Chapters Applejack was walking through the apple orchard after the yearly harvest when she heard one of the trees start to rustle. She bucked the tree and the pony from the tree slammed heavily into the ground. The pony was white with a golden mane, and she was bruised a little bit. The pony slowly got to their feet but then they collapsed again.
“I’ll go get help.” Applejack told the pony before she galloped off.
When she got to the house she ran up to Big Mac.
“Big Mac, I need your help.” Applejack replied.
“Eeyup, lead the way.” Big Mac replied.
Applejack and Big Mac rushed back to the apple orchard but when they got to where the pony used to be; but when they got there the pony was gone.
“There was a pony here, right here.” Applejack told him standing right in the spot where the pony had landed.
“I believe ya sis.” Big Mac replied. “Now there ain’t no pony here.”
Applejack looked around and pulled her hat down.
“I’m going to town.” Applejack replied as she walked off.
When Applejack got to town Rainbow Dash came running up to her.
“Did you see her?” Rainbow Dash asked her.
“Did I see who?” Applejack asked her.
“There was this one pony running through town, she was bruised a little bit and she ran straight into me.” Rainbow Dash replied.
“Was she white with a golden mane?” Applejack asked her.
“Yeah, why?” Rainbow Dash asked her.
“She was up in one of the apple trees and I bucked her down.” Applejack replied. “When I got back to where she fell she was gone.”
“Strange, she plowed right into me and continued through town like I wasn’t even there.” Rainbow Dash replied.
Two stallions walked up to Applejack and Rainbow Dash and one showed them a picture of the mare they had been talking about.
“Have either you seen this mare?” The second stallion asked them.
“Nope, never seen her in my life.” Rainbow Dash replied as Applejack quickly shook her head.
The two stallions looked them over before walking off and questioning another pony. Once they were out of earshot Applejack quickly turned to Rainbow Dash.
“We have to find her first.” Applejack replied.
“Yeah, I was thinking the same thing, should we tell the others first?” Rainbow Dash asked her.
“No, not yet.” Applejack replied. “We need to be able to vouch one way or the other.”
“How would we know who is telling the truth or not?” Rainbow Dash asked her.
“We’ll have to go with our guts on this one.” Applejack replied.
“I’ll look for her from the sky.” Rainbow Dash replied.
“I’ll look around the farm, she shouldn’t have been able to get that far with her injuries.” Applejack replied.
Rainbow Dash nodded before shooting into the sky as Applejack galloped back to the farm and almost ran into Big Mac.
“Where are you going so quickly?” Big Mac asked her.
“I’m going to look for that mare, where are you going?” Applejack asked him.
“I’m going to visit Ms. Fluttershy.” Big Mac replied.
“Make sure to give her one of the pies I made with Applebloom.” Applejack replied.
“Eeyup.” Big Mac told her before trotting off.
Applejack walked through the apple orchard listen intently for any sounds or movements in the trees. She was going to walk by the barn until she was Applebloom trying sneak out of it.
“Applebloom, what the hay are you up to?” Applejack asked her.
Applebloom just stopped and her head drooped as she walked back into the barn with Applejack following her.
“I’m sorry ma’am she spotted me.” Applebloom told someone.
“It’s okay child, we all make mistakes.” A voice replied.
“Even you?” Applebloom asked the voice.
“Yes, even I make mistakes.” The voice replied.
Applejack went closer to the corner where the voice was and she gasped when she saw the white mare laying on a pile of hay. She actually felt smaller as the mare’s piercing emerald colored eyes focused on her. Then Applejack noticed the gash on the mare’s shoulder that was still bleeding slightly. The mare glanced over at a hole in the wall of the barn with a piece of wood pointing downwards.
“Don’t worry about the wall.” Applejack replied. “Did you give her anything to eat Applebloom?”
“No, she said that would be her stealing from us.” Applebloom replied.
“It ain’t a problem.” Applejack replied as she grabbed a basket of apples in her mouth.
Applejack set the basket of apples down beside the mare but she didn’t make a move towards it.
“Can you lift your head?” Applejack asked her.
The mare barely had any strength to shake her head.
“Applebloom, go get Fluttershy and Big Mac, and don’t talk to any stallions in suits.” Applejack told her. “If you run into one and he asks you a question about this mare just deny everything.”
Applebloom nodded before galloping off towards Fluttershy’s place. Applejack laid down beside the mare and nuzzled her neck with her nose.
“Why are you helping me?” The mare asked her.
“I can make my own decisions can’t I?” Applejack asked her.
Applejack grabbed one of the apples in her mouth and nudged it towards the mare who slowly took a bite out of it. She swallowed the bite painfully and looked away from Applejack.
“This shouldn’t have happened.” The mare replied.
The mare tried to stand up but she fell heavily onto her injured shoulder.
“Calm down, you’ll make your injury worse.” Applejack replied. “There are stallions after you, why?”
The mare’s eyes widened and started to freak out and tried to stand again but Applejack touched her uninjured shoulder gently.
“Woah there, I didn’t tell them anything.” Applejack replied. “What is your name?”
The mare looked at Applejack and let out a pained breath.
“My name is Alice.” Alice replied with a sigh.
“Now, how did you end up here?” Applejack asked her.
“I don’t know.” Alice replied. “Alice isn’t even my real name, it’s the one they gave to me.”
“Who, the stallions?” Applejack asked her.
“Them and the researchers.” Alice replied.
“Do you remember anything?” Applejack asked her.
Alice just shook her head as the barn door started to open up. She stared at the front of the barn as Big Mac and Fluttershy walked in behind Applebloom. When Fluttershy’s eyes fell upon Alice she gasped as Big Mac walked over to Applejack. Alice tried to back away but she eventually stopped when the pain was unbearable.
“It’s all okay darling.” Fluttershy told her.
“So she was in the barn this whole time?” Big Mac asked her.
“I wonder how she got in here in the first place.” Fluttershy told them. “The bruises all over her body would make it almost impossible for her to move without a unbearable amount of pain, and now with that gash in her shoulder she won’t be able to move until that heals up.”
