A Fire for Tomorrow

Chapters

Last Light
The Burning: Part One
The Burning: Part Two
The Burning: Part Three
The Burning: Part Four
Deicide: Part 1
Deicide: Part 2

Last Light

“Rainbow are we almost there? We've been walking for a while and this heat is oppressive,” Twilight groaned as she cantered behind her marefriend. Her shoulders were sore from the straps of the baskets that as saddled over her back and hung off both her sides.

“I don't think I would say it's impressive but it sure is hot. The weather team wasn't counting on this crazy heat wave coming out of nowhere,” Rainbow said as she lead the way to their destination, smiling with anticipation. They trudged through soft, tall grass that almost reached their bellies. The low lying grass lands danced and swayed in the gentle, hot breeze and the sweltering sun beat down upon them. Not a cloud could be seen in the clear blue sky. The valley was empty, surrounded by steep green hills on all sides it was unlikely that many ponies would have found this place. A decent distance away from Ponyville, the couple had to fly a good distance simply to get to the ring of hills before Rainbow insisted they make the rest of the trek on hoof.

“Not impressive, oppressive. It means overbearing and excessively hot.” Twilight shrugged, stating the definition only seemed to bring her attention and focus more to bear on the uncomfortable heat. Her back was soaked with sweat where the straps of her baskets wouldn't allow her fur and skin to breath.

“Well don't worry, we're almost there. Those bags giving you trouble? Want me to take over?” Dash came to a stop as Twilight caught up. She stooped and spread her wings, offering her back to Twilight.

“That would be great thank you Rainbow.” Twilight smiled as her horn lit up, lifting the baskets off of her back and gently placing it over her marefriend's. Slowly, Dash brought her wings back in, shielding their bags from the harsh sun.

“No problem, that's how you're supposed to treat your mare right? Come on, I can see it from here, we're maybe like, a couple minute away!” Without another word Rainbow Dash began charging though the tall grass, her body making the blades ripple like water as she ran though them with her boundless energy towards a tall tree, only object protruding from the grass, smiling and giggling as she ran. “Race ya!”

“You're supposed to say that before you run!” Twilight shook her head as her horn charged with magic, igniting in a light violet aura. A warm smile spread across her face. It's been one month since I first asked Rainbow to be my marefriend, that makes today sort of our anniversary. She hasn't explicitly said it, but I think this date is in celebration of that. She may not seem like it, but since we've been dating I've learned she can be really sentimental. We've had our troubles like any couple, but whether up or down, she's stayed by my side, and my life's been richer and more vibrant since the day we started dating. Suddenly, in a flash of light she vanished and reappeared far in front of Rainbow, sprinting as fast as she could.

“Hey! No fair using magic Twi!”

“Maybe you shouldn't have given yourself a head start!” Twilight called back. She turned her head, keeping her pace as fast as she could she looked back, sticking her tongue out at her opponent only to find the expansive grassland stretching behind her, not a pegasus in sight. Retracting her tongue she raised in eyebrow in confusion and began to turn her attention forward lest she risk tripping on a concealed stone or hole.

“Looking for somepony egghead?”

“Ah!” Twilight squeaked. Startled, she whipped her head around to see Rainbow Dash casually soaring by her side, the air whistling over her feathers. “Rainbow!”

“Ha! Too slow Twi! I'll see you at the finish line!” In a rainbow blur Dash rocketed towards the tree, keeping low and letting the grass tickle and caress her body, the wind generated by her powerful wings making the grass sway, the sunlight glistened off the waves of green almost making the valley sparkle. With a cocksure grin, Twilight galloped at full speed colliding with the trail of wind made by Rainbow's flight making her mane dance wildly with the gusts. Surprisingly, she found that she quickly caught up with Rainbow who was now flying at a much more leisurely pace.

“What's the matter?” Twilight huffed as she came side by side with Rainbow Dash. She was panting from exhaustion and her muscles were sore, but she didn't want to stop running now knowing she would only feel hotter when she stopped. “Getting... tired already?”

“Who me? No way! I just want us to get there together that's all. It's at that tree right up ahead, come on!” An instant later she retracted her wings and fell to the ground with a sprint keeping her from tumbling. Now running side by side with her marefriend she slowed her pace to match Twilight's. She was beaming with excitement as they neared the lone tree. She's going to love this! If anypony will appreciate this it'll be Twilight, well, maybe Pinkie Pie too... what ever, I know she'll like this, I just hope she didn't bring a microscope in these baskets instead of food.

“Stop!” Dash yelled as she came grinding to a halt.

“Wha-” Before Twilight could finish her word the ground suddenly came very close as she fell face first into the grass. After tumbling for well over her body length she rolled to a stop. A trail of flattened grass was left in her wake revealing a small hole in the ground, the edge of which was destroyed by Twilight's hoof. Rainbow fluttered over to Twilight who lay collapsed on her side on the ground. Rainbow chuckled as she landed, offering her hoof to Twilight.

“Hey, don't ruin your appetite, we're almost there,” Rainbow grinned. Twilight glared up at her, much less amused as she spit out blades of grass that had somehow ended up in her mouth.

“Very funny Rainbow. This was your fault you know.” She reached up and took her marefriend's hoof.

“Sorry, but it's just over the grass in front of us and I want to see the look on your face when you see it.” With a jerking tug of her foreleg, Rainbow hoisted Twilight to her hooves. “Come on, you have to see this.”

“Sorry if you making me fall and nearly breaking my neck is slowing down your plans.”

“Come on, It's not like I would let anything happen to you.” Rainbow smiled confidently.

“You let me fall didn't you?” Twilight deadpanned.

“I- I uh... that's different! Anyway, come on, It's just up ahead and I think you'll really like it.” Rainbow kissed Twilight's foreleg, just above her hoof before softly placing it back on the ground. “You ready?”

“Yeah, I'm ready, let's see it.” Twilight giggled at the anticipation in Dash's voice, she couldn't help but think the most apt word to describe it was adorable.

“Alright, brace yourself cause it's awesome.” Rainbow looked away from Twilight to the grass before her, pushing bunches of the blades aside she revealed their destination to her marefriend's wonderment. Twilight stared in awe of the beautiful jewel hidden in the center of the isolated grassland. A tall and lush tree jutted out of the otherwise bear sand slope that led into a sparkling pond. This wasn't any ordinary pond, the water that occupied the small spring was a bright pink! To Twilight, it was a natural wonder.

“Rainbow it's... amazing! How did you find this place!” Twilight bounded down the grassy slope until her hooves touched down on scorched but soft sand. A small beach in the middle of a field. Rainbow Dash followed, easily gliding down and landing beside her, Dash flinching as her hooves met the burning sand. Almost immediately she took to the air, staying what she felt was a safe distance from the offending dirt leaving Twilight to dance painfully on the shore until the realization that she too had wings hit her. Twilight then followed her marefriend several tail lengths in the air.

“Yeah, guess I should have figured it would be hot, you brought a blanket right?” Dash smiled sheepishly, realizing she didn't think to tell her beforehoof to bring one. She glanced wearily to the shad of the tree and wondered how much cooler the sands would be there given the time of day, they were likely still pretty hot.

“It's in the basket on the left.” Twilight said. Before Rainbow could react, Twilight's horn lit up, engulfing the target basket in her magical aura. The lid lifted open and a large but worn out blanket snaked out. Twilight pulled it into it's desired shape and laid it carefully down on the shore. Twilight and Rainbow both landed, relieved that their hooves were only uncomfortably warm instead of blisteringly hot. As Twilight made herself comfortable she looked out to the dazzling pink lake. “You never told me how you found this place, it's incredible!”

“I was out flying but I was getting bored with my usual route so I came this way. I didn't have anything to do and you were in Canterlot with Princess Celestia so I just kept flying until I spotted this. I figured you would like it so when you came back yesterday...”

“Oh Rainbow that's so sweet of you!” Twilight threw her hooves around Rainbow Dash pulling her into a tight hug, the sweltering heat brought their embrace to an end as their exchange of sweat and body heat became too overwhelming. They separated but stayed within inches of each other, both staring out at the mesmerizing waters.

“Do you know why it's pink?” Twilight prompted Dash to ask.

