Echoes in the Stone

Chapters

Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7

Prologue

Rainbow Dash had awoken once more to find herself still living in her personal Tartarus. She laid back down on the floor in her cell of stone and mildew. It was worse than the dark and dank dungeons the diamond dogs had. How many times had she counted the number of stones that contained her? She gritted her teeth as she stretched her wings. The lack of use combined with the torture she’d been through had left ,them weak and bruised. A low grumble emanated from her stomach. A reminder that her body had taken away a bit of her pride.

How long had it been since she’d eaten all the moss in the cell for nourishment? Was it yesterday she caught and ate a rat? Her mind wandered to her close friends. She could imagine Fluttershy frozen with shock and appall, staring in wide-eyed bewilderment. Rainbow let out a soft sob. She would believe that Rarity would clean her on the spot, while Applejack would’ve conflicted between comforting her and rushing off in a blind rage to pummel whoever had done this to her friend. Rainbow’s sob turned into an uncontrollable cry. A ghostly visage of her friends surrounded her.

Amongst the soothing whispers of her imagination, she heard, “Where are you Rainbow?” Dash choked up.

“I’m here.” She said in between sobs in seeing her marefriend. “I’m here Fluttershy.”

The hallucinations faded away as Rainbow crumpled on the floor. From the sobs came rekindled Determination. Fury and Desperation burned in her eyes as she glared at the iron bars of her cell. “I’ll find a way back. I swear it.”

Her friends, her source of hope and motivation in this. The hope she might see them again fueled her mutilated and weakened body. With that motivation, that desire, she chiseled away at the cell bit by bit, ever so slowly the bars weakened, causing the stone around as the gate grow smaller.

Her determination was fueled by the rage towards the ones that had tricked and mutilated her body. She would expose them for everything they had done to her. It all started with that Celestia-damned recruiter, promising an adventure worthy of Daring Do. With even more promises of staying young forever and never slowing down. She should have known that something was wrong with that smile and the silver tongue of lies. She’d forgotten why she agreed. Faint memories of a half-baked contingency plan of running off and contacting the authorities danced in her head.

She was experimented on and tortured. They forced her to fly as fast as she could inside the field that was designed for her. Involuntary blood sampling and invasive surgeries became the norm, and the fact that this became normal to her fueled her determination even more. They had her blindfolded, shackled, gagged and drugged for every experiment. She had fought long and hard during the first operation, but they subdued her every retaliation with practiced ease. They had fed her from time to time. But rare were those times now that the experiments were over. After countless failed attempts, the pony researchers just gave up. Instead of putting her out of her misery, they locked her back in her cell and left her to rot in that prison, alone.

It was time. Time to run home and expose this horror to the world, one last chip one last shove and bars came crashing down. A sharp pain shot through her left foreleg when she landed. She stood still in the hallway, looking left, then right and waiting for the guards who must have surely heard the crash.

The walls here were different, vines and roots crept between the stones, and the occasional plop of water echoed up and down the hall. With a limp she began to move, favoring her right foreleg.

She barely heard the click before she dove sideways. Bullets whizzed by her side as she ducked to cover

“Code red, I repeat, code red! Use of lethal force is authorized! Fire at will! Over!” She heard one of the guards yell. She needed to get out of here as fast as possible, ran out of cover and down the hall. “Target is moving East! Over!” She heard the same guard yell, right before the bullets rained down on her. Despite her malnourished, weakened state, she was able to dodge them.

She didn’t come out of the firefight unscathed, though. One left a new bright red line along her coat just under the wing. Flaring her wings she took off at a gallop, the pain in her ankle forgotten as she reached takeoff speed and made for a nearby door. She reached the door, but barely. She noticed it was aluminum and screamed in frustration and looked towards the ground.

“You can do this Dashie,” she told herself. Lifting head she looked about and saw no other way, the guards were small in the distance, not yet firing due to how far away they were. Taking a deep breath, she mustered her strength and thought of Fluttershy. The time spent helping her with taking care of her animals, the time spent in her loving company, she just wanted it all back.

She flung her back legs out and was rewarded with the screech of metal tearing free from stone and light flooded the hall around and smiling to herself she turned and bolted out the door, raising one hoof as she took off into the air to shield her eyes from the bright sunlight and smiling for a brief moment.

“Good. That hasn’t changed”, she thought as she looked around at the jungle under her. She didn’t have any time to spare, however, moments later she could hear the guard yell.

“Target has escaped the compound! Elevating status to Code Black! Over!” The Guard yelled. Dash took this as her signal to start moving again. Right before the bullets started raining down on her, she crouched down and bolted into the sky. The moment she hit the tree line, her vision was momentarily obscured with leaves, but before she knew it, she was above the trees. Smiling to herself, she started flying east. She put on a burst of speed and flying as fast as she could away from that place.

Adrenaline is a marvelous chemical, though it’s effects are temporary, it can numb or eliminate pain altogether, it can grant creatures the power to have strength far beyond what they thought they were capable of.

What it can’t do is reverse bone damage in your wings due to a stray bullet.

Pain rocketed through her right wing as she felt it tear from her body. The smell of burnt feathers and flesh invaded her nostrils as she spiraled out of control. Noticing her current trajectory would be sending her head first into a tree, She gained back control of her body and positioned herself so that her shoulder would take the brunt of the damage. Hitting the tree, she plummeted through the canopy like a ragdoll, bouncing on the ground multiple times, each accompanied by sickening crunches, before skidding to a halt. Dash moaned in pain and fought to get back to her hooves, only to collapse on the ground once more, sending pain rocketing through her body. Her breath got caught when she looked up. A finely dressed earth pony stallion stared down at her and smiled wickedly.

“Perhaps I underestimated you Miss Dash. Think you still have enough fight to sing a few more songs for me?” The stallion pulled a device from his sleeve. Before Rainbow had a chance to react her vision was blinded by a bright flash of light. She slumped to the jungle floor, suddenly feeling drained. “I eagerly await to see what becomes of you. How far will your wings of loyalty fly, I wonder.” She tried to say something, but couldn’t find the energy to even moan in pain. The stallion raised his hoof to his neck and pressed down on his collar before speaking. “Target apprehended.”

Dash’s world faded in and out as the stomping of hooves through the forest echoed around her. All she could see was the earth pony above her and the device he held. A strange mechanical pen by the looks of it. She wondered what shot her before the stallion disappeared and after what seemed like hours another stallion or dragon appeared, she couldn't tell, as she faded into unconsciousness.

Twilight watched the scenery fly by as she gazed out of the train car window. Her thoughts were dwelling in the past. While four of her friends were happily conversing with themselves behind her, it felt wrong that their loyal prankster wasn’t with them. Despite the fact that it had been five years, the pain that came with Rainbow Dash’s disappearance had still not left.

After the events of Tirek, something had struck the multi-chromed pegasus deeply. That feeling of helplessness when someone else controlled your fate, and there was nothing you could do to stop or save yourself came at a lofty mental price. Soon after the fight, Dash had put up her normal act of arrogance and stoicism for a while, but all her friends could see the truth behind the act. Just before the group decided to intervene with Dash’s problem, she disappeared without a trace and never told anyone where or why.

Twilight immediately began searching for her close friend. She used every possible means and sought every feasible and improbable place. With the help of the solar and lunar diarchy and the Crystal Kingdom, they searched for weeks. Weeks turned into months, and months, into a year. The governments eventually stopped their search and turn back to governing the ponies after exhausting every lead they could find, no matter how minuscule or benign they were, to begin with. Twilight thanked them for their time and effort before continuing her search for another year. She held faith that she was still alive. Even after she stopped searching, she would wait in Ponyville and gaze into the sky for any trace of her cyan coat.

It wasn’t till she received a letter from Spitfire three years later did she find out her fate. She had been found on a jungle island, dead and mutilated. Twilight was so distraught with grief and denial that she took it out on Spike. Her denial led her to draw elaborate equations, and theories all coming back to the same, conclusion that Dash was still alive, despite her corpse being proof otherwise. Her denial eventually resulted in her absence from Rainbow Dash’s funeral.

In the privacy of their home, Twilight yelled, screamed and begged Spike for the truth. In her broken mind, she felt justified hurling insults and accusations at her foster younger brother. Spike, for his part, knew Twilight needed to vent her stress, but after being the brunt of her anger for long enough, he stormed out of her life.

“Twilight darling. Are you alright?” Rarity’s voice snapped Twilight back to the present.

She felt the tears rolling down her cheeks. She hastily wiped them away with her hoof before responding, “Yes. Everything is just fine.” She replied, a fake smile plastered on her face. Every time she thought about that day brought tears to her eyes and Rarity knew it. Rarity knew better than to salt healing wounds.

“If you say so. By the way, Twilight, are you looking forward to my sister’s performance?” Rarity asked, hastily changing the subject, something that Twilight was silently thankful for.

Twilight’s gaze shifted from the Royal blimp in the distance to her friend. On board, the blimp was the Princesses and her five-year-old niece being taking to her first ever Equestrian Games, and other government officials who wanted her to come along. Twilight, on the other hand, decided to use the Ponyville Express because she wanted to spend time with her friends. The chatter of the brown nosing nobles and the rabid press would just ruin the moment. “Yes I am Rarity and this her first huge performance too,” Twilight added. The funeral and Spike’s departure had hurt Rarity as well. She saw the beginnings of old age in her friend. The subtly hidden wrinkles under the eyes and her mane had few hints of gray.

Sweetie Belle was the talk of Equestria, some even saying that she was the next Sapphire Shores. Twilight would agree that she was a talented singer, and she did enjoy hearing her.

“Oh, I am so nervous for her.” Rarity said while falling back into the car’s padded bench.

“Don't worry Rarity she’ll do fine,” Twilight assured her and put her hoof around her friend’s shoulder.

“You're right,” Rarity said, “But I can’t help but feel proud of her. So soon after finding her extraordinary talent, she’s singing in front of the whole nation.”

Twilight nodded and watched her other friends converse. Pinkie had never slowed down her antics while Fluttershy had watched in quiet fascination. She was getting better at opening up to others. Twilight even heard a rumor that she had a colt friend now, but had yet to figure out who. No stuffy noble blimp could compare to the warm reception of her friends.

The 100th Annual Equestrian Games was held in the grand city of Manehattan. Ponies and griffons came from all corners of the country. The air felt somehow subdued. What normally was an exciting event filled with cheerful boasting and friendly competition felt more like a routine tradition.

They got off at the Grand Central Terminal; it had been years since they had come to Manehattan. The crowd was far larger and louder now than it was back then. As they walked outside, they took in the changes the city had made since the last time they came here, together; Oh, Rainbow. No matter how many times Twilight tried to move on after the funeral, she always looked back on that day. How did this happen? She always thought that somewhere, Rainbow must have tried to comeback, but whatever happened to her? As she kept losing herself in the sea of thought. Applejack figured this was the best time to snap her out of it.

