The Return of Midnight Sparkle

Chapter four:

         Help has arrived.

Rarity was driving Applejack's car while Applejack sat next to Sunsets lifeless body in the back seat. It had been decided between the two of them that Rarity would be the one to drive. Because she was more collected than Applejack was at the present moment. Applejack was crying harder than she had ever done so in her life. Not even when her mother and father had been killed ten years prior did she cry as hard as she was now. Her tears flowed like a waterfall staining her shirt and her sobs had Rarity crying too.

“WHY...W...W.WHY di..did this have..to..happen to us?” Applejack cried out in pain as she sat next to Sunsets lifeless body.

“I don’t know darling I have no real answer for you.” Replied Rarity as she tried to concentrate on her driving.

Both had lost someone they deeply cared for yet, neither of them really knew how to deal with this. Rarity pulled into the parking lot of Canter lot high school followed by another car that was driven by Pinkie pie. Fluttershy was sitting next to Pinkie Pie all the while looking out the window straight ahead not saying anything to anyone. She was too broken up to actually want to say anything. Her best friend was dead and her second best friend was turned into a winged monster. That was hell bent on destroying the world for her sense of loss. Rainbow Dash was sitting in the back seat stone cold and angry at everything and everyone due to the loss of her friend and the monster that Twilight had become.

“I am going to make that monster pay for this! I swear it that monster will PAY!” Thought Rainbow Dash as she looked out the car window next to her.

As the two cars pulled in and each driver found a spot to park. They all noticed that Twilight had not shown up yet. Rarity was the first to comment on this.

“Darling, honey I….I don’t...see Twilight next to the statue do you want to stay in the car  while I wait for her at the statue?” She asked Applejack.  As she turned the car off and looked in the rear-view mirror to her friend who was still sobbing badly in the back seat.

Applejack was unable to answer her friend all she could do was nod and Rarity got out and started to walk towards the statue. Rainbow Dash also got out of her car leaving Pinkie and Fluttershy there to decide among themselves if they also wanted to join her or join Applejack. Neither of them really wanted to be alone at this time and they didn’t want to leave Applejack by herself. Fluttershy was the first one out of the car. She walked over to Applejack’s car and opened the front passenger door then climbed in. Applejack still sobbing tried to talk to Fluttershy but, her words were to broken for Fluttershy to fully understand her.

“I...c..c..c..can’t...deal...I...cared...so...s..s..s.m..m” Applejack said while sobbing.

Fluttershy seeing that her friend was so upset that she couldn’t even speak properly to her. Got out and opened the passenger side door to where Applejack was sitting. Without saying a word to her she knelt down and fully embraced Applejack in a tight hug. As she hugged her friend she whispered into her ear.

“Shh, it’s OK Applejack. I miss her too. Shh there, there it will be alright.” Fluttershy said trying to calm her friend down.

Rarity had finished walking up to the statue now and was standing fully against it with her back to the left of the statue’s square base. She looked out into the parking lot of the school normally it would have been empty. However today both Applejack's car and Rainbow’s car were parked in the parking lot of the school while the five friends waited for Twilight to show from Equestria. She looked up into the sky half hoping to see this worlds Twilight soaring above in the Charcoal grey skies above her. To her disappointment she only saw the dull monotone color of the clouds that hung like a thick blanket above the city. Rainbow was just walking up to her when she said grimly to her.

“Darling do you think we can save our friend Rainbow?”

Rainbow looked at her then out towards the parking lot before saying to Rarity coldly.

“I really don’t care if we are able to ‘save our friend’ or not. ALL I care about is getting even with the person or people that did this to twilight.” Rainbow said coldly cracking her knuckles on her right hand.

Rarity looked over at Rainbow shocked at what she had just heard her friend saying.

“How…..can you say that Rainbow? Darling I know you are hurting. We are all hurting all of us are. However we can’t just go off and pick a fight with whomever did this. Rarity said while trying to instill some common sense into her friend.

“Whatever! You do what you want as for me, I swear I am going to find the person or people that did this. I am going to find the ones that caused Twilight to go all ‘monster’ on us and make them pay for it.” Rainbow snapped back as she coldly cracked her knuckles on her other hand.

