Post War

by Foxgear

Rating: teen
Tags: Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Sad, Anthro, Main 6
Length: 18067

War changes people and the mane six are no exception. In their finest hours they loss friends, family, and even themselves.

War changes people and the mane six are no exceptions. In their finest hours they lost friends, family, and even themselves. Now they live their lives dealing with the stress of loss and how each of them deals with it varies from one to the other. The only thing for certain is that they've changed, they've all changed.

Published 2016-07-05 04:10:01 UTC
Last updated 2016-08-16 04:11:32 UTC

Rarity

Post War-Chapter 1: Rarity
By Foxgear

It was a bright and sunny day in Ponyville. People were out doing their daily tasks of selling, buying, and general business things. Coming up Main Street in a bright sun dress was Sweetie Belle, now twenty years old and licensed cutie mark consular/singer. Everyone waved to her as she made her away across the street to her sister’s Rarity’s shop, Carousel boutique, the shop was looking as good as new, if not better than the time before a giant dragon fell on top of it. The dragon had been Spike and Rarity had been riding on his back.

Sweetie paused at the door, hesitating like always when she visited her sister; it’s been five years since the Great Pony War. Like always her sister and her friends were called into action, but this time… this time they didn’t walk away unscathed. How could they when all the spirits of Tartarus were set free? All the villains they vanquished and more fell across the land and beyond and more came in from other lands, it seemed had seemed like the end of the world!

Sucking in a breath Sweetie opened the door to her childhood home, her home after their parents were killed after they volunteered. The door creaked, the hinges needed oiling; she’d need to do that for Rarity. Inside was a mess, fabric was thrown everywhere and mannequins were filled with half-finished dresses, so far no Rarity.

“Rarity? Are you home?”

“Oh Sweetie, your early!” Rarity’s chipper voice called from further in the house. The sound was squeaking wheels and labored breathing made Sweetie want to run inside, but she stopped herself, even as Rarity entered the room in her wheelchair. “I hope you didn’t race here just for little old me. I’ve told you before I’m perfectly fine to take care of myself.”

“I know, I know. I just… couldn’t wait to see you.” Sweetie smiled as she walked over to embrace her sister. She had gotten used to having to bend down for hugs, just like she’s gotten used to Rarity’s new sense of style. Since becoming paralyzed Rarity’s fashion has become more conservative. She dressed in mainly light blouses and turtle necks and often wore a shawl around her shoulders. The biggest change was her hair. She no longer curled it like she used it, instead wore it up in a bun with some hair spilling down her shoulders.

“Well then, since you’re here. I will prepare you a cup of tea and I want no fussing from you. I will do it myself. As I have always done since you’ve gone on tour.”

Sweetie smiled. “Of course, would you care if I at least pushed to the kitchen?”

“That would be appreciated.” Rarity replied with her usual ladylike demur.

Taking hold of the handles bars Sweetie push her sister into the kitchen placing her right by the counter and began laying out the materials for tea. Wordlessly Sweetie stepped back and allowed Rarity to work. Hesitantly Rarity reached for the pot with her hand, a soft blue aura covering it and then fading, leaving Rarity looking exhausted as she simply picked up the pot by hand and placed it on the stove.

“Still having trouble with your magic?”

Rarity kept her back turned as she spoke. “Yes, unfortunately, the doctor said the injury in my spine is the cause. Seems magic travels through the nerves of our bodies, almost like a secondary nervous system. When Spike and I… crashed into the house that day the pillar that landed on me had some nails in it and they hit the spots that deal with magic just perfectly. It has gotten better though, I can now use the same about of magic that could use then I was seven or so. I just need to… adjust is all.”

That day Spike and Rarity had been fighting together against a horde of harpies. Spike had grown into a full-fledged dragon and was keeping the harpies away from the town. Rarity rode on top of him to keep the harpies from overwhelming him. They had worked in perfect sync, but another creature from the pits had blinded sided them. The attacked had killed Spike almost instantly, he only held on long enough to steer away from the major parts of town. He ended up crashing in Rarity’s house, Rarity had been dislodged from the claw that had held her and slammed into the wall. She had gotten up once and had been beaten up, but ok, and then creature from before came and blasted the rest of the house. The wall fell right on top her, crushing her from her lower back and down. Rarity never walked again after that day.

“Tea is done.” Rarity sang rolling over to the table and placing the tray on the table. She had gone all out, placing sugar, cream, and a few cookies on the tray for them to eat.