“Twilight!”

“Wha.. huh!?” Twilight sputtered out of her thoughts.

“Is everything alright, sugarcube?” Applejack asked with concern.

“I…” Twilight knew she had been caught and could not lie her way out of it. “No.” She replied, sadly.

“Care to share?” Applejack asked her, tilting her head a little bit.

“It feels, empty.”

“Come again?” Applejack asked tilting her head.

“Rainbow, then Spike. Without them, it isn’t the same Applejack. I just can’t help this feeling.”

“Twi, we all miss them. But we have to face facts. Rainbow is gone. Whatever took her-”

“Applejack, it doesn’t feel like Rainbow Dash just, died.” Twilight interrupted, this caused Applejack to pause, giving her time to draw up one of her many theories from memory, “If that happened, then her magic would have dissolved instantly.”

“What are you getting at?” Applejack asked carefully. She knew that given the chance, Twilight would go off on a tangent and spiral down into a maniac depression.

“That her cloud home, it’s still there.”

Applejack wondered at how a cloud house had any significance to a ponies demise but decided to let Twilight explain it, “And that means….”

“It means that she may still be alive. Cloud homes are magically tied to their owners!”

“Hold on a minute sugar cube. Or, maybe the new owners have been maintaining it. Maybe she died sometime after they sold her property.”

Twilight shook her head. “Then, explain to me why the magical charge feels the same as Rainbow’s and not Scootaloo’s.”

“You know I can’t answer that. So you’re sayin’ that Rainbow is…”

“Twilight! There you are.” A familiar voice called out. Sparkle and her friends saw Princess Mi Amore Cadenza waving ecstatically towards the group while Princess Celestia and Princess Luna gave a curt nod to her.

Before any other pleasantries were given, Cadence and Twilight rushed to each other to perform their special greeting ritual. Both bursting into laughter soon afterward. “I'm so glad you could make it. I haven't seen you in a long time.”

“I'm sorry Cadence. I've been busy reviewing my friendship notes and adventures and hadn't time to hang out with my little niece. And considering that Discord just up and disappeared recently, I think Fluttershy is starting to worry.” Twilight paused to look around for her brother. Normally he'd be right by her sister-in-law's side. “Where's Shining and Skyla?”

Some of the joy in Cadence's face faded. “There were some urgent matters that Shining had to take care of.” She saw concern suddenly envelop Twilight and her friends, but was quick to dismiss it. “Nothing bad, I assure you. Just something that was unavoidable. On the other hoof, Skyla is waiting for you in the seats already; a guard is already looking after her.”

“Come, you two. The games are about to start. We mustn't be late for the opening ceremony” Celestia said to them. The group nodded in agreement and walked, or in Pinkie’s case hopped, to where the royalty and honorable guests would preside.

The subdued atmosphere from before erupted into unconstrained excitement once the opening ceremony began. Each event, race, and competition were met with fierce determination from all athletes. The fans from Ponyville cheered loudly for Scootaloo when she got silver in the flying games, more so than those from other cities. For once in a long time, Twilight was enjoying herself as she watched her hometown play. She didn't care if they won or lost, it only matters if they were having fun. Then came the halftime show. A pony with gray fur and darker gray mane with a business suit on came on stage and spoke into the microphone.

“We are pleased to present for the last time on stage Sapphire Shores and first time here, Sweetie Belle!” He announced. A thunderous cacophony of cheer followed that announcement which didn’t quiet down till the lights dimmed. Two spotlights shined upon the musical diva and her protégé. The song was on drums, and their voice filled the stage making sure no one was exempt from hearing them.

The stadium was buzzing with commotion. It was a performance beyond anyponies expectations. Rarity was shedding liquid pride. “That’s my sister!” she shouted over the crowd, much to everyone’s surprise.

The games continued on its agenda. The next competition was the flyers relay race. Twilight was wondering how well the new Wonderbolts would do against the griffon kingdoms best. She found herself staring at the attention grabbing eagle/lion hybrids when one of them looked at her. She felt a rush of air and liquid blow over her from her left side just as she heard a sickening sound of flesh being ripped. Before she could react, less than half a second later the sound of two gunshots echoed across the stadium, silencing everyone, including the currently competing athletes. She turned to where Cadence and Skyla were sitting. Twilight’s eyes shrank to pinpricks at what see saw.

Skyla had fallen off of her chair, slumped down onto the floor as blood flowed freely out of her body, she wasn’t moving. The bullet had decapitated her, essentially eliminating any chance of survival. Cadence, however, was doing better, but not by a lot. Even though the bullet had not completely destroyed her body, the bullet had blown a hole right where her heart was. Cadence in shock of what just happened, could do nothing but stare blankly as the truth of what had just occurred settled in.

The short silence after the bangs exploded into screams of terror and fright as Twilight rushed over to Cadence, while Luna and Celestia rushed over to Skyla. All sense of reason was thrown away as thousands of ponies ran in a panicked frenzy out of the stadium. The guards tried to maintain order but were overwhelmed by the masses.

Twilight noticed that Princess Celestia and Luna were attempting to keep Skyla alive, or at least try to bring her back to life without resorting to necromancy. Because of this, Twilight focused her magic on her former foal sitter while holding her hoof, Cadence gripped Twilight back out of reflex. She kept pumping more and more recovery magic into her body. But it was all for nothing. Seconds later, Cadence’s grip on Twilight's hoof slackened completely, and her head fell limply without control forward, causing the tiara on her head to fall to the floor. As Twilight tried to shake Cadence awake, akin to how a filly would shake their parents awake, the tiara slowly rolled to a stop.

Twilight looked at her old mentor for help and was frightened to see the fury burning in her eyes. Her expression shared by her sister Luna who just left in an attempt to help the guard control the crowd.

She felt her heart tear into more pieces. Someone had just taken a dear friend of hers away right in front of her. Rage boiled within her and began to consume her heart. She would not let this go unsolved. Not after what happened to Rainbow Dash, and not after what happened to Spike. She had lost too many friends. But there was still a chance to catch the murderer. Blinking back the tears in her eyes, she quickly scanned the chaotic scene before her and cast tracing spells over the fragments of lead located near both Skyla and Cadence.

Despite how well hidden the assassin was when committing the act; the griffon, now exposed, as he hastily tried to pack his gear. Twilight spied him on the rooftops outside the stadium and teleported to him in an instant.

Twilight charged her telekinesis spell, “Hey! Where do you…” Her magic gripped the griffon as he spun around and attempted to knock her out with a punch. However, he was slammed into the ground before he could. “Think you’re going!?” Twilight finished. “Do you know what you took from me?” She screamed in fury, her coat had turned white, while her mane and tail were now on fire due to the emotional overload. She lifted him into the air and slammed him harder into the ground. His body was crushed over his right wing as his head banged against the floor. “How could do it!? Why did you do it!?” Twilight was screaming through her tears. Sorrow, rage, and revenge battled in her head until finally, she let him go from her magical grip, her mane, tail, and coat returning to normal and she stared down at the griffin with fury.

Blood spilled from the griffon's wounds where bone and broken through. Despite the pain, the assassin glared at the small princess. Ever so slowly, a cruel smile crept upon his beak as he reached under one of his wings and pulled out a small capsule.

“What are you doing?” She received no answer as the assassin popped the capsule into his beak and bit down on it. Moments later the griffin began laughing maniacally a crazed look in his eyes, right before convulsing violently. Twilight stared in horror as the murderer of her friend and niece violently shook on the ground while foaming at the mouth. Eventually, the body became still, the final indication of his death being his eyes finally rolling into the back of his head. The foam from his mouth dripped out of his mouth, mixing with the fragments of bone from her attack, and the slowly growing pool of blood below. Twilight was shocked, confused, terrified, and angry, but none of what she felt gave her the answers she wanted. Amidst the chorus of screams below in Manhattan, she could swear she heard a small chuckle.

Chapter 1

***3 days after Cadence’s Death***

The mourning bells rang across the country. The news of Cadence’s and her daughter's death spread faster than wildfire in a dry forest. Every citizen in the country was shocked. While death was not uncommon in the world, taking life a purposely was extremely rare. But taking the life of a royal in Equestria had been unheard of up until this point, let alone two royals.

The streets of Canterlot were packed with ponies from all corners of Equestria. From the palace balcony stood a magenta pony with a silver mane with midnight blue eyes. Prime Minister Sand Swirl watched the Equestrian guard do their best to keep order amongst the grieving masses from his perch. It was like watching water breaking out of a dam. The minister stepped closer to the edge of the balcony, resulting in a deathly silence filling the air as all eyes gazed upon him. The Prime Minister had new found respect for the celestial princesses. Every word he would speak would go down in history. Every word he would say now would dictate the future.

And it terrified him.

However, he knew that this needed to be done, there was no way to back out of this. He took an oath to serve his country, and right now, his country needed him.

“Citizens of Equestria.” Sand Swirl spoke softly, despite his tone, the spells in place made it so that the ponies in the city could hear him without difficulty. “I stand before you in the name of the princesses.” He paused for a moment. For such an important announcement to be made by him and not the princesses gave testament that they were still distraught over Cadence’s and Skyla's death. “Three days ago, tragedy struck Equestria. I cannot begin to describe to you the horror I felt as I watched Princess Mi Amore Cadenza’s and Skyla’s life be taken away from us so soon, in such an unjust manner. Our neighbors to the north, The Crystal Empire, will never be the same without them.” His voice hitched involuntarily as he tried to suppress the growing tears. ”Both of them brought much happiness and love to everypony they met, especially Cadence. I’m sure that while Candace would appreciate our mourning, she would rather us be happy at her passing.” By now, the tears were flowing freely from his eyes, while his voice wavered. “Princess Twilight Sparkle and her brother, Prince Shining Armor, were closer to Cadence and her daughter than anypony. I ask that you pray for them in their time of grief. Princess Celestia, Princess Luna and I are currently looking into assassin’s background and bring closure behind the reason for their deaths.” Sand took a moment to compose himself before continuing once more. “This is a dark time for Equestria and may the princesses guide us all.”

