You can take her back... but on one condition

Twilight had started to get used to insomnia. In the last few days she hadn’t slept at all. She just couldn’t. Allowing herself to waste so much precious time would have been a fatal mistake. She was too smart for this.

Twilight knew that she needed to work. Her search, which now seemed like the most important goal she’d ever had in her entire life, had finally started to pay off. She was very close to fulfilling her main objective.

Find a way to go to the afterlife.

Somewhere out there, amongst the countless souls of other ponies, was one certain soul, which belonged to the pony Twilight loved the most: Rainbow Dash. A simple thought about her caused pain to the alicorn. All their time together, short, but very valuable nonetheless flashed before her eyes. She couldn’t forget about it, even if she wanted to.

She remembered Celestia and all these long talks they had had. Twilight understood that she was a Princess, now; she had to be strong, even when her entire world was crumbling before her eyes. But sometimes, even a Princess needed some compassion. This is why every time the alicorn felt herself horrible, she came to her mentor. And they talked.

When Twilight had told Celestia about her plan for the first time, the solar princess had thought that she was joking. But then she saw that spark in Twilight’s eyes. Celestia knew what that meant, and knew it very well. She realised immediately that despite all her warnings and urgings, Twilight would do it. Even so, Celestia had been trying to convince Twilight, but all her hard efforts were doomed to failure. All she could do was ask Twilight to be careful.

The newest Princess chuckled darkly. Her own safety was the last thing Twilight cared about. In fact, anything that has nothing to do with going to the afterlife was the last thing she cared about.

One goal. One destination. One pony. Nothing else mattered.

‘Okay, Sparkle, here you go. Focus. This is the final step. Point of no return. Now or… wait, why am I telling myself this, anyway? I should just open the bucking portal, that’s all!’

With a bright flash of her long-suffering horn, which had been used more intensively than any other part of Twilight’s body, the alicorn summoned a little white orb, which immediately started changing.

A huge mirror-like elliptical portal appeared before her in a blink of an eye.

‘That reminds me of something… right, that last trip, how could I forget. Well, I hope I’m not gonna get stuck in that weird world this time.’

Twilight took a deep breath.

‘Just one step, and I’ll be in the afterlife world. After many sleepless nights and burned-down candles, countless hours of work and dozens of magic spells, seventeen conflagrations, eight property damage claims, five magical vortexes which nearly destroyed the town, three death sentences (being a Princess has it’s own benefits) and one poor little wounded kitten—Celestia as my witness, I didn’t want to break his paw—I have finally reached this point.’

She nodded to herself and finally passed through the portal.

“Twilight, I finally found that book you asked me to! It says that without some ingredients you will not be able to pull her out by yourself.”

Spike rushed to the door, holding a moderate-sized book with the title, ‘Necronomicon: special pony edition’ .

“Twilight, are you still hiding? Come on, the townsfolk already stopped carrying pitchforks and torches. Twilight?”

Suddenly he noticed a huge burning mark on the floor. It signaled him that the alicorn already had passed through the mirror, or whatever it was, and now was in the afterlife world.

‘How could she leave without these ingredients?! It’s the same as a death sentence… a fourth one. She wouldn’t make it. She… she will never come back…’

Spike dropped the book, then closed his eyes, ready to mourn his friend, who was more like a big sister for him.

‘At least she will re-united with Rainbow in there. Their feelings were deep and the love was very strong. I still remember all those snuggling, cuddling, hugging... nuzzling... kissing…

‘...Huh. I wonder where they keep their home videos?’

Meanwhile, in the afterlife world…

Twilight had finally regained consciousness. It wasn’t her first experience in transdimensional teleportation, but she still couldn’t quite get used to this.

The alicorn stood up and looked around. She definitely was in the afterlife world. Twilight had never seen so many ponies wandering around, back in Equestria. Even during the Summer Sun Celebration the amount of ponies was never that high.

“Um… excuse me…

“Can you…

“Would you be so kind as to...

“Hello? A little help here?”

Twilight started to get angry. Anypony she’d been referring to for several minutes flat just ignored her. As if the whole local population was deaf.

“Hey, you! Yes, you! Get over here!” she said loudly to a nearest pony. It was a pure-white coated unicorn with red mane and amber eyes.

She didn’t even pay attention to the alicorn, minding her own business.

Twilight was preparing to turn this dead pony into a dead orange when she heard a very familiar voice right behind her.

“Well, what did I tell you? Now, I believe you owe me something, don’t you?”

Twilight quickly turned around and saw her. The pony she’d gone through hell for.

Rainbow Dash looked the same as ever. A bright light-blue coat, a rainbow-colored, messy mane, magnificent eyes and that sly, devil-may-care smile Twilight liked the most.

“D-Dashie… DASHIE!” she yelled, not caring about anything anymore.

The alicorn run up to the mare and hugged her as tight as she could.

“Hey, Twi. It’s really nice to see you after all this time. What’s up in the land of living?” Rainbow tried to sound light-heartedly… actually, she was light-hearted. As if there wasn’t any accident at all.

“You have no idea how I missed you. I thought I lost you for the rest of my life. I...wait, what’s up with the money? Did you owe someone?”

“Just the opposite, actually. You see, I made a bet with some folks that you’re going to come here to pay me a visit. They didn’t believe it and that’s why they bet so much money. By the way, what took you so long? Few more days and I would’ve lost a bet.”