“No, but I knew a certain mare that I'm dating would explain it to me.” She grinned as she gave Twilight a playful nudge, and she promptly stuck back, her body slamming against Dash's soft blue down. As they laughed together, Twilight entwined her tail around Dash's before diving into her small lecture.

“It happens in very salty water on hot days, algae builds up in the salt and accumulates pigments that appear pink. It's rare phenomenon, I'm amazed to see an example of it so close to home.”

“Hmm, yeah that's interesting... it's safe to swim in right?”

“Yes Rainbow, it's safe to swim.” Twilight said reassuringly. Still, Dash looked apprehensively at the water.

“You sure? It's not going to like, give me three wings or make me look like Pinkie Pie is it?” The genuine fear in her voice bordering on dread made Twilight snort, desperately trying to fight back the bought of laughter that came with the image that popped into her mind. Moments later she fell to the ground, lying on her back she clutched her chest and burst out laughing hysterically. She rolled around on the blanket as Dash watched, sure her marefriend had gone mad.

“Come on Twi! Don't just laugh! Are you setting me up for a prank or what? It's not gonna dye my mane and fur all pink is it? You wouldn't do that to me right?!” Dash pleaded frantically as she backed further away from the water towards the grass, glancing wearily at the pond.

“Haha! You! Looking like Pinkie Pie!” Her body convulsed with laughter, intensified by Rainbows very serious seeming fear of getting even a drop on her mane. “That would be hilarious!”

“It would not! I-” Suddenly, before Rainbow could say another word, everything turned to black. It was pitch black, not a light to be seen. It was not a fade or a dimming, but as if the lights were switched off for the world. She blinked hard and rapidly, trying to correct this obvious trick of her sight. When no light returned she began to fear the worst. Her heart started racing as fear well in in her chest. “T- Twilight... I can't see.”

“It's not just you,” Twilight said gravely. “Hold on, I'll give us some light.”

Twilight's horn ignited in her purple glow, illuminating their immediate surroundings, the dim light produced only make their faces visible to each other as they moved closer together so that they could fully see the other through this black veil. So close they drew, they could feel one an others breaths against their muzzles. Frightened and confused, Twilight and Rainbow huddled together under her light.

“Twi... what's happening?” Rainbow whispered with a trembling voice. It was only now that she felt that the wind had died and the once beautiful grasslands were now frightening and empty stretches of blackness.

“I don't know. This is really bad, I can't see thing. Princess Celestia must know something about this we need to get the girls and get to Canterlot now... Rainbow, are you listening?” Twilight was bewildered at the seeming lack of urgency Rainbow displayed as she stared up, slack jawed at the sky until a bright glow from above captured her attention. Following Rainbows gaze, Twilight found what awestruck Rainbow Dash. An aurora, the vibrant rainbow light danced hauntingly in the sky, every shade mingling with the others as they flowed overhead. Quickly they grew in intensity until they were nearly blinding. With a sudden rush of panic Twilight's heart skipped a beat.

“Rainbow get down!” Twilight screamed just a second before she lunged forward landing on top of her marefriend, spreading her body out over hers as best she could. Her horn glowed brighter and a translucent bubble formed around them. “Keep your eyes closed and stay under me!”

“Twilight what are you talking about! What's going... on?” The last word all but died on her lips as arcs of energy surged across Twilight's barrier. Then, obeying her command, she turned her head from the sky and shut her eyes. Even within her own eyelids, flashes of light pulsed. This light didn't seem to come from outside her eyes as it wasn't dulled by her eyelids, instead it seemed like the light was coming from inside her eyes. What's going on?! What's happening? A familiar sound crackled through the sky filling Rainbow with dread. Her eyes shot open in a reflex of instinct as she wrapped her wings around Twilight's body like a shield.

“Twi! Lightening!” Dash screamed at the top of her lungs. In an instant the darkness was overwhelmed with a blinding flashes of light streaking down from the sky like furious spears.

Even in the greatest storm, Rainbow had never seen anything like this as every inch of the earth seemed to be struck at once with one massive bolt encompassing everything for miles. In front of them the solitary tree exploded as lightening surged through it, striping off bark and blasting the wood apart. Before Rainbow could shut her eyes Twilight's shield was stuck by the massive arc, the energy flowed over the shield and into the ground around them.

Twilight's body violently jerked and her mouth opened wide, contorted in pain. Rainbow could only imagine a blood chilling scream but the sound of the lightening ripping through the air and exploding around them drowned out even the loudest cry. Twilight barrier shattered, obliterated as the bolt arced past them, scorching the earth before vanishing as suddenly as it came. The roar of thunder was all that remained as it exploded deafeningly in their ears as it rolled across and out of the valley. The darkness returned along with an ominous silence as though the thunder had left them in a vacuum. The sky was pitch black, the aurora having vanished with the lightening. Rainbow's wings limply slid off from on top of her and lay weakly on the ground. Her head was pounding and her ears rang painfully.

“Twilight...” Rainbow groaned as the shock and adrenaline began to ware off. “Twilight!”

“Twi come on, wake up! Please!” Rainbow bolted up now fully aware of what happened in that split second. Frantically she reached her hooves forward, feeling her way over Twilight's features until she finally found her shoulders in the absolute darkness. With the chaos subsiding she now noticed a harsh and familiar scent. Her eyes and throat burned as the toxic air pooled around her. Working her hooves under Twilight's forelegs, Dash pulled her close and held tight as her wings shot open. Wrapping her hooves tight around her Dash took the air, praying the lightening was over. Damn, I should have known all that lightening would make a lot of ozone but this is ridiculous even for that much electricity.

“Come on Twilight stay with me!” As she elevated the harsh, characteristic smell of ozone began to fade. The valley was a perfect funnel, channeling the poisonous gas into it's lowest point. She could hear Twilight's breathing begin to normalize. Her sense of direction was all but gone, she couldn't tell where she was flying or what lay just beyond her eyes as she soared in the ever stretching darkness. The silence too was unnerving, the soft flapping of her wings and their breathing were the only thing keeping the deathly quiet at bay. Looking out, all she could see was black, her vision was still bleached from the lightening and she desperately hoped if her vision adjusted she would see something, anything but this darkness.

“R- Rainbow...” Twilight said softly as she came to. Rainbow looked down in vain at Twilight whom she cradled between her forelegs.

“Hey... you're okay, you're safe,” Dash softly reassure.

“Rainbow, that aurora and the lightening... they both had to be caused by a huge amount of radiation.” Twilight spoke hazily as she wrapped her forelegs around her marefriend's neck.

“Twilight what are you saying, you nearly got hit by the biggest lightening I've ever seen. You need to take it easy, not go into a lecture.”

“Something really bad is happening! We need-” She came to a dead stop, the eery quiet sent a chill down Rainbow's spine.

“W-what is it Twi?”

“That radiation... I-It can lethal in high doses,” she whispered, her voice quivered. A dull purple light glowed softly from her horn, illumining her horror struck face. The moment Dash saw the fear and tears glistening in Twilight's eyes, she knew what she meant.

“Ponyville!”

“Rainbow, anypony who was outside...”

“Give me as much light as you can and hold on tight!” With a thrust of her wings they accelerated, tearing through the air as fast as Rainbow's wings would carry them. Rainbow only had her instincts to go on as she flew through the ocean of perfect black, an endless and all encompassing void, in towards what she prayed, was home.

The Burning: Part One

Rainbow soared through the sky with Twilight in her hooves, racing through the pitch black towards their home. Dash strained her hawk like eyes to their limits, trying to get as much out of the light emanating from Twilight's horn, but the dim light seemed like the light of a candle flame at the bottom of the ocean, completely fruitless.

“Twilight, can you give me any more light? I don't want to fly us into a mountain here.” Rainbow's attention was divided between trying to sense the slightest variation in air pressure to avoid crashing and the trembling body that she held in her hooves. That really did a number on her didn't it? I should have done something more to protect her. Damn it! A pang of regret welled in her chest as she heard the impatience in her own voice directed at her shaken marefriend.

“I'm trying, that lightning really drained my magic, I'm doing the best I can Dash.” Even as she spoke, the light at the tip of her horn grew brighter as she pushed her magic as far as she could in her state. It was exhausting her already weakened body.