“No, I have to leave, as in now.” Alice replied as she struggled to her feet.
Big Mac eased himself under her and lifted her off the ground.
“As long as you’re at this house your hooves won’t touch the ground.” Big Mac replied.
Before anyone could react Alice shot into the air at about five feet and then slammed into the ground. Big Mac walked over and lifted her up again.
“Could you not do that again?” Big Mac asked her.
Alice huffed as she rest her head against Big Mac’s back.
“It’s not possible even if I tried.” Alice replied as Big Mac walked towards the house.
“What do ya mean?” Applejack asked her.
“What I did should’ve of been impossible since I’m an ordinary pony.” Alice replied. “I shouldn’t have the ability to use magic in the first place.”
“So how do you do it?” Fluttershy asked her.
“It’s what they did to me.” Alice replied.
“Who are ‘they’?” Big Mac asked her.
“I don’t want to talk about it.” Alice replied.
Fluttershy was about to press the matter but Big Mac just looked at her.
“I understand that you are all curious about who I’m and how I got here.” Alice told them. “I don’t know anything about myself as it is.”
Fluttershy trotted up beside her and gently touched her shoulder.
“If you need anypony to talk to, I’ll listen.” Fluttershy told her.
“Thanks, I’ll try to remember that.” Alice replied before she blacked out.
Alice shot up her body soaked in sweat and her shoulder bandaged up. Big Mac walked into the room and sat down in front of her.
“It was sure a pain to bandage up your shoulder, with you bucking and all.” Big Mac replied.
Alice noticed the hoof mark on Big Mac’s shoulder.
“I’m about bucking at you.” Alice told him quietly.
“Not a problem, you have pretty good aim for an unconscious pony.” Big Mac replied.
“I’ve had practice.” Alice replied as she rolled off the couch.
Big Mac was about to rush to her side but with one look he didn’t move another inch.
“Sheesh, and I though that only a glare from Ms. Fluttershy could stop me cold.” Big Mac replied.
Alice slowly made her way to the kitchen door where she smelled apple pies and a few fritters. Big Mac rushed forward and pushed the door open for her and she whispered something.
“What was that Ms. Alice?” He asked her.
“Just tell her how you feel.” Alice replied.
“It’s not that easy.” Big Mac replied.
“You’re easily one of the strongest stallions I know, and you’re afraid to tell one mare how you feel?” Alice asked him.
Big Mac was about to speak when Fluttershy walked into the kitchen and his eyes focused on her.
“Something you want to tell her?” Alice asked him.
Big Mac looked from Alice to Fluttershy and took a deep breath.
“You look very pretty today Ms. Fluttershy.” Big Mac told her.
Fluttershy blushed deeply before she spoke, quieter than usual. “T-thank you, Big Mac, you look nice today as well.”
Alice huffed before leaving the kitchen and she almost left the house when she saw Applebloom staring at her.
“What’s up kid?” Alice asked her.
Applebloom didn’t say anything just ushered her closer. When Alice got to her level Applebloom quickly braided and tied back her mane.
“What was all that about?” Alice asked her.
“Last night you were crying in your sleep, and when my big sis had given that ribbon she told me it would keep away any nightmares.” Applebloom replied. “You need it more than me.”
Alice hugged Applebloom tightly and failed to hold back tears as she hugged her back. When they separated Alice forced herself to smile.
“Where’s your sister?” Alice asked her.
“She’s in the orchard.” Applebloom replied. “Follow me.”
Alice fell in behind Applebloom who easily lead her through the orchard but Alice sensed something was wrong.
“Applebloom get down!” Alice yelled.
Applebloom wasn’t even able to react before Alice pushed her to the ground. An arrow buried deep into a tree millimeters from Alice’s face. Two stallions in suits walked out of the bushes with a tied up Applejack in between then, her face and body bruised and bloody.
“Come with us and no one will get hurt.” One of the stallions told her.
“I know you aren’t telling the truth, you always say that and then I’d loss every mental connection I had with them.” Alice yelled as her eyes started to glow a neon green. “I’m sick of it.”
Suddenly the two stallions dropped dead that instantly and the binding and gag on Applejack disappeared. Applebloom ran up to Applejack as Alice just stared vacantly into the distance.
“Applejack are you okay?” Applebloom asked her.
“Yeah, I’m just fine, I’ll just have to heal.” Applejack replied.
Suddenly Alice was lifting Applejack onto her back before she could protest.
“What ‘bout your shoulder?” Applejack asked her.
“What I did to kill those two stallions, it also healed my shoulder.” Alice replied.
Applejack rested her head on Alice’s shoulder and looked at the setting sun.
“It sure is pretty.” Applejack told her.
“You are too.” Alice replied.
“What?” Applejack replied.
“I said think it’s pretty too.” Alice replied quickly.
Alice heard Applebloom snicker slightly and she glared at the filly. When they got to the house Fluttershy rushed forward and guided Alice to Applejack room where she gently laid her onto the bed.
“Could you go fetch some water and a few towels?” Fluttershy asked her.
Alice vanished and quickly reappeared with a few buckets of water and five towels, but sweat coated her face.
“Whatever I did back in the orchard unlocked some of my magical potential.” Alice told them when she saw Applejack and Fluttershy’s shocked expressions.
“Just help me wash all this blood off of Applejack’s body.” Fluttershy replied.
Washing all the blood off of Applejack took an hour and a half due to the amount dried in her mane and tail, but by the time Fluttershy and Alice were done they were both sweating, with Applejack having fallen asleep awhile into it. Then Fluttershy quickly bandaged Applejack’s left back leg and pulled Alice out of the room.
“Alice, can I talk to you about something?” Fluttershy asked her.
“Sure, what’s on your mind?” Alice asked her.
“I like Big Mac but I don’t want to ruin the friendship I have with him if he doesn’t like me.” Fluttershy replied.
Alice barely held back a chuckle as Fluttershy told her this.
“Have you made this apparent?” Alice asked her.
“A couple of times.” Fluttershy replied.