Sweetie took her cup with a smile and added two sugar cubes and a teaspoon full of cream, the same way Rarity took her tea. She held her tea cup up in a toast and they clink their cups together before taking a sip. Sweetie practically swooned over the taste. She loved Rarity’s tea. She tried to get her stage staff to make it, but they never seemed to get it right.

After a few minutes of soft sipping Rarity set her cup down and began her usual line of questioning.

“So Sweetie any stallions in your snare yet, I love that your career has taken off, but I can’t help but feel you letting your love life pass you by. I know you get tired of my prodding… but I just don’t want you to make the same mistake I did. I took a long time to realize my feelings for Spike, always putting him of for my dreams thinking there was plenty of time and now sitting here I realize that time was too short. I have my fame like I always wanted, but…”

It was true. Rarity was famous as were her friends, but being remembered as war hero was far from Rarity’s vision when she first set out to become a world famous dress maker. Her sister gave up a lot for her dream. She turned down many stallions (and Spike) that could have made her happy in her now later life, but at the time gaining fame and success had been more important than stallions. She followed all the top fashion ponies and tenders to stay ahead of the curve. Her sister wasn’t fool. Rarity knew none of her relationship with any stallion of any statue would go anywhere romantically, they were just business, but they were business that would have been turned off had she not been single.

“No one yet, but I keep an eye out.” Sweetie replied, “How about you? Anything new in the fashion world?”

Rarity scoffed, “Oh it’s just dreadful now. I can barely stand it! Really what are mares thinking these days? There is no class, no elegance! Everything is just… strings basically! Why just the other day I saw this one model, thin as a fiddle like some under fed teenage boy, strutting around in a tube top and a throng! Can you believe they think people would want to wear that? Who in their right mind would wear such a thing? I’ll tell you who, a whore!”

This was a good time not to mention that someone had tried to get her to wear such attire for her next concert. Many would probably call Rarity’s sense of style old fashioned, but Sweetie would argue at least she has a sense of fashion. Really it’s one of the reason she wear Rarity’s clothes on stage; one because she was covered up decently, and two she loved her sister’s clothes.

“Couldn’t agree more,” Sweetie replied taking a sip of tea. “Also I saw your new line, it looks great!” She was expecting to see a smile, but instead she got a frown from her sister. “Did I say something wrong?”

Rarity shook her head, “No, no, nothing like that dear… it’s just… I haven’t made any new lines in… well years. Coco and Sassy take care of everything now. Carousel boutique is basically on autopilot. Sure I send a few dress designs for them every once in a while, but really everything is basically Coco’s design. I actually gave her permission a year ago to start doing her own original design. The theme and style is all up to her now.”

Sweetie dropped her tea cup, the contents spilling everywhere as Sweetie’s jaw dropped. “You’re not making clothes! But… but… it’s your dream! Your talent! How can you just stop?”

“It’s not like I wanted to,” Rarity replied, her tone just a bit irate as she looked the stain on the table cloth. “I had to.”

“What do you mean?”

Rarity held up her hands for Sweetie to see. Sweetie leaned in closer, but found nothing wrong that she could see, but then noticed a trembling in Rarity’s right thumb.

“I had to have surgery. Too much wear and tear from years of stitching and sewing, throw in fighting in the war and getting my hand injured Celestia knows how many times… well I can’t move my right thumb anymore. I’ve been getting used to using my left hand more, but it’s hard. The day to day stuff isn’t bad as it was, but sewing… it’s impossible. My eyes aren’t the best, not that they ever have been. I’ve been needing my glasses more and more lately and without my magic to aid me… I just can’t do what I used to Sweetie.”

Sweetie stood up, knocking her chair over has she grabbed the arm rests of Rarity’s wheel chair. “Why didn’t you tell me! Why… I could have…”

“Done nothing, because my dear little sister there is nothing that could be done, now please sit back down and finish your tea.”

At Rarity’s stern words Sweetie did just that. Her mind wondering just how her sister could be so strong after everything she’s lost. She’s lost her legs, her fiance, and now her dreams. She stayed there for several more hours, making small talk, most of it forgotten shortly after it was spoken. Around five Rarity escorted her to the door.

“Now you be safe now Sweetie and be sure to bring a boyfriend next time. He needs my approval after all.” Rarity waved cheerfully as Sweetie exited the building. She sat there watching her little sister’s retreating back; only shutting the door she couldn’t see her anymore.

The door shut Rarity rolled to the center of the room and looked up at a picture of her and Spike, next to it was one of her and all her friends, followed by Sweetie and her friends. She looked long fully at the person she used to be. How they all used to be.

She bowed her head and cried.

Author's Note

I made this story basing it off of six pieces of artwork I made featuring each of the mane six post war. I will have links to the artwork posted latter as it is late an I need to get to bed, but if you really want to see it you can use this Link to go to my deviant page.