“I know Twilight, I'm sorry, we just really need to get back to Ponyville and-”

“Rainbow... look,” Twilight interjected. There was an eery wonder to her voice, a mixed tone of grim and awe that made Rainbow nearly shutter. Looking down at Twilight's face dimly bathed in violet that flickered gently making the shadows of her features dance and her eyes glisten. If her voice made Rainbow shutter her eyes nearly chilled her to the bone. A dark, grave expression filled Twilight's gaze as she stared forlornly into the void. Then she saw it, in Twilight's wide eyes: a flicker of orange. A moment after, a whiff of a terrifying scent carried on the frail breeze made all her hairs stand on end as a cold chill surged down her spine. Slowly, she turned, following the stunned eyes of her marefriend. A warm orange glow glimmered, trembling in the distance, pulsing like the light had a heartbeat of its own.

“Fire...” In the weak wind Dash's whisper carried, making the word linger in her hearing. That... that's pretty far away. Just how big was that lightning storm? The acrid smell of smoke wafted around them with an intensity that seemed too potent to be coming from the fire they saw. Looking to the ground beneath them, Rainbow couldn't even see a smoldering ember. What's going on here? Why does it smell like I'm right in the middle of a-

“Twilight! Turn off you horn!”

“What? Why? Without light we won't be able to see where we're going.” Twilight looked up at Rainbow, who squinted hard as she scanned the horizon.

“You smell it too right? The smoke? I think I know why it's like that. I hope I'm wrong but, I just need to see to be sure.” The gravity of Dash's tone unnerved Twilight as the realization of what Rainbow was thinking hit her. In the pollution of her magical light, they wouldn't be able to see the whole picture.

“Right... I hope so too.” Twilight's light snuffed out, bathing the couple in near complete darkness. They were blind again to all but the fire that raged in the distance, it only took a few seconds though, for their eyes to adjust as more orange lights flicked into sight. One by one, another glowing flame made itself known as their night vision sharpened, striking them both with the terrifying realization; the first blaze they saw, was nothing short of a massive conflagration to be the only one they could see with Twilight's light spell. Rainbow slowly spun around slowly in the air, all around them, in every direction, a fire burned in the distance.

“T-Twilight... why is this happening?”

“I don't know... Oh Celestia, everything is burning.” The dark landscape was dotted with fires, the parched terrain was set ablaze by the lightning. The flames raged and consumed, growing larger and larger. The hot, dry weather of the last week had made the land an all too fertile pace for the fire to spread. Straining her ears, Twilight could hear the faint, distant crackling. Wait... sound? That's it!

“Twi, please, you have to teleport us home! I- I can't stand not knowing what's happening to Ponyville. I just keep imagining...” Dash's grim voice smouldered to silence as she reignited her greatest fear. Images flashed through her mind, any one of those burning fields in the distance could be their home. She prayed that their town was spared the flames, but it did nothing to mitigate her panic.

“I'm sorry Rainbow, I just, I don't have the magic to teleport anything...” She could feel Dash trembling, her breathing was rapid and shallow. Guilt and empathy, burned in her chest as she looked up. Even though their faces were but inches away, the only feature Twilight could see clearly from her marefriend, was an orange flicker in her large eyes that remained fixated on the blaze. “I, may have another way though... but, I don't know if you'll be okay with it.”

“What do you mean not okay with it?!” A rush of air hit Twilight as Dash whipped her head towards her in disbelief. Twilight could only imagine the look on Dash's face. “Twi, if there a way to help Ponyville and my friend's you know I'll do anything!”

“I know you would...” She replied solemnly. Her horn began to glow in a dull light, just enough to see each other. “I have a spell, it's doesn't take much focus or magic, so It's about the only useful spell I can use and still be able to give us some light.”

“Well don't keep me in suspense! For all we know Ponyville could be-”

“It's a hearing spell.” Twilight interrupted. “It will improve you hearing more than tenfold but, if Ponyville really is on fire... you might not like what you hear.”

“I...” Rainbow stared down at Twilight, her eyes wide as the reality of what was said sunk in. The thought of what she may hear filled her heart with apprehension and fear. She gritted her teeth, drowning out fear with bravado. No, no! I can't let that stop me, our friends could be in danger and we have to help them. “Hit me with the spell!”

“Alright... if you sure.”

“I'm sure we don't have a choice Twi.”

“I know, you're right.” The glow from her horn intensified. “Close your eyes and focus on your ears, try to take in every sound and focus on it.”

“O-okay.” Her bravado waning, Dash closed her eyes before any more of her nerve could be lost. Her eyes twitched and swivelled, training in on the crackling of the distant fires and the weak breeze. It wasn't hard, with her eyes nearly useless in this ever stretching darkness, her eyes were already becoming more acute. She could hear the subtleties in Twilight's breaths as she focused, pooling as much of her magic as she could for the spell. Her breaths calm and concise, but soon she could hear even her heart beat, loud and fast, betraying the sense of urgency behind the seemingly calm scene. Soon, not only could she hear a heartbeat, but the frantic chirps of birds and the crash of distant timber. Rainbow could hear a stream flowing nearby, protecting the land beneath them from the immediate blaze that stuck elsewhere. But nothing was more apparent than the all-encompassing roar of the fire, burning and popping, tendrils of fire searing at dry wood and choking out smoke.

“There, it's done. How do you feel?” Twilight barely whispered, but her voice rang loud and clear in Dash's ears with an almost painful volume.

“Think you could talk a little louder Twi, I don't think that managed to break my eardrums yet.” She snarked as she rubbed her ear.

“Sorry, I guess it's a pretty effective spell.” Turning her attention from her marefriend to the smouldering landscape, Twilight glanced around, hoping she could discern something that would point them in the direction of home. Her optimism drained as she failed to determine anything from the pitch blackness dotted with flickers of flame. “D-do you hear anything?”

Rainbow didn't respond, her eyes gently shut as her ears twitched. The flap of her wings was the loudest, but beyond that she could hear something, something grim. Far off in the distance, out of sight, a fire raged. Mixed in with the crackle of the fire and the pop of burning wood, was the shrill echo of distant screaming. Dash's eyes shot open.

“This way!” Without warning she rocketed forward, the sudden g-forces compressed Twilight against Dash's chest so hard it made her dizzy. Wind blasted them as they tore through the sky.

“Twi, give me some light!” She screamed at the top of her lungs. Her now extremely sensitive ears rang painfully, from the shout and from the high speed winds. Gritting her teeth she bared through her now lowered threshold of pain to sound. Struggling to focus her magic, Twilight's horn flickered back into a soft purple light.

“Whoa! Dash, up!” Twilight shouted as a towering hill barrelled towards them, only meters away. She shut her eyes tight and braced herself for impact. Rainbow sailed through the air, fully extending her wings and, just seconds before they would smack into the earth she gave a powerful flap, her wings ripped through the air, rocketing them skywards. Twilight felt her organs and blood pulled down, the sight of dash's dimly lit face blurred and her hearing faded as they rose. As the couple quickly surpassed the towering mound of earth, a hazy orange glow illuminated just beyond it, almost appearing to rise like the sun from her perspective. Rather than the life giving sun, they only found another small but growing blaze.

Rainbow could hear it growing clearer and clearer, screaming, crying and sobbing, all coming from the same direction, and the sound of the inferno sang along with the sounds of fear and confusion, all of it concentrated in one direction. She tried to tune it out, to just follow the sound and not think of the source, but it proved impossible. It's Ponyville, It has to be. There are no other towns even close to where we were. Damn it! Faster Rainbow Dash, you got to go faster!

“Twilight... turn the spell off.” Even with her enhanced hearing, her words barely registered above the sound of the wind and the screams that it carried.

“What!?” Twilight strained her sore throat as she called out.

“Turn it off! Make it stop!” Now Dash's words were perfectly clear. Her jaw was clenched and her eyes glistened. Twilight saw tears shimmer in her magical glow just before they were blasted from Dash's eyes by the wind. Her light intensified for a moment as her spell dissipated from Rainbow's ears. She hung her head towards the ground with a heavy heart, knowing that the only thing to bring her marefriend to tears, was what she feared most; Their home was in danger. Suddenly, a flicker of light from a small patch of fire beneath them illuminated a familiar figure.