“Then, my dear Fluttershy you two are completely oblivious to each other feelings for each other.” Alice replied. “Just tell him.”
With that Alice reentered Applejack’s room leaving Fluttershy to wonder what to do.
Applejack shot up in her bed and looked over the side to find Alice curled up at the side of her bed. She also noticed that her left back was bandaged up and finally noticed a bell by her bed. Applejack touched it to where it barely rang and Alice shot to her feet.
“You’re awake.” Alice responded, a look of relief passing over her face.
“Yeah, how long was I asleep?” Applejack asked her.
“About three months.” Alice replied.
“I smell like Wionna after she ran through the mud a couple of time.” Applejack replied as she smelled herself. “What’s up with my leg?”
“After the swelling had gone down enough to where Fluttershy could tell that it’s shattered.” Alice replied.
“How am I going to get clean?” Applejack asked her.
“I’m leaving that to Shy; I have to go scouting around with the group to find anymore encampments.” Alice replied as she pulled on a cloak.
That was when Applejack noticed the a bunch of scars on Alice’s left side.
“What happened when I was out?” Applejack replied.
“Again, I’m going to have to leave that to Shy.” Alice replied before she left.
When Fluttershy entered the room with a bucket of soapy water and a sponge Applejack instantly started questioning her.
“What’s up with Alice?”
Soon Alice was soaring through the sky on wings of pure light with Rainbow Dash and Derpy, she was carrying Vinyl Scratch and Derpy was carrying Dr. Whooves.
“Whooves, do you have an enemy count and main concentration?” Alice asked him.
“The big building off to the left seems to be a shanty form of their town hall.” Dr. Whooves replied while pointing to the building.
“Ready Dash, Vinyl?” Alice asked them.
They both nodded as before Vinyl tossed Rainbow Dash two live bass grenades which she shot down and dropped them down the chimney of the large building. She was well out of range when they went off blasting three large holes each in the building as the group landed.
“Where is the injection located?” Vinyl asked Alice.
“Shack 45 paces away and 13 to the right.” Alice replied. “Hand me the PBC.”
Vinyl sadly handed her the PBC, or Portable Bass Cannon, and quickly set up her turn tables.
“Everypony ready for the attack?” Alice asked them as the PBC sound cord connected to her back and upper right arm.
They all nodded in unison and Alice glanced at the robotic cord on Derpy’s neck. It calmed her down and focused her but never had they put it under this sort of pressure, but Dr. Whooves reassured her that it wouldn’t short circuit. Alice gritted her teeth as the PBC started to power up from the noise from Vinyl’s turn table and she slipped on the sunglasses that Vinyl had provided her. She took a deep breath as the Bass Cannon reached full power and the Hetrarian Squads started their attack.
“See you later.” Alice replied.
She let out her breath and fired the Bass Cannon into the shack and smiled as it exploded in a blue mushroom cloud. The Bass Cannon shrunk into a smaller version of itself which Alice tossed to Vinyl who instantly started to fire it going back to back with Rainbow Dash and joined in on the string of insults that Dash was dishing out. So far all of their missions had been a success, five in total, but they were all feeling the effect of stress and the injection that rained down on them at every mission.
“Everyone get ready.” Alice yelled.
Rainbow Dash grabbed Vinyl Scratch and Derpy grabbed Dr. Whooves and they both launched up to where every enemy was focused on Alice who was still running on the ground at her fastest, clearing 3 yards per second. She shot upwards and everyone in the air saw what they were all trying to hide, an outline formed around Alice; a humanistic one, before she shot to the ground. When Alice hit the ground the enemies were either pummeled to death by debris or baked alive by the sudden heat wave. She was back in the air leading the group back to Ponyville towards the library to report their progress to Celestia and Luna.
“You’re getting better at it.” Rarity replied.
“I’m getting better at what?” Alice asked her.
“Other than leading the current group and unconsciously recruiting more ponies to the cause.” Rarity replied. “I’m talking about hiding your stress and pain from me.”
“I just can’t come here every time and just spill on you what I had to deal with for the past three months.” Alice replied.
Rarity finished stitching up the second gun shot wound Alice sustained from the fight as a courier came into the tent with an olive branch.
“An offering of peace?” Alice asked the courier as she shrugged her cloak on.
“Temporary, winter is coming up and our leaders suspect you don’t want to fight during this time.” The courier replied.
“Why would we trust you?” Alice asked him.
“So far you are the ones with the upper hand, having decimated our forces so far with only a single hundred lost on your side.” The courier replied. “You have nothing to fear from us.”
“It would be good, to have a break from all the war for awhile.” Rarity replied.
Alice sighed as she got to two feet and lead the courier to the library where the other five of the assault group were already waiting.
“How?” The courier asked her.
“We knew you were coming.” Alice replied as she shoved him into the center of the library. “Do you see those coffins right in front of you?”
The courier couldn’t help but notice them as they were the focus of the whole place. The center tables were set around them and there were several books floating around them, flipping to random pages. Suddenly the library doors opened and Applejack slammed into Alice.
“How could you let them get killed?!” Applejack yelled as Rainbow Dash and Vinyl Scratch pulled her off of Alice.
“Who are they?” The courier asked them.
Alice who had been running a hoof through her mane suddenly stopped and the courier felt himself become weightless.
“You don’t know who they are?” Alice asked him, her voice emotionless.
This by itself made everyone even Applejack back up as Alice floated upwards.
“Are you seriously this stupid?” Alice asked him. “They are the reason we fight, they were the casualties that started this war in the first place.”
The courier gulped as Alice’s voice started to seem to get more and more hollow with each word.
“Tell your leaders they can have their temporary treaty, but when this starts back up they will be destroyed.” Alice told him as the library doors flew open. “I will storm your pitiful capital and destroy it making sure that there is nothing left.”