Applejack

Post War-Chapter 2: Applejack

By Foxgear

A warm summer breeze, thousands of apple trees swaying in the background, her hat tucked safety away while she rested under the shade of the old red delicious tree. Yeah it was peaceful; at least that’s how it would look to onlookers. To her, Applejack, eldest daughter of the Apple family, she could only see the fire from the time the orchard had been set ablaze by hellhounds. Nearly half of the orchard had been lost that day.

Applejack’s fist tightened as she remembered that day. The dammed beasts, six of them, came running in from the south, their every step lighting the ground ablaze. Winona her brave little companion for years was the first to take noticed of the intruders. She still remembered her bark as the little dog ran out to face the flaming beasts and she remembered her whine as the beasts smacked her aside in a bloody mess.

She had stood on the porch in shock as the beast approached, until Mac came running out of the barn with the big water hose and dosed one of the beasts. The hound shook and shivered with the extinguishing of its flames, but its brethren were working quickly to reignite him.

Applejack wouldn’t let that happen.

Screaming in rage and fists ablaze with earth magic she leap from the porch and drove her fist through the wet hellhound, it shattered into a million shards of obsidian and she felt satisfaction in the kill. Mac sprayed more water, rain drops fell from above as he pointed the hose upwards to widen his area of attack. The monsters backed away giving her some much needed space.

“Came and get it you varmints!” She taunted them, one took the bait. “Mac concreted blast!”

The rain drops turned into a stream hitting the approaching beast, extinguishing its flame like the one before. The hound gave out a whimper as she rounded up a kick and sent him flying to pieces. Quickly Mac adjusted the angle of the hose giving her a protective barrier, but she had a feeling they weren’t going to fall for the same trick twice.

“Applejack! Mac! What’s going on?” Applebloom shouted from the porch. The two of the four remaining hounds turned towards her, the other two towards Mac. They were going to split up!

“Applebloom get inside!” Applejack yelled as the two hounds took off. She looked between her brother and sister unsure who to help first, until Mac yelled at her to go help Applebloom. She did just that getting only a few backwards glances of Mac fighting off the two hellhounds with his hose before she entered the house. The hounds were already inside.

“Applebloom! Granny!” She called out following the flaming trail of destruction. The trail let into the living room, were Granny lay on the floor covered in burns.

“No,no,no,no,” She whispered mournfully, already knowing, but hoping that her eyes were deceiving her. She checked Granny’s pulse and… found none. From upstairs she could hear Applebloom’s screams. Fist’s tight Applejack filled a bucket of water and raced up stairs, where the two hellhounds were digging their way through Applebloom’s door. She tossed the bucket and changed in before the water even touched the beasts.

The closest hellhound took the blunt of the water, his fire gone, leaving him defenseless. Applejack’s blazing orange fist shattered his body in an instant. The second hound was not so easy, it had only gotten half extinguished and his flame had already returned. The beast glowed and pounced on her, slamming her through the wall into the upstairs bathroom. Applejack landed in the tub with the hellhound on top of her, slashing away with its massive claws, it was taking all of her strength to keep it away as she held it back by its neck.

“Applebloom help me! Turn on the shower!” She screamed for her sister as the beast’s claws slashed into her stomach cutting it open and then searing it shut with the heat of its flames. The pain was intense. The constant opening and closing of the wounds was pushing her to the limits. Applejack could feel her strength fading as her arms slowly lowered the beast closer, letting its claws sink further and further into her body.

“Apple…bloom…” She croaked one final time as the heat of the fire ate up the oxygen in the room. Her vision began to fade when she heard two steps of footsteps, one set soft and the other loud and thunderous. Applebloom appeared in her side view turning on the water and Mac appeared behind the hellhound wielding an axe. Cool water rained down from the shower head and Mac swung his axe shattering the beast to pieces all over Applejack as she finally passed out.

Applejack reeled herself back to the present, trying to shake away the lingering smell of sulfur and burning flesh from that day. However the X shaped scar on her stomach was her constant reminder of what happened that day. It was also the constant reminder of what she could never truly be… a mother. The beasts took away her gift to give life. The doctors said her insides were a mess; it was miracle that they were able to keep her alive. Saving her womb was out of the question.

She held her hand against the scar. She could adopt, she knew that but yet… there was feeling of being less that lingered in her mind.

“Auntie Jackie! Auntie Jackie! There you are!” A cute bubbly voice cried out from down the hill from where she sat. A turf of bluish hair bobbed over the tall grass till finally little Appleale was right in front of her. Appleale, Big Mac’s and Fleetfoot’s first born. Many were still surprised to this day that Mac managed to snag a Wonderbolt for a wife.

