Brave new Lives

Aftermath

"RAINBOW DASH!" a volume few have ever heard was released from the yellow Pegasus, she was frantic. seeing the cyan Pegasus take flight rushing towards the doomed Twilight the rest could only watch in horror as the prismatic light erupted around their friends with a bright flash. and then there was nothing but a slight scorch on the ground where their friends had once been. The anomaly had vanished.

It was shocked horror. no sound, even the wildlife seemed to take a moment of silence for the lost souls. then there were sobs and tears. Fluttershy broke first, rushing forwards as if to be standing over the last spot she seen here dear friends Twilight and Rainbow Dash would make all the difference. make them understand how much they really did mean to her. she fell to the ground, legs askew head hovering over the black scorch mark that was all that remained, tears falling in deep meaningful sobs.

Rarity came forward, placing her hoof on Fluttershys' shoulder. tears falling from her own eyes mingleing with those of her friends.

"Oh Rarity," sobbed the timid Pegasus clasping the Alabaster hoof with her own "They just can't be gone. They just can't " tears falling more swiftly now.

They really can't be gone, was the very thought coming from the pink earth pony as well as she stared disbelievingly at the scorched spot on the ground. Her pinkie sense never went off, it always goes off, there was no warning that somepony was going to vanish.. or worse.. die. Come on pinkie think, they gotta still be around, unless.... the horror striking her.. your broken!, they really are gone and you are broken so you couldn't stop it! Deflating visibly within her inner turmoil.

"Oh Twilight." The orange earth pony sobbed out slowly stepping forward, "It just cahn't be, just cahn't." swallowing back some of the pain seeing Fluttershy was in dire need of more comfort than Rarity was able to give within her own grief, Applejack approached the traumatized Pegasus to her left and embraced the poor creature, gently stroking her mane while the tears rolled down her own face. "Let it out Sug, we are here. just let it out."

The pink earth pony being brought out of her inner turmoil by the motion of Applejack , now seeing the embrace ran up herself and brought her three grieving friends into her arms and let the waterworks start flowing, unable to hold it back anymore. the pain was still deep in all four survivors hearts, but the closeness of each other helped ease the burden on their heavy hearts.

The monarch Goddess of the sun, beautiful alabaster coat, long flowing mane the colours of the sky, was standing on the castle balcony looking out towards the Everfree forest far in the distance. she had sensed the discharge of a great magic and her heart twinged. something was wrong, she had felt the arrival of the strange energy even before Twilight, her one time protege and now fellow princess, had sent the correspondence. there had been something that troubled her about this anomaly. never before in her long life had she felt something like it, but Twilight was right investigation was needed, she just hoped that Twilight had been cautious. but she could still not shake this sinking feeling that something had gone horribly wrong.

"Captain Gladious." the princess called out.

"You Majesty." called the captain of the royal guard as he enter bowing.

"Contact the unicorn council and inform them I would like any information they can give regarding the Anomaly princess Twilight had discovered." she stated while turning to enter the castle. "I would also like a carriage prepared to leave for ponyville within the hour. I feel I may be needed." looking back over her shoulder she added under her breath "I just hope I am wrong."

The flight back to Ponyville was a somber one. Fluttershy had been able to reduce her tears to small whimpers and light sobs. Applejack had her hat in her hooves slowly rotating it while looking blankly through the floor of the basket into nothingness. The alabaster unicorn, Rarity, was looking down at the whimpering pegasus, pain deep in the moist eyes mixed with a look of deep compassion towards the grieving Fluttershy. The pink earth pony was again lost within herself as she once again was manning the controls to the balloon as it followed its path back. A thought struck Pinkie, Oh my gosh.... Spike!.... what about Spike!.... he had stayed back at the library and did not know what had happened. "Oh no." she croaked out "Poor poor Spike." and the tears began to fall once more clouding the vision for the next ten minutes of the flight.

Landing in Ponyville an eager baby dragon was awaiting the arrival of his adopted sister and friend. an arrival that didn't come leaving his heart to sink.

The Canterlot magical research department was alive with activity. the princess having sent ahead princess Twilights notes and readings. an elder unicorn with a tan weathered coat from age, he was supervising the findings and preparing his report for the princess. his tired blue eyes showing wisdom from his years of study into the magical as well as the scientific, his grey mane was streaked with white, another sign of his years. A younger cream coloured unicorn ran up to him, her red mane falling breafly into her eyes as she stopped in front of the elder unicorn, she was levitating a clipboard beside her. "These are the final readings we received before the anomaly vanished." she said hurriedly passing the elder the clipboard. he eyed the figures nodding then looked up.

"Very well. I will take these to her Majesty." he stated turning to leave. "I want an expedition put together and ready to leave when I return." he eyes dropped back to the figures on the clipboard. "I want to investigate the site of this, I am sure the princess would agree." leaving the building he headed to the castle at a brisk trot. he had heard that the princess had plans to head to Ponyville and was wanting his report as soon as possible, probably wanting to speak with her protege, he figured. that young pony is the brightest he had ever had the privilege to meet. up until her change into an Alicorn he always hoped that she would join their research department, and possibly head it when he himself retired. but that was only wishful thinking and now that she is a princess herself quite impossible. he nodded to the guards as he passed and entered the castle, heading to the throne room he could see that the preparations for the princess' departure were complete and his report was the last that they needed before she heads out, swallowing he nodded to the guards at the throne rooms large double doors, they light with the two unicorns magic and swung open.