With that Alice dropped the courier to the ground and they galloped out of the library as Alice dropped to the ground in front of the coffins trying to choke back the same tears she felt every time she had when was near the coffins that held the bodies of Spike and Twilight Sparkle. This was the first time she let the tears come in front of her group; if she cried here with someone it was usually Rarity or Applebloom. Alice looked behind her to find that everyone was crying and she pulled Rarity close. Rarity had given up sewing beautiful dresses and fashion to stitching up wounds and repairing defensive clothing. Alice had come to know how Big Mac and Fluttershy felt as she wanted to tell Rarity how she felt about her and how she admired her strength and ability to keep working under what seemed to be the worst of circumstances; but she also didn’t want to make her day to day any life harder then it already was, not only that she also didn’t how Rarity felt able her. She didn’t want Rarity to have to worry about whether she’d ever come back from one of the missions alive or in need to be put in a coffin.
“I don’t want to have to see any more dead bodies.” Rarity told her.
“We’ll have a temporary shortage of the for awhile.” Alice replied.
“For how long; a couple of weeks?” Rarity asked her. “This first week we’ll all be mourning and burying the loved ones we lost, and then the second week won’t be any better.”
Rarity stopped as she noticed everyone staring at her everyone either sympathetic or empathetic but before she could run out of the library Alice pulled her close again. This time Rarity completely broke down and began to sob like a filly into Alice’s chest who started to walk her out of the library, but Rarity stopped her before they left.
“Dash, t-tell me, w-when you are g-going to b-bury my s-sister.” Rarity told her.
“You were screaming again.” Rarity replied sadly.
“I’m sorry that I woke you.” Alice replied. “What does this make the count up to; 72 nights of nightmares?”
“I was already awake, when you started to scream I tried to comfort you, but you’re a lot better at it.” Rarity replied.
“Is it time?” Alice asked her.
All Rarity could was nod because she knew that if she spoke now that she cry herself out before the funeral even began. Alice hugged her tightly before they walked towards the center of town that had been turned into a cemetery. When Rarity saw the line of coffin and spotted the one with the initials S.B. she could barely hold back the tears. She saw Vinyl Scratch crying over a box with an O scratched into the side as Rainbow Dash rubbed her back and everything about the funeral procession blurred for her as she started to cry into Alice’s shoulder. Alice knew she should say something, anything, but she couldn’t leave Rarity at the moment and Rainbow Dash was preoccupied with Vinyl Scratch who was still holding tightly onto Octavia’s coffin. Dr. Whooves stepped up but Alice was too focused on Rarity to notice what he was saying and when it was over she released a star for each coffin in the center. After all of this was over Rarity ended up crying on Sweetie Belle’s coffin.
Alice sat beside the sleeping Rarity for another one of her own sleepless night. Rarity had cried herself to sleep again for the third time in a row after the funeral. Alice hadn’t slept at all since the funeral even though Rarity tries her best to scold her she ends up crying again. Alice started to rub Rarity’s back right between the shoulder blades so that she’d stop crying for a little but it only subsided into the pained whimpers she let out in the day when she though no one was paying attention. Alice took a deep breath and fought back her own tears, the tears for dead had left her for awhile but now tears for Rarity’s pain filled her mind and soul. One of Rarity’s babyish sobs broke into Alice’s thoughts and she resumed to rubbing her back but then Rarity started to talk in her sleep so Alice leaned closer to hear what she was saying.
“No, Alice don’t leave, please.” Rarity whimpered.
“Why?” Alice whispered. “They need me out there.”
“What if you don’t come back, or what if you do and…” Rarity paused as a sob broke through.
“And?” Alice asked her.
“And we have to bury you.” Rarity told her.
It was then that Alice noticed that Rarity was awake and looking at her sadly.
“That’s always been at the front of my thought.” Rarity replied. “I’ve already lost Sweetie Belle, and I can’t lose you. You are the closest thing I have to family now.”
“You’ve had nightmares about that haven’t you?” Alice asked her.
Rarity only nodded as Alice held onto her.
“I’m so sorry, I should’ve known.” Alice replied.
“Could you at least get some sleep here it should help me out.” Rarity told her.
“Only if you don’t try to wiggle out of my arms, holding onto you helps with my nightmares.” Alice replied.
Rarity squeezed in to get as close to Alice as she could and she fell asleep again, Alice knew sleep would never come so easily for her as she tried for the third time already. Finally, she just got comfortable and watched Rarity’s chest rise and fall in steady even breathes. These breaths were occasionally interrupted by a sob or whimper and after awhile Alice laid down beside her and nuzzled Rarity’s nose with her own. This helped Rarity calm down so Alice laid with their heads close to each other and she eventually fell asleep. When morning came she shot up covered in sweat and breathing heavily.
“Rarity?” Alice called out.
“Good morning sleeping beauty, this is probably the first time you didn’t wake up crying or screaming.” Rarity told her as she sat down beside her. “Though you still make the pillows drenched with your sweat.”
Without warning Rarity nuzzled Alice’s nose with her own and laughed when she saw Alice’s expression.
“I felt you nuzzle my nose last night and I thought I’d return the gesture.” Rarity replied. “Do you want me to fix your braid?”
“You can do a new one if you want and if you like you can give me a haircut.” Alice replied.
Rarity squealed happily since this was the first time in the past three years the Alice let Rarity cut her hair.
“I’m going to get my scissors; you will not be disappointed.” Rarity replied.
“I know I won’t be.” Alice replied as she went to work untying the ribbon and undo the braid.
“We’ll definitely need to wash your mane since it hasn’t seen a bath in all these years.” Rarity replied.
“I haven’t seen a bath in all these year.” Alice laughed.
Rarity’s eyes widen as a quiet epp slipped past her lips.
“Take a bath, now.” Rarity told her. “How in Equestria do you not smell like Rainbow Dash’s place after she’s made a 7 bean surprise.”
“I know the plants that take the edge off the stench.” Alice replied. “7 bean surprise?”
“Don’t ask.” Rarity replied as she pointed towards the bathroom.
Alice chuckled to herself as she entered the bathroom and as Rarity heard the shower start she saw Rainbow Dash enter the tent.
“Please tell me you haven’t had any of your horrible 7 bean surprise.” Rarity told her.
“That stuff is amazing but it goes right through me if you haven’t noticed.” Rainbow Dash replied as she sat on one of the pillow. “This is covered in sweat.”
