Welcome to Liveside

Twilight was nervous. She stood in front of her mirror, staring at herself. It had been three days since she had returned and Spike had managed to overwhelm her. She barely had time to wash the blood off of her coat as he told her that Luna wanted to talk to her.

Twilight had scolded the little dragon, she had shouted at him and all he done was smile at her. He was just too happy to have her back.

Twilight sighed. She had managed to postpone the inevitable, not meeting with Luna or anypony else. She had locked herself away in her room, crying into a pillow.

Someone knocked at her door.

"Twilight?" Spike's muffled voice reached her ears. "Everypony is waiting."

Another sigh escaped her. "I'll be right there Spike." She answered.

'Spike really outdid himself.' She thought sadly. Somehow he had managed to organize a get together of all their friends, which were waiting for her right now. Shaking her head she turned around, walking towards the door.

The soft sound of music reached her ears as she opened the door. Slowly walking through her castle towards the banquet room, she stopped at the doorstep, glimpsing into the room.

Rarity was sitting at the table, smiling at something Cadence was telling her. Cadence caressed her belly while Shining Armor sat next to her a goofy smile on his face. On the opposite side of the table sat Applejack, moving her head in rhythm of the music, her stetson resting on her head.

Luna was standing at the far end of the hall, apparently talking to a column.

"Won't you go in?"

Twilight yelped and jumped into the banquet room as Spike appeared behind her, a big platter of food in his claws.

"Sorry!" He smiled at her. "Didn't mean to scare you."

She gulped as she looked into the room.

All eyes were looking at her in awe.

And then all tartarus broke lose.

She didn't even understand all the things they said. All she saw and heard was how they walked towards her, smiling, grinning and laughing.

They surrounded her, talking to her.

Scaring her.

Twilight covered her ears and closed her eyes. She tried to block out the words assaulting her ears, the smiles burning into her eyes. She just wanted to-

"SHUT UP!" Twilight's voice boomed through the room, scaring the attendant ponies, Spike dropped the platter.

She looked up and saw all her friends floating in the air, grasped in her magic.

"Just... shut up." Twilight whined, levitating them back to the ground and a few steps away from her.

"Twilight, darling what is-"

"No Rarity!" Twilight snapped at her, tears streaming down her face. "Just... no." She began to sob.

Somepony pulled her into a hug. Twilight wanted to struggle, to tell the pony to go away but-

The brilliant white coat stopped her.

She was resting in Princess Celestia's forelegs and she felt how more tears began to well.

"Shhh Twilight." Celestia whispered.

"Princess... I-"

"Shhh." Celestia interrupted her. "It's fine. You're safe."

Twilight clenched her teeth, sinking deeper into Celestia's embrace.

And the she cried, screaming out all of her anger, anxiety, fear and sadness into the sun monarch's coat.

"It's okay Twilight." Celestia whispered "We are here for you."

After minutes of crying and screaming Twilight finally stopped. Celestia was sitting next to her, an encouraging smile on her face.

"I'm sorry." Twilight whispered.

"You don't have to." Celestia answered.

"No... I am..."

Celestia nuzzled her. "Everypony get's scared when pressured like that."

Twilight stood up, taking a step away from Celestia. "That's... not it."

"Then what is it?" Celestia asked. Her mien saddened. "Are you sorry for..." She tapped her chin. "What were they called? Duppies?" Twilight's eyes widened. "Or the other creatures?" Twilight took a step away from Celestia.

"No." Celestia shook her head. "You-" She pointed at Twilight. "-are sorry because of Rainbow."

Twilight fell to her haunches, looking at Celestia in shock.

"How?" She felt her tears return.

Celestia stood up, walking closer to Twilight.

"NO!" Twilight stood up, walking away from Celestia. "Don't come closer!" She pleaded. "I don't... I can't..."

Celestia pulled her into a hug again.

"Shhh. It's fine." She whispered.

Twilight shoved Celestia away from her. Her expression was twisted by anger.

"It's fine?!" She shouted at the white alicorn. "IT'S FINE?! Nothing's fine!" Her voice boomed through the hall. "I am a murderer! I killed those creatures! I... I killed...."

Celestia nodded. "You killed Rainbow Dash." She stated, her voice bare of any anger.

Twilight nodded, her head hanging low as more tears fell to the floor.

"Twilight, look at me." Twilight looked up, staring into the caring eyes of her mentor. "We know what you did." She explained quietly. "And we understand why you did it."

"But... but..."

Celestia walked closer and pulled her into a hug again. "Shh Twilight."

"I'm a monster." She cried. "I killed her..."

"No Twilight." She felt Celestia stroking her back in a calming motion. "Legion killed her. He poisoned her mind with the idea of 'true freedom'. He used the circumstance that Rainbow was griefing to whisper lies to her, to pull her on his side."

"But... but I..."

"You didn't kill Rainbow Dash." Celestia whispered. "You-"

Twilight escaped Celestia's grasp again. "Why are you so okay with that?!" She screamed at her and the others in the room. "I killed a pony!" She sobbed. "Why aren't you angry?" She fell to her haunches, hiding her face behind her hooves. "Why are you so calm about that!?"

A hoof touched her shoulder and she looked up. Applejack looked back at her, a warm smile on her face.

"Applejack..." She whined. "Why..."

Applejack pulled her into a hug. And Twilight felt her eyes widen.

She looked over Applejack's shoulder and saw her friends staring at her. Their sad expressions and weak smiles.

"We know what happened, darling." Rarity stood up, walking towards Twilight. "We were shocked when Luna told us about it."

"Luna... how..."

Rarity rolled her eyes. "Dreams, dear. And apparently yours became rather vivid."

"We know what happened Twily." Shining Armor's voice was sad as he walked next to Rarity, thick tears rolled down his face. "And... we might never understand how you feel but... we are just so happy to have you back."

"I guess..." Cadence looked at Twilight. "He's trying to say that... we know the why. And we understand the circumstances that forced you to do those things."

"But..."

"It's not your fault, Twilight." Celestia whispered. "And no one's going to blame you for that."

"But... I..."

"We still love you Twilight." Rarity smiled at her as she joined Applejack, hugging the crying mare.

Twilight whimpered. "I miss her..." She sobbed.

"We know." Celestia answered.

"It hurts."

Celestia nodded.

"Will it ever stop?" Twilight looked up to Celestia. "Will the pain ever stop?"

Celestia shook her head. "I don't know Twilight. That is for you to find out."

"I miss her so much." Twilight cried.

"We all do." Rarity answered now sobbing herself.

Twilight continued to cry, huddled together with her friends until, a few minutes later, she finally fell asleep, too exhausted for anything else.

And she dreamed about Rainbow Dash soaring through the sky, smiling at her.

And for the first time in days, Twilight smiled.

Author's Note

Whoopsie... I totally forgot to do an epilogue... so yeah, here you go! *runs away, hiding behind a corner*

I know it's not good but it just... feels right, you know what I mean? Of course you do.... or you don't which is fine too... I guess.

Well...

Whatever...

See ya next stoy