She just wished he could have had more time with her. Only two years into her marriage, after successfully having Appleale almost right at the end of the war, Fleetfoot died from an internal injury in her leg. It had started out as bruise, she had even gone to the doctor for it, but no matter what treatment they proscribed the bruise didn’t heal. Then one day Mac returned home to find Fleetfoot dead at the kitchen table. The injury had slowed the blood flow in her body and her heart… her heart just couldn’t pump the blood.

Not long after Cheerilee stepped in to help Mac and the two were thinking about getting married. Mostly for Appleale’s sake as she’s came to know Cheerilee as her mother, having been too young to remember Fleetfoot.

“What you doing up here AA? It’s your birthday party down there; shouldn’t you be with your friends?” Applejack questioned the giggling girl as she lifted her as high as her arms would allow. Appleale loved the sky; everyone was convinced she was going to develop pegasus magic when she grows up. “You shouldn’t leave your friends like that you know.”

“I know Auntie Jackie, but I want you there to! You seem so sad and we have cake! Your supposed to give someone cake when their sad right?”

Applejack smiled, “Yeah, it’s the nice thing to do. You all head back and I’ll come down soon ok?”

“Ok!” Appleale cheered running back down the hill, smiling and waving as she went. “Bye Auntie Jackie! Come down soon ok?”

“I will!” Applejack waved back. Once Appleale was out of side Applejack leaned back against the tree and covered her face with her hat. Hot tears rolled down her cheeks as she began to hiccup from trying to hold back her tears that won out in the end. She curled up in a ball at the base of the tree, hating herself.

Appleale loved her, adored her to death and she did too, but… every time she saw the young child it was just another reminder of what she’s lost. She knew, no she knows that not right, to place such blame on child that knew nothing about the pain she causes with just her presence, but… it still hurt.

It hurt a lot…

Pinkie Pie

Post War Pinkie Pie
By Foxgear

“Pinkie… um… Pinkie it’s time to wake up. Please wake up. I don’t want Limestone to yell at you again.”

“Is she not awake yet? Tell the freak to get out of bed and do her chores!” Limestone Pie screamed from outside. Marble flinched from the volume and tried to wake her twin again.

“I’m awake Marble,” Pinkie Pie said neutrally, her usual boundless energy nowhere to be found. Not anymore, not after what happened.

“Oh… um good morning Pinkie, do you want some breakfast before going out for work?”

Pinkie shook her head as she rolled out of bed; she stood on wobbly legs and sulked to the bathroom to wash up. The room filled up with stream as she turned on the shower. She placed her hands on the wall to help her balance. Her legs still didn’t feel right; they never would, because they weren’t her legs. She looked sadly at the stitching on her thighs, where her pink skin suddenly changed to grey. Slowly she brought her right hand in front of her face, it was also grey.

“Maud…” Pinkie whispered as she let the water pour her head, the water mixing with her tears.

Limestone wasn’t wrong to call her a freak. She was a freak. What kind of sane person would steal her sister’s limbs!

(That’s not true Pinkie, I gave them to you. You needed them.) Maud’s voice said in her head.

Quickly Pinkie shut off the water. She stood in front of the mirror wide eyed and scared. Her right hand trembled as she picked up a strand of her flat hair, it looked like Maud’s.

(Pinkie just because you have my arm and legs it doesn’t mean you’re suddenly going to become me.)

“I know.” She said a loud. “I’m crazy, not stupid. I’m just slowly going crazy.”

“Pinkie get out here!”

She sighed, “Coming Limestone!”

Back on the rock farm again, funny how life takes you right back where you started sometimes. Course after the war Pinkie didn’t feel comfortable in Ponyville anymore. No. That’s not right. She loved being Ponyville, but the people there, they weren’t as comfortable with her has they had been. Not when she walked back into town with different limbs. That was jarring enough. Telling people they were her sister’s arm and legs, that… that was mistake. The rumors about her spread throughout the town faster than a dragon could set a forest on fire. People for the first time ever were avoiding Sugar Cube Corner and it was because of her. She didn’t want to Cakes to suffer because of her so she left and come home. Her reception was lukewarm at best.

Marble had embraced her instantly and cried. Limestone… well Limestone was Limestone, but worse. She was hard before, but the war hardened her even more. Maud’s death made her harder than a diamond and seeing her with Maud’s limbs made her as angry as volcano.