Sand Swirl stepped back from the edge and gave a solemn bow to the masses, tears fell to the floor below him as he lowered his head. The funeral procession would happen in the coming days. With the nation coming to pay its respects, it would be hard to organize a proper funeral burial where everypony would be able to attend. He would be there every step of the way to ensure everything goes according to plan.

~~~

On the last funeral day, the day of the burial, Celestia made an appearance. Celestia let her tears fall with no regard for her regal façade. Twilight saw Celestia cry when she was a filly, but she never saw her this distraught before. Seeing her mentor and second mother brought to tears let loose the torrent of emotional build up in Twilight. While the two were not alone in their remorse, their sobbing was heard over everyponies cries as Cadence’s and Skyla's caskets were lowered into the ground.

Prime Minister Sand Swirl stood close by the royal sisters and gave the princesses comforting words of remorse. He assured them to take as long as they needed to vent their sorrows as he would hold official duties for them. His eye eventually caught Twilight being comforted by her friends, but he could see that her pain ran much deeper. Sand dismissed himself from Celestia and Luna and interjected himself into Twilight’s circle.

“I know this will be a trying time for you Princess Twilight Sparkle. I want you to know that if you need anything, anything at all, I will be there for you. Just like your friends here.”

“Yes, darling. You always have us.” Rarity replied.

“That’s right sugar cube.” Applejack joined in. “We’re bonded together like an apple pie.” Applejack wrapped her foreleg around Twilight in a comforting hug.

“Yeah! And friends are always there for you!” Pinke said in her normal joyous voice.

Twilight burst into tears and rushed out of the funeral reception, leaving behind her confused friends. She bumped into other ponies as she ran, knocking over one in the process, but didn’t stop even after she got outside.

“What happened? Was it something I said?” Pinkie said, hurt creeping into her voice as her mane flattened slightly.

“I think,” Sand Swirl said, “that you reminded her of Rainbow Dash. You girls should be with her. Tell her everything will be alright. Just be there for her in her time of need.”

~~~

Twilight escaped into the solitude of her castle. The construction of the library was still in progress since Tirek’s attempt at world domination. She closed and locked every entrance and window before reinforcing them with a magical repellent. She couldn’t bear to see or be seen by anypony right now. Her overworked mind gently slipped into exhaustion as her actions became sluggish and monotonous. How she wished her number one assistant was here to make her tea, listen to her cry, and guide her to bed with concerned grace. Despite being so young, Spike was quite adept at making her feel better, he knew how she liked everything to be and made it so to ease her burden.

She felt tired as she reached the balcony, eventually collapsing on the floor. She laid there and gazed into the sky as the daylight slowly faded and darkness enveloped her vision. The stars were especially bright tonight. She could swear that there was a new constellation next to the moon. Her mind slipped further into unconsciousness until finally, she was sleeping.

***A few weeks later..***

Nopony had seen Twilight leave her castle since the funeral. Her friends started to worry, eventually coming to the conclusion that intervention was needed. Pinkie Pie jumped on the opportunity, as per the norm. She couldn’t stand anypony being sad in Ponyville, least of all one of her friends. She also felt responsible for letting her down. Fluttershy had offered to help but Applejack knew that kindness alone would not get through Twilight’s hard shell. They needed somepony with blunt honesty to break down the walls she built around herself. Plus knowing Fluttershy, she would be all too compliant to leave Twilight alone.

As the two approached the castle, Applejack couldn’t help be nervous. A stark contrast of Pinkie Pie who was bouncing up and down, without a care in the world.

“What are you all excited about, Pinkie?” She asked her eyeballs following every other bounce.

“We get see Twilight all happy again!” She said with a big smile. “I can feel it!”

“I suppose we’ll see, Pinks.” AJ said with a confident smile. If her Pinkie sense was any indication, then there was nothing to worry about. The pair reached their destination and were now standing beneath the balcony.

“Hey, Twilight, come out you mopey pants!” Pinkie shouted, jumping up and down.

“GO AWAY!” Twilight shouted using the Royal Canterlot Voice while Pinkie was in the middle of the air, causing her to fly back a few feet. Her voice didn’t leave Applejack unscathed, though, her hat nearly blew off her head, she readjusted it before turning and speaking to her stilly bubbly comrade.

“I swear to ya, Pinks, ever since she learned that voice thingy from Luna she’s almost as loud as you in the mornings,” Applejack stated bluntly. She looked towards the balcony and began speaking. “Come on, Twi, you been alone for far too long and you’ve been stuck in that castle close for nearly a month now,” she shouted back.

“I…Just… Please…” Twilight tried to object.

“You need to come out and see your friends,” Pinkie added. ”I can Pinkie Promise we can make you smile again.”

“How can you promise that? Do you know what it’s like, Pinkie?” She shouted back, thankfully not using the Royal Canterlot Voice.

Applejack voice trembled as an old dull pain throbbed in her heart. ”I understand how it’s like to lose somepony you knew your entire life. I know how hard it is, Twilight. Please, Twi, don’t shut us out.” She begged.

There was an awkward silence for about five minutes. Applejack glanced over to Pinkie Pie. She looked torn between happy and hurt. Twilight’s barb might have struck a touchy subject no one knew about. She admired how Pinkie still smiled for the sake of her friend. She also looked expectant, as if she knew Twilight would be opening the door any moment now. Applejack was about to shout back up to the balcony when she felt the magical ward dissipate and saw the large castle doors opening. Twilight then came out the house much to the shock of her friends. Twilight looked like she was hit by a herd of cows and her eyes had bags under them like an overworked accountant during tax season. Her mane was sticking up in every which way, and her wings were in desperate need of a preening.

“I’m sorry.” She fought the tears that were threatening to fall with a strained smile. “It’s just so hard.”

“I know sugar cube, I know. Some things just happen and there’s nothing you can do about it. But think of it this way, you now have something else to live for. Making sure that thousands of years from now, nopony will ever forget who Princess Cadence and Skyla were.”

Pinkie Pie launched herself over and gave Twilight a tight hug. “Everyone misses you. I’m gonna have to throw tons of parties to get everyone happy again. But the first one is for you.”

Twilight hugged Pinkie back as her smile turned more genuine. “Okay.” She let go of the bubbly pony and locked eyes with both her friends. “Thank you. For everything.”

“Ah, shucks, don’t mention it sugarcube. Now let’s get going.”

Twilight, AJ, and Pinkie went to Sugar Cube and Rarity came shortly after along with some other ponies from Ponyville also to cheer up the Princess. For once in the past few weeks, she smiled and Pinkie and her other smiled too. The party went on for hours, and though it didn’t heal Twilight Sparkle completely, it was a step in the right direction for her mental recovery. It wasn’t until the moon was high in the sky before it was over.

Twilight arrived back her castle and she sighed and told herself everything is going to be fine. She made her way to her bedroom and immediately went to her bed to sleep away her exhaustion. Tomorrow was going to be a new day, and she intended to make the most of it that she could.

***Meanwhile…****

Rainbow Dash moaned. Her body ached all over. She weakly kicked her limbs around as she slowly awoke from a nightmare. Her movements became tangled in something and she snapped awake in a panic. As she rabidly flailed her legs and wings to get whatever was restraining her off, a soft blanket unwrapped itself from her and was thrown violently off the bed she was laid in. she launched herself into the air. A sharp pain shot through her wing, however, and she fell back into the bed.

Dash rolled back into an upright position and immediately scanned the room she was in. Half her vision revealed a dimly lit, barren room except the bed and doorway. The other half was completely black. She groaned again, still feeling very sore.

“Where I am?”

Still on edge, She wearily got off the bed and shuffled quietly to the door. Testing the door handle, she expected it to be locked, but the knob easily turned and the door cracked open. She peeked through with her good eye for a second before opening it fully. Her eyes widened in surprise. She wasn’t sure what she was expecting, a dark hallway, and mad science lab, or another torture chamber. But she knew for a fact that she was certainly not expecting to see a massive library.

Her knees shook from lack of use. How long has she been out? She didn’t even feel this way after being in the hospital for a few weeks, that thought made her even more nervous. She burst into the library anyways hoping to quickly find a way out. As she ran, she pivoted her head left and right, attempting to correct her lack of depth and find an escape route.

“Come on, come on, come on! Where’s the door? A window? Anything? Where’s the exit!?” Her mind raced as fast as her legs were sprinting. Had she been recaptured? Was she in another building now!? No, she wasn’t going to go through that ordeal again. She was going to escape, or die trying!

The library was impossibly large. Aisle upon aisle, row upon row, bookcase upon bookcase, Towering impossibly high like skyscrapers. A fleeting joke escaped her throat.

“Wow, Twilight, eat your heart out.” she muttered.

She found another door and crashed through it as well. Her desire for freedom burned like the sun. Yet the room she burst into and was shocked. A spacious circular room with strangely textured walls. In the middle room was what looked like a control panel of sorts with buttons, switches, indicators, dials, knicks, knacks and paddy whacks. A glass pump looking the thing in the center of that. The room was orangish brown and made of some sort of metal.

"It can't be." she thought simply stunned.

A door opened on the other side where the cheer from a party could be heard. She saw a blue pony unicorn with a dark blue mane and tail with a black coat and white t-shirt underneath, enter the door with his back turned to Dash.

“Thank you everypony. Have a fantastic night.” he bid farewell and turned around. The goofy grin on his face dropped when he saw Dash.

“Doctor?" she asked.

His eyes widened with a glint of happiness in them. “Hold that thought”, he cheerfully replied and ran out through another set of doors.

“Hey! Don’t ignore me!” She growled angrily, stomping after the stallion. When Dash reached the door, a purple and green blur burst out of the doorway and glomped her.

“You’re alright! Thank Twilight you’re alright!” The scaled lizard blurted out between his tight squeezing hug and nuzzling of his head against her neck.

Dash’s thoughts were completely derailed by the unexpectedly friendly lizard and the mention of her best friend’s name. Her revenge seeking rage dissipated and was replaced with confusion. She couldn’t remember where she had met a tall, lanky, purple-green lizard wearing a light-brown trench coat before.

“Uh. Have we met?” She asked. There was a hint of nostalgia when she looked into the reptile’s eyes. Before she could identify him, the light brown colt from before returned.

“Oh splendid! I love moments like these! Long lost friends reunited after ages of being separated.” He trotted merrily to Rainbow Dash, who shot him a questioning look before gazing back at the scaled dragon attached to her.

“S-Spike?” Her eyes widened when it dawned on her. The scenarios that played in her head while she was behind locked doors did not result in the one she was in now. The tension in her body finally relaxed in her friend’s embrace.

After a minute the dragon let go of Dash but still stayed close to her, almost afraid that she’d disappear if he left her. He guided her to a chair where she sat, much to her pleasure.

The stallion waited patiently for Rainbow to be comfortable before finally introducing himself. “To answer your question earlier, I am The Doctor, well not how you exactly remember me. You see, I regenerated into a new face. You see us timelords have this little trick that allows us to be 'immortal' and escape death. So yeah, hi Dash. How's Fluttershy?"

"She was doing pretty great." she replied.

Spike was stunned at the scene in front of him.