"Your Majesty." he said bowing as he entered, she was standing by the throne with a scroll levitated in front of her, a worried look in her eyes that she banished the moment he had entered. "I have that report for you as request." he stopped eight feet back from the stairs leading up to her throne and waited patiently for her acknowledgment. She nodded to him lowering her scroll and taking his report in her magical aura. glancing over it she sighed, the readings confirmed her suspicions. The discharge was caused by Alicorn magic disrupting the anomaly. it was Twilight.

Lost

Rainbow Dash hadn't known how long she had been laying there. the pain and burning still echoed through her body, images of lavender body illuminated by a blinding prismatic light where burned into her vision "uhg." a moan echoed through her head leaving behind a throbbing sensation. at first she did not know the source of the moan until she heard it echo again and relized it was coming from herself. "mmfm." she groaned as she tryed to get herself up onto her hooves, attempting to open her eyes all she could make out was a light blur of grey and white. Then a thought hit her "Twi?" that was right, the last thing she did was leap at her friend to get her away from... oh no.. the light.. the anomaly! blinking to try and clear her vision shapes started to form and she could make out a few feet away the still body of a lavender Alicorn laying on its side amongst the gravel and pebbles that covered the side of the mountain they were on. The landscape didn't matter to Dash at that moment. her aches and pains were thrown out of her mind, she had to check on Twilight. She had to make sure she was ok. that was all that mattered in that moment.

Rushing forward she knelt over the still form of her friend, eyes wild with fear for the Alicorn. watching her chest she seen it rise and fall and a brief relief washed over the cyan Pegasus. "She is alive" letting out the breath she did not realize she was holding in. then the pain was back, her head throbbed and spots formed in her vision from the hurried movements. wincing she lay back down next to Twilight in an attempt to let her nerves settle and the throbbing subside. the immediate danger passed and Dash started to take note of her surroundings. they were no longer near the Everfree forest that was very apparent. the ground was different. it looked like they were on the side of some mountain looking out over a very different, much older forest. the tree's looked somewhat larger, darker. in fact everything seemed just a little darker. the smell was different as well. looking up the mountain she could make out a cave in the distance, it would probably be a good place to recover once they were able to get to their hooves, and figure this out. dash closed her eyes and let herself drift and recover next to her friend. there was no way she could carry her in her condition so it was best to just recover.

Twilight began to stir "Uhhhh, my head." she groaned "My horn feels like its on fire." hearing her friend was awakening Dash lifted her head looking over at the lavender Alicorn. Twilight was blinking the fog out of her eyes and began taking in her surroundings. "What happened, where are we." here eyes rested on Dash and they went wide. "Where are the others?!"

"I think they are still back in the Everfree." replied the cyan Pegasus. "I have no idea where we are though Twi." seeing her friend was recovering and going to be alright she felt a burst of anger rise "Twi, what did you do!." getting to her hooves she glared down at the Alicorn, "You should have been more careful!..." trailing off she looked a little downcast "I could have lost you."

Looking up with sadness and pain in her eyes the lavender Alicorns' mouth was forming...I'm sorry, but the words never came. she could not force out the breath for it, her  breath was caught within the silent sobs. seeing how her friend was taking this the Pegasus softened and her heart sank for the pain she had just imparted to her friend. "Twi, I'm...." she cast her head sideways looking off in the direction of the dark forest bellow them but eyes not focusing on anything "I'm...." she let out a deep side and closed her eyes. then raising her head she looked into Twilights eyes.

Seeing the pain in the Cyan Pegesus' magenta eyes Twilight smiled a sad small smile "Its ok rainbow. I understand." she looked down and tried to clear her aching head enough to think on their situation, there surroundings were nothing like anywhere she was familiar with, taking not of the cave above them on the mountain "Do you think we can make it up there" she asked out loud to distract themselves from the current awkwardness. Wincing as she stood, the pain in her head and horn throbbing a bit. "I think I can move as long as I take it slow enough." the Alicorn commented to her own question.

"Yeah I think I can make it." The Pegasus tested her wings for a moment, just a little ache remained, inspecting them she seen the edges of her primaries were only slightly scorched, but otherwise everything looked to be in order. Nothing a good preening couldn't fix. Dash spread her wings and with a few good flaps lifted herself off the ground. hovering along side her friend as the slowly climbed to the cave. the cyan Pegasus always did prefer to be in the air rather than land bound. A thought occurred to the pegasus and she started to chuckle, "Um, Twi."

"Yes Rainbow?"

Still snickering to herself "Um. How will you survive with out your books?, Egghead." and with that she couldn't help but be full on laughing in spite of their situation. Twilight just groaned, rolled her eyes, and continued her progress to the cave.