Celestia's deadly spell was interrupted by the pop of gunpowder behind her. She yelped in pain as a couple bullets lodged into her backside. She spun around to face this new attacker. Her face paled in horror when she saw an army of ponies clad in midnight blue armor storming out the castle gates. The column slammed into the royal guard's flank. Celestia's confidence in victory shattered as her troops fell before the Republicans.

Rainbow chuckled painfully,The cavalry has finally arrived. Late as usual. "I think you can tell her yourself, your highness."

The princess didn't seem to hear her. She lowered horn and fired upon the Republican's battle line. Before the beam could make contact unicorns summoned a shield reflecting it into the atmosphere. The shield was immediately dropped and the pegasi leaped through the air. With Derpy Hooves at the lead they sliced through the guards and continued towards Celestia. Rainbow's remaining pegasi joined them, attacking the princess from behind.

Celestia's eyes darted around in panic. Her steadfast guard had turned tail and ran. She was now completely surrounded and wounded. At this point the princess could only retreat. She turned to Rainbow Dash, "This is not over." In a flash of light Celestia disappeared, teleported back to Canterlot.

Rainbow smiled, "Bout time you guys got here. Derpy, take the troops and cut a path to town hall as quick as you can. They need reinforcements ASAP."

The wall-eyed mare saluted, "Will do." The Republicans pressed forward. The battle weary and leaderless Royal Guard fled for their lives.

Behind the armor clad warriors, a bunch of civilians followed. They tended to the wounded with the castle's entire medical supply. Rarity was among them. She noticed Rainbow and galloped up to her, "Oh my, are you alright Rainbow Dash?"

Rainbow coughed, "Just bleeding on the ground waiting to die. You?" Rarity smiled at the sarcasm. She got to work healing Rainbow's wound. "Let's see if I remember anatomy right. That's your intestine... Your ribcage... where's does all this blood keep coming from? This will completely ruin my coat won't it?"

"Ow! Rarity do you think you can let somepony else do this?"

"Nonsense, it is only a flesh wound. I can handle it."

"Ah!! Merciful Luna! Rarity, I fought two flipping alicorns today. If I die by your sewing needle, so help me, I rise from the grave and eat your brain!"

"Um,on second thought you may need somepony with more expertise. Twilight can you help me out here?"

"What!?" Rainbow almost jumped to her hooves, "don't tell me that lying scumbag is still here."

"Well yes, she was the one who released us from the mines and got us back here in time."

"And you trusted her? Do you have any idea what she did?"

"Yes I know and no I don't trust her. At least not completely." Twilight approached them. Rainbow noticed her wings were locked in a brace and her horn glowed with the blue hue of a magic lock. She didn't look the pegasus in the eye. Her face was still wrought with her guilt.

"Rainbow? Oh my gosh not you too!" Spike ran up from behind Twilight. He locked Rainbow's head in a bear hug, crying a river.

"I'm fine Spike. I just need some bandages," the blue mare gasped, "Spike, I can't breath."

The dragon let her go, "come on Twilight. Patch her up already."

"No. I don't want you touching me."

"Darling, either you let Twilight help or I will have to try my luck again," said Rarity.

Rainbow shuddered, "Fine, but in case you didn't notice Twilight I don't forgive you."

"I know," Twilight replied solemnly. In Twilight's hooves, Rainbow's wound was quickly fixed up.

With Rarity's help, Rainbow Dash finally got herself standing. She took a good look at her surroundings. The sounds of battle were beginning to die away. Ponyville was in ruins. Fires started in several buildings and spread unchecked for who knows how long. The ground was littered with the dead and dying. Most of the ones nearby were guards, but Rainbow was sure many of her own troops were among the casualties.

Her eye caught Applejack running on her three good legs. The farmer froze when she spotted Twilight. She gave the alicorn and angry glare, but didn't address her. "Rainbow, ya'll need to come with me. It's Fluttershy, she's tak'n a turn for the worst."

They all made for the town hall as quick as they could. Which was way longer than any of them wanted considering half of them were wounded. Upon arriving they noticed the state of the building. Smoke rose from craters in the walls and ground. The double doors were busted in with a battering ram. The survivors were already lining the bodies up in the courtyard, searching each pony for dog tags and IDs.

They all entered one by one, but Twilight was blocked by AJ. She shook her head, "What makes ya think your goin' in?"

"I want to be there for Fluttershy."

"You've already hurt those ponies enough. They don't need ya there to rub salt in. I don't know what sob story ya fed Rarity, but I sure as hell don't care. We don't want you here so why don't you just go away!"

"Please, I am begging you. Let me see the results of my mistake," Twilight cried.

"Ya'll can see them right there," AJ pointed to the lines of corpses, "All these ponies' blood is on yer hooves! Ya may have freed the old army, but you can never wash that off. Nothing you can do will redeem you! Nothing!"

Twilight lowered her head in shame, "Your right. You've always been right. Everything I fought for, everything I lived for was wrong," She looked at the farmer with tears in her eyes, "I've hurt so many ponies. Many of them I didn't even realize I was hurting. I was... am a monster. I have become the very thing I hoped to destroy long ago. The thing I thought you were... I know I can't take my sins back. I cannot resurrect Big Mac or Apple Bloom, but I implore you. Let me see Fluttershy. I can't live with myself if I don't at least tell her I'm sorry."

Applejack studied the alicorn, "Yer tellin the truth, aren't you? Fine, but this changes nothin."