“Rainbow stop!”

“What? There's no time Twi! Ponyville is-”

“There's somepony down there!” Twilight pulled out from Rainbow's grasp, shakily flapping her wings to keep airborne. Squinting down at what was at first a rapidly passing blur, she could now see clearly a figure laying motionless on the ground. She felt the wind off Rainbow's wings as she came up behind her. Suddenly, a shout pierced the encompassing white noise of burning. It was a high pitched scream, crying out through the darkness.

“Help us!” The cry came again from below them. Rainbow's heart filled with horror as she recognized the helpless sounding voice.

“Scootaloo!” Without another though Rainbow dived, plummeting to the earth at breakneck speeds with Twilight following right behind her. As they grew closer Dash could see the filly laying on the ground, only meters away from a massive downed tree, set ablaze by lightening, beside her another figure, a pegasus, lay still as though asleep. No... No! I-it can't be... There's no way it's her. Oh Celestia please don't let it be her! Within seconds, she was only meters from the ground and she could tell without a doubt, her worst fear was confirmed by her own eyes. As she landed her legs nearly gave out, tears streamed down her face and her heart raced. Twilight landed beside her, her eyes glued on the peaceful looking pegasus, only a whisper escaped her quivering lips.

“Fluttershy.”

The Burning: Part Two

“Fluttershy!” Rainbow Dash ran to the battered pegasus’ side, over the crackle of the near by fire she and her own racing heart she could hear Scootaloo sobbing and sniffling uncontrollably. In the low light provided by the hot embers, Rainbow saw grotesque burns seared across Fluttershy's flanks following the pattern of a lightning bolt. Carefully minding her wounds, Rainbow brought her ear to rest on Fluttershy. Closing her eyes, she could feel the weak rise and fall in her chest and a tepid heart beat.

“Rainbow you have to help her!” Scootaloo cried, her voice trembling with fear and confusion. “O-one minute I was helping her, with some baby birds then, everything went dark an- and now…”

Scootaloo came to an abrupt stop as Twilight draped her wing over the filly and pulled her to her side, holding her against her flank. Twilight didn’t say a word as she watched Rainbow Dash listen to their friends heartbeat. The tension was heavy in the air as she awaited Rainbow’s word, if Fluttershy was alive, or not.

This shouldn’t have happened, Pegasi bodies should be able to handle some lightening without getting… without getting like this. Why is this happening?! Rainbow gritted her teeth and her tears made hazy the dim light of the embers as she sat by her friend’s side, she slowly lifter her head.

“She’s alive… but we need to get her to a doctor, she- she’s not in good shape. Twilight, take Scootaloo, we can’t be far from Ponyville now. Do you have enough magic left to left her on to my back?” Rainbow's tone was grave, there was a hushed urgency in her voice. Twilight knew she was holding back to ease Scootaloo's fears, but deep down, she could almost feel her panic. Twilight closed her eyes and felt within herself, grasping at her dwindled pool of magic. The immense feedback from the lightening and the radiation sapped her of much her power, but she was recovering.

“Yeah, I think so.” She opened her eyes. Taking a deep breath she summoned her strength and Fluttershy's body was enveloped in her violet aura.

“Be careful Twilight, keep her in that position as best you can, we don't know how bad... we just need to be careful.” Rainbow didn't expect an answer as Twilight focused on pooling her magic. Without another word, Dash splayed her wings and straightened her back as much as she could, making room for her injured friend. She was thankful now for the training she got in emergency rescue flying. Though I haven't exactly got my certificate updated, it's been a couple years. I really hope I'm doing this right.

She felt the dead weight of her friend ease on to her back, she locked her leg joints to keep her body as stable as possible while Twilight released Fluttershy on to Rainbow.

“Will you be able to fly like that?” Twilight asked concerned.

“Yeah, I should be okay. You go first, give me some light, just keep flying straight the way we were going. I'll be right behind you.” With the assurance from her marefriend, Twilight nodded, even though she knew it was unlikely that Rainbow could distinguish her nod in the low light, she didn't want to risk breaking her focus any further.

“Alright Scootaloo, hold on tight.” With a beat of her wings, Twilight took to the air and hovered over the filly before wrapping her hooves around her small body. With a few strong flaps, Twilight turned around in the air, trying to get a baring on her position, the only thing to give her any idea of direction was the small burning tree that laid by Scootaloo and Fluttershy. 'So Ponyville should be that way...' With her mind made up, her horn began to glow and she flew towards home, pleading with fate that their town was spared the chaos and the flames.

“Twilight, what’s happening?” Scootaloo asked, her mind still reeling from the shock. A million theories ran through her mind but in the end, with a heavy heart, she knew, she had to tell the truth, not just to Scootaloo, but to herself. She could hear the labored wing beats of Rainbow Dash as she caught up. Knowing that her love would be beside her, gave her the courage she needed, to say it.

“I don’t know Scootaloo, I just don’t know.”

“Don't you worry squirt, Fluttershy's going to be fine. Once we get back home, me and Twilight and the girls will take care of what ever crazy thing is causing all this and be back in time for dinner.” Rainbow said. Despite the darkness making it impossible for Twilight to see her face, she could only picture that cocksure grin spread across Dash's face. She couldn't tell if her acting had gotten better or if she really meant it, but either way, Twilight felt more confident now than she had since the darkness swallowed the world. She's right, there's nothing that we can't solve together, this will be no exception.

“Twilight, keep an eye out, Ponyville should be just up ahead.” Rainbow Dash yelled and they flew over the hills and trees, most of whom seemed to be spared the fire, giving more hope to the safety of their home. Not even a minute later, a warm light glowed from behind a string of hills. Twilight's heart raced and she accelerated upwards, climbing over the hills with Rainbow in toe. Time seemed to slow down as they came closer and closer to their town, all three of them, with one question in their mind: Was their town spared the burning? In less than a second, they would have their answer.

Twilight came to a dead stop, hovering in the air, a flickering light reflected from her eyes, the awestruck air about her told Rainbow what lay ahead, even before she caught up. The moment she ascended the hills, fear and apprehension crumbled away, leaving horror in their place as they looked down upon Ponyville, engulfed in fire.

The Burning: Part Three

Screams echoed throughout the town, the only sound standing out against the roar of the fire. Rainbow trotted slowly through the town with her wounded friend on her back and her marefriend by her side. Her shadow flickered with the light of the fire and hot wind lashed against her fur and the smell of smoke and the stench of burning hair filled her nostrils. Her hoof steps landed in the soft ash that fell like snow from the black sky, rendering her steps eerily silent. It all felt like a dream to Rainbow as she walked like a zombie, awestruck by the destruction, thinking over and over, surly, none of this could be real.

“Is she injured!?” A deep voice called out impatiently. Rainbow's head jerked following the voice to the silhouette of a burly firepony, his bright yellow, flame resistant jacket shined in the light of the fire.

“W-what...”

“The mare on your back! Is she injured? If so take her to the tent set up over there,” He thrust his hoof into the air and pointed into the darkness. “We have emergency paramedics there that are tending to the wounded!”

“Th-the wounded?” Rainbow stuttered, her legs beginning to buckle under the weight of her shock and horror.

“Yes, please speak to the paramedics is you're injured, if not join the other evacuees, just past the med tent. I have to deal with the fires to you'll have to leave, now!”

“Why... why is this happening?” Rainbow whispered, her soft voice drowned out by the crackle of the fire. Her heart raced within her chest and her breathing became erratic. A wave of nausea swept through her, bringing her to her knees. What's going on here? What's happened? Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie... With the limp weight of Fluttershy slowly sliding off her weak body, she thought of the weight of all of them, of all her friends. What's happened to them? What's happened to my friends?

“I'm not going to ask you again, you need to leave now!” The firepony raised his voice, but his shouts seemed to fall of deaf ears and Rainbow Dash collapsed to the ground.

“Stop yelling at her!” Twilight shouted, her horn bursting into light, illuminating her features, and beside her, Scootaloo stared at her idol, the strongest mare she had known, laying frail on the ground, brought to her belly with shock.