“First of all you two know each other and Fluttershy?", he asked

"Short version, Spike," he said looking at him, “mainly through their parents, but both fine now right?"

"Yep!" Dash said gleefully.

"Oh excellent.", The Doctor replied with a smile on his face

"I hate to interpret, but a lot has happened while you were gone Dash.” Spike interjected solemnly. His right hand is holding on to Dash’s shoulder.

Dash was in shock of how much he grew and how voice got deeper as well. She looked and saw The Doctor was looking at her with frown and looked back at Spike; his smile was replaced with a frown

“How long was I gone?” she asked.

“About five years Dash.” he revealed to her with a serious look, "We all thought you were dead including Fluttershy. " Dash shook her head in disbelief. Was that really how long she spent in that prison?

“It’s true.” The Doctor confirmed sadly. His voice tinged with regret. Dash stared off into space, trying to make sense of everything that had happened to her. Her gaze drifted down to her hooves. Somehow, it felt disorienting. Like the depth was wrong. She hadn’t paid attention to it before since escaping was her priority at the time.

“Hey Doc, I think she also doesn't know about… you know”, he said with nug of his voice.

“Rainbow,” the Doctor paused, as if unsure how to proceed, “by any chance, have you looked at yourself?”

She looked up from her hooves and stared at the doctor with dread. “N-no”, she managed to answer.

The Doctor turned on the mirror function on the TARDIS display. Dash. He frowned as he turned the display towards her. Her body had recovered from the scrapes and burns of her escape. Even her fur was back to normal with no broken patched then she turned and looked at her right side of her body in horror. “The healing room can heal anything…” The Doctor began to explain before Dash interrupted angrily.

“If can heal anything then why didn’t heal my wing?!” she yelled at him, tears forming her eyes.

“I used the healing room to heal up your scars, but he had to get you help. was too badly. We took you to the best hospital in the universe and they said that your wing was too badly damaged with bullets wounds and rough sever through the bone. They replaced your wing with a prosthetic one. It cost a pretty penny to make it happen, but then again, I’m an immortal Time Lord. I have billion, if not trillions stashed away and easily accessible for emergencies like this.” The Doctor humble-bragged as he turned off the mirror.

“We didn’t do anything fancy, like add weapons or anything to it. Because it’s a wing, we know how those mean to you. Despite it being prosthetic, it’s top of the line, so you shouldn't have any complication while you fly. And this wing is rated to still hold it’s own even during speeds above the sound barrier. But we still don’t if you’ll be able to perform a sonic rainboom with it.” Spike said calmly.

Dash was left speechless. She couldn’t identify the loss she was feeling.

Just, nothing.

The Doctor went to the controls. His sudden movement broke Dash out of her daze. “What are you doing?” She asked.

“Taking you back to your time” The Doctor replied while flipping switches, twisting knobs and thumping paddy whacks.

“But Doc”, Spike said, “You said yourself just finding Dashie was lucky because you couldn't get to that time because it was--”

“Time-locked?” The Doctor answered, “Yes, but it was a soft spot and I bet it’s still there.” He flipped a switch and then alarms went throughout The TARDIS. This made Spike rolls his eyes

“How?” he asked, “They couldn’t travel into time before.”

“Apparently they can now!” he said pulling another switch while Dash hovered above them, confused

“Doctor! What’s happening?” Dash yelled, fear creeping into her voice.

The Doctor grabbed a screen with dozens of dots on it.

“We've got company” The Doctor exclaimed, a rabid smile graced his face as he dramatically pulled another switch.

Chapter 2

***Three months two days after Cadence’s Death***

Applejack, Apple Bloom, and Big Mac sat on top of a hill on Sweet Apple Acres, looking at three gravestones. Applejack wanted to cry, but wouldn't because she was too stubborn to let them fall. She and Big Mac had agreed that the three of them would visit their parents' graves, as well as their grandmother's, on their birthdays and the anniversary of their deaths.

“Hello Ma, Pa, and Granny,” Applejack greeted, looking at them.

“I wish I could remember you two,” Apple Bloom said, “You would have loved my cutie mark and been proud of me.”

She then looked at Granny Smith's grave. Granny Smith had died in her sleep. It was a big loss for the Apple family and Ponyville. Everyone, including all the princesses and the Apple family members, had gone to her funeral. Applejack had never seen her younger sister cry so much, not since she was a newborn. She had been depressed herself for about three weeks, and the one thing that had gotten her out of that depression was Apple Bloom getting her cutie mark.

“You would be too,” Apple Bloom added, looking at Granny Smith’s grave for a moment longer before looking down at the ground sadly, “I miss her.”

Applejack wrapped her hoof around the youngest of them all and held her tight. “Me too,” she agreed, shedding her the first tear over it since her parents had died.

“We all do,” Big Mac said, wrapping them both in a sibling's embrace.

They went to Sugar Cube Corner a short time later. Since Granny Smith's death, Pinkie and AJ had arranged that day they could get a free tub of ice cream or free ice cream in general. Applejack was eating some and saw Twilight hanging around the town with Mayor Mare.

On this depressing day, she thought, at least Twilight is out of the castle

Once they were done eating, Big Mac and Apple Bloom had deliveries to make to other cities. Applejack stayed for a little while longer and thought about her life, in general, running the Apple family. Her work consisted of managing and running affairs of the extended family. That was formerly Granny’s job, but since her death, it had become AJ's burden. It was hard at first, but thanks to Twilight, Rarity, and some help from the Cakes she got a hold of it. She was pretty fortunate that she wasn't running the Apple family alone. Each city has their family member in charge of their extended branch: The Oranges in Manehattan, the Fritters in Fillydelphia, and so on. The main trouble is that there was no Apple family member in Canterlot, and the ponies there didn't like AJ's family because apparently they were “second rate.” Applejack and her family had gotten mad, to say the least when they'd heard that; that was until Prime Minister Sand Swirl offered to be the head of the Apple family a couple of years ago in Canterlot. That had been good for business since it allowed the Apples to advertise themselves in Equestria's capital, but business hadn't been the best. Over the years, Sliver Swirl had become good friends with AJ and better friends after Granny died.

Applejack decided to head back to the farm and saw a couple of royal guards – one lunar royal guard, bat pony by the looks of it, and one royal unicorn guard. She was curious about what was going on and ventured over to the gathering where she saw Sliver looking at an Apple tree.

“Mind if I have one?” he asked when he took notice of the orange earth mare.

“I see no problem,” she replied with a shrug.

Sand Swirl then bucked the tree to get an apple down and started eating one of the red ones that had fallen.

“I take it this visit isn't social?” Applejack asked to break a silence that fell around them all.

“No,” he replied between bites.

They went inside the barn, and that's when she saw it: A scale model of a redesign of Ponyville – the houses now fit the design of the castle. All of them made from crystals of varying shades – some purple, some were blue, others orange, some a variation of pink, some yellow, and some being other colors from the rainbow no doubt. In the middle where the events and Mayor Mare's office were, it was replaced with statutes of AJ and her friends. Twilight and Mare decided on the fact it would get torn down since it had no further use since the castle replaced it.

“This again,” Applejack said, “I missed it.”

Applejack has seen this design of town about five years after they had defeated Tirek. It was Twilight’s idea not making the castle stick out like a sore hoof. She was all for this idea, but part of the design required some new housing near Sweet Apple Acres. It up a six-way vote for Spike and the others. Rarity and Mayor Mare said yes. While Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Granny Smith, and herself said no. It was revised again a year later, and most of them had said yes, but it was a tied vote, and it was up to Applejack and Granny to decide, and both said no. Now with Granny gone, she knew there was only one outcome.

“I missed the voting, apologizes,” she said putting her hat down, “I guess it passed?”

“Yes,” Sand Swirl revealed. Applejack lowered her head more, and he rested a hoof around her shoulder. “Its okay AJ, everyone understood why you weren’t there. Even if you had been, it would have still passed.”

“I see,” Applejack responded before turning to leave.

“I didn't come to deliver bad news,” Sand said.

Sand’s statement caught Applejack's attention, and she stopped to look back at the Prime Minister. “What do ya mean?” she asked.

“The farm will remain untouched altogether,” Sand Swirl announced.

“Why do I hear a 'but' incoming?” she asked incredulously.

“There is none,” he assured, “Sweet Apple Acres will remain untouched until you pass and the next of kin will decide.”

Applejack remained motionless for a short time to the point one might have though a cockatrice had frozen her with its stony gaze. A moment later, however, the mare hugged the prime minster. “Thank you, Sliver. You are a true Apple.”

“Yes, I am. Oh, and I want to let you know next week the mayor is retiring and moving to Fillydelphia,” Sliver Swirl told her with some regret in his voice.

“So it's now her time,” AJ said, “Thank you for letting me know.”

Sand was about to leave the Apple farm just as Twilight was arriving.

“Twilight, I haven't talked to you properly since the funeral,” he said with a sympathetic smile, “How are you holding up?”

“I'm doing much better,” she replied with a smile of her own, “I admit I will miss them, a lot, but Cadence and my niece will always be alive in my memories and heart.”

“Touching,” he said. He then looked both Applejack and Twilight. “It was nice talking, but I have urgent matters to attend to in Canterlot. I think you know what I mean Twilight.” After speaking, Sliver looking at her and leaving with his guards

“What was that about?” AJ asked with a confused look on her face.

“Well that was what I want to talk to you about,” she said with a serious look, “Can we talk about inside the barn?”

“Sure.”

Once they got the barn, Twilight got a look of nervous glee on her face. “Princess Celestia and Sliver Swirl are talking about getting me my very own guard.”

“That's good news Twilight,” AJ replied.

“But how am I going to lead them? Who am I going to choose to be the head guard--”, she panicked, flying upwards into a nervous frenzy.

“Twilight!” Applejack yelled after her.

Twilight looked at earth pony mare before descending back toward the ground. “Yes?”

“First, clam up, and secondly, I'm sure either Luna, Celestia, and your brother will be willing to help,” Applejack pointed out.

“That's going to be a problem,” she said.

Applejack looked confused.

“Well you see,” Twilight explained, “Celestia may be willing to help, but she’s busy will a whole lot of things including running Equestria. Luna has gone completely silent since Cadence’s death and didn't talk anyone except the guards; paranoid if you ask me. My BBBFF has not answered any my letters in weeks, now has cut off all contact with Equestria and I quote ‘Not allowing anyone in or out of the Empire.’”

Applejack was in shock for a couple of minutes, looking for words to say before they finally came and she put a hoof around her friend. “You have every reason to be nervous Twi, but don't. Go into a frenzy about it. Can I ask what your plan is?”

“Well Celestia has sent me books to confiscate for her being busy,” Twilight said with a sigh, “I guess will just study up on it.”

