Imagine you had the ability to prevent something awful from happening.
Something really awful.
Would you do whatever it takes?
Would your risk your life?
Would you risk somepony else`s life?
Would you do it in a blunt, straight to the point manner?
Or would you carefully plan out what needs to be done?
What if it wasn't the right choice?
What if you made the wrong choice?
What if you caused an even worse event to happen?
Would you try again?
Or give up resigning yourself to the world`s fate?
How would you deal with it?
Would you stay sane?
Or would your mind and rationality slowly deteriorate due to the stress put under you?
What if you didn't do something horrible then something even worse would occur?
What if you made a mistake trying to prevent the event that would change your life?
How would you deal with this mistake?
Would you try again and again and again and again and again to get it right?
Or would you only need one try?
These are all completely hypothetical questions.
Of course.
But, just remember.
Whatever happens...
If you interfere in any way...
Its all your fault.
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Crack
Tumbling out of a ponies grasp, a scorched rock flipped over and over in mid air.
In suspension.
A single moment which lasts an eternity.
Time halts.
Raindrops freeze up in the air and become standstill scattering the landscape with tiny dots across the horizon.
Somepony yells out in anguish.
Another pony cries out in pain.
Yet another one simply cries, the tears still amongst the rain.
In this brief lasting moment in time, ruby tear laced eyes gaze upon the sunset on the horizon. Her dodgy footing on the cliff edge meant she would have to watch her step. The prism coloured hair lay just on top of her eyes, soaking wet but not dripping yet. She was very careful to not look down after it happened. It didn't make it any less painful.
Off to the side, a purple pony observed in horror crying out as she witnessed what had just occurred. If she was able to squint, droplets of blood would be made out on the fur of the lying pony in front of her. Thankfully she could not see the ponies head at this moment or she would have opened her mouth in more than shock. But the shock was enough.
In her vision she also saw one of her best friends, the ever energetic, always loyal and very protective, rainbow Pegasus.
But none of those applied to her now.
And slowly time started moving again as with a thud the rock hit the ground.
Next to it was a cold, still yellow Pegasus with a pink mane.
Across it was a very scared lavender pony.
And above it...
Was a blood-stained rainbow Pegasus staring with sorrow at the act she had just committed against one of her dearest friends.
With the crimson rock safely on the floor and with her mission completed, she took off, sprinting into the distance.
...And the rainbow Pegasus was gone leaving behind a horrified pony and a dead one.
Unbeknownst to all of them, watchful eyes gazed at the scene before her.
She did not know why it happened.
She did not know how it led to this.
She didn't even know the ponies personally.
But she knew what she had just seen.
Rainbow Dash had just caved Fluttershys head in with a large rock.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Hey Rainbow, do you want any more hay fries?"
"Sure Twi! Thanks, by the way..."
"For what?" Twilight nodded for Dash to continue as they both sat on a striped blanket under the glowing orb of Celestia`s sun. Rainbow sighed and tried to find the right words.
"I- I dunno.... just..." Rainbow fumbled, her hooves trailing up and down the grassy ground.
Twilight placed one of her hooves on the brightly coloured Pegasus mare`s shoulder, urging her to continue.
"Its... nothing. Never mind." Dash sighed and went back to fiddling with broken bits of the greenery.
"Well, alright then... If you`re sure."
Now the conversation had an awkward air about it, the unicorn and pegasi sat in silence for a while before Twilight finally spoke up, lifting her head from the salad she was eating.
"So... any news on where Fluttershy is?" But before she could say more, Rainbow scoffed and waved her hoof in the air, an amused glint in her eyes.
"Youre still worried about that? Cmon shes been gone longer than a day before! Shes fine, probably just with Zecora in the Everfree forest."
Twilight sighed but continued, trying to get her point across, into the mind of the athletic Pegasus.
"Yes, I am worried! What if she`s in trouble or hurt or-"
Rainbow thumped the purple unicorn in the leg before she could get into a long spiel.
"Calm down, Twilight! She`s fine, end of story. Just eat your salad." At this, Dash then firmly planted her hooves in the soil, crossing them as if making a point.
"Alright the-" But before Twilight could finalize her argument, out of nowhere a shadow loomed over them.
"Agh! What the heck is that?" shrieked Twilight as she fell onto her side in shock.
Rainbow chuckled at her friend`s frightened expression.
"It`s just Derpy Twilight, Jeez!"
As Dash said this, Twilight calmed down and twisted upwards with a warm smile towards the grey mail pony.
Except something was wrong.
Derpy wasn`t doing loops in the air haphazardly.
She wasn't obliviously dropping mail on ponies heads.
Instead, she slowly fluttered over to Twilight and Rainbow a depressed gloom in her eyes.
Instantly worried, Rainbow asked: "Derpy, what`s wrong?"
The grey mare glanced up and sighed before turning her gaze upon the ground again.
"Fluttershy is dead."