“We have all noticed that, and that pillow and a few others are filled with Alice’s night sweat.” Rarity replied.
“Have her nightmares gotten any better?” Rainbow Dash asked her as she walked away from the pillows.
“I couldn’t tell you, she doesn’t tell me about them.” Rarity replied. “She didn’t wake up screaming or crying this time that has to be an improvement.”
“Weird, you’d think she tell you since you to are dating.” Rainbow Dash replied.
Rarity’s jaw almost hit the ground and she started to breath slowly and calmly.
“Why do you say that?” Rarity asked her.
“Just from the looks of it.” Rainbow Dash replied. “You two send a lot of time together, if she isn’t with the group, Applejack, or Applebloom she is around town with you.”
“We aren’t a thing.” Rarity replied. “We just spend time together as friends.”
“She fights without caution, she watches out for the rest of us but puts herself in the whole of the danger.” Rainbow Dash replied.
As the shower turned off Rainbow Dash quickly left and said one last thing before disappearing completely.
“Get ready for snow.”
As Alice walked out of the bathroom Rarity turned to her and hugged tightly.
“This is for?” Alice asked her.
“The snow.” Rarity replied.
“Oh, I forgot I need to add something myself for this to work how I want it to.” Alice replied before she dashed outside with towel still wrapped around herself.
Alice stood on two leg and brought her two front hooves together and a ball of energy appeared between them at she launched into the sky. When the ball of energy got to be above the clouds it exploded and it suddenly started to snow. Rarity walked outside and easily watched the ground become covered and she felt a bunch of snowflakes settle on her head and body.
“A tiara and dress made entirely out of snowflakes, completely fire resistant.” Alice told her.
Rarity took the tiara off of her head and examined it before looking at Alice.
“This is all beautiful, but I don’t deserve it.” Rarity replied.
Alice place a hoof on Rarity’s shoulder and looked her straight in her eyes.
“You do diverse this Rar, you deserve this and a whole lot more.” Alice told her.
Rarity felt tears well up in her eyes again and she felt anything that she had built up against crying just melt away as Alice pulled her in for a hug.
“I-I c-can’t be-believe I’ve cr-cried so m-much in th-these p-past f-four d-days.” Rarity told her as she cried on her shoulder.
“You’ve been holding back these tears for three years.” Alice told her. “Also, this is the first time you have been able to mourn your sister’s death.”
“I wonder where the group is.” Rarity told her.
“Dr. Whooves is probably reading to Derpy, Rainbow Dash is probably shooting around a clearing while Vinyl is doing her own thing below, and Applejack is probably with Applebloom, Fluttershy and Big Mac.” Alice replied.
“Or they could be coming here.” Rarity replied while nodding towards the crowd coming towards them.
“I did say probably, didn’t I?” Alice asked her. “Sweetie Belle told me one thing before she died, she wanted you to do something.”
“What was her wish?” Rarity asked her.
“She wanted you to enjoy the winter without being all fussy about getting dirty.” Alice replied.
Rarity nodded, made a snowball, and chucked it at Applejack.
“Who threw that?” Applejack asked them.
Alice stepped away from Rarity and Applejack got confused.
“Lil’ Ms. Rarity is against getting dirty; she wouldn’t…”Applejack started before a snowball hit her in the face. “That’s it.”
Alice started to walk away when she heard a bunch of snow rushing down a roof towards Rarity. She shot above Rarity just as the snow fell on them, but soon a lot of it was melted away.
“A little bit too much for the first time Dash.” Alice told her.
“How’s this?” Rainbow Dash asked her.
Rainbow Dash kicked a bit of snow off the roof and it landed on Rarity’s head.
“Snowball fight.” Scootaloo yelled while throwing a snowball at Big Mac.
Soon everyone was chucking snowballs at each other and Alice was pulling Rarity behind a stone half wall.
“This is crazy!” Rarity told her, shaking the snow off her body as well as she could.
“You’re having fun though.” Alice replied.
“Yeah, surprisingly.” Rarity replied.
They both jumped when they heard someone whistle.
“Scootaloo leave those two lovebirds alone.” Applejack replied.
Rarity blushed deeply as Scootaloo ran off.
“When you blush its very cute.” Alice told her.
What Alice said just made Rarity blush a deeper shade of red.
“Are you okay?” Alice asked her.
Rarity only nodded as the redness slowly left her face. Alice glanced over the half wall before tossing a few snowballs. After the snowball fight ended Rarity and Alice helped Applebloom build a snow pony while Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo shot through the sky building a snow wall to block the chilled wind. After another hour or so they ended up in Applejack’s place with hot cho
Rarity laid down and Alice laid down with her body wrapped around Rarity’s. They cheeks touched and Rarity knew her face was heating up.
“How’d you like the snow?” Alice asked her.
“It was amazing, but she would’ve loved it.” Rarity replied and she felt tears again. “I’m sorry; I shouldn’t be bringing her up so much.”
“Don’t say that, it brings more closure to talk about Sweetie Belle.” Alice replied as she pulled Rarity closer to her.
Alice nuzzled her cheek gently and looked at her.
“You are amazing Rar, you work day to day without complaining even though you don’t get much of a break day to day, and you try your hardest to put on a smile.” Alice replied. “You do a lot better than I do.”
Rarity looked at Alice with a confused look.
“You never cry in front of a lot of people, and you never complain even though you’re on the front everyday since this whole thing started.” Rarity replied. “You’re the bravest, most passionate, and strongest mare I know.”
Rarity rolled over and rested her head against Alice’s shoulder. She took in a deep breath and smelt a thick scent of earth and sweat. Usually Rarity would’ve been disturbed by the smell earlier but now she had gotten used to it.
“Good night Rar.” Alice told her.
“Good night Ali.” Rarity replied.
