Chapters "I love you, sis." the second said.
"But it's my fault you're dead!" the mare said.
"No it's not. I chose this." the second said.
"I love you." the mare said.
"Don't forget me!" the second said.
*******
The mare woke up from her dream.
"It isn't my fault!" she said, and for the first time in seven months, she smiled. It felt good, like a weight had been lifted off her. She ran outside to celebrate the day.
"Look everypony! She's smiling!" Pinkie cheered.
"Hi, Pinkie!" the mare smiled.
"You're smiling! You did it!" she replied, "How?"
"It isn't my fault." she cheered.
"Oh yeah, you're supposed to meet somepony in Town Hall!" Pinkie said, then she ran off.
The mare, smiling, trotted down the street. It felt like such a perfect day. It was beautiful out, the birds were singing, ponies were happy.
"I was told to meet somepony here?" the mare said to the receptionist.
"Alirght, come on out." the receptionist called into the back room. A rainbow maned pegasus with a purple coat came out.
"Dad!" the mare hugged her father.
"How have you been, sweetie?" Rainbow Strike asked the mare, "And why did you say you were sorry."
The mare suddenly wore a frown. "Sweetie, where are your sisters?" Rainbow Strike asked again. He noticed when she looked down. "Oh no." he said, "They didn't... How?"
"It was a bombing, they were hurt, and wouldn't let me help them." the mare choked out.
"I-I-I'm sorry that had to happen to you." Rainbow Strike hugged his daughter, tears leaking from his eyes. "When did it happen?" he asked.
"Seven months ago. I'm sorry we couldn't get a message to you sooner." the mare sobbed.
"Come on, let's go." the two ponies trotted out of the building, and into the beautiful day.
Chapter 4: The Happy Memories
"So, how have things been?" Rainbow Strike asked his daughter.
"Not as good as you'd think." the mare replied.
"Where are they?" Rainbow Strike looked the mare in the eyes.
The mare said nothing, as she walked into the forest, with her head down. Rainbow Strike followed. They came to a beautiful clearing. Butterflies and ladybugs danced around the two stones that stood in the center.
"You three would come here often." Rainbow Strike said, "The best flier in the world and the best sibling ever, huh?" He read their graves.
"It's true, isn't it?" the mare replied, sitting in front of the graves.
"It sure is."
"Y'know, that one is empty." she pointed at the first's grave.
"Never found her, right?" Rainbow Strike asked.
"Yeah. Sometimes... in my dreams... I see her staggering out of the bombing. Like she lived through it." the mare smiled, "It feels nice to smile, I haven't in so long."
"It's nice to be here, relaxing, rather than a bloody Trottingham." Rainbow Strike said.
"It's so peaceful. Like nothing is wrong in the world." the mare giggled, "Right, Dad?"
"Yes. I could just stay here forever." Rainbow Strike smiled, "With my only living daughter."
The mare stretched her wings out. "Race?" she asked.
"You're on." Rainbow Strike said. The two Pegasi raced around the clearing, like they had when younger. The happy memories. The happy memories are all you need. They're all you need to have fun.
"I won." Rainbow Strike said.
"In your dreams." the mare said.
Rainbow Strike hugged the mare. "You know I love you..." he said, "Ardor?"
"I love you too." Ardor said to her father.
"Are y'all going to be okay?" Apple Bloom tried comforting the mare.
"Apple Bloom, it's fine." the mare replied.
"Ah knew her well, Ah can help." Apple Bloom reached out to her friend.
"But you didn't know THEM well."
"It'll be alright." Apple Bloom left her friend.
The mare sobbed. She noticed a note on her table.
Agent 9,
Hi, how are you? Things aren't going to well for us in Trottingham. It's all out war. The enemy seems to always know our next move. There is a traitor among us. I hope everything is well, I haven't heard from you lately. How are your sisters? Is something wrong? I know you'll lie, to protect me from something, but I'm alright. Please reply.
Your father,
Agent 2
"Oh, Dad." the mare said, "I'm sorry. I couldn't save them. I couldn't save my own. Bucking! SISTERS!!" She sobbed. She wrote back to her father.
Agent 2,
I'm so sorry.
Love,
Agent 9
A knock on the door silenced her thoughts.
"Hi, Dinky." she said to the unicorn.
"Hey, are you alright?" Dinky trotted into the house.
"No." the mare sat in a chair.
"You know, a lot of us have sisters, just like you. And a lot of us are afraid of losing them." Dinky sat in a chair close to the mare's.
"Yes, but you haven't lost yours." the mare replied, "You haven't felt the guilt of knowing you could have done SOMETHING to save the two ponies closest to you!"
"But I did sort of lose my mother." Dinky said, "She's always running mail for others in our rebellion. I almost never see her. And not only that, Sparkler is in Canterlot undercover. I pretty much only have friends here, and it's hard to see one hurting this way."
"Dinky, it's fine." the mare tried.
"It's not fine, and I can see it." when she replied with silence, Dinky left. "I hope you can get over this." she said before leaving.
I can't bear this. the mare thought, I can't bear losing them.
"You need to get out of here!" a mare yelled.
"Go!" another said.
"I can't leave you." she said, "I won't."
"Stay here and you die!" the first said, "The world needs you, not us!"
"It doesn't need you?! You're legends! I'm nothing!" she said again.
"Wrong." the second said, "You are my sister. You are great."
"We love you-" they said.
The mare woke up in a cold sweat. She'd dreamed of them. Their death. She knew she'd lost them when she looked back, and saw a fiery explosion. The body of only one had been found. The other missing, probably burnt.
"Agent 9, y'all need some help." Apple Bloom said later that day.
"Apple Bloom, I don't need..." her voice trailed off. She did need help.
"Come with me." Apple Bloom got up, and the mare followed. They went deep into the forest, arriving at a small clearing, where many ponies she knew sat.
"Ah'm guessing y'all are wondering why yer here." Applejack asked.
"You're broken, darling." Rarity said, "We're trying to help you."
"C-can you start by telling us about your sisters?" Fluttershy asked.
The mare took a deep breath. "They were the best sisters anypony could ask for. They were loyal, fun, and amazing."
"Doesn't that feel better?" Twilight asked.
"Not really." the mare said.
"You need to get over this." Sweetie Belle said.
"They were my sisters!" the mare yelled.
"Calm down." Rarity said.
"Yeah, when you're angry, it's no fun." Pinkie said.
"I'm sorry, I just can't do this." the mare left.