Applejack looked down on the ground. “Well good luck Twi; ya’ll need it,” she with a hopeful look on her eye

“Thank you, Applejack,” Twilight said.

Moments later Twilight left the barn and took off toward her castle, but couldn’t shake a feeling of foreboding from her mind. It was a feeling that everything was going to change, but not in her favor.

Chapter 3

***Five months and four weeks after Cadence’s Death***

Applejack woke up early and did some of the taxes for the Apple family and also paid some of the bills. She, however, didn't know that just last week Iskandar and the rest of the damn system had all agreed to increase the tax on all apple related products by 7 bits. That didn't help her family at all. She wrote and letter to Sand Swirl explaining why. All he'd said in response was:

My dearest Applejack,

The parliament had increased the tax on apple related products due to the price of the bit went up and thus as a collective decision by all of us and Celestia. Luna and I did disagree with it, though. I had to increase the price of nearly everything including your products. I wish I could otherwise help you and give you what you all want, but it's simple economics and very impossible to make everypony happy. If I were you, I'd save every bit you can Applejack and hopefully you can all make out of this okay, and I do hope the price can go down soon.

Yours,

Prime Minister Sand Swirl

She threw away the letter shortly after she read it out of frustration. Applejack had a good rant afterward that Big Mac patiently listened to, about how it would leave the Apple family bankrupt and out looking for other jobs, or even second jobs – which she was considering due to the news. AJ let out a depressed sigh and got up. Today wasn't a day to be depressed. It was a day to be happy because it was going to have Pinkie’s biggest party ever in it. She put on the biggest smile she could and headed out to the party.

When she got there, she saw that there was a symphony playing some songs. She sighed as she looked at the festivities and decoration; there were balloons and games for everypony. The fillies were having the time of their lives, while their parents were too. Applejack couldn't find a genuine smile when she saw Ponyville celebrating Pinkie's going away, so she wore one plastered on her face. Apple Bloom was already there, setting up shop for the Apples before Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle came to her.

“So how's the party?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“Fine,” Apple Bloom said with a smile.

Sweetie and Scootaloo looked overjoyed.

“Can Ah ask what's with y'all?” Apple Bloom wondered.

“I'm going to sing onstage!” Sweetie said, “I have a new song I wrote that I'm gonna use.”

“Well, my news is better,” Scootaloo with her wings up confidently.

“How so?” Apple Bloom asked.

The next moment they hugged in joy and Applejack was curious as to what they were so happy. “What're y’all so jovial about?” Applejack asked

“I got a letter of acceptance in the mail for the Wonderbolt Academy!” the young pegasus exclaimed excitedly. Once Dash had died, Scoots had been in shock and had slipped into a deep depression at such a huge blow. Thankfully those who cared for her noticed, and opted to get her help. Something that she was thankful for. Unknown to everypony else, before she had gotten help, she was contemplating suicide. But after getting help, she realised that not only would it be a horrible solution to her problems, but that Dash would tear her a new asshole in the afterlife. So instead she decided to better her life, following in her sister's footsteps and becoming an excellent flier and even applying to the academy.

“I'm proud o' ya, Scoots, and your sister would've been proud too, very proud,” Applejack said with a happy look on her face, hugging Scootaloo.

“I'm sure Dash would be too,” she replied, looking up at the sky with a tear in her eye.

“Go an' celebrate,” Applejack told her. Scootaloo nodded and ran off.

“Well I better go on and get up on stage,” Sweetie said with a sigh.

“Ah’ll be walking 'round if ya need anything, Apple Bloom,” Applejack told her before trotting off.

The orange mare walked around and saw there was a hat making station and the local Ponyville restaurants were busier than an apple-bucking season. She then saw Twi and Sand talking, and the alicorn looked somber.

“Cheer up, Twilight, please,” Sand Swirl said with sincerity, putting his hoof under her chin, “If I were to make the call I would have you traveled to the Empire. Plus, do you want Pinkie to see you down?”

“No,” Twilight admitted while wiping her tears away, “I just hope Celestia was making the right decision.”

“I hope so too,” he agreed, smiling, “Now I didn't come here to bring work with me. I came here to enjoy a party, so if you’ll excuse me.”

Applejack wanted to talk to Twilight, but she wanted to speak with her friend more privately, so she decided to wait and shrugged it off for the moment to enjoy the party. Soon the music began. Fluttershy appeared, and AJ and Twi were happy to see her out of her cottage and socializing. Apple cider was soon on sale at the party, and Sand was generous enough to pay for cider for himself and the three mares. The party wore on through the entire night and wrapped up by the beginning of the next day.

***1 week Later***

Rarity and Pinkie were leaving Ponyville for good; Applejack and Twilight been dreading the day for months, but it was time to face it head on. It appeared that it was scheduled to rain for that day; fitting in Applejack's opinion. Rarity was going to be the first to leave due to the fact that the grand opening of her new Canterlot boutique was in two days. Twilight, Applejack, Fluttershy, Sweetie Belle, and her parents were there to say goodbye to her.

“Are you sure, you can't stay in Ponyville?” Twilight asked her.

“I'm sure darling. This town is too sad for me to stay and I have more opportunity in Canterlot,” Rarity replied with a faint smile.

Sweetie Belle gave her a long hug and started crying.

“Don't worry Sweetie, I’ll invite you to the Gala, and you can visit me anytime, when you have the chance to,” Rarity assured.

“You're right,” Sweetie Belle replied, sniffling before wiping at her eyes.

Twilight, Fluttershy, and Applejack hugged her goodbye, and Twilight shed a few tears along with Fluttershy.

“Will I see you all at the Gala this year?” Rarity asked.

“You bet,” Applejack replied.

“You can count on it,” Twilight agreed.

“Yes,” Fluttershy cooed, nodding.

After Rarity's parents had said goodbye, Twilight helped the white unicorn get her things on the train and gave her one last hug before they parted ways. They waved goodbye to her up until Rarity disappeared out of sight. Pinkie was next up, and the Cakes were crying non-stop. Pinkie's mane was dark and deflated from its usual bouncy curls.

“Ya don't have t' leave Pinkie, you still have them,” Applejack said, gesturing to the Cakes.

“Its okay,” Pinkie said with a faint smile, “They'll survive without me. Thanks to Dash’s death, among other things, I don't want the happiness my parties bring to be only here in Ponyville, but across all of Equestria. But it's only a one-time deal.”

“But you could come back here,” Fluttershy assured.

“I’m sorry, Fluttershy, but AJ and Maud made realize that I miss my real family. It's also getting sad staying in Ponyville without thinking about Dashie,” Pinkie said.

So, that's what she meant, Applejack thought, remembering what Twilight had told her in the bar a couple of months ago.

Pinkie then hugged all the Cakes one last time along with the girls as they helped her with her stuff. After that, they waved goodbye, and the pink earth pony was on her way to Manehattan.

***The next day***

Twilight looked exhausted than ever before, and some of Ponyville's residents started to take notice, so AJ decided to ask her what was wrong.

“What's up, Twi?” she asked.

“Just everything that's happened is crashing down on me I think; that, and it also has to do with a lot of stress,” Twilight replied with a slightly irritated sigh.

“Stress from what?”

“I have a meeting coming up with Griffin King Bamsi in a couple of weeks. It was my one opportunity to meet my brother again, but Celestia said no because he could influence me.”

“Well, that don't make a lick o' sense. But why are you meeting the king in the first place?”

Twilight exhaled wryly. “Apparently he hasn't been the same since Cadence's death. He took it much harder than any of us initially thought. According to Sand, Shining is getting ready to go to war with the griffins as revenge. The meetings will take place at the same time, and it all rests with me talking to the King and for the other princesses to calm Shining Armor down.”

“Well, I wish ya luck, sugarcube.” Applejack said sympathetically.

“Thank, AJ.” Twilight responded, before walking away.

Chapter 4

***Five months Cadence’s death ***

Applejack walked into the local Ponyville bar and saw Twilight drinking like a mad horse, having already gone through ten hard ciders. Along with her was Fluttershy, who had become much more of a recluse in the time following Cadence's and Skyla's death. She'd already gotten shyer after Dash had died, but with them gone, the yellow pegasus had all but fallen mute.

“Are you sure that you haven't had enough already your highness?” the bartender asked.

“I’ll tell you when I have enough ...” she drunkenly slurred.

“Hey Twi,” AJ greeted, ordering a drink.

“Hey Applejack,” the princess returned, hanging her head down.

Applejack nodded in response to the greeting, soon taking notice of Fluttershy of all ponies in the bar nearby. “Did you invite Fluttershy?” the orange earth pony asked to Twilight.

“No, but she must be here for the same reason I am,” she said taking another swig of her drink.

“Which is, what?” Applejack asked sitting down in the free chair on Twilight's other side.

The princess looked utterly exhausted, but that wasn't the reason why she was depressed, and it wasn't the time to ask. She didn't answer AJ.

“Rarity and Pinkie Pie are leaving Ponyville,” Fluttershy finally answered in Twilight's stead, taking another drink.

“I'm sorry?” Applejack asked, bewildered.

“You heard her,” Twilight said looking at her.

“Care to explain?” the orange pony asked as she took a drink.

“I'm sorry, yes,” Twilight replied, taking one last shot and ordering another, “Rarity is leaving Ponyville permanently to focus more on her business and plus to micromanage her company now.”

“How did that happen?” Applejack asked.

“Well, believe it or not, Sliver managed to find a home for Rarity in Canterlot that is nearby her store,” the alicorn replied

“And he told her this…” Applejack stated, nearly turning it into a question.

“Yesterday,” she said, “and before you ask, it's because he wanted the shop ready for her when it was to going to tell her. He wanted to surprise her.”

“And Pinkie?”

“She has decided to go on a 'world tour party,' as she calls it,” Twilight explained, “She didn't want Ponyville to be the only town in Equestria to experience the happiness her parties provide and decided to go to every town, city, and so on.”

“That's very sweet of her,” Applejack replied.

Twilight managed a smile. “Yeah, I guess it is.”

“On top of that,” Fluttershy added quietly, “Pinkie has kind of been mellowing down and getting more and sadder. I think it good for her to get out of Ponyville and go on the tour she's planning.”

“But that's not what I'm upset about,” Twilight said taking another drink, Applejack following her, “Pinkie Pie is going back to the rock farm after the tour's over.”

Applejack almost spat out her drink. “What in tarnation?” she almost shouted.

“I had the same reaction,” Fluttershy cooed.

“I know,” Twilight said with a sigh, taking another drink along with Fluttershy.

“Why?” Applejack asked.

“Well, she said something along the lines of the family being famous and all that,” Twilight said looking down at her drink, “I would ask her about it in her going away party in a couple of weeks.”

“I see,” Applejack responded.