“P-Princess Twilight! I'm sorry your highness but it's not safe here! We're combating the fire as best we can but-”

“Tell me what happened, what started all this?” Twilight commanded with an air of authority akin to that of the Princess of the Night. She stood firm beside her marefriend, looking directly into the eyes of the firepony, her own eyes sparkling in the light of the blaze.

“We don't know princess, one moment everything was fine, the next everything went dark and then...”

“An aurora and then a massive bolt of lightening...” Twilight trialled off, lowing her head and furrowing her brow.

“Y-yes princess but... how did you know?”

“Get back to the fires, Rainbow and I need to get our friend to the paramedics!” Without waiting for his reply, Twilight's magic enveloped Fluttershy and, with great effort, she lifted her off Rainbow's back and placed her on her own. She grunted as the weight dropped down on top of her. “Dashie, we need to go.”

“Twilight, why is this happening?” Rainbow said, still on the ground.

“I'm sorry, I don't know why, but our friends, Fluttershy and the others, they need us.”

“R-right...” Hauling herself up on shaky legs, Rainbow and Twilight walked through the ash and grass in the direction given to them by the fire pony.

“I just... I just can't believe it Twilight. We've been through a lot, disaster after disaster, but this time is different. This time, Somepony could die... Fluttershy could die.” Tears were welling up in Dash's eyes as she walked beside Twilight.

“D-die? You mean... Fluttershy could really? She might-” Scootaloo fumbled with her words as she stuck close by Twilight, looking up at the pale figure on her back.

“Don't worry Scootaloo, she'll be fine once we get her to the medics.” Twilight reassured the filly. Despite her own words, Twilight was fighting within herself, just trying to keep strong. 'She has to be...'

Within minutes, the shouts and moans of the wounded and their caretakers could be heard over the sound of the roaring fire that was once Ponyville. Soon, on the outskirts of town, they found the med tent. Artificial lights were strung up around it, giving it an almost sickening pure white glow that reminded Twilight greatly of the hospital. Ponies rushed around from cot to cot, tending to the injured. The smell of burnt flesh filled the air more and more as they approached. Beeps and alarms sounded from the monitoring machines.

“Quick! Get the defibrillator! He's going into cardiac arrest!” Rainbow turned to the voices to see three ponies, one in a lab coat and two others in darker uniforms that she couldn’t discern. They rushed to a bedside at the entrance of the massive tent. A monitor beeped wildly and a line that pulsed across it's screen fluctuated and spasmed. Then, a long drawn out beep as the line ran flat. Rainbow watched wide eyed as a small machine was brought out.

“Clear!” Once shouted. In the next moment, a small figure on the table jerked and the line on the screen did the same, but only for a moment. Rainbow could see a tube connected to a mask over his mouth.

“His O2 sats are plummeting, his lungs are too badly burned!”

“I'm going again! Clear!” Another shock, and the figure jerked once more, but fell right back to deathly stillness.

“Twilight... he's just a colt...” Rainbow Dash said, her voice choked with tears.

“W-what's happening? Twilight, Rainbow Dash, is he... is he going to be alright?” Scootaloo asked as she peeked her head out from behind Twilight.

“Stay back Scootaloo!” Twilight commanded, stepping forward between the filly and the scene that was unfolding before them.

“Do you have any injured?” A new voice called, steeling their attention from the colt's plight to a medic that stood before them now. His eyes were tired and bloodshot. The young stallion looked worn ragged and exhausted.

“Y-yes, our friend, she's badly hurt! Please help her!” Twilight pleaded, not only to get her friend attention as quickly as she could, but also to keep Scootaloo and Rainbow's focus off the colt. A quick glace relieved that the doctors by his bed had stopped trying to revive him and his machine still rung with the flat line beep. Twilight ripped her gaze off from him and forced her tears back.

“A pegasus?” He asked solemnly, his dull eyes growing more grave as he looked at Fluttershy.

“Hey! We need a stretcher over here!” The medic called out. At his word two ponies rushed to him carrying a worn out stretcher, the rivets were rusted and the fabric that was between the ridged bars was frayed and stained.

“You're gonna put Fluttershy on that!?” Rainbow barked, outraged. Stomping froward she came nose to nose with the medic, her teeth bared and her heart racing with anger. “I'm no idiot! She's got burns all over her and you're going to put her on that dirty-”

“Rainbow Dash calm down!” Twilight's horn ignited once again into a purple light as she yanked her marefriend back.

“It's all we have left...” The medic said gravely.

“What do you mean?” Twilight asked, awestruck. No, no... there's no way there's that many injured, it's just not possible...

“Just what I said. This is the last one, and we've had to use more like it on others in just as bad, if not worse condition than your friend. The hospital, the part of it that's still functional, is completely full and this isn't the only emergency medical station, there's an even bigger one near Sweet Apple Acres that's completely full and the evacuee tents aren't doing much better.” He looked back at the ponies that brought the stretcher, two earth pony mares looking no less exhausted than the medic. “Take the pegasus in the strike unit, clean her wounds and put her on oxygen, the doctor will see her as soon as he can.”

“Yes sir!” They said in unison as they lifted the bedraggled stretcher up into the air and placed in on their backs. They walked beside Twilight, forcing Scootaloo out of their way. Twilight gently levitated Fluttershy down on to it, laying her most burned side away from the surface of the stretcher. The moment she was secure, the two mares left with her friend without another word.

“The evacuee tent is just behind this one, unless your injured or want to volunteer you'll only be in the way here.” He said coldly before beginning to turn around.

“Wait! How many-” Twilight began, her eyes brimming with tears before she was cut off by the medic.

“Too many...” He sighed. “So far, we have thirteen immediate deaths from the lightening alone, eleven of those were pegasi. From the fire and the smoke, in this tent, we've had ninetee-” He came to an abrupt stop and his head turned towards the entrance, in the corner where a small colt lay still, disconnected from the machines. “Twenty... we've had twenty deaths...”

“Thirty-three?” The blood drained from Twilight's face and an icy chill ran down her spine.

“Yes, for now. I'm sorry Princess but you're in the way here, I'm going to have to ask you to leave.”

“Thirty-three...” Twilight felt all of her strength being sapped from her as though the very earth she stood on was feeding off of it. Gravities pull became less and less resistible as her body began to give out to shock and she began to fall.

“Twilight!” Rainbow rushed to Twilight's side crouching low, her soft downy wings cushioning the impact of Twilight's body against her own. Rainbow used her own body as a crutch for her marefriend.

“Twilight are you okay?!” Rainbow knew it was a stupid question, but it was all she could do. Of course she's not okay, none of this is okay! Why is this all happening!? Fluttershy, that colt, all of Ponyville... What the hell is happening?

“Rainbow Dash... all those ponies... they- they are- they're d-” Twilight's heart raced erratically and thoughts even more so, faces of all her friends and subjects in Ponyville flashed frantically through her mind. Who is still alive and who was not?

“I know Twilight, I know but, we can't be here right now, if we don't let the doctors work then more ponies will... more ponies will get hurt. There's somewhere else you're needed more.” Rainbow spoke softly and gently as she draped her wing over Twilight. With the warm wing of her lover wrapped around her, Twilight's heart and mind began to clear, but a devastating pain she felt, knowing there are faces she will never see again, lives ended early by a force she doesn't know, that pain only grew deeper. From the corner of her eye, she could see the filly they had rescued, Scootaloo, tears rolling down her face, silently and effortlessly. Taking a deep breath, the princess gathered herself, and slowly, she stood.

“T-thank you Rainbow Dash, I'm... I'm alright now. We need to go, come on Scootaloo, Fluttershy is in good hooves.” With her own hooves firmly on the ground, Twilight turned and Dash's wing slid off of her. Together, they trotted out of the tent. Outside, the fire still raged, hoses and ponies beat it back, keeping the evacuees and the injured from the conflagration. Inside Ponyville, deep within the inferno, they could still hear screaming.

The Burning: Part Four

“I just don't know what could have done all of this...” Twilight tread slowly past the med tent, resting her weight on Rainbow Dash as they walked. The flames from Ponyville illuminated an intense look of grief and pain in her eyes that was well beyond the reach of tears.