Alice shot up with tear going down her face accompanied by the usual layer of sweat. She got to her feet and walked out of the tent slowly so to not wake Rarity and walked to the city gates. Alice let out her breath slowly and pushed open the gates slowly so not to alert anyone. She closed the gates gently and galloped across the bridge and along the city walls, she never strayed far from the wall, no one did. Alice stopped after the second time around the wall and was barely able to move when someone swung at her. The plank slammed into her shoulder and she staggered sideways as someone stabbed her in the side. She cursed before slamming into the person who had stabbed her. The person who hit her first cracked the plank across her front legs and she collapsed. Soon, all the attackers started to lay in her at once and after an hour they dragged her into the forest. She tried to get up but she ended up collapsing and blacking out.
Rarity shot up and ran out of her tent and almost collided with Applejack.
“Where’s Alice?” She asked her.
“She isn’t with you?” Applejack asked her.
“No, I just woke up and she was gone.” Rarity replied.
Applejack nodded and they both ran towards the town center where everyone was already waiting and talking to each other.
“We have something to tell everyone.” Applejack told them and everyone quieted down. “Alice has gone missing.”
This renewed the uproar and Applejack rubbed her temples. Rarity let out her breath as she felt herself get angrier.
“Everypony shut up!” Rarity yelled and everyone looked at her. “Here’s an idea, instead of talking about, we go try to find her. I give it that she has been gone for 2 hours judging by the heat from the pillows. So we might have one to a few hours depending on what happened to her.”
“Derpy, Fluttershy and I will take to the sky with Vynle Scratch and Whooves.” Rainbow Dash replied.
“Big Mac and I will go to the forest and search there.” Applejack replied.
“Scoots and I will look close to the wall.” Applebloom replied.
Rarity nodded as Applejack hugged her tightly.
“We’ll find her.” Applejack replied. “You just sit tight, if they end up somehow getting you I don’t know what will happen.”
Rarity nodded as Pinkie Pie walked up to her.
“Why don’t we go prepare dinner?” Pinkie Pie asked her.
Rarity nodded as she watched the three groups exit the gates before following Pinkie Pie to the mess tent.
“She’ll be alright, she’s tough and I have the highest hopes that she’s alright.” Pinkie Pie told her.
“Usually if she leaves during the night she’s back before anyone wakes up.” Rarity replied.
Pinkie Pie hugged Rarity tightly and they just stood there for awhile before continuing to the mess tent.
Rarity was cutting carrots for the stew as Applejack came running in, paler than usual.
“We found her, but she isn’t in a good condition.” Applejack replied. “She’s at the hospital right now.”
Rarity galloped out of the mess hall and quickly covered the distance to the hospital and charged right through the door. She instantly saw Rainbow Dash crying and she hugged Rarity tightly before letting her go into the only room with the door closed. Alice was in the hospital bed hooked up to a million different machines and an I.V and blood bag in one leg. Fluttershy looked at her as she walked over to the other side of Alice. Her face was bruised and swollen, there was thousands of cut on her face that traveled down her body and one of her eyes was covered.
“Everyone tried their hardest but she’s haven’t woken up.” Fluttershy sobbed.
Rarity pulled Fluttershy into a tight hug but she was numbed already.
“I’ll leave you alone with her.” Fluttershy replied before leaving.
Rarity laid her head on Alice’s chest and started to cry again.
“I don’t want to lose you too.” Rarity told her. “You’re all I have left.”
She gently touched Alice’s cheek and gently brushed a strand of hair out of her face. A doctor came in and gently touched her shoulder.
“She’s stable at the moment, but she’s has already gone unstable twice.” The doctor told her. “I just want to make sure your prepared if she doesn’t make it. If she does she won’t be able to see out of her left eye and she’ll have occasional leg pain. Right now I need to check her vitals so I need you to step outside for a second.”
Rarity nodded as she exited the room and then she was hugged about everyone.
“We heard what he told ya, and we’ll be giving her our best wishes.” Big Mac told her.
Rarity only nodded as her best memories of Alice and Sweetie Belle came into her mind at full force and she started to cry like a filly who was afraid of the dark. This only made everyone hold onto her tighter as a bunch of doctors rushed into Alice’s room as the monitor started to blared. Rarity whimpered and Rainbow hugged her tightly as everyone went outside.
“She’s a tough one; she wouldn’t let something like this kill her.” Rainbow Dash replied.
At this Rainbow Dash left and Rarity sat against the wall and completely broke down. Soon she fell asleep to a restless sleep.
She jumped when she felt someone shake her and when she opened her eyes she saw the doctor who had gone into Alice’s room first.
“She’s stable again.” He told her. “The whole cycle is getting worse and more often.”
Rarity nodded to this and got to her feet.
“Can I go in?” She asked him.
“Have this, it’ll alert you for she goes unstable again.” The doctor replied as he placed a bracelet on Rarity’s wrist.
Afterwards she walked into the room and sat beside Alice’s right side. Now they had added an oxygen mask to everything helping Alice survive and seeing her like this broke Rarity’s heart. She ran a hoof through Alice’s mane and another burst of tears streamed down her face. Rarity knew Alice looked up to like she was this amazing mare but she was just doing her part in the war. Alice was always the one risking her life to end it all, even when she was the only going out to destroy encampments. When Sweetie Belle had died from one of the first raids Alice had comforted her as well as she could. Ever since then if Alice ever got injured Rarity had stitched her up, and now Rarity could do nothing to help her.
“Alice please I don’t want to lose you.” Rarity told her.
Rarity looked at the scar that had already started to form above and below the patch on Alice’s left eye; the rest of the cut that were on her face were shallow enough to heal without leaving anymore scars. She gently pulled back the cover and looked at the bandages at cover Alice’s whole body and the forming scars pushed against them. Rarity jumped again when she felt someone touch her shoulder.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.” Fluttershy told her as she sat down beside Rarity.
“Where was she?” Rarity asked her.
“Big Mac says that they found her strung up in a tree deep in the forest.” Fluttershy replied.
Rarity took a deep breath as the image of what Fluttershy told her formed in her mind.
“Who could do such a thing?” Rarity asked her.
“It was the Heptrarians; that we know as a certainty.” Fluttershy replied.
“How do we know for sure?” Rarity asked her.
“We actually went over to one of their encampments and it turns out that they have been having the same problem.” Fluttershy replied.
“So what do we plan to do?” Rarity asked them.
“Dr. Whooves and Alamet have proposed a longer truce but we need their leaders approval and Alice’s.” Fluttershy replied. “Since Alice is in a coma we think of you as her right hand pony.”
“Has their leader responded?” Rarity asked her.
“She thinks it a good idea until we find and take care of whoever is doing this.” Fluttershy responded.
Rarity closed her eyes and when she opened them she noticed everyone on the other side of the door.
She sighed before responding. “I agree, especially if they continue to take out our strongest fighters both sides will eventually get overran.”
Fluttershy nodded and Rainbow Dash galloped off. Rarity turned back to Alice and touched her cheek gently.
“Please wake up Alice.” Rarity told her.
Rarity sat at one side of a long oak table with Fluttershy to her right and Rainbow Dash to her left with three Heptrarians in front of them. The middle Heptrarian had a gray mane, a dark blue body, and green eyes. The one to the right had a black mane, a white body, and pink eyes. The last one had a green mane, a black body, and purple eyes.
“To tell you the truth, our leader was just taken out.” The main Heptrarian, Alamet, replied.
“Whoever is doing this knew their schedule even the irregularities.” Rarity replied.
“They took out Clover when she was on her morning jog.” The right hand Hertrarian, Janest, replied.
“They got Alice during the night.” Rainbow Dash replied while slamming her fist on the table. “Leave to this cowardly group to put her in a coma when she can properly see them.”
“It would be foolish to go after them right now since we haven’t been able to figure out any of their movements.” The last Heptrarian, Hanik, replied.
“I have a few friends trying to find a trace them.” Fluttershy replied.
The Heptrarians looked at her but she just blushed and looked down.
“If we aren’t able to track them how can we fight them?” Hanik asked them.
“We’ll find a way.” Rarity replied. “Remember what Alice told us last week. Never look sight of the light right in front of you for it will lead you to a better life.”
“She is really good at that, Clover just tells us not to die.” Alamet replied with a chuckle. “Could we go check on Alice, it something Clover wanted us to do before she passed out?”
Rarity, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash huddled together for awhile before looking at them again.
“Fine but only for a little bit.” Rarity replied. “I have to grab a book first.”
After Rarity grabbed the book off of one of the shelves they quickly galloped to the hospital, but Rarity sped up as her bracelet started to beep.
“What is all of that?” Janest asked them.
“They care for each other yet they are like another two people around this place that we all know.” Rainbow Dash replied.
Rarity crashed through the hospital doors and the doctor walked up to her.
“As it goes along it’s harder to stabilize her condition.” The doctor replied as Rarity walked into the room.
Alice had gotten paler in the past few hours and Rarity took one of Alice’s hooves and gently kissed it. Rarity hugged her tightly and held her until someone cleared her throat.
“If you want, we can leave you alone.” Rainbow Dash replied.
“No, I just don’t understand who could do this to her.” Rarity replied as she wiped her eyes.
“Could you pull back the covers so that we can see the full range of damage?” Alamet asked her.
Rarity swallowed before Rainbow Dash stepped forward and patted all three of them down.
“They’re clean.” Rainbow Dash replied.
Rarity slowly gripped the edge of the sheet and pulled it back. Janest gasped and Hanik looked away as Alamet stepped forward to get a closer look. He sighed as he moved a hoof a few millimeters above her body and Rarity saw him actually tear up.
“This is bad.” Alamet told them. “I felt something from Clover her soul was still in her body barely but it was still there. I don’t feel anything from her she there mentally but with a soul she’s a vegetable.”
Rarity felt her heart get torn out of her chest and stomped on right in front her eyes.
“Is it reversible?” Rarity asked him.
“You’ll have to kill the person who took her soul, if there was even a little sliver left then we could find him that way because to power exspended wouldn’t be easy to hide.” Janest replied. “The waves from the person who did the same to Clover we can detect but they constantly move around.”
“Is there any other way to find the person?” Rarity asked them.
“Not that we know of, the ability to steal the soul of a living person is a different type of magic all together.” Janest replied. “Has she ever acted out of character?”
“Do you mean out of character of how she act before or after what you all did to her?” Rarity snapped. “All we know are the nightmares she has; with her breaking down or me having to wake her up from a screaming fit every single night.”
“We didn’t know that stabilizing her soul would do something so bad.” Alamet replied.
“Stabilize her soul?” Fluttershy asked them.
“She was born in some way we don’t really understand and her soul started to collapse in on itself.” Hanik replied. “We didn’t think it would do such a horrible thing to her.”
“Two stallions in suits came after her.” Rainbow Dash replied.
“They weren’t with us.” Janest told them.
Rarity huffed while brushing some hair out of Alice’s face and turned to the three Heptrarians.
“We’ll be in touch, but you guys should get back to your people.” Rarity told them.
“Okay, we’ll alert you if we find anything else.” Alamet replied.
Hanik reached to brush a strand of hair out of Rarity’s face but then he jerked his hoof away and cursed.
“What happened?” Janest asked him.
“When I got close to her a shock went through my body.” Hanik replied.
“That’s Alice for you even if you take her soul she will still protect her people.” Alamet replied before his eyes widened. “If she can still do magic then a part of her soul has to be in her body.”
As they left Rarity looked to Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy.
“Well we’ll leave you alone with her I need to talk to the group.” Rainbow Dash replied.
The two mares hugged her before they left and Rarity pulled the covers back up to cover Alice’s body. She looked at the book she had grabbed from the library and looked at the plain leather cover.
“Valvmic Daronic.” Rarity read out loud. “I hope this has some answers.”
Rarity opened the book and a felt her spirit deflate as she tried to read the text. She put the book on the table beside Alice’s bed and gently rest her head on Alice’s chest.
“I want to help you Alice but I don’t know how to read the book, whatever it is.” Rarity told her.
Rarity gently took Alice face in her hooves and kissed her forehead. Rarity jumped again as she heard the door close.
“Hey Applejack, how’s it going?” Rarity asked her.