With her right hand Pinkie smashed a boulder to bits and then into smaller bits. Once the bits were small enough she scooped them up and dumped them in the rock wagon. There was a lot rebuilding to do and people needed conceit for roads and cement for buildings. Business what booming for the rock farm, so much so that they actually started the Pie mining company, well Limestone did. She and Marble were just helping out. Limestone did give them shares in the company, even though she wasn’t very happy with Pinkie right now.

“Family is still family. I’m sure she’ll come around, right boulder? Yeah I know she will get over it… someday, she just needs time. Limestone was excited about being in Maud’s unit, but she was transferred to a different unit instead and I was placed with Maud. I think Boulder, Limestone blames herself for not being by Maud’s side. I know I do.” Her fist tightened. “I should have listened to her Boulder.”

It was towards the end of the war. An army of golems, monsters made of dirt and stone, appeared controlled by a demented man named Crowley. He made hordes upon hordes of golems. They roamed and stumbled like zombies, but they were much, much deadlier. They came in all shapes and sizes and in different species.

Some were lumbering humanoids with large claw hands, others had swords for hands, some shot beams of magic from their cannon shaped hands, and some even flew. Those were just the basic ones. The closer they got to breaching Crowley’s fortress, the more monstrous the golems became. Some were even bigger than a house and they could take a beating.

The foot soldiers were nothing to worry about for her and Maud; they could turn them back to dust with a single hit! In fact they basically bulldozed their way through the front lines into the depths of Crowley’s fortress. There they were met with stronger opposition. She still remembered the look on Maud’s face when her fist failed to shatter huge golem. She had been afraid.

“Run Pinkie!” Was what Maud said, but she didn’t listen. She had thought as long as they were together they could pull through anything, so she held her ground. Maud stayed by her side, not to advance, but to keep her safe. She did a good job too. Until that one monster got between them.

Pinkie shuttered as she fell against Holder’s boulder. She still felt them, her limbs. She could feel the pain, the felling of disconnect, the feeling of knowing something was there and knowing it was gone. The phantom pain they called it. Even with Maud’s limbs her mind could tell something wasn’t right.

The monster had been faster than the other golems. Its three blades tails thrashed around like a whip. Pinkie never saw them coming till she was on the ground, her legs and arm several feet away. Maud jumped in to protect her, fighting off the beast for hours and many more till help arrived. Maud stood there, panting, covered blood and sweet. She smiled and said in her same usual tone, “I’m glad you’re still alive. Don’t worry about you limbs, you can have mine.”

Then Maud just died right in front of her. The doctors said the battle drained her to the point of extreme exhaustion. She had been fighting for days before hand, with little food or sleep. Her body just gave out.

Pinkie didn’t remember much afterwards. She remembered bright lights and masked faces looking down on her. The stinging of the needle as they sewed Maud’s limbs to her. They said since they were sisters the transplant had a higher chance of success.

She just tried to get the image of them cutting up Maud’s body out of her mind. They had laid Maud’s body next to her, there wasn’t time. They had to take the limbs right away. She wished they had the decency to cover her eyes before they started sawing with the bone saw.

Her motivation to work gone with the flood of bad memories, Pinkie Pie staggered over to Holder’s boulder and placed her back against the hard cold stone as she slid to the ground. The cold felt good against her hot body, she realized now that she was sweating a lot and it wasn’t just from the heat. She shivered despite herself and then realized something.

She was wearing Maud’s shirt. Not only that, she was wearing nothing but Maud’s shirt. Sure it was long enough to be mistaken for a short dress, but how had she not noticed? She didn’t even remember putting it on! She… was she losing her mind? This wasn’t the first time something like this has happened, but it’s happening more and more often. She’d do something and forget the events that took place before and after, like someone else was moving her body.

Was… was she becoming Maud?

(No)

“Hearing your voice in my head doesn’t help Maud.”

(Pinkie you need help.)

She snorted, “Thanks for stating the obvious! I know I need help! I hear voices in my head!”

(Pinkie…)

“Leave me alone Maud!” Tears swelled up in her eyes. She loved her sister. She was grateful for her gift to let her walk and be normal. She wasn’t arguing with Maud’s disembodied voice!

(Pinkie please, it’s time to move on.)

“Lalala! I’m not listening!”

(Pinkie go and see your friends!)

“…”

Her friends... her best friends, she hasn’t seen them since the end of the war. She saw Rarity in her wheelchair, Applejack silently crying in her cot, Rainbow Dash crying as she came back to base, Fluttershy covered in bandages, and Twilight… looking utterly destroyed as she held a crying Flurry Heart and there she stood in the middle of it all, the element of laughter, the bringer of happiness and good cheer, she could do nothing for any of them. She hadn’t even tried.