Rarity let out a sigh that she didn’t realize had been there and stared out into the otherwise empty park lot of the high school. Fluttershy was still over at the two cars hugging Applejack when she looked down and saw that Sunsets journal was vibrating. She was just letting Applejack go to pick up the book when Applejack said to her as she  dried her tears away.

“Is that Twilight who is calling us back sugar cube? I don’t know if she actually got the message because that book is only suppose to work for Sunset and not us.” Applejack said as she wiped a hand over her eyes trying to dry her tears.

Fluttershy looked a bit confused by this yet, said nothing to Applejack. Who seemed to know something about the book that Fluttershy was now holding in her hands that the rest of her friends didn't know. Sunset had explained to Applejack several months prior to her being shot that her journal only worked for her and her alone. Much like a password on a computer worked so to did the book work for Sunset. Which is why Applejack wasn’t sure if her message had actually gotten through or not.

Opening the book Fluttershy could see a message was written from Twilight. And began to read it out loud so Applejack could hear it in the hopes of answering Applejack's question.

Fluttershy read aloud:

“My dear friends,

I am on the way, and should be there within an hour. Please find a safe place to meet me. I am bringing with me Princess Celestia. She alone seems to know how to stop Twilight from carrying out her threats against your world. I ask only that you hear out on this matter. You don’t have to actually go along with her...plan. But it would behoove you to at least listen what she has to say. I thank you all for asking me to help you with this matter.

Sincerely

Your friend,

Twilight Sparkle.”

Fluttershy Finished the letter and looked at Applejack then over at her two friends next to the statue. As she was getting up to walk over to the statue and talk with her Friends Applejack said to her.

“Sugar cube I am a'mighty sorry for crying like a little child I hope y’all can forgive me for that tar'nation of an action.”

Fluttershy stood there not sure what to say. In her mind there was no reason for Applejack to be sorry for anything. Yet she knew how proud Applejack was and what it meant for her to be able to keep her emotions in check. Turning to her she gently laid her hand onto Applejack's shoulder saying softly.

“Sweetie there is no reason for you to be sorry I know we are all hurting at this moment. If you feel the need to ball your beautiful eyes out then go ahead and so. You shouldn’t have to be sorry for feeling sad about this.”  Fluttershy said softly to Applejack who looked at her with eyes still filled with tears.

Hearing her soft, kindly words Applejack realized it was OK for her to feel upset about losing her two good friends from this tragedy. Although Twilight wasn’t actually dead she was however being consumed by the evil that was now in her heart. Applejack looked behind her seeing Sunset’s lifeless body laying on the back seat of her car and smiled to herself. Slowly Applejack climbed out of the car and walked towards the statue with her head hung low. Fluttershy said nothing to her as she followed Applejack up to the statue where the rest of their friends were waiting for Princess Twilight and Princess Celestia to arrive. Pinkie Pie was the only one still inside the car that Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash had arrived in. She looked around seeing that no one was able to fully see her she buried her face into her hands and began to fully sob. Thinking to herself as she cried.

“Why?!.....Did we do something, to cause this to happen? Is the universe upset with us for throwing to many parties?”

Pinkie Pie’s hair deflated at the thought of some higher power being upset with her or her friends. She couldn’t begin to understand why or how this could have happened although she knew that Sunset was dead. She couldn’t bring herself to admit that it wasn’t her fault for causing this. Pinkie had wanted to meet up with Twilight and Sunset that morning in order to plan a friendship party for Rainbow Dash. As she sat in the car that she had driven to the Canter lot High School she recalled what she had said to Sunset that day over the phone. Meeting with Pinkie Pie was the real reason that Sunset had actually suggested going for a walk in the city she had wanted to break the news to Twilight about the party slowly.

“Hello, Sunny it’s Pinkie I was wondering if you would like to throw a party for Rainbow to so her that we all love and care for her?”She thought to herself as she continued to sob.

Pinkie could clearly recall every bit and every nuance of the words that Sunset had said to her over the phone. Sunset had not seen Rainbow in almost six months it had been eight months since Twilight and Sunset had gotten married. And six months prior to that since they had actually seen or even talked to Rainbow. Neither, Sunset or Twilight had actually wanted to see or talk to Rainbow since her blow up at Sunset and calling Twilight a whore. As Pinkie continued to cry to herself she recalled what her conversation was like with Sunset over the phone that morning.