Twilight pulled back from the pegasus as fast as if she was on fire. She started to speak, and her voice was trembling in anger:

“So, while I was torturing myself with countless thoughts about you, doing impossible things to find a way to get here... while I was literally killing myself, for crying out loud - you were betting on me?!”

Rainbow nervously smiled and said carefully:

“Well… yes.”

“How could you! You have no idea what the heck I’ve done in order to come here! You’re just… just… how much money did you win, by the way?”

“Two thousand bits.”

Twilight’s eyes widened.

“50/50. If not for me, you would’ve lost anyway.”

“Hey! It was me who found those guys. You think everypony ‘round here are rolling in bits? 40/60!”

“45/55. My last word.”

“Okay, deal.”

After Rainbow gave Twilight her share, she asked:

“So… why are you here anyway? Well, except for visiting… and robbing me at the same time?”

Twilight giggled.

“Don’t be so grumpy, Dashie. Everything is fair. As for the purpose of my visit… I want to get you back to Equestria. You still have a life to live.”

“You know… it’s a good plan. I mean, yeah, in here there are plenty of cool dead ponies to hang out with… but I miss you and our gang. I’d gladly return… but how are you gonna pull that off?”

Twilight was about to answer the question, when she suddenly remembered that she hadn’t brought the necessary ingredients with her.

“Oh crap… I forgot the things that I need to get you out of here...”

Rainbow facehoofed.

“After all this time you’ve been making those lists... you are still capable to forget something? Okay, I guess we should take a plan ‘B’. You need to speak to Haydes.”

“Who?”

“She’s talking about me. Welcome to my kingdom, Twilight Sparkle.”

Twilight looked over towards the voice, spotting a light-green pegasus pony walking towards them. She was wearing a white cape and an olive crown.

“So… you’re the ruler of this world...aren’t you?” Twilight asked carefully, gazing upon the pony.

“De jure, yeah. But most of the time I’m just keeping order. You know - preventing ponies from coming back to life, and other stuff. It’s a really important task. None of these ponies should ever leave this place.”

“R-right… well, I’ve got a request for you. Can you let Rainbow to get back to life?”

“Sure, why not?”

Twilight looked at Dash, shocked a little.

The rainbow-maned pegasus shrugged.

“But on one condition.”

Twilight sighed.

“Of course, there’s always gonna be a catch. What is it?”

“You see… I’ve been living in here for a very long time. The only entertainment I had was listening to stories. There were many interesting ones, but I have one type I like the most. Stories about… how did they call it? Oh, right - ‘love’.

“Many ponies were remembering that thing with such emotion, as if it was something truly marvelous. And some of them are even capable of finding it in here. Don’t know how, though…

Actually, that’s the main thing. I have no idea about what the heck this thing means. And I’d like you two to...”

“Okay, we can have a three-way, then. Let’s go to my place and I’ll show you so much ‘love’, that you’ll never forget it” Rainbow said with unconcealed enthusiasm.

“Rainbow, I believe she didn’t mean that.” Twilight whispered.

“Oh, right. Well, you want us to find you a special somepony, then?”

“That’s how they called it, yes! A special somepony. I need to find it.” Haydes cheerfully answered.

“Give us a sec. We need to discuss it.” Twilight asked.

She leaned closer to Dash, who was looking at her with a puzzled face.

“You were really fast in there, Dashie. About this whole ‘three-way’ thing.”

“I… I was? Really? Well, I… I just… I just want to get out of here, that’s all!” Dash quickly said.

“Hmm… you’re sure? Your approval was so rapid...”

“Of course I’m sure. Well, truth to be told I wouldn’t mind it, but—”

Twilight raised her hoof, shutting Rainbow’s mouth.

“We will talk about your perverted tastes later. Now we need to figure out how we would find her a special pony... I think I’ve got an idea, though. I will talk to Haydes and you say nothing. Okay?”

“Mmhg!” Rainbow agreed with this statement.

“Good.”

Twilight turned to Haydes.

“Well, I think we can help you with that. I’m sure there are many ponies in here who’d love to—”

“Twilight, you’re wrong. In here, everypony knows me. And no one would like to become my… favourite pony? Whatever.” The ruler of the afterlife world said confidently.

She continued. “What I need - is to go to Equestria. And in there, I’m sure I will definitely find what I’m looking for. With the help of you two, of course. So, what’d you say?”

Twilight and Rainbow looked at one another, and then said at the same time:

“Deal.”

Haydes smiled.

“Great. I knew you were smart ponies. Well, shall we move to Equestria? I will open the portal right now.”

“Wait… You mean that Rainbow will return, as well?” Twilight asked hopefully.

The pegasus laughed.

“Of course not, my dear Twilight Sparkle. Like I said - she will return only if I will find a specific pony. But don’t you worry. I’ve got an idea.”

“Rainbow, I’m so sorry! I had no idea, honestly!”

“Relax, Twilight Sparkle. She doesn’t look that bad.”

“If you’re not going to shut up right now, I’m gonna kick your flanks…”

“Using what? Your wings?”

The rainbow-colored parrot cast a baleful gaze upon the giggling Haydes.

“No hard feelings, okay? Now, remember that despite being a talking parrot you can’t pronounce difficult phrases. Get it?”

“Get it! Get it!”

“Good birdie!”

“Say that again and I’ll introduce you to Mr. Beak!”

“You see, Twilight? She’s adapting really fast.”

Twilight sighed.

‘This is going to be one heck of a task. What was I thinking?’