Pinkie laid her head against Holder’s Boulder and lifted her right hand to the sky, as if trying to catch the sunshine, because she could really use some right now. A lot of people could.

“I’m a worthless friend.” She croaked letting her hand fall. “I can’t make anyone happy, not when it matters most.”

Author's Note

Pinkie Pie dealing with some... issues...

Fluttershy

Post War Fluttershy

By Foxgear

She was alone. Her eyes darted around the large pool area to be certain; she even glanced up at the glass ceiling where the night sky sparkled overhead. She was defiantly alone. Carefully she removed her clothes, always glancing, always searching. She’s always been afraid around other people, shy, just like her name. She wasn’t quiet as shy as before, no she was comfortable around people most of the time now. Still she didn’t want to be seen by them, she didn’t want them to see her.

Her robe fell away, leaving her naked in the moon light, once people would have called her beautiful, pretty, and all those embarrassing enduring things. Now those voices were quiet and their eyes averted. She looked at her reflection in the water. Her own marred features looking back at her.

Yeah, it was true, she wasn’t the beauty she once was, not that it mattered to her much. She never cared for such things. Eyes closed she walked into the pool, the cool water washing over her burns causing them to sting a little, but she didn’t mind. She wanted to go swimming, so she went swimming.

She was Fluttershy, element of kindness and head nurse of Medic unit 32. A role she’s kept after the war. People needed her help and she would be there to help them. Right now though, she wanted to swim, to forget and to remember. Remember the good times, before and during the war, and forget the bad the seemed to have befallen all her former friends.

“That’s not right,” She said aloud, “their still my friends. There is no former. We are just… apart for now.”

None of them were expecting the war to affect them like it did. They’ve fought to save Equestria many times and have come out with only a few scratches at worse. She giggled, knowing Rainbow put herself in the hospital more times just by practicing flying then saving world.

Which is why this last time was just a shock to them all, for the first time they lost friends, they lost family, and they lost themselves. For the first time working together as the elements or former elements, didn’t solve the problem. The problem got worse! Not directly because of them, they didn’t know, didn’t realize how bad things were becoming. How could they? Saving the world, it had been easy.

Maybe it’s been too easily. Maybe they should have been more active in their fight against evil, instead of just returning to their daily lives like it was just nuances that just happened every now and then.

She frowned, a look of anger and hatred looked back at her from the glass ceiling. One name was on her mind, the name of their former princess, Princess Celestia.

“I hate her. I actually hate her.”

Hating someone was new to Fluttershy. Sure she’s had her problems with her brother, but she didn’t hate him. She had been frustrated with him. Celestia was different. She trusted Celestia to lead them, to lead the country, to make sure things like the war didn’t happen. Did she do a lot to keep the peace? Yes, but did she do enough?

No.

The princess was a thousand years old. She knew a lot. She knew there were dangerous foes and artifacts just waiting to come back or be found. She knew! Yet, she did nothing. She didn’t call out a search for them. Never gave them a heads up that something bad might be on its way before they had already discovered said thing. Like with their first encounter with Discord. Discord had already taken over Ponyville before she even bothered to summon them!

Speaking of things that the princess knew and didn’t tell them, she didn’t even bother to tell them that all the chaos of the war might have an effect on the spirit of chaos. Something like, oh turn him insane again! Did she ever mention it? No, not till Discord turned against them!

Fluttershy stared at her reflection, the burns covering her body from head to toe. They still hurt to this day, but what hurt the most was the agony on her friend’s face once he realized what he did. The day Discord burned her.

She had been tending to some patients that day; it was busy, scratch that it was always busy. Wounded were pouring in faster than they could care for. Many were already dead before they were laid on the bed, but that didn’t stop her or her fellow doctors from trying to save them. The medical tent had been absolute chaos and no one noticed the spirit of chaos standing in the center with a small evil grin.

In a single horrifying moment all the IV’s exploded, the water inside changed into hot flaming liquid. Patients, doctors, nurses, everybody was hit. Clothes and bed sheets caught fire; the entire tent was ablaze before anyone knew what happened. She still remembered the screams as she rolled on the ground, white dead skin falling off her as she tried to put out the flames. She rolled to Discord’s feet, the spirit of chaos laughing joyfully at the display. It broke her heart to see him like that, but she couldn’t cry even if she wanted to, her tear ducts had been burned away.

Discord had continued to laugh; only when he looked down at her did he seem to regain his senses. He looked horrified. He quickly dowsed the flames and reached to help her, but she had been so terrified that she smacked his hand away. In that moment she could see Discord’s heart shatter right before her eyes and he froze himself in stone, his hand still reaching out for her.