“We'll figure it out. For right now we just have to make sure our friends are okay. Once we put our heads together, we'll figure it out.” Rainbow couldn't tell who she was trying to comfort more. The ring of the heart monitor, blaring throughout the med tent as the colt's life was snuffed out was still fresh in her mind, endlessly screaming at her. It could have been Scootaloo, it could still be Fluttershy... No, she'll be fine, Fluttershy is strong, she wont let... she won't let a little lightening keep her down. But, why? Why did it have to be her!? What did she do wrong!? She's the kindest pony anypony could know, she didn't deserve this!

“She didn't deserve it...” Rainbow whispered, the growl under her breath lost in the white noise of cracking wood. She could still smell it, Fluttershy's seared flesh, the scent sunk deep into her fur, staining her with it. If she looked, she'd probably be able to Fluttershy's blood in her fur as well. It sickened her, she fought back the inevitable nausea that came with the smell. It wasn't just Fluttershy's scent, the smell hung in the air like the smoke and ash, but knowing that the blood of her closest friend was soaked into her own fur made her want to crawl out of her own skin.

“I think that's it, the evacuation tent...” Scootaloo said, breaking Rainbow Dash of her circle of thought. Scootaloo, looking up at her with big, worried eyes.

“I- I think your right Scoots, thanks...” Rainbow turned her gaze back to Twilight who's head was hung low. She hadn't even looked up at the large white tent. “Twilight, we're here...”

“What?” Twilight said weakly, slowly lifting her head. Indeed, it was a tent, even bigger than the med tent, but the way it looked, Twilight felt as though she were going right back into that place. It was nightmare, the sick tent, a little glimpse of hell itself. She could feel it, she didn't know how, but she could feel the life draining from that place. I can still feel it, that sensation, it was almost like I was the one dying and, when he was gone, I could feel it, like a vacuum, like... Oh Celestia, I- I can't do it again, I can't feel that again. Thirty-three dead, in that tent alone... how many did I know? How many friends and family are they leaving behind? E-even one as young as that colt... and Fluttershy.

“Are any of you injured?” A rushed voice called as a stallion greeted us at the entrance. “If you have any injuries the med tent is back over there. You're friend doesn't look well and we don't have the resources to provide medical attention.” He spoke as he glanced at Twilight. “You should turn around and go back to the med-”

“No!” Twilight shouted, her head snapping up to meet the eyes of the stallion. “I won't go back there...”

“P-Princess Twilight?” The stallion said, bemused and unsure.

“I'm sorry,” Rainbow interceded. “She's fine, we all are, we're just looking for our friends.”

“O-okay, we have water but we're low on food and out of blankets and beds. We sent someone out to get anything they could from the hospital, but they likely wont be back for over an hour and-”

“Thanks, we'll be okay, come one Twilight, Scootaloo...” Wishing to avoid any further conversation, Rainbow led them around the stallion and into the tent, leading Twilight with her strong wing wrapped around her, ushering her forward, into the tent. It was dark inside, despite holding at least eighty ponies, it only had for main lanterns providing light, while several smaller lights dotted the tent, mostly personal lights and unicorns horns. The small lights painted the tent with soft but eery shadows. It was desolate, it was a sight Twilight had never seen before from the faces of Ponyville. All around her, faces she recognized sat, some heartbroken, some scared, and some searching, but not a face shone with any light. Every once in a while, she saw somepony turn their head towards the smoldering town. They weren't that far from it and the only things standing between them and the blaze was fire-ponies and luck.

Aside from soft mumbling, Rainbow Dash couldn't discern any words nor voices in the weary group. Many seemed just like Twilight, shell shocked and exhausted. Some dim silhouettes wandered like ghosts through the tent, their heads turning back and forth, scanning the dull and frail ponies for the familiar face of a loved one. Others cried, some with a shoulder and some alone, the crying ones stayed to the walls of the tent. The bleak sight was close to dragging out the tears that Rainbow had been holding in for the sake of Twilight and Scootaloo. This is... this is sickening. Nopony deserves this. Looking around, she saw that things were worse than the pony that greeted them has said. Nearly the entirety of the front of the tent was resigned to resting on the ground, in the dirt. Most those in shock had no blankets. A light, darting back and forth caught Dash's attention, this one was not one of the lost apparitions, wandering weakly, the light was moving fervently and with intent. It was the light of a unicorn's horn, and it was barely illuminating a pale face. Is that... Rainbow squinted at the figure as she tried to confirm their identity.

“Rarity?”Rainbow asked out loud.

“You're right, it's Rarity,” Twilight confirmed. To Dash's relief, Twilight's voice had a note of happiness, knowing at least one of their friends was alive and well, eased her mind, she could imagine it was even more so for her marefriend. A lively spark ignited in Twilight's eyes as she took a deep breath and shouted: “Rarity!”

The mare stopped, her glowing horn revealing tired and distraught eyes. Held within her her magic grasp was a large bundle of exquisite clothes. As though she had seen a ghost, Rarity stared at them before the pile of clothes fell to the floor as she bounded towards them, weaving between resting ponies that dotted the floor.

“Twilight! Rainbow Dash!” Rarity cried out in relief, quickly closing the distance between them.

“Rarity what-” Before Twilight could get another word out, Rarity reared up, wrapping her hooves around the couple, pulling them into a tight embrace. They could feel her body trembling as she gripped them and, the could smell something else: Her fur and mane were singed. Twilight and Rainbow Dash glanced wearily at each other before Rarity released them, dropping back to her hooves.

“Thank Celestia you're both okay! I thought you might be since the two of you had gone out this morning, but I was still so worried! I-” She came to an abrupt stop as her gaze drifted from her friends to a young filly beside them.

“S-Scootaloo?” Rarity whispered in disbelief.

“Yeah?” Scootaloo replied bemused.

“Scootaloo! Oh Scootaloo, you made it out? Oh thank goodness, with what happened at the school we- That's not important right now, where is Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom?” Rarity smiled and stared at Scootaloo expectantly. Twilight watched the relief fade from her eyes as horror filled Scootaloo's expression.

“I wasn't at the school... I was Fluttershy. What happened? What happened to the school?” Scootaloo's voice began to crack as tears forced their way to her eyes and a lump swelled in her throat.

“I- I see...” Rarity fell to the dirt, her eyes foggy with tears. “You weren't there... you didn't make it out of the school...”

“What do you mean!” Scootaloo screamed. “What happened!? What happened to Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom!?”

“Scootaloo calm down.” Rainbow spoke softly, doing her best to reassure her de facto sister before returning her attention to Rarity.

“Rarity, please, what's happened?” Twilight gently prodded. It was plain to see that Rarity was in a lot of distress, what ever happened, it wouldn't be good news. Rainbow had to stop herself from holding her breath, with the state her marefriend was just in, she didn't know what more bad news could do to her. With everything that was happening, they needed her now more than ever.

“The fires broke out all at once you see, there was nothing we could do. The school, it was right in the middle of it all, but by the time the firefighters had gotten organized, it was too late. I- I saw it, the entire building was in flames. Sweetie Belle, she- she was going out with Apple Bloom to the school, just before this all started. I've looked everywhere, so has Applejack, we couldn't find them, we couldn't find them anywhere...”

“No! They- they can't be gone! You just missed them! They must be at the club house! Did you check there? Did you check the club house!?”

“Scootaloo, Sweet Apple Acres... it's gone.”

“No! That can't be true! Th- they can't be-” A strong hoof pulled her, nearly knocking her off balance. It pulled her tight against tone muscles and soft fur. As she looked up, she saw her big sister, Rainbow Dash, holding her close.

“Scootaloo, I'm sure their okay, but we just can't do anything right now. You need to stay strong for me okay. Everything's going to be okay.”

“Rarity, do you have any idea what caused all of this?” Twilight asked, pulling everyone's attention from the unpleasant possibilities.

“No, I was hoping you would... After the fire started I grabbed as many things as I could and left my boutique. I've been doing what I could, nopony was prepared for anything like this, I've been giving my clothes out as blankets and helping with the water, of course, I brought blankets too, but those ran out very fast.”

“Where are the others?” Twilight's voice became more lively, more filled with strength like it used to be as she glanced around the room.

“Applejack is here with Big Mac and...” She trailed off, her eyes wandering to the tent entrance.