“It’s as good as it’ll ever get, everypony is on edge since there is someone who can beat Alice so badly.” Applejack replied.
“They didn’t attack her head on, if they had she would’ve killed them easily and she wouldn’t be in this bed.” Rarity replied.
“What’s with the book?” Applejack asked her.
“I don’t really know, I got this odd feeling and I just grabbed it.” Rarity replied.
Applejack opened it, looked at the text and then looked at Rarity.
“Exactly how I feel right add in helplessness.” Rarity replied as she glanced over at Alice.
“Actually I think I heard Twilight talking bout this book till ya know.” Applejack replied.
“I think I heard her talking to Spike about, two months of war makes people forget things.” Rarity replied.
“There might be some basic translations in her room, but I’ve actually been in there recently and I don’t know how she kept track of all that paper.” Applejack replied.
“Well we have to look through everything then.” Rarity replied.
After awhile Rarity had gotten Fluttershy and the three mares went into Twilight’s bedroom. They had been going for three hours and Rarity huffed every time he didn’t find the translation.
“Her writings seem to be more insane as time progresses.” Fluttershy told them. “Listen to this; the book calls out, the words speak to me. I need its knowledge!”
“Oh dear, it gets worse.” Rarity replied. “The book; it is me. This book is all I need; the old gods will crumble under my knowledge.”
“She was planning to overthrow Celestia, Luna, and Cadence.” Applejack replied. “Whatever is in that book we all have to take it in one part per person.”
“No, she wrote here that unicorns are the only ones that can learn the translations,” Rarity replied. “and I’ve found them.”
Fluttershy and Applejack looked over her shoulder at the translations.
“Still doesn’t make any sense to me.” Fluttershy replied.
“Me neither.” Applejack replied.
Rarity scanned the papers and ran out of the room. Applejack and Fluttershy barely kept up with as she crashed into Alice’s and threw open the book.
“Remcado.” Rarity spoke and Alice’s color came back. “This should keep her stable permanently.”
As soon as she finished the sentence Alice started to thrash around and the monitor went haywire. The doctors rushed in and looked at the monitor.
“Her heart is beating at 300 beats per minute and she’s barely breathing.” One doctor yelled to the others.
“Her eyes aren’t responding to the light.” Another yelled.
As it continued Rarity dropped the book and galloped out of the room.
After three hours Rainbow Dash found Rarity in her tent curled up on the pillows.
“Have you been here the whole time?” Rainbow Dash asked her.
“Yeah, are you all really that horrible at finding people?” Rarity asked her without looking at her.
“Look, what happened to Alice wasn’t your fault.” Rainbow Dash replied.
“Yes it was I just rushed into it, and now she might be worse off because of it.” Rarity replied.
“Just read the description under it I think it might be important.” Rainbow Dash replied before pushing the book in front of Rarity.
“I don’t to see that accursed book ever again.” Rarity replied. “I don’t see why Twilight was so obsessed about it.”
“It might be the only way to save her Rarity and you are the only one who can translate it.” Rainbow Dash told her.
“What if I mess up in an even worse way and kill her.” Rarity replied. “It just isn’t worth it to me.”
Rainbow Dash rolled Rarity over and slammed her into the pillows. Rarity felt the back of her head start to throb from where it hit the thinnest area part of the pile but Rainbow Dash’s sudden mood change was what scared her the most.
“You say it’s not worth it to you, that Alice’s life isn’t worth it to you?” Rainbow Dash screamed. “She fights for all of us, she put aside a normal to fight our war with us! She could’ve chosen to leave, and it isn’t worth to you.”
“No!” Rarity screamed as she started to cry again. “I don’t want to lose her. I love her and I don’t want to be the one to kill her.”
Rainbow Dash was caught off guard even though she had already an idea about the whole thing; she just didn’t expect Rarity to admit it so quickly.
“My and Fluttershy believe that the book only shows what you want to find.” Rainbow Dash replied.
“I want her to be okay and it flipped to that page.” Rarity replied as she flipped to same page. “It says here that it’s soul connect. Great it also say if the caster dies the casted upon dies as well and vice versa.”
“I guess we’ll have to protect you both now.” Rainbow Dash replied.
“It says here that the soul connect opens a communication pathway between the two.” Rarity told her. “Let see if it’s true.”
Rarity closed her eyes and let out her breath slowly. She did this a few times but nothing happened, she opened her eyes and shook her head.
“I’m sorry Rarity.” Rainbow Dash replied. “I wish there was a way we could help.”
“It’s okay, I’ll figure it out.” Rarity replied as she set the book down. “I just need to think by myself right now.”
“No wonder she cares about you.” Rainbow Dash replied. “When you get focused on something you are determined to get it done.”
“What was the first thing?” Rarity asked her as she looked up from the page she was engrossed in.
“Nothing, see ya later Rarity.” Rainbow Dash replied. “I’ll come by when dinner is ready.”
“Okay, thank you.” Rarity replied as she flipped through a few pages muttering something about the purpose of the Soul Connect.
When Rainbow Dash got back to Rarity’s tenet she was asleep. She didn’t want to wake her up but what was happening at the moment was something that Rarity would want to know. She shook Rarity and she looked around for a bit before whipping drool off of her face.
“Well that’s attractive.” Rarity replied. “Alice must wipe that away when I’m asleep and she can’t because of her nightmares. What’s going on?”
“Alice woke for a second and said something.” Rainbow Dash told her.
Rarity shook her head quickly and stared at Rainbow Dash.
“What did she say?” Rarity asked her.
“It was garbled, we think she said Kintabotra.” Rainbow Dash replied.
Rarity quickly grabbed the book and it flipped to a blank page that quickly filled with words.
“It’s a location, it say here that Kintabotra also known as the convergence point.” Rarity told her. “It also says here that it can restore a damaged soul.”
“Does it speak of the location?” Rainbow Dash asked her.
“No, it just goes on and on about it amazing ability.” Rarity replied.
“You should go walk around and get some fresh air.” Rainbow Dash replied. “Go visit Alice.”