]“I don’t know about having a party for someone that had the gall to call my wife a whore, I know I wasn’t actually married to Twilight at the time being. But still Rainbow went too far that day. You need to come to a relation on this matter Pinkie.” Pinkie recalled Sunset saying to her over the phone.

“I understand Sunny but Rainbow was living on the streets for over five months. If Applejack didn’t bump into her at a local supermarket I am sure she would still be out on the streets.” Pinkie recalled saying to Sunset over the phone.

“Whoa, Wait. What do you mean Rainbow has been living on the streets Pinkie?”

“It’s true she has been out on the streets for five long hard months Applejack took her in and she is now living with her up at her farm. I think she could really use this party but I could use your help to plan it besides it would make her feel better.”

“And I suppose you are about to ask me to feel sorry for Rainbow winding up on the streets right?”

“NO! I am how ever about to ask you to be a GOOD FRIEND and actually show some compassion to her. Besides isn’t that what we did for you when you went all raging she-demon on us at the Fall Formal? Didn’t we show you compassion that day?”

“Alright Pinkie you win….I will help you with this party but I need to break the news to Twilight carefully she was really hurt when Rainbow called her a whore. I have spent the last six months working my butt off to prove to my wife that she isn’t a whore. So let me make this clear as crystal to you. IF Rainbow steps out of line with either myself or my wife that is it for our…..friendship I will not tolerate her treating me or Twilight like how she did when she moved out of here. Do you fully understand me?”

“Y...Yes I fully understand. Where do you want to meet to talk about the party?”

“HMM, uh; there are some restaurants in the city and Twilight and I DO need to pick up somethings for the house. I think we should meet at Sugar cube Corner then slowly plan everything from there.”

“OK I will see you there say around four maybe five tonight alright.” Pinkie recalled saying as she had hung up the phone.

This would be the last time she would see Sunset alive and the last time she would see her friend Twilight. Before Twilight turned into a monster vowing vengeance upon this world. Fluttershy was just coming up behind Applejack when Rainbow turned to them both saying coldly.

“Look I don’t want to hear from either of you two any ideas of not going after Twilight or the person that did this to her. I want that person to pay for wrecking my chance at reconciling with Sunset and Twilight.” Rainbow said so coldly that ice itself wouldn’t melt in hell.

Applejack didn’t say anything to Rainbow about this she stood there hanging her head low and Fluttershy was only able to look on with sadness in her eyes. Fluttershy looked up at Rarity and with her eyes silently motioned Rarity to say something to Rainbow about her behavior that day. Rarity had, had enough and walked right up behind Rainbow. Once Rainbow noticed that Rarity was right behind her she turned to say something to her but, was cut off before she could say anything at all. A milk white skinned fist collided into Rainbow’s right temple effectively knocking the young athlete out cold. The others just stood there mouths fully gapped open. Applejack yelled at Rarity who was at this point clutching her badly bruised hand in her other hand yelling profanities.

“WHAT IN THE HAY BAILS IN TAR'NATION IS WRONG WITH YOU?!?” Exclaimed Applejack as she ran over to the unconscious Rainbow Dash.

Kneeling down next to Rainbow, Applejack could see a rather large but; substantial bruise forming on Rainbow’s right temple. Looking back up at Rarity glaring at her with daggers and hell fire coming out of her ever burning eyes Applejack screamed at her.

“WHAT THE HAY, DID YOU DO THIS FOR, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD RARITY!”

Rarity stopped her cussing and swearing then looked at each of her friends before replying.

“You all heard her she was bent on doing something dreadful. So being a good friend and not being able to actually get through to her. I did what I had to do and with what I was left with in the way of options. I took that option from her. You all may think it is most unladylike of me do this. Yet I can assure you we had little choice in this matter. It was either knock her out or go to yet another funeral I for one do not want to go another funeral one is bad enough as it is.” Rarity said as she clutched her bruised hand.

“Some choice.” Applejack whispered to herself as she picked up Rainbow then carried her over to her car.