“And?” Twilight prompted. “Where's Pinkie Pie?” She surveyed the room once more. “We're going to need all the-” A quick nudge to her side silenced her. Twilight whipped her head back towards her marefriend with a less than pleased look, but her visage became somber as she looked into Dash's eyes, locked onto Rarity and filling with dread. Slowly, reluctantly, Twilight turned to face her friend. She didn't want to, she didn't want to know what she suspected, somehow she felt like if she didn't look, time would stop, everything would stop, but she knew, she couldn't stop the truth. When she finally met Rarity's eyes, she knew for sure, something terrible had happened.

“Pinkie Pie... Pinkie Pie was here. She had gotten to safety, with me but then, she left. She ran out, back into town, she said that Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake were still in there...”

“No... she couldn't- she couldn't be...” Twilight stuttered as she turned, looking behind her, she knew what Rarity was looking at... 'The med tent.'

“I tried to follow her, but she ran straight into Sugar Cube Corner... it was completely covered in flames. I tried, I did everything I could to stop her, but she ran in. When the firefighters ran in after her, they carried her out, with Pumpkin and Pound Cake in her hooves. Mr and Mrs. Cake, we don't know where they are... Pinkie, she's in the Med Tent with the babies. I- Twilight... Twilight are you alright?"

Why is this happening?! First Fluttershy, the Pinkie Pie! The thirty-three others, that colt... What the hell is going on!? Why is this happening now? Who's responsible: Queen Chrysalis, Sombra, Tirek? No, none of them have the power to do this! Who could it be? Who's dong this? Why would anyone want to kill so many ponies! This- this can't be happening. This can't be happening. What can I do?! Their dying, ponies are dying right now! I- I have to do something. Twilight spiraled as her mind reeled. It felt like the room was spinning. She felt sick and weak, she was crying and she couldn't stop, her jaw was clenched so tight her teeth ached and her breathing was rapid and shallow. This was no accident or natural disaster, whoever is responsible... they have to be stopped!

Rainbow Dash again draped her wing over Twilight and held her close, all the while not letting go of Scootaloo. Rarity came to Twilight's side and placed her hoof over hers. Rainbow felt a boiling anger, a rage well up inside of her. Two of her friends, her best friends, were on the verge of death, and for what? She didn't know why any of this happened, she could smell it in the smoke filled air, and she could feel it in her trembling marefriend, this was only the beginning.

Deicide: Part 1

Twilight felt weak, her body was quickly going numb as she collapsed to the ground. Everything felt cold, every muscle in her body was shivering, but this chill was beyond the help of warmth, the cold seeped out from her bones and froze her blood. Rarity knelt in front of her, bringing her head level with Twilight's. Rainbow Dash lay beside her, pressing against her and pulling her close with her wing. Despite their reassuring gestures, her eyes were fix on the dry dirt floor. She had lost control of her thoughts as images of fire and lightening flashed by with dizzying speed. Every time she closed her eyes, even to blink, she felt like she was pulled straight into hell. The moment her eyes closed, she was taken back to the med tent, the roar of fire and the smell of burnt hair and flesh filled her mind, but none of that compared to the feeling she felt as she watched the colt die, as she watched the life being sucked out of him.

“Twilight...” Rainbow Dash said softly, rubbing Twilight's back with her wing.

“I- I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I just, I just-”

“It's alright Twilight, we're here for you.” Twilight looked up to the source of the familiar voice. Applejack stood beside Rarity, smiling at her. She didn't know why, she knew none of this was her fault, but, she felt it, an almost unbearable guilt, a guilt so strong she had to avert her eyes, she couldn't face Applejack's eyes, knowing what she's lost, what she might have lost. How... how can she be smiling...

“Applejack is right,” Rarity began, swallowing back her grief and fear. “Whatever is responsible for this, if we give up in despair, well, we've already lost.”

“We're gonna need you Twilight, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Bell, all of Ponyville is gonna need you. Ah know it's a lot to ask, but... you need to be strong Twilight.”

The numbness that had overtaken her body was broken by the sharp sting from Applejack's words, and it only made the guilt worse. She's right... I'm responsible for this, for all of this. I'm a princess, it's my duty to protect everyone, and on my watch... I let this happen.

“Back off Applejack!” Rainbow snapped, drawing all eyes to her as she stepped between her friend and her marefriend. “Can't you see she's shaken up!? She's in no shape to be taking the burden for this, so back off!”

“What did you say!?” Applejack growled, stomping forward. “How dare you! How dare you talk to me like that! I've lost my home, Sweet Apple Acres is nothing but ashes! M- my sister... she could be hurt, she's scared and alone... and Granny Smith...” Tears glistened in her mournful eyes, the flickering sickly fluorescent lights painted her pale and ghostly. Suddenly, rage flooded back into her eyes.

“And you're going to tell me to back off!? What have you lost!? What gives you the right to talk to me like that when you still have everyone you love!” Her hoof trembled as she lifted it off the ground glaring at Rainbow Dash.

“Applejack, that's enough!” Rarity's horn lit up, engulfing Applejack in her aura and yanking her back. Rainbow's head hung low and her gaze fell to the floor.

“Please... all of you stop this.” Twilight stood, shakily and weakly.

“Twilight is right, if there were ever a time to not be fighting, it would be now.” Rarity affirmed. She turned to Applejack. “I know how you feel, but more innocent ponies will be hurt if we don't stop this.”

Without a word, Applejack huffed, sitting down on the ground, refusing to look at Rainbow Dash who took her place beside Twilight. A long moment of tense silence stretched between them, nopony knowing what to say, knowing what should be said.

“I don't know of any kind of spell that could cause anything like this. If this is magic, it's not anything I've seen before.” Twilight began, tentatively trying to bring the tension down.

“Do you think Princess Celestia would know anything about what's going on?” Rarity posed.

“Maybe, or Discord, but either way, it's pitch black out, it's a miracle we made it back here and the lightning and the r-” Twilight stopped abruptly, holding her tongue. “and.. and the smoke, short circuited my magic, I'm not back to full strength so teleporting there is out of the question.” Twilight glanced to her side at Rainbow who at the same time glanced at her. I can't tell them about the radiation, it would just cause panic right now. Her guilt only grew worse, knowing she was lying to her friends, but the truth would only make things worse now.

“It's the only way to find out what's going on!” Applejack blurted.

“I know, but-” Twilight was brought to an abrupt stop as her body began to shake, but it wasn't her trembling muscles, the earth beneath her was shaking up through her hooves and a low pitch rumble slowly overtook the sound of the crackling fire as the quaking grew more intense. Twilight's head bolted up looking to her friends. Rainbow head was darting back and forth while Rarity and Applejack stared at the ground.

“A- an earthquake...” Twilight said hushed. Then just as suddenly as it came, the shaking subsided, tapering off to a soft quiver before fading away.

“What the hell is going on!” Rainbow Dash yelled. Twilight looked around, the dull faces in the tent fear stricken, not one moved, all frozen in place as they seemed to collectively hold their breath and a terrible sense of foreboding overcame Twilight. Just as she whipped around to face the entrance the air went dead still, sending a chill down her spine as everything went silent and time seemed to slow.

Booooom!

A deafening roar tore through the air, followed by a massive gust of wind. The tent was stretched back as it's thin metal frame began to buckle from the shock wave. Everypony fell to the ground, covering their heads as debris and ash rushed into the tent. Twilight fell to her belly, squinting as the ash blew against her face, looking in the direction of the concussive blast. Dust stung her eyes but through the torrent of ash she could see a blinding light shining through the dust storm. Just as soon as it began, the explosion past. Twilight's ears were ringing painfully, the blast was almost as loud as the thunder when all of this started. Her head ached and she struggled to get up, the sudden, massive change in pressure threw off her balance.

“Twilight! Twi are you okay!? What was that!?” Rainbow ran to her, but Twilight could only barely make out her marefriend's words over her stinging ears.

“I- I don't know. I don't know anything...”

“Is everypony alright!?” Applejack yelled to the frightened evacuees. Soft grumbles and weak nods followed. Everypony was shaken, but no one was hurt. Twilight turned back to the entrance, a bright white light shined from the direction of the blast. Gathering her strength, she trotted outside with Rainbow right behind her.