Twilight paid for her drinks and started wobble a little bit after she got up from the chair. Paying for her own, Applejack noticed the princess stumbling badly toward the door and helped her toward it by putting a hoof around her and supporting Twilight's weight.

“Cya Fluttershy,” AJ said quickly.

“Bye,” Fluttershy replied, paying for another drink.

Once they left, Applejack felt it was the right time to ask the question she'd wanted to earlier. “Why do you look so tired Twi?”

“I'm just s-so worried about everything lately,” Twilight hiccuped almost falling asleep, “Shining hasn't replied to any my letters, I've being worried about you guys and…and the meeting with Griffin King. I've barely slept at all lately.”

In an ironic twist, Twilight fell asleep right after saying that. Applejack carried the alicorn on her back to the crystalline palace in which she lived, opening the door. The interior felt lonely and hollow as the farm pony traversed its many corridors to get her purple friend to her room.

Each of us feels as empty as this place does in some way now,” Applejack thought. She put Twilight in her bed with a sigh, shaking her head. “I wish things were better Twilight than they were right now. Ever since RD’s death things have slowly been going downhill, but I know things get better, sooner or later. I'll be here for ya Twi until I die.”

She began to walk out the room until Twilight muttered something in her sleep while cuddling her blanket. “Thank you…”

Applejack smiled and closed the door. She was beginning to head for the exit to the castle when she noticed that Twilight’s library was locked up tight.

“Weird,” the mare said, approaching it. When she tried to open it, it shocked her. “Ouch,” Applejack said rubbing her hoof, “That's one way to keep ponies out.” She then left the castle then, but a new thought took form in her mind as her curiosity began to grow regarding the library. I should ask Twilight about that sometimes when she isn't too busy. What’s so important in the library that she would purposely try to keep ponies out when she'd always had an open door policy about it before since the castle had sprung up?

***6 Months, 1 Day After Cadence’s Death***

Applejack woke up and saw it was raining. Well, at least I don't have to buck apples, today, she thought as she got up and got ready for the day. When she was doing her usual routine, she alarmed by the silence of the household and called for her siblings. “Big Mac? Applebloom?” she shouted.

The mare went looking for them, searching around the house for her brother and sister but finding no trace of them. She then looked outside for them in the pouring rain to see if they might be bucking apples, but neither Apple Bloom nor Big Mac was anywhere to be located. She headed to town and saw all the shops looked abandoned as well. She even checked in several windows but couldn't find a trace of any ponies inside or out.

“Where the hay is everypony?” Applejack wondered aloud.

After a little more searching, she eventually turned toward the castle and saw that the entire town there. Something was very wrong, so Applejack went towards the crowd. As she worked her way through the tight cluster, she saw some ponies like Roseluck horrified at the scene ahead, and others like Cheerilee shedding tears. As she approached the front of the crowd, she saw Celestia’s and Luna's guards patrolling the castle’s perimeter and saw Fluttershy was crying, but not blinking. She then turned and saw a high ranking sun guard coming to her, and he looked down as if he were trying to form words. AJ saw a body bag was being carried out by magic by two more Solar Guards.

“Applejack, I will be blunt,” the officer said with a serious face, “Your friend, Princess Twilight Sparkle, died by poison last at midnight.”

Applejack laughed in response. “You're jokin' right?” she asked while catching her breath, “And what ya really have in that their bag is a griffon.”

The griffin king, having shown up as well, stepped forward, and they looked at each other, and he mouthed to her over the crowd of ponies. “Sorry.”

That reality hit hard like a moving cart hitting her at high speed. She ground her teeth and sighed. “Thank you, officer,” Applejack said before walking toward her sister, “I want you to Manehatan and hang out with your cousin Apple Bloom.”

“Got it,” the filly replied.

The older pony walked away from the scene as it started to rain harder. When Applejack got home she started bucking trees; she didn't care if it was raining or not, it was her way to deal with this anger. When Big Mac saw that Applejack was bucking trees so hard there were dents in the trunks, he shook his head. He went to her and pulled the mare into a tight a hug where she started to cry.

“Wh-hh...why am Ah cryin'?” she wondered between the sobs that wracked her body, “Ah should be used to this.”

“Nopony ever gets use to it, AJ,” Big Mac said petting her mane.

She buried her face in Mac’s chest and after a while, she looked up at him. “Ah've come to realize that death is starting to become my companion.”

Big Mac suddenly slapped her in response and asked her a raised voice “That is nonsense Applejack, and y'know that right?”

The mare felt her cheek after the smack, but she thought and realized that Big Mac was right: she was acting foolish. “You’re right,” she admitted hugging her brother tight.

“Come on,” Mac said, “Now let's getcha inside before you get cold.”

Over the course the next couple of days, Applejack calmed down somewhat, but there was one thought going throughout her mind. How was Twilight killed? Were there any guards on duty? If so, why did the guards lack on their job?

She learned from a guard that there were a good number of night guards, but very few Sun Guards posted that evening, and she finally had somepony to blame. She turned on the radio to listen to some music for her to feel better. At first, it worked then Sand Swirl come on the radio

“My dearest citizen,” he started, “Twilight Sparkle is dead, and Celestia had just tried to commit suicide. As a result, in the overruling vote, Equestria has declared war on the griffon empire and the Parliament will pour all resources we can into defeating the enemy. We hit the griffons how they hit us, and we will not stop until they are utterly smashed, good day. ”

*** 1 week later***

Today was the funeral, and the plan, she learned via a letter from the prime minister, was to take the train up to the to Canterlot where Princess Luna and Sand Swirl would be waiting. On top of that, Applejack never liked going to Canterlot because she always had a feeling her stomach that almost made her sick.

When she got on the train, she tried to talk to Fluttershy but had no luck. She learned from Nurse Red Heart that Fluttershy had been in a state of shock for about four days. It was thanks to AJ and a few of her friends around Ponyville that she'd gotten out of it, but it was a hollow success. Red Heart had told her that due to the emotional ordeal that Twilight's death had caused, Fluttershy was now completely mute. Many had tried everything to get to the butter yellow pegasus to speak but without success. She'd stayed at Sweet Apple Acres since then, but didn't speak one word to anypony.

As they were reaching the Canterlot, AJ heard some guards talking about a rumored revolution happening in Fillydelphia and in some parts of Manehattan, which angered the earth pony.

Then all of Ponyville, AJ, and Fluttershy loaded into the train. After everypony had got loaded into the train, it started to head towards Canterlot. AJ and Fluttershy looked at the entrance and were amazed at how many ponies, and even hoofful of griffins and zebras, were in line for the funeral. All of them wore sad expressions on their faces. AJ and Fluttershy could agree that they'd never seen the town this sad before; even Pinkie would have a hard time cheering them up.

I wonder how well Pinkie Pie is handling this, the orange earth pony thought.

The train headed up the mountainside and AJ heard some of the ponies talking, but they stuck to the one-sided conversation at best. She also looked at them from time to time; some had faces of sorrow to not caring. Most of them asked one question: “What now?” and the usual answers: “I don't know,”

Those were AJ thoughts on the matter too: a very uncertain future for her, her family, and all of Equestria.

The train approached Canterlot. AJ and Fluttershy saw one side of the capital city, as well as citizens and the other Lunar and Solar Guards. Applejack touched her stomach hold back a feeling of nausea. Greeting them at the door was Rarity, who hugged AJ. Here mane was completely faded, and AJ swore she had some new bangs, but that could have been from the tears.

“It's good t' see ya too Rarity,” Applejack said.

“I was just worried you did something rash,” Rarity said. The white unicorn then hugged Fluttershy. ”Have have been holding up darling?”

“Sorry Rarity but Fluttershy took Twilight’s death pretty bad. Y'see, she was in shock for about a week and when she come 'round she was completely silent. Red Heart tried everything she could t' get her t' talk again,” Applejack explained.

“I'm sorry, Fluttershy,” the unicorn said, hugging the pegasus.

A solar guard coughed in their direction, and they looked at him. He and another were levitating Twilight’s Coffin, and this was the first time they saw it. It was standard brown, but it had Twilight’s cutie mark on the top of it and along the front side as well.

“Right...” Rarity said.

All of Ponyville took the lead as they went through Canterlot. As they walked, Applejack noticed fillies crying and adults looking sad, but she felt as if it were a hollow sadness. She knew the elite cared about no pony except themselves or ponies within their circles.

They reached Sand Swirl and Luna and noticed Celestia, but she couldn’t blame her. All the stress war and her student dying, well she would be away from society as well

“Note to self,” Applejack thought, “Try to talk to Celestia later.”

“Where to now?”, Applejack asked the prime minister and Luna

“To the Mausoleum of Knights, where all of the great heroes of Equestria for the last 900 years have been laid to rest,” Luna replied

The group followed Luna and Prime Minster to the mausoleum. She noticed it was across the cemetery and it a massive dome circular building. Inside there were levels of statues, which housed the bodies of soldiers, scientists, mages, philosophers, political leaders, and even a couple of dragon. Twilight was going get buried in a special section, near in the middle with her sister in law, Cadence. There were seats and a podium prepared for them. The Ponyvillains

“Your speeches will be broadcasted all over Equestria,” Sand Swirl whispered to the girls

Applejack sat down next to Rarity and Fluttershy to the left of Celestia, and the right of her was Luna and Sand Swirl.

It was Luna's and Sand Swirl’s turn to speak first. They talked about how little time they'd known Twilight, but knew how much she meant to everypony and thanked her and her friends for saving Equestria numerous times, including from Luna herself. After they had got done with their speech, it was Rarity's turn to speak.

“Hello everypony,” she said with a long, sad sigh, “Losing Twilight was like losing a best friend, which we were. She helped out with many of my designs in Ponyville and was a major influence on my work. She was a dear friend to me, and I never thought that seeing her at the train station would be the last time I would ever see her.”

“Well, everypony, what Ah can say about Twi?” Applejack continued after Rarity finished speaking, “She helped mah family and me so many times; Ah lost track after about twenty or so. Ah was there for her and vice versa. To say losin' Twilight Sparkle is a huge blow not just for me, but to mah family – heck all of Equestria – is an understatement. Ah know some ponies in Manehattan who looked up to Twilight and Ah understand how they feel. Ah promised her Ah would be there for her until she died, and Ah wasn't.

“Maybe Ah'm fulfillin' that right now. Twilight, wherever ya are right now, we'll miss ya, and Ah will use your lessons of friendship, to make new friends. Goodbye.”

Everypony rose and lowered their heads. Applejack held her hat against her chest as a sign of great respect as the casket got lowered into the dirt. Afterward, everypony left for the reception area for food and drinks and to collect them. Sand Swirl approached AJ as she had some apple fritters.

“I'm sorry for your loss, Applejack,” he said sorrowfully, putting his hoof around her shoulder, “I think it's going to be a while before Equestria truly heals from these tragedies, if ever.”

“Thank you, Sand. It means a lot that ya said that and that ya came to the funeral,” Applejack replied, “But Ah do have one question: Why wasn't the Twilight Guard thingy not passed?”

“Well you Applejack it takes time and resources to do that, and we'd just gotten the supplies part taken care of when Twilight kicked the bucket. So if anything, blame time for not saving the princess,” Sand Swirl explained.

She went outside the reception and went to walk around Canterlot for few to get a breather.The saw something unbelievable: a solar guard bullying another right in front of the princesses. It was one thing to be rude and funeral, but it another to see a guards bully. After the bull had left, AJ went to him

“Are you okay Mister?”, she said offering a hoof

He rejected and replied, “None of your business.”

Applejack turned away from the guards and mumbled, after left, “Rude.”

Applejack then to notice something else. An earth pony thief dressed in all black was stopped by the ponies, who she assumed were guards on the fact that they were missing their armor; their moves of how they cornered the criminal is what tipped her off. That’s one thing, but happen afterward was horrifying. Once they cornered him, they beat him to death and bag his body. Applejack followed, and they carry him off into the vast and ancient underground sewers, through a sewer lid no less. These made Applejack feel appalled and went to Fluttershy who is sitting be herself with her head low

“Fluttershy, I know you can’t talk,” she in almost a whisper, “But I need your help, but I need you to answer some question, but don’t worry I’ll keep them to yay or nay questions.”

She looked up at Applejack with a faint smile and Applejack started to ask her. She first asked if she saw what the guards were doing. Fluttershy responded by the first lowering head and then nodding. She then asked if she felt something was off in Canterlot, like something not rubbing you right beside the guards; Fluttershy also nodded. Her last question was if she would help her. At first, Fluttershy was uncertain, and Applejack went to get snack and drinks as she waited for an answer. Near the end after they were done eating she nodded. Applejack then asked if she was sure and she nodded again.

Chapter 5

*** Andromeda Galaxy; Planet: Hydroelica****

The TARDIS materialized on a grassland while it is raining and the distance was a city full of skyscrapers. The Doctor, Spike, and Dash stepped out and smelt the air

"Nice one Doc. You have a time machine, and you couldn't think of landing us at a time when it's not raining?", Dash asked

“ This a planet called Hydroelica located billion and billions of miles from your home,” The Doctor said with excitement

“So awesome, but why is it raining ?”, Dash asked scratching her head

“Well that is because ninety percent of the year it’s raining, but if I timed this correctly,” he said looking at a watch

The rain then stopped and after a little bit, the sky went blue and lite up with rainbows in every direction

“This only happens once a week on this planet and citizens call it Rainbow Week,” The Doctor said look the rainbows with awe

“Good pick, Doctor,” Spike said putting his hands in his pockets

“Thank you, Spike,” The Doctor said gusting his tie, “Onwards towards the town.”

The Doctor and the rest went towards the town. Inside the town were ponies, but with thick fur, at least two times as thick than Dash own skin. The Doctor went to saying hello to some citizens, while a huge coward was photographing Dash. After Dash had time to herself she saw Spike and the Doctor enter a café, she followed and sat down with them

"I have only been here ten minutes, and I'm already a celebrity, sweet,” Dash said raising a hoof in the air and lowering it

"Don't be so surprised; this world hasn't seen any sapient being with actual wings on their backs. Not to mention not beings from another world to visit them in their known history. Which is why will make stay short; appearing in a small town like this is one thing, but once the authorities catch a whiff of us we might be stuck here for the foreseeable future”, The Doctor warned her

“Good point Doctor,” Spike said

The waitresses came over and asked if they wanted anything and they all ordered food; Dash ordered enough food for six, Spike oatmeal and the Doctor two cups of hot chocolate with Chocolate Chip Pancakes

After a while, as Spike was scarfing down the last of his oatmeal, accented by throwing a whole apple into his maw. The Doctor then spoke.

“When I was far younger and wearing a long scarf, I once ate at a place where an entire planet celebrated breakfast all day, mainly because their sunrise took an entire day.”

Spike swallowed and nodded to let him know that he was listening. While Dash was still steel eating her toast, eggs, and pancakes

“Geez Dash,” Spike said with a chuckle. “How long has been since you eaten anything decent?”

Rainbow Dash swallowed and then looked at him, with absolutely no amusement. Then he remembered and said. “Oh, right.” With what can only be described as the most sheepish of smiles.

“So Doctor what happen to you?, Dash said finishing off a piece of toast, “Last time we meet you’re a brown earth pony with Derpy now you’re a Blue Unicorn, who loves chocolate, I’m guessing, and is traveling with Spike.”

“It long story,” he said looking down

Dash sat down and crossed her hooves

“We have time,” she said

The Doctor looked at Spike, and he nodded and shrugged

“You see me, Dinky …”

“Who’s Dinky?”, Dash asked

“My and Derpy’s artificially created daughter, which another long story, but that’s not the point now. The point is Derpy and Dinky were sent back into the past about 50,000 years ago your time Dash when they were shopping. It was trap made the Dalek who claimed to be the one who started the Time War The Time Controller, who escaped it to here. They then went to war with the alicorns.”

“So what happen to the alicorns?”, she asked as sat down along with Spike.

“As I said, Dinky and Derpy were abducted from their times to the last year of the Alicorn-Dalek war on Aesir.”

“I arrived during the final week of the war and well they changed. Derpy looked like an old mare who had seen too much and Dinky well she no longer my daughter, she was now a product of the war; I meet with last alicorns which included a filly Celestia and a newborn Luna. There plan was to get to a shuttle and take it to this planet.”

“So what happen?”, Dash asked

“Our plan was pretty simple, get alicorns off the planet using the shuttle and blow up the world using the bomb and deliver it to the core, but there were a couple of problems. Somepony need to distract the Daleks. Dinky offered, but Derpy and I refused. The plan, in the beginning, was to lure all the Daleks of the promise of a device that can transform any species into anything.”

Spike rolled his eyes as Dash did too

“Yeah I would even pick out it was a lie too, but the alicorns pulled off it pretty well. There was one problem, the bomb was never delivered, which was the second issue.”

“Why didn’t it get delivered?”, Dash asked

“Short and straightforward: A mad alicorn who worshiped the Daleks like gods, well betrayed them, So Derpy offered to take it, and I said no because I didn’t want her to leave me and I forced her to stay. The next thing, I knew she left behind my back halfway between the drop zone and the bomb.”

Dash was still interested while Spike went into the hallways to explore for a bit. The Doctor took a minute to collect himself.

“This is where things went from bad to worse. For the remaining alicorns to get to the ship, somepony needed to distract the Daleks waiting at the ship. So I offered myself up, and they took me to their leader, the Time Controller. Unknowingly, the there was a trap set for my daughter and the alicorns, it was an ambush, and there were waiting around the ship. I watched them helplessly try to defend themselves and Dinky getting everyone aboard. Unforuntently, Dinky was shot, but as she was going to regenerate, but then she got shot again. Luckily she bought enough time for them to get aboard the ship getting away from the planet was another matter entirely. That is when Derpy took a ship with the bomb on it and told me to get out of there, and I ran for the teleport. I got to the teleporter and managed to teleport a mile within my TARDIS. I looked up and saw her ship exploded, and cried so hard and then I was knocked out. I woke up and saw the world around me blowing, and I knew I had no time as the toxic fumes and the radiation from the bomb was killing me and it was painful getting to my TARDIS. I barely managed to get to her, and I told her to get out of her, and then I regenerated.”

“I can take it from here,” Spike said

“A couple of ponies found you in the alley of Ponyvile and took you to the hospital. From there, well, you woke up, told you who are, and we went on adventures, and here we are Dash.”

“I think we should leave Doctor before we get more attention ourselves,” Spike suggested as more citizens were coming the festival.

“Right,” The Doctor said getting up and used his physic paper to pay for the meal and walking out and Spike and Dash following. After a short walk out of the city, the TARDIS and Dash yawned.

“Where are the beds? I feel sluggish”, Dash asked letting out a yawn

Spike laughed and said, “I bet you are, follow me.”

Outside, three male ponies looked at the TARDIS; one was blue with light green mane, another was red with a yellow mane, and the other green with a lime mane

“We should get them now,” the blue one said

“No, we’ll cut them off a the time vortex,” the red one replied, and he looks at the green pony, “Call for reinforcements.”

The yellow pony nodded as the TARDIS dematerialized

Chapter 6

The TARDIS was now drifting in space for about over a day now. The Doctor was playing with yo-yo via magic while Spike was reading a comic book. Dash came from the steps and towards the console with a yawn and stretch. On the seat next to the console there was a red folder, but Dash didn’t mind

“This place is huge, I found a café and had some breakfast and some coffee,” Dash said with a smile, “So why didn’t we talked there and how long was I asleep?”

“Well for one Dash,” The Doctor said putting his yo-yo down, “This place is infinite, I can even fit the entire population of Equestria if needed. Secondly, we didn’t talk in there because you looked you deserved a little vacation. Thirdly, a day.”

“So what have you guys been doing besides, nothing?”

“ Spike and I were thinking of how to get you back home and another thing,” The Doctor said

“And?”, Dash said having a glimmer of hope of seeing her friends again, most importantly Fluttershy.

“Well I hate breaking to you Dash, but there is no way,” Spike said putting his comic down and while walking over to Dash, “In short you even going back ten years would cause a paradox with the tree reading to elements of harmony. Heck, it might cause Discord to come back.”

“Doctor, Spike is lying right?”, Dash said looking at him

“I’m sorry Rainbow, but there is no way for to get back to your time without causing some paradox or ripping hole in the web of time,” The Doctor said looking at her with sad blue eyes

“Damn them,” she thought with a growl

She went then went to punch Spike, but he caught her, and she hit him over and over again in the chest

“Send me back, send m…”, She said before collapsing and crying as Spike hugged her tight.

After about twenty minutes of Dash sobbing, the Doctor coughed to get, and Spike looked at him while Dash glanced.

“I’m sorry to break up to two, but might have company soon,” The Doctor

Spike helped to get up, and Dash looked at the Doctor and sat on a nearby a couch that was brown in leather with blue pillows.

“What do you mean?”, Dash asked

“Well that another I was mentioning,” The Doctor said, “Remember those things were chasing in the time vortex?”, The Doctor said, “Well, that might still be waiting for us in the vortex.”

“Why didn’t they follow to the alien planet?”, Spike asked

“That actually might have to gather intel on us,” The Doctor said

“And they might have reinforcements,” Dash asked

“So I have a cunning plan,” The Doctor said pressing buttons and pulling the lever, “I want you to get three space suits, Spike.”