After the incident, Celestia explained that since Discord was the spirit of chaos and thus was empowered when chaos spread throughout the land. The extra power caused him to give into his baser instincts. She had hoped that his new bonds of friendship would prevent him from relapsing and he could use the extra power to help win the war, but Celestia “regretfully” underestimated how much chaos the war had produced.

Fluttershy didn’t blame Discord for what he had done. Chaos was a part of his very nature, spreading chaos was his lot in the universe. He was no different than a carnivore needing to eat meat in her mind. She did blame Celestia though. Celestia who knew what could happen if Discord were to get wrapped up in the chaos and lose himself in it. Celestia who never once brought it up in any meetings or asked they watch Discord for any strange behavior. Fluttershy had seen the signs that he was struggling with something, but had no idea what. She didn’t know he had been fighting the urge to do evil, to go back to his old ways. Maybe if she had known, if they had known, they could have helped their friend.

Now, now it was too late. Discord was still frozen in stone, choosing to remain there by his own will. Even after she’s gone begged him to come out, he’s refused; he stayed frozen reaching out for her.

The door opened and someone stepped inside. Quickly Fluttershy crouched down in the water, covering her breasts with her arms.

“Who’s there?”

A bob of purple and teal hair popped through the door, it was Starlight Glimmer of all people.

“Fluttershy, are you here? I wanted to talk to-“

“GET OUT!” Fluttershy screamed suddenly, spooking the pink skinned woman.

Starlight hid behind the door, a shiver running up her spine when she caught a glimpse of Fluttershy’s eyes turning red; a side effect of a misguided attempt to try and heal her burns.

“Fluttershy, I’m sorry I’m interrupting your private time, but I wanted to ask…” From the other side of the door Starlight heard an angry hiss. Reluctantly she got up off the floor and peeked through the small window on the door. She immediately jumped away from the door; Fluttershy was on the other side of the glass with blood red eyes and long sharp fangs.

“I said get out!”

Starlight nodded wordlessly and quickly fled leaving Fluttershy panting for breath as she tried to calm herself down. She hated people seeing her naked. Before she would have just been embarrassed and meek about it, now she just hated the way they stared at her. They stared at her with pity and fear. Pity for her burns and fear for the monster she’s become.

She leaned against the door, staring up at the moon with a single stream of tears falling from her good eye. She was no longer a sweet butterfly of kindness.

She was just a hateful bat in disguise.

Twilight (Extended Content)

Post War Twilight
By Foxgear

Books on the bed, the dim light of a reading lap on the desk, the shimmer of color dancing off the crystal walls. The room looked a lot like home, the crystal walls were familiar and the bed sheets even had her mark on it, but that was the only thing that was hers, that and the books on the shelves. Everything else was someone else’s. The bed, the room, the castle, it was all rightfully Cadence’s. She shouldn’t be here sleeping in her bed, ruling her land, raising her daughter.

No she, Twilight Sparkle Princess of Friendship, shouldn’t be here ruling the crystal empire, but she had no choice. Her niece Flurry Heart was still too young and there were too many looking to use her. She needed to be here to protect the young princess, to teach her, to raise her, to keep her safe.

Like her mother and father should be doing, but they can’t, because they died, taken by Sombra’s hands.

Twilight wiped a stray tear from her left eye with her right hand. Her fingers brush the eye patch covering her right eye, the one she had lost. She flopped on her back and lifting up what was left of her left arm, from just above the elbow and down was gone. Cut off by Sombra’s scythe. She had been reaching out with it the moment Sombra cut down her brother and sister in law. She remembered the blood flying in the air as the massive blade cut through them, her screams and then pain as the massive blade cut though her flesh. Her eye had already been taken prior by Terek.

Now that had been a battle. She managed to go toe to toe with the villain and without the aid of the other princesses’ magic it was all her, her and her friends standing together. They thought once they got rid of Terek things would settle down, it would be easily to clean up the rest of the villains. After all what could match Terek?

A lot of things actually it turned out. Things they hadn’t even imagined. Maybe they were too used to winning against the big bosses of evil. They got cocky. Even she was little cocky even after Terek burned her eye shut. Really she faced Terek and only lost an eye? What were the odds of that? The rest of her friends got some cuts, some a little more life threatening then others, but they were all live and fully able.

That’s why they were all surprised that only a month later Rarity was found buried in the rubble of her own house with Spike’s dead body just a few feet from her. She had been there for almost two days. Watching the crows peck out Spike’s eyes and nibble on his corpse.