Dash looked at their town, the explosion had done nothing but fan the flames, spreading smoldering embers and feeding the fires, destabilizing the charred structures. Dash's heart sunk at she saw firefighters running away from a collapsing building. For solace, she turned to her Twilight, but the her marefriend's eyes were firmly fixed on the horizon in font of her. As Rainbow followed her eyes, she fell into the same awestruck stare as she looked upon the source of the light. It was Canterlot, surrounded by a bright white light, with streaks of blue lightning arcing around it.

“What in the name of Celestia is that!?” Applejack exclaimed, her jaw dropped in astonishment.

“Whatever it is, it has something to do with all of this.” Twilight said calmly, as though she were pondering a difficult question. Abruptly, she snapped out of it and turned to Dash with determined eyes. “Rainbow we need to go!”

“Wait, we can't just leave Ponyville like this!”

“Go Rainbow, we'll take care of things here.” Applejack said, a hint of bitterness still lingering in her voice.

“But Applejack...” Rainbow began in protest.

“No, you both need to stop whoever is responsible for all of this.” Rarity chimed in. “We have to stay here, our families need us, Ponyville needs us here. We need you to put an end to this.” Rainbow looked back and forth between Twilight who's wings were unfurled and ready to fly and her friends.

I- I don't want to leave them. We don't know what's going on, we don't know what could happen next. Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie are both... they haven't woken up yet. I want to be here for them... but Twilight needs me too. Rainbow gritted her teeth. Damn it! I can't do anything. I couldn't help Pinkie, Fluttershy's in bad shape, I hurt Applejack and now, I have to leave them alone while their homes burn and our friends fight for their lives? No, I'm the fastest flier in Ponyville, I should be helping look for Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, but... Twilight!

“You should go, we'll be alright here.” Applejack stepped forward, her voice soft and gentle, the spite far removed from her voice. “She's gonna need you, you know how she has a habit of getting into trouble.”

“Applejack...” Dash said, dumbfounded.

“Get going, we'll be alright.” She smiled. She smiled, despite everything, a smile that reassured Rainbow Dash. She didn't know why, but she felt that AJ was right, they would be alright. Twilight needs me more right now.

“Alright, but stay safe. Good luck.” Without another word, Rainbow turned to Twilight. “Come on, the faster we get there the faster we get back to help. Are you able to fly?”

“Yes, I should be alright, don't worry, I'll keep up.”

“Okay, let's go.” She turned back once more to Rarity and Applejack. “Keep Scootaloo safe.” With that, her wings flung out and with a mighty flap, she took to the air with Twilight in toe to Canterlot. The hot updrafts singed her feathers as they soared over Ponyville. The sight of the smoldering town fell behind them and the echo of dwindling screams faded as they flew.

Deicide: Part 2

The harsh, acrid smell of ozone hung heavily in the air, only seeming to become stronger as they approached Canterlot. Rainbow Dash's wings were energized, fear and anger made her want to fly as fast as she could to get to the swirling vortex of lightening that surrounded the castle, still, she had to ignore the impetus in her wings, urging her to fly faster, Twilight lagged behind her, struggling to keep up. The damage she sustained from earlier from the lightening had taken a terrible toll on her magic and her body.

I can't believe this is happening… What hell could be behind this? Is there even anything we can do about it?

“Twi, you hanging in there okay?” Rainbow Dash called back, slowing her flight to an easy glide, letting her marefriend catch up to her. Aside from the distant crackling of massive fires and dull roar of the swirling ball of magic ahead of them, the world seemed deathly silent. The loneliness of her words made every moment she awaited Twilight's response incredibly unsettling.

“Yeah.” She took a deep, labored breath, her throat was parched and her voice trembled. “I- I'm okay...”

“We're almost there, just a bit further.” Despite her words being directed at Twilight, Rainbow Dash was trying just as hard to comfort herself. Flying through this seemingly unending sea of darkness made her uneasy.

“I- I hope everyone is...” Twilight mumbled in a hoarse, grave tone. Her mind was elsewhere, it took so much of her strength to not look back, back to her home, to Ponyville. Images of the horrific blaze that engulfed the once peaceful and idyllic town flashed through her mind. She could barely force herself to go on. What am I doing here? H-how could I just leave them alone? How can they expect me to try and solve this without them? While two of my closest friends are fighting for their lives in that med tent? For all I know they could be… I- I shouldn't be here, I can't do this, I can't do this without them!

“Twilight, It'll be okay.” Rainbow Dash placed a tender hood on Twilight's side, navigating her body by the movement of air off of her wings as to not impede Twilight's flight. She felt warm drops fall into her fur, the air pulling her marefriend's tears from her cheeks. She could feel Twilight begin to tremble furiously.

“How will it be okay?!” Twilight snapped. Coming to an immediate stop she spun around to face the general direction her marefriend was. “How will any of this be okay!? Do you understand what's happening!? Two of our best friends are fighting for their lives! Th-they could already be dead for all we know!”

“Twilight don't say that...” Dash's voice cracked as her own tears began to flow. She picture Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, in agony from their terrible burns. For a moment, she imagined going to back to a life without them. A profound emptiness and heartbreak permeated through her chest.

“You know it's true! Our home is burning, our friends are fighting for their lives, searching for their families and where are we?! We should be with them, not here, what kind of friends are we to leave them all alone at a time like this!?”

“I know! I know damn it...” Rainbow Dash could hardly speak as she sobbed. “I know...”

“Rainbow, we have to go back, we can't do this...” She was sobbing, her breaths were now rapid and shallow and her voice was high pitched, weak and strained.

“Applejack and Rarity are counting on us…” Dash knew that was true, but to her it only felt like a weak rationalization. Still, she continued her friends assuring words were her only guiding light in the darkness of her feelings. “They're counting on us… We have to make things better.”

“And what will we go back to?! Our home is destroyed, our friends are dying… Everything is burning.” Twilight had a hopelessness in her voice that Rainbow Dash and never heard from her before.

I don't blame her… Rainbow Dash admitted to herself, her own feelings of helplessness she had tried to ignore began bubbling to the surface. This is a nightmare, I keep hoping I'll wake up… No matter what we do, nothing will ever be the same again. No, no, this isn't it! Suddenly, she felt a wave of resolve and courage overtake her.

“No Twilight, this isn't it! We still have plenty to go home to, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie will pull through, and we can rebuild our home. Right now, we're the only ones who can make this right. Applejack can keep everything together while we're gone and Rarity is taking care of as many ponies as she can. We need to be here for them now, you need to be here for them now!” She tried to sound as certain and confident as possible, but she knew the horrors they had witnessed, she knew this was unlike anything they've ever faced and that more then likely, only more horrors awaited them. She felt terrified, and sick to her stomach, but her friends needed her to be strong. And Twilight needs me to be strong. She needs me, Applejack and Rarity need me, Scootaloo needs me and Ponyville needs me! “Our friends need you Twi, and I need you. I can't do this on my own. Please, I'll be here for you no matter what, I know you can make things right, so please, let's keep going.”

Twilight couldn't see a thing, she couldn't see her lover's face, her expression, but somehow, she could feel it, she could feel that confident but loving smile, those eyes filled with strength. She let Rainbow Dash's words reverberate within her mind. She focused on them, quelling the screaming and turmoil in within her, tuning out the memories or death and destruction that plagued her. She let her reasoning mind take over. She took a long, deep breath, her trembling body relaxed and hear flowing tears ebbed. I know… I know she's right. I know it but, they're suffering right now, they're hurting and afraid right now! Oh Celestia what can I do? Suddenly, she felt a warm, affirming pressure around her hoof.

“You can do this, and it'll all be okay.” Rainbow Dash gently stroked Twilight's foreleg. “Trust me.”

“Y-you're right.” Twilight's voice sounded calm and collected. She released a heavy sigh, expelling her fears and doubts. “You're right.”

“Come on,” Rainbow Dash said gently. “We're almost there.”

“Yeah, let's keep going.” Still holding each others hooves, they began to fly towards the bright light shining in the darkness.

As they flew, the words she had spoken echoed through Rainbow Dash's mind. Trust me… If only I believed myself too…