Spike told Dash to follow her and went to closest full orange spacesuits. Spike put on one that unlike the other which were designed for ponies and were horizontal. Spike was vertical and look like it was somewhat thicker than the rest. Dash put hers on as it looked it to be a universal pony spacesuit with sleeves for pagsi. Dash put on her helmet just Spike grabbed another spacesuit, as something hit and shock the TARDIS.

“Just in time too,” Dash thought

They ran back to the console and saw the Doctor moving all around the console and pressing levers and button

“What hit us?”, Dash asked

“Did you get my spacesuit?”, The Doctor asked them pressing a button and turning on the view screen

“Yes,” Spike said giving the Doctor the suit

Dash looked at the screen a saw what was chasing them. They looked like changelings, but they were metal, had red eyes and jet wings instead of bug wings.

The Doctor meanwhile, was flipping switches and levers after putting on his spacesuit. The TARDIS outside was dodging asteroids, and asteroids crushed the creatures. Right before the TARDIS was ready smushed between asteroids

“Prepare for emergency materialization,” The Doctor pulling a lever on the TARDIS.

The TARDIS made a wheezing sound as it dematerialized on a jungle planet with was twice the size of Equss and orbited around a yellow G-class star. The Doctor told Dash and Spike to follow her as they exited off the TARDIS and they went towards a cave. There was hearing all sorts of sounds from outside the caves crushes, roars, growls, and explosions. They hung deep in the cave for a few minutes and waited for the noise to die down. The Doctor took out his sonic screwdriver and lighted up blue as he went in a circle

“Okay the atmosphere is safe to breathe,” The Doctor said taking off his space helmet

Spike about to take off his, but The Doctor shook his head.

“No, I need you to get wood so we can build a fire and also get the red folder on the bookshelf,” The Doctor asked, “They should all be dead by now.”

Spike nodded and went back they came in

“Why do we have to wear the space suits?”, Dash asked the Doctor as she took off her helmet

“Because the oxygen levels are too high on the planet, and your lungs would explode,” The Doctor still keeping the sonic to give them some light in the cave

They then noticed Spike was coming with coming outside from the holding a red folder and good chunk of wood and Spike handed the folder, to the Doctor, the levitated it and checked the contents inside. Spike who collected rocks and putting them in a circle the pile of wood and started the fire. The Doctor put his sonic away and handed Dash the folder. She noticed there was a symbol in front of the folder:

“Catch up,” The Doctor bluntly instructed as Dash looked at him

Dash open up the folder to see a hoofful of pictures of a certain somepony she knew and shook her head as her mind did a double take and looked at both of them

“This isn’t true,” Dash said, “All content in this is false, the princesses wouldn’t be this blind.”

“I’m afraid is it Dash,” The Doctor said with a sincere look in his eyes

Dash then sat down in disbelief

“Wh-What happen when I was out?”, Dash asked

“Now that a long story,” Spike said, “But I’ll start.”

Chapter 7

Week after Twilight’s Death

Applejack sent a letter to Big Mac saying she decided to stay in Canterlot a few week because she needed a personal vacation and Gala was coming up was good enough excuses. She was going to ask Rarity to make copies of their Gala’s, but lucky for them she kept them for just in cases. After that was settled she rented a home for a month on Canterlot She was lucky she had “hero” status and all that she had was ask Luna since Celestia went A-wall. Applejack and Fluttershy ran to Sliver Swirl’s office to get answers for why Cadence and Twilight got killed. Applejack bucked the door open.“Prime Minster!”, Applejack yelledHowever, what stood before her was an empty room with empty room with a large table in it. As Applejack entered the room, she was begun dizzy and almost ready to pass out. Fluttershy grabbed her by the tail and exited the room. Applejack then throws up in the nearest pot, and after a while, she collected herself.“I'm not stuck or anything,” she thought, “So somethen is wrong with that their room. If I can’t get answers from the Prime Minster, then it’s time for Plan B.”“Fluttershy I want you to go the nearest hardware store and get some rope, knives, and anything that can hurt ponies. After meet that me in the warehouse district ”, Applejack asked coldlyFluttershy raised eyebrow in question to Applejack’s order“Just trust me,” Applejack said with a serious look and putting her hoof on Fluttershy’s shoulder, “If I can’t get answers from the ponies in charge. Then the next thing is to ask the guards, and I have an honestly they won’t give us and easy answer.”Fluttershy thought about it and nodded with confidence and went off to the hardware store. Meanwhile, Applejack wondered the castle looking for one guard to kidnap. If she couldn’t get an answer from the sources since they’re most likely busy with the war, she’ll go for the next best thing, the guards. After a while, while wondering castle gardens until she saw a lone guard. She walked next to him and tapped him on the shoulders. In response, the guard turned around to the Applejack’s hoof coming right at him. It hit him in the face, hard, knocking him back to the statute’ s mantle and rendering him unconsciousness. Applejack knew of a warehouse in Canterlot that was once owned by her Aunt Orange before shut down for lack of production. Applejack, secretly made her way towards the warehouse caring the pony on her back. Near sunset she arrived, Fluttershy ran quickly to meet her with a bag full of tools and entered the warehouse with her.The inside looked quite empty and with rusted windows a fade yellow and orange paint along with a faded family orange logo. After she had found a chair, she removed the guards uniform and tied him up nice and good so he couldn’t move. He had purple mane and tail with a silver shield cutie mark. She went to Fluttershy who was looking out making her sure no pony followed her or Applejack, which if I pony did they Fluttershy would have saw them by now.“Fluttershy you can stop,” Applejack said, and Flutter shy closed the door and turned to her, “I’ll be honest. I don’t want to do this in front of you, heck I'm quite nervous to do this myself. Well, I have to, it if we are going to get answers, this is the only route we can take and am all out of the option. Plus, this won’t be pretty. It'll be the opposite. You ready?”Fluttershy nodded just as the guard started to stir from his slumber. Applejack closed and took a depth breath, grabbed the bag and walked to the guard “Here goes nothen,” she said with a gulp while holding the bat, “Hello sweetheart “Applejack what in taturus are you doing?”, he asked “Don’t try calling for help because no pony will her because you’re in an abandoned warehouse district all the way across town. I’ll get straight to the point; I want answers”, she said grabbing an aluminum bat from the bag, “I’m sure as my grandmother’s grave that Celestia, Luna nor Sand well give them to me. My question is, why was the security so low around Cadence and Twilight right before their deaths? I’ll be polite, like I was raised, and give you a moment to think about it.” “I don’t know,” the guard said after thinking for a minute. “Wrong answer,” she said swing the bat, at full force, towards his leg. It impacted his legs, and he screamed. “I’ll repeat, I don’t know!”, he screamed “I’ll keep repeating; wrong answer!”, she gripping pillars from the bag and going for the guard.At that moment, Fluttershy stepped out and to go to a separate room to bury her head and cry as screams for the guard echoed throughout the warehouse. 8 Days LaterIt was about eight o’clock at night, Applejack and Fluttershy were in a bar in the poor district of Canterlot drinking some cider, and both of them were on their fourth glass. However, Applejack and Fluttershy were now a very different ponies than who they were before Twilight’s Death. Applejack eyes were now a cold green, and Fluttershy’s a cold blue. Both had wrinkles around her eyes from little sleep they had. That little sleep was caused by them torturing guard after guard, both solar and lunar. “Eight Days and we haven’t gotten close to answering,” Applejack thought while taking a drink,She took another while looking around the room. There mostly earth ponies some pagsi in the bar. A lot of them had ruffled manes and were chatting with their fellow about their day and no guards, and she went to her drink “Why would guards come here,” AJ thought, “They are focused on the war, not some piety crimes down in this district.” Fluttershy then coughed and a couple of times. After AJ, she was just but after minute doing that. AJ looked at Flutters “What is Fluttershy?”, AJ said looking at her and her tilting to the left Applejack looked to the left and couldn’t believe who she saw, Sliver Spoon. Silver disappeared shortly after Dash’s death and was presumed dead. Diamond Tria was very heartbroken for awhile, but this got Applejack’s curiosity. Applejack saw her leave the bar and she played it safe and fished her drink and paid her bill. Fluttershy and Applejack went to find her, and they found her a few minutes later. Luckily for them, Sliver was in an alley not too far from the bar. “Sliver you have some nerve faking your death,” Applejack said about to lecture“Keep it down, and I did it to join Torchwood,” Sliver whispered“Torchwood?”, Applejack asked raising her eyebrow“I’ll tell you about it later, but here for two things. The first is give this” Sliver said looking impatient and giving Applejack a rolled up paperApplejack looked at the map and eyes went wide, “But that’s ..”“Shush, we can be watched right now, and that’s the second reason,” she said looking the ponies going by looking by and sighing, “We’re safe, I hope.”“Ah no idea what is gong on,” Applejack said“I’ll be quick. I’m part of a secret organization called Torchwood. Ever since SMILE was dissembled, we were ones to replace them.”Silver Spoon then gave Applejack a sword. The sword had a golden hilt and guard with a sun emblem acting as the Pommel and Peen Block. She gave a look of“This was Celestia, and her orders when for me to give to you.”“But why?”, AJ asked “I don’t know, she gave it to our director, and he gave it to me.”Applejack and Fluttershy studied the sword, and when Applejack looked back up; Sliver Spoon vanished“I'm not this liking one bit,” Applejack said to FluttershyLater on, in the warehouse. Applejack was thinking out loud and pace back and forth getting stressed out with Applejack’s mane in a mess like a mop.“I mean who else would know, we toured every guard. We still have no answers”, Applejack said, reaching her breaking point with bloodshot eyes, “I mean who!”After Applejack had yelled at heavens, she decided to lay down for the night. When she went slept she found herself in Ponyville, but it was raining sideways.“Hello, any pony?”, she asked out loudShen then saw Twilight and huge wave relief rushed over her. Twilight then turned around asked Applejack“Why did you abandoned me?”, Twilight asked her Twilight body was slowly stripped way piece by piece. Applejack wanted to throw up at sight. It was like watching her friend dying before her eyes, and she couldn’t do anything, except watch. One moment her skin was stripped away, then next moment she was just bones“I'm sorry, I wasn’t there,” Applejack finally managed said“Why didn’t you save me?”, Twilight said before being turned into dustApplejack coughed as the dust turned into a cloud and she her parents and they asked Applejack, “Why couldn’t you save your friend?” “Sweet Luna, what a nightmare,” Applejack thought as she woke from a sweat and almost screamingShe then heard a raven fly by overhead and hit her, and she faces hoof herself.“Of course,” Applejack said with a deadpanned face, “Who else.”