Twilight shivered, unable to imagine such a thing happening to the dragon she practically raised. She couldn’t imagine having to lay there like Rarity had to, to watch the body of your beloved be disfigured as you lay there helpless.

More tears fell, she couldn’t believe she had been in Canterlot lying in a soft bed while Spike lay dead and her friend crippled for life. It was supposed to be simple mission to get rid of some harpies; they’ve faced worse, what could harpies do when they defeated so much more dangerous foes?

After Spike’s death and Rarity being taken from the field permanently. Something changed in them or maybe it had just been her, no it was a shared feeling. Something she couldn’t describe. They decided to split up after that. She didn’t remember why. They had been fighting. Fighting about what happened to Rarity and Spike and what they were going to do. She couldn’t remember what was said, too numb from Spike’s death to pay attention.

Suddenly Applejack had stormed out of the room and then Rainbow Dash, leaving her, Pinkie and Fluttershy sitting in silence. Pinkie had excused herself first, later Twilight learned she joined up with Maud’s squad and Fluttershy had returned to the medic unit. She had just sat there alone. Her friends were drifting apart right in front of her eye and she didn’t do anything to stop it. She figured things could be fixed later, when the war was over, thinking maybe then things could start to get better.

Things got worse, so much worse.

The next one to get hurt was Fluttershy; by Discord’s hand no less. If there was division in their group before that drove a wedge between all of them. Fluttershy, bless her heart, forgave Discord for what happened. She was right it wasn’t his fault. Not everyone saw it that way though.

Rainbow Dash couldn’t bring herself to forgive Discord; they had found her one day screaming at his statue. Fluttershy begged for her to stop, but that didn’t go over well. Rainbow and Fluttershy began to fight, screaming at each other at the top of their lungs. For the first time Twilight didn’t know what to do to fix things. She stood there stunned as Applejack got involved and things got physical between her and Dash. The fight ended with both Rainbow and Applejack walking off, sporting bruises from the other. After that they didn’t fight together for the rest of the war.

She kept tabs on them. Applejack had gone home to protect her farm and by extension Ponyville. Rainbow Dash fully dedicated herself the wonderbolts and her missions. She caught a few glimpses of Rainbow during meeting and such, but never got the chance to speak to her at length. Fluttershy was still recovering from her burns, Starlight thought she had some crazy cure for the burns, but Twilight very much doubted it would work, but Fluttershy was willing to try it, so she let them go at it. Rarity was still in rehab and didn’t want anyone to see her. Pinkie was doing alright with Maud at that time.

Then things got worse again.

The war had been winding down. Only Sombra and Crowley the Golem King was left. That same cockiness got them, even the princesses. Crowley was losing ground fast and they had beaten Sombra twice already. What was there to fear?

She laughed, she had been so, so stupid. When was she going to learn?

She only read the reports of what happened to Pinkie and only caught a glimpse of her through the viewing glass during her surgery. She also heard about what happened to Applejack and Rainbow Dash, but honestly she barely paid any attention to anything. She was too busy holding the little girl’s hand as her world feel apart around her as she walked through the hospital to collect Princess Cadence’s and Shining Armor’s bodies.

The two had been stitched back together by the funeral guy. They would be getting a royal burial. Parades and all that with glass coffins, it wasn’t often royalty died after all he so joyfully declared. That smile made her sick to her stomach. As the only remaining next of kin she got to listen to all the things they were going to do to doll up her brother’s and sister’s corpse. She couldn’t take it. She ran out of the room and threw up in the garbage.

She didn’t want parades. She didn’t want crowds of people mourning their loss. She wanted her brother back! She wanted Spike back! She wanted everything to be like it was before!

Flurry Heart had snuck up behind her and tugged at her coat, carrying a little pink pony doll. She had been only seven or eight at the time, but she was taking everything better then Twilight was. Course she didn’t understood what had happened. No one had told her mother and father had died. Twilight hadn’t wanted anyone to, because if anyone should, it should be her.

However she couldn’t get the words out, not that actual words, she had just told Flurry Heart her parents were gone. Not dead gone, just gone. When Flurry asked when they were going to come back. Twilight couldn’t stop from choking up and hugging the little girl and sobbing as her little niece told her it was going to be ok.

She should have told Flurry Hear then, but she didn’t, instead she waited still the parade, which she was forced to attend as it would be rude for her not to appear, but she didn’t want to go. She didn’t want to see their bodies paraded around for everyone to see. She didn’t want Flurry Heart standing beside her either to see it all and for it to suddenly dawn on her that her parents weren’t coming back.

Twilight had to hold Flurry Heart back from running to her parents. