.
Rainbow Dash took the air and went to help but when she lowered down to grab Pinkie, one of the crocodiles leapt up and snapped its jaws at Rainbow Dash, just missing her. "Pinkie... I'm so sorry," Rainbow Dash said as she flew back to shore.
"Help... me..." Pinkie Pie pleaded weakly, the loss of blood getting to her and her thrashing died down. The rest of the crocodiles coming in and each biting on her, pulling her flesh loose. Her cries of pain died down to soft cries of help.
Rainbow Dash and Rarity looked away, tears streaming down their faces. "I.. I'm sorry Pinkie, please forgive me," Twilight said and closed her eyes tears rolling down her cheeks. She bit her bottom lip before her horn flared with energy and she released a bolt of magic. The bolt streamed passed the crocodiles and caught Pinkie Pie in the chest, instantly killing her.
After the mercy kill, Twilight turned around "L.. let's go, don't look back." She said and trotted back to the path. Rainbow Dash and Rarity followed after her, not looking back at the crocodiles feasting on what was left of Pinkie Pie.
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.
Chapter 5
Twilight whimpered quietly, keeping her head covered and trying to shield out the noise, she hadn't even noticed it had gotten quiet. After a few moments, she raised herself up moving her arms away from her head. She looked around spotting Rainbow Dash in the air as the pegasus came down and landed next to her.
"R.. Rainbow Dash... please... turn back. Twilight said pleadingly. "It's way too dangerous. Everyone else is gone, I don't want to lose you to."
"Twilight, I'm not gonna abandon you now." Rainbow Dash said smiling at her sadly. "Besides we don't have that much further to go. While flying over head I saw the Castle of the Royal Pony Sister's."
Twilight looked at Rainbow Dash quietly before giving her a faint smile in return. "Alright Rainbow... if there isn't too much further to go." She said sighing softly, they looked ahead, seeing the river. "We'll have to cross the river first."
Rainbow Dash flexed her wings a bit looking out over the river then back at Twilight. "I can fly, but how will you get over?" She asked sitting down trying to come up with an idea.
Twilight considered for a moment sitting down thinking about the best way to cross. "Oh, of course. I'll teleport myself. Since you can fly I can easily teleport just myself." She said looking at the river back on the other side finding a good spot before teleporting to it.
"Alright, I'll meet you on the other side of river." Rainbow Dash said extending her wings and flew across the river, high enough to stay out of reach of the serpent and landing next to Twilight who had just reappeared.
The two of them start to walk down the path, Rainbow Dash leading Twilight towards the castle she saw from the air. Both remained pretty quiet as they got closer.
Rainbow Dash stopped and pointed a hoof, "There it is Twilight, the Castle of Royal Pony Sisters," she said softly as they both look over towards the castle.
Twilight started to run towards the castle and squeals as she almost goes over the side of a cliff. Rainbow Dash flies over quickly grabbing her tail with her teeth and pulls her away. "What's with you and falling off cliffs today?" Rainbow Dash said looking at her.
Twilight blushed brightly at Rainbow Dash before looking over chasm then looked down, the bottom impossible to see through a thick mist.. "How are we going cross this one?" Twilight said looking at the other side.
"I got this," Rainbow Dash said extending her wings and flies to the other side grabbing the broken rope pulling it up. She lands and pulls the rope wrapping it around the post starting to tie it off.
"Rainbow....." A voice spoke up, causing her to stop and look around. The blue mist flies past her and into the haze of fog, completely unseen. "Rainbow...."
She turns quickly and scans the haze, "Who's there?!" She asked loudly, rearing back on her hind hooves, ready to attack, "I ain’t scared of you! Show yourself!"
"We've been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the best flyer in Equestria," The voice spoke and Rainbow Dash settled down.
"Who?" Rainbow Dash said as she looked into the haze.
"Why, you of course," the voice spoke softly, stroking Rainbow Dash's ego.
"Really?" Rainbow Dash said before getting a more proud look. "I mean, oh yeah, me. Hey you wouldn't mind telling the Wonderbolts that would you? Because I've been trying to get into their group for like, ever."
"No Rainbow Dash, we want you to join us," The voice said as three figures came out of the fog, standing in front of Rainbow Dash, they had on purple and black flight suits with yellow lightning bolt designs to separate the purple and black. There was a mark of a skull with wings over the area cutie marks would be. They also had on flight goggles with yellow lenses and purple straps.
"The Shadow Bolts" one of the figures said, "We're the greatest aerial team in the Everfree Forest, as soon we will be the greatest in all Equestria. But first, we need a captain."
Once she said that Rainbow Dash's eyes practically shone with eagerness and excitement. "The most magnificent,"
"Yes," Rainbow Dash agreed as her ego was stroked more as the figure flew around her.
"Swiftest," she spoke again, increasing Rainbow Dash's eagerness even more as it flew around her.
"Yes," Rainbow Dash agreed more letting her ego cloud her judgment.
"Bravest flier in all the land," the figure added as she continued to stroke at her ego.
"Yes, it's all true." Rainbow Dash agreed from all the compliments as the figure flew away before going around and coming up to her from the side.
"We need," she said before leaning her head in close to Rainbow Dash's ear and whispered into it. "You."
"Woohoo!" Rainbow Dash said loudly and flew up into the air. "Sign me up!" She said before flying over to the bridge to finish trying it up so Twilight could cross. "Just let me tie this bridge real quick and then we have a deal."
The figure flew over and pushed Rainbow Dash back from the rope. "No! It's her or us."
Rainbow Dash paused for a moment to consider what she said until she heard Twilight call from across the chasm. "Rainbow! What's taking so long?!"
Twilight could see the figures in the flight suits standing near Rainbow Dash, "Oh no....." She said softly before yelling to her friend "Rainbow!"
The one that had been talking looked over at Twilight before its eyes glowed, causing the mist to pull in close and block Twilight's view. "Don't listen to them...." Twilight tried to yell but the thick fog also had a spell weaved into it that blocked out sound as well.
Rainbow Dash was still thinking it over, going over in her mind all that had happen to lead them to this point, the loss of Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Rarity. They had all perished for this mission, and she wanted to see it through.
"Rainbow Dash... you will die if you go in there, just consider it. Certain death, or the chance of living your dreams?" The figure said looking at Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow Dash closed her eyes tight and sighed, it was a hard offer to pass up and with everything that had happen, her loyalty broke and she looked up at the figure. "You... I'll join you and your team."
The figure grinned and it's eyes flashed again as it turned into the mist and enveloped Rainbow Dash. "W.. what's going on?! Stop!" Rainbow Dash screamed, feeling as if millions of tiny pins started to pierce deep into her body. She could feel her energy drain out and her body shrivel up, her skin becoming tight against her bones.
The haze that had covered the area faded away and Twilight could see the blue mist covering Rainbow Dash's body, causing it to waste away rapidly as she writhed and screamed in pain. "No! Rainbow Dash!" she yelled and her horn flared as she teleported to the other side of the chasm now that she had a clear view of it and could form her target location safely.
"Get off of her!" Twilight yelled using her hooves to try and push the mist off Rainbow Dash, but her hooves moved through it easily and had no effect. She fired a blast of magic into the mist but it just seemed to absorb the energy into itself. She could only watch in horror as Rainbow Dash's body shriveled up even more.
The hair in Rainbow Dash's mane and tail falling out leaving small strands of it and her feathers on her wings dropped away leaving only a handful of them, her eyes turned black with just a pinprick of red in the center. The mist came off her body leaving Rainbow Dash just standing there for a moment before her wings snapped open and she took off into the air.
"No... no no no Rainbow Dash... why?" Twilight cried, watching Rainbow Dash fly off as little more than a shadow of who she once was. Twilight's eyes watered up, she knew what had happened and it made her feel sick. "Why did you listen to them? Now you're going to be cursed to fly the night sky, disloyalty your only companion.... for eternity.... a fate worse than death...."
She watched for a few more moments before turning away and closing her eyes tight, wiping at her tears with her hoof before preparing herself to go into the castle alone and face Nightmare Moon. She only hoped she would be able to defeat her and maybe make some good come from this tragedy.
Rainbow Dash just flew through the Everfree Forest over the tree canopy, unable to control her body. Her mind constantly replaying the moment of her disloyalty on an endless loop. Unable to stop it and unable to control her body or to end the endless cycle of pain and regret that filled her soul.
Chapter 4
She was alone now, all the ponies that had joined her in the forest was now gone. Twilight sighed softly as she looked at the large crumbling structure of the castle of the Royal Pony Sisters. She started to make her way forward following the path leading to the entrance.
She opened one of the large double doors and went inside looking around, the large entrance hall had tall pillars broken and over grown with vines, in the center was a pedestal also over grown with vines and moss. She almost passed it up before coming to a stop and looking at the large stone orbs. "Hmm.... could it be?" She asked herself quietly.
The design of the pedestal as well as the placement of the orbs reminded her of the picture in the book on the Elements of Harmony. She used her magic to bring the orbs down so she could get a closer look at them. "These are the Elements of Harmony." She grinned to herself as she lowered herself down in front of them closing her eyes and tried to activate them with her magic.
The tip of her horn glowing as she tried to get the spark of magic going. While she was working her magic into the orbs the blue mist swooped in and started to swirl around the orbs lifting them up off the ground. Twilight didn't notice at first as she pushed more magic into them, but she heard the orbs scrap across the ground and she opened her eyes.
"Oh no!" She watched for a moment seeing the swirling get faster, she leapt to grab one of the orbs just as they disappeared deeper into the old ruined castle. She coughed a bit when she reappeared the dust from the ground starting to settle.
She heard a laugh coming from the side and looked over to see Nightmare Moon standing on a small platform with the elements held in her mane and tail. Magical lighting crackled around Nightmare Moon, and Twilight gasped before narrowing her eyes lowering her horn towards Nightmare Moon and hoofed at the ground.
"Your kidding?" Nightmare Moon questioned as she watched the display of aggression finding it hard to believe some pony was that bold. "Your kidding, right?"
Twilight hoofed the ground again and pushed magic into her horn as she charged forward towards Nightmare Moon. Nightmare Moon answered the charge by charging forward herself. Twilight's horn flared brighter and just before hitting Nightmare Moon she teleported onto the platform where the Elements of Harmony rested.
Twilight was a bit dizzy by the quick teleport spell but recovered quickly. "Just one spark...." Twilight said softly and pushed magic into her horn again trying to get the Elements of Harmony to activate.
"Come on.... come on!" she said desperately her magic started to envelop the elements and sparked. Nightmare Moon looked over seeing the display and turned into her mist form flying over and reappearing in front of the elements and Twilight just as the spark took hold and blasted her back away from the platform.
The elements held the magical aura and sparked more, Nightmare Moon looking down at them. "No! No!" Nightmare Moon yelled and Twilight grinned as she watched the elements start to work. Before they just suddenly stopped doing anything again.
Twilight gasped sharply. "But... where is the sixth element?" Twilight asked in surprise as nothing happened. Nightmare Moon laughed loudly as the elements failed to work and reared herself up before smashing her hooves down shattering the orbs into small shards.
Twilight watched in horror as the elements got destroyed, her ears dropped down as Nightmare Moon stared at her. "You little foal! Thinking you could defeat me! Now you will never see your princess, or your sun," Nightmare Moon grinned as her mane and tail got longer and raised into the air as she stretched her wings out wide. "The night, will last forever!" her mane and tail started to swirl around over her as she laughed.
Twilight just watched feeling defeated before narrowing her eyes. "I wont let it end like this! I might not have the elements anymore, but I still have magic!" She said charging her horn up and fired a lance of magical energy at Nightmare Moon.
The sudden attack caught Nightmare Moon off guard as the bolt of magic slammed into her chest plate causing her to stagger back a few steps. "You have the gall to attack me?!" Nightmare Moon yelled and pulled magic into her horn releasing it at Twilight in a wave from her horn.
Twilight brought a barrier up to block the wave of magic from Nightmare Moon, but the force behind the wave pushed her back a few feet. Twilight gritted her teeth from the effort of holding the barrier against the magic attack. She counter the wave once it had settled by firing another lance of magic, this one aimed at Nightmare Moon's head.
Nightmare Moon easily moved her head to avoid the magic since it wasn't a sneak attack. "You really are a foal thinking you can best me in magic!" Nightmare Moon said narrowing her eyes, she bright her long ethereal mane around and slammed it against Twilight's side knocking her across the room and into the wall.
Twilight let out a sharp cry as she hit the wall, the impact cracking a few of her ribs but she forced herself back to her feet coughing a bit as blood came from her mouth, one of the broken ribs having cut a lung. She narrowed her eyes and ignored it as she. She charged magic into her again and fired it into a pillar the force causing the pillar to explode outwards sending large fragments at Nightmare Moon.
Nightmare Moon ignored the fragments that hit her, using her mane to deflect the larger pieces the smaller pieces bouncing off her armor and nicking her skin. "I was, going to let you live. As an example to my subjects." Nightmare Moon said narrowing her eyes. "But I suppose your death will be a better example."
Twilight panted hard coughing a little more blood as she hide behind a pillar. She gritted her teeth and charged her horn with as much magic as she could jumping out from behind the pillar and fired at Nightmare Moon. The blast of magic hit Nightmare Moon square in the side and went through her. Twilight's eyes widening. "I... I did it!" She yelled before her ears dropped as the image of Nightmare Moon faded away. "No.... an illusion spell?"
Nightmare Moon formed behind Twilight and wrapped her mane around her neck lifting her up causing Twilight's eyes to widen and struggled against the grip. "That's right, now you will pay for your treason." Nightmare Moon said tightening the mane around her neck, her another piece of her mane coming around her hind legs and forelegs to keep her from struggling to much as she slowly strangled Twilight.
Twilight shuddered and struggled finding it impossible to breath as the mane tightened up around her neck more her pupils dilating to pin pricks, she tried to push magic into her horn, to fight off Nightmare Moon but she had nothing left.
Nightmare Moon just stared, watching as Twilight's struggles became weaker before they ended all together. She kept the mane tight around Twilight's neck and hind legs but released her forelegs. Satisfied Twilight was gone she stretched her wings and flew out of the castle of the Royal Pony Sisters and made her way to Canterlot.
She landed on a large balcony of Canterlot Castle used to make announcements. She used her magic to summon some rope and dropped the body of Twilight Sparkle on the ground. She wrapped the rope around Twilight's neck and tied it off, the other end being tied to a pillar of the balcony she tossed the body over the side to let it hang in full view of the court yard.
"Hear me, Citizens of Equestria," she bellowed out in her royal voice summoning the ponies of Canterlot. "Spread the word to all, Nightmare Moon has defeated your heroes and your precious Sun Princess. Let this be a warning to you all, none can defeat your new queen, Nightmare Moon!"
Lighting crackled in the sky, the flashes of light illuminating the body of Twilight who hung from the balcony. The display brought gasps to the gathered ponies as they looked up at her hanging from the balcony. Nightmare Moon turned to go into the castle to prepare her rule leaving the body of Twilight to hang as a permanent display.