When Applejack got up to the car. She noticed that Pinkie Pie was sitting alone in the car that she had driven with Fluttershy and Rainbow dash crying. Applejack placed Rainbow into the car that herself and Sunset had come in and walked over to the other car that Pinkie was in. Knocking lightly on the driver side window. Hearing the noise Pinkie reached over and pressed the window down switch then looked at Applejack.

“Hey Sugar cube you want to talk about it.” Applejack said trying to calm her friend down.

“It was my fault I wanted to meet with Sunny and Twilight to throw Rainbow a friendship party. Sunny wouldn't have been hurt if I didn’t call them and ask them to help throw the party.” Pinkie said sniffing.

Applejack was taken aback by this thinking to herself as she looked at Pinkie Pie.

“How could my best friend blame herself for this?”

Applejack looked at Pinkie then opened the door with a word she hugged her friend tightly and let her cry on her shoulder. Pinkie let it all as she was held in the embrace from her friend.

“Oh sugar cube it wasn’t your fault no could have known what was going to happen today.” Applejack said trying to sooth her friend

“Yes it was I made that phone call to Sunny and asked her for help with Rainbows party.” Pinkie said crying into Applejack's shoulder.

“Sugar cube I am telling you it wasn’t your fault. This was just a horrible tragic mishap that took our friends from us. There ain't nothing you can do about it.” Applejack said again trying to calm Pinkie down.

“I wish I never made that phone call Sunny would still be alive and Twilight would….”

That was as far as Pinkie got before Applejack slapped her across the face the blow was hard enough to actually knock Pinkie over and out of the car. Looking up at her friend as a small trickle of blood ran down her mouth Pinkie was fully shocked by this behavior from Applejack. As she lay there sprawled on the ground she looked at Applejack with eyes as wide a dinner plate. Applejack stood over her glaring at her with daggers and fire in her eyes.

“You listen and you listen good Pinkie! What happen to Sunset and to Twilight was not I fully repeat was NOT your fault. We need you Pinkie we can not face this darkness alone. We need your laughter and your good heart. We need you so that that we can show Twilight that we still love her. I don’t want to face this darkness alone and I can’t face Twilight without you being there. And I..I..Just...Pinkie please we all of us need you now more than ever…..I need you.” Applejack said as she held her hand out to Pinkie who was still sprawled on the ground.

Rainbow was still unconscious in the back of Pinkies car. Pinkie looked down not wanting to face her friend she slowly held out her hand and took Applejack's hand. As Applejack helped her up Pinkie reached out and pulled Applejack into a tight embraceable hug. Applejack accepted the hug from her friend and calmly said to her.

“I am so sorry I hit you Pinkie I just didn’t think there was any other way to bring you back to us. Can you forgive me?”

“Of course I can I needed you to show me that it wasn’t my fault and you did that. Now let's go wait with the others for Twilight to show up.”

“Alright but uh I think we might need to wake Rainbow up and make sure she is OK.”

Pinkie looked over at Rainbow sitting in the car and then back at Applejack before saying.

“No let her sleep she needs some time to think and some time to rest.”

“Are you sure Pinkie I mean I hate to be the one to tell her she missed seeing Twilight coming through the portal.”

“I am sure besides she has had a hard day and I really do think it is best to let her sleep.”

“Alright well if you sure about this then it is OK with me to let her sleep then.”

As the two of them began to walk towards the statue they heard a loud booming noise coming from the statue. Rarity and Fluttershy both jumped in fright and ran a few feet from the statue only to be stopped in their tracks when Applejack simply pointed to the statue. Rarity and Fluttershy both turned to see Twilight coming through the statue and a woman they had not seen before was also just stepping through the portal as well.

“Hello everyone.” Twilight said as she stood there waving to them.

Coming out of the portal was a white skinned woman with teal, pink, ocean green and evening purple hair. She stood staring at each of the four that were in front of her. She was fully dressed in full heavy golden plate mail that rain down her entire body. Her head was adorned in a majestic golden crown shaped in a full helmet. About her waist was a long two handed sword and on her breastplate was a golden sun. She had wings that were as white as freshly fallen snow erecting from her back. Her eyes shimmered and shined like to large gemstones. She stood with the grace of a ruler and the majesty of a goddess. As she took in her surroundings she looked over at the two vehicles then trained her gaze upon the four standing in front of her. Celestia smiled warmly at them and asked in a very soft loving voice.

