Castle Sweet Castle - Alternate Ending

Twilight surveyed the throne room as she and Rainbow Dash entered. Neither Applejack nor Rarity had moved an inch, the latter of which was still sobbing uncontrollably on the floor. The Princess cringed as she once again looked upon the gore that covered her throne.

"Applejack, I told you to clean this up."

The farmpony did not respond. She remained frozen in place, eyes wide with terror. Rainbow Dash trotted over and waved a hoof in front of Applejack's face, to no avail. She looked back at Twilight and shrugged.

"Alright, forget it. Everypony out!" Twilight ordered.

Rarity's crying finally ceased and she looked up with a sniffle. Seeing Twilight and Rainbow moving toward the exit she slowly got up and followed. Applejack also snapped back to reality, nervously trotting along at the back of the group. Just as Twilight passed through the front doors to the castle she heard another loud BANG behind her which made jump and spin around.

Applejack was lying on her side not far from the entrance, howling in pain. Her front right leg had been reduced to a bloody stub with a shard of bone sticking out.

"Sweet Celestia!" shrieked Rarity. She swayed in place for a moment before fainting.

Twilight shook her head to regain her senses. She used her magic to levitate Applejack over to Rainbow Dash, placing her upon the pegasus' back. Rainbow looked horrified.

"Captain, get her to the hospital," Twilight commanded. "Now!"

"Yes ma'am!" Rainbow acknowledged with a shaky salute. "Hang in there, A.J.!" She ran with all the speed she could muster in the direction of Ponyville's hospital, a place she had visited more times than most other residents in town.

Using her magic once again, Twilight conjured a holographic warning sign in front of the doorway. 'DANGER - MINEFIELD' was spelled in large, red letters, accompanied by a depiction of a skull floating above it.

Rarity was still out cold on the ground. With a weary sigh, Twilight's horn began to glow again. She set her friend's limp form upon her back and headed into town.

The moon shone high in the sky as Twilight reached Ponyville Hospital. She found Rainbow Dash sitting in the waiting area just inside the entrance, nervously chewing on her hooves. She shot up when she noticed Twilight.

"How is she?" queried Twilight, taking a seat beside her friend.

"I dunno, she's still in surgery. Where's Rarity?"

"I left her at Carousel Boutique. Sweetie Belle is looking after her."

"What are we gonna do about the castle?"

"I spoke with the Mayor but apparently the Ponyville Bomb Squad is on extended leave, still recovering from the clean-up at Pinkie's last party."

"All of them?"

"Yep, even their receptionist."

Rainbow Dash growled. "I keep telling Pinkie Pie that those pranks of hers are dangerous, but she never listens!" she lamented, throwing her hooves up in frustration.

"It was only a matter of time before somepony got seriously hurt," Twilight agreed. "I just never expected her to be so unaffected when it happened. She doesn't even care that-" She cut herself off before saying it. Her eyes began to sting again, and this time she made no attempt to fight it. Twilight broke down and started crying into her hooves. Rainbow wrapped a hoof around the Princess to comfort her.

A pink-maned, white earth pony wearing a nurse's cap walked into the waiting room. Rainbow Dash ran over and grabbed her, shaking the nurse with her hooves.

"Is she gonna be okay? Spit it out!" cried Rainbow.

"She's going to be fine," Nurse Redheart answered.

"Can we see her?" Twilight asked with a shaky voice.

"She needs to rest now. You can visit her in the morning."

"Horse-apples!" cursed Rainbow Dash.

Twilight let out a weary sigh. She motioned for Rainbow to follow her as she went to leave. The pegasus hung her head dejectedly as she trotted alongside the Princess. Twilight extended a wing and wrapped it around her friend.

"Applejack's the toughest pony around. She'll pull through," said Twilight.

"I know, Twi. But it's not just that. What if Pinkie Pie somehow escapes and puts more lives in danger?"

"Don't worry, even Pinkie Pie can't break out of there."

"What makes you so sure?"

"That cell only has three walls."

Rainbow Dash was utterly confused by Twilight's reasoning, but figured it was best not to question her. She was, after all, the smartest pony she knew.