Twilight thanked her and they joined the others inside. The building was now a full fledged hospital. Dozens of ponies buzzed about like bees attending the wounded. Fluttershy was still in her cot upstairs surrounded by her friends. Dr. Whooves stood next to it waving his metal wand over her body. She was unconscious, but still breathing irregularly.

Pinkie Pie struggled to stop the spasms of her pinkie sense as she tried to be serious, "Please say she's alright Doc. I mean Fluttershy can't die. She's one of my best friends in the whole wide world. She'll get better. That must be what the doozy is. Oh please oh please don't kill her Andulin. We need her."

The doctor looked up from his patient, "Oh dear this isn't good. It appears, the ball broke into fragments on impact. While the large pieces have been removed. a few slivers were missed. The metal has infected the blood stream. I'm sorry to say this, but the effects are irreversible."

Rainbow scratched her head, "Can you talk normal please?"

"Fluttershy is dying."

"No, it can't be, "exclaimed Applejack.

"I'm deeply sorry. I wish there was something I could do. I'll leave you to say your farewells."

Five of Fluttershy's closest friends gathered around in a group hug. Fluttershy moaned, but was too weak to move. Only Twilight stood apart from the group. Her mind was ablaze with calculation. There had to be a way. If there was any pony who was innocent in all this it was Fluttershy and she was dying because of Twilight. The scene before her illustrated all the princess's guilt. Twilight was determined to wash that guilt away if that was the last thing she did.

Inspiration struck Twilight like a lightning bolt. She will right this wrong and there is nothing she would not give to do so. Her heart glowed warmly as she could feel her emotions turn into energy. She stepped up to the bed and asked the others to stand back. AJ and Rainbow Dash wanted to protest, but complied when the alicorn's eye began glowing. Magic coursed through her veins like it hadn't in years. What she was casting was no spell ever seen before. The weight of her guilt and her desire for retribution manifested into something completely new.

Twilight touched Fluttershy and the magic glow spread. Soon both mares were encompassed in the blinding light. The others stood in awe.

Rainbow gave a quizzical look to Rarity, "I thought she had a magic lock on her horn?"

"She does, I assure you. This magic must be coming from somewhere else."

"Where exactly?"

"From her heart sugarcube," Applejack answered.

The light faded away and Fluttershy opened her eyes. She looked up to her friend's purple, smiling face, "oh Twilight I had the worst dream. You were angry and yelling at Applejack. I tried to stop you but you- you..."

Twilight's smile vanished, "It wasn't a dream Fluttershy. I... I was being a bad pony and I hurt you, almost killed you."

Rarity stepped forward, "You were on death's door a minute ago. Somehow, Twilight was able to save you."

"I couldn't let somepony I loved so much die because my blindness, but I know that doesn't erase what I did. Can you ever forgive me?"

Fluttershy smiled, "of course I forgive you. No matter what, I could never hate one of my friends."

"I forgive you too, Twilight," said Rarity.

Three mares hugged each other. Pinkie Pie gleefully joined in. Her mane re-inflated to its former glory. She screamed in delight, "Hooray! Fluttershy's alive! I gotta get a coming back to life party together. I mean returning from the dead. That has to be the dooziest dooze to ever d-d-doooooze," Pinkie's body convulsed in another spasm, "huh, that's weird. I was sure that this would be the doozy. What could it be?"

Rainbow Dash and Applejack glanced at each other. Both mares were unsure of how to feel. Fluttershy's revival made them happy beyond belief, but they still felt bitter towards Twilight. They were both hurt real bad by the alicorn. After so many losses and betrayals, they just couldn't bring themselves to forgive her.

Suddenly, Twilight keeled over in agony. The cheers of joy were cut short as she collapsed to the floor. Fluttershy asked worriedly, "Twilight what's wrong?"

Twilight moaned, "My spell, I think it's finishing up."

"What did ya do?" inquired AJ.

"I took Fluttershy's place. Her injuries are now mine."

Fluttershy's eyes watered, "What?! No! You can't just-"

[Twilight]
Not another word my friend
There is something that must now be said

There was a time when we were friends
When we'd stand together through thick and thin
In those years we were all happy
We had lived in real harmony
Years ago
In my blindness I threw it all away
I betrayed you all to this very day

Twilight turned to face Applejack.

Thanks to you, I opened my eyes
I have tossed aside all my lies
I give myself to right these wrongs
Now I ask of you with this song
Who am I?
Who am I?

[Applejack]
Yer a true, true friend

The farmer removed her hat and sat down next to Twililght. The others joined her. Pinkie's twitching finally stopped. She never would have guessed at Twilight's sacrifice or even more strange, Applejack's forgiveness. Even Rainbow was struggling to fight back her tears. "Darn it! How am I supposed to hold a grudge if you start acting all noble and stuff."

Twilight assumed that meant she was forgiven. She tried to sigh, but ended up in a bloody coughing fit. After she had her fill she wiped her mouth weakly, "Thank you... for saving me."

Applejack smiled, "Glad to have you back, old friend."

Twilight returned the smile. It was a real wholesome smile. The first one in over a decade. As Twilight closed her eyes one last time, she was the happiest mare in the world.

Author's Note

The song in this chapter is based on Valjean's Confession, essentially a Who Am I reprise. I hope you enjoyed this story. All I have left is a quick epilogue and final musical number. Once more, please comment, critique and like.