“Where is sunset’s body I would like to pay my respects to my former student?”Celestia asked.

“Your majesty” Rarity began as she very quickly knelt before Celestia. “Our friend is in the back seat of the car closest to the front doors of our school.”

Rarity continued while not looking up at Celestia.

“If it please’s you I will remove her body from the seat of the car and place Sunsets body on the grass so that you might be able to pay your respects to her.”

Celestia looked over at the cars parked by the school entrance then back at Rarity before saying to her gently.

“Yes child that would please me, please lay her down gently.”

Rarity did as she was requested to do. She slowly stood up then walked over to the cars parked by the entrance way. Seeing that Rainbow Dash was softly snoring in the back of the first car. Rarity chose not to wake up her friend. She instead went over the car that Sunset was in. Opened the door and gently lifted her out of the car. Then being ever so gentle she walked over to some grass that was in a medium and laid Sunset down for Celestia to say her goodbyes to her former student. Celestia walked over to Sunsets body looked down and gently said.

“Oh my poor student I am so sorry that this world has taken you from your friends. You will be honored in the hall of heroes this I swear to you.”

Twilight stepped up to her princess at this time and was about to say something when Celestia turned to her and simply pointed back to the portal. Twilight understanding the request said nothing as she knelt down and slowly picked up Sunsets body. Then she began to walk her over to the portal only to be stopped in her tracks when Applejack stepped in the way saying.

“Begging your pardon, uh…. er; your majesty. But, that really isn’t your call to make. You see Sunset is married to Twilight. That is uh to our worlds Twilight. And here we have very strict laws as to who gets to decide where a loved one is buried.” Applejack said as she stood in front of Twilight trying to keep her from leaving with Sunsets body.

Celestia wasn’t sure if she should respond to this or order worlds Twilight to carry out her first request. They were after all only visitors in this world and Celestia never came to this world until now so she didn’t know about the laws and customs of these people. pursing her lips together tightly she looked deadpan at Applejack and said firmly to her.

“What would you have us do then child? Disgrace Sunset by not giving her proper burial? Sunset has given her life for the one she loved thereunto she is a hero and thus she will be buried as one.”

“How do you know how Sunset actually died when we ourselves have yet to know this?” Asked Rainbow Dash as she was just getting out of the car she had been lying unconsciously in for over an hour.

Celestia smiled and drew out her sword then pointed the blade up into the sky saying.

“I know because I saw this in her mind.”

A image suddenly appeared before the five friends. Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy all looked up into the sky. Appearing before them was an image of a man drawing his gun and pointing it at Twilight and Sunset. The image shifted this time Showing Sunset running towards this man in front of Twilight.Then it shifted again showing this time Sunset getting shot and her falling back into Twilight's arms.

“Need I show you more or are you all satisfied with what you all have just seen?” Asked Celestia grimly to each of the five friends standing there.

None of the Sunset’s friends said anything they just looked at her with their mouths gaping open. Celestia took as a sign that they were not about to offer any more protest on weather Sunset should or shouldn’t be buried in Equestria. She looked over to Twilight who was still being blocked by Applejack and nodded. Twilight slowly started to walk past Applejack just as Applejack said to her.

“Y’all be very careful with how Y’all treat Sunset’s body you hear me Twilight?”

Twilight nodded in response to this then walked through the portal. Upon getting back to Equestria Twilight was greeted by one of the many pony guards to Celestia’s crystal castle. Looking at the guard then at Sunsets human turned now back into pony body she said softly to the guard before turning back to the portal.

“Take her to the guardian of the hall of heroes have him prepare her body for a proper burial.” Twilight said facing the portal.

“Yes right away your majesty.” The guard said as he placed a hoof over his mouth to whistle for more guards to help him with this task.

With that Twilight jumped back through the portal and was moments later back in the human world. It was now time to fully hear out Celestia's plan and to find her counterpart. Twilight prayed silently to herself that all would go well with what was sure to be a very taxing battle. She looked at her friends then at Princess Celestia before saying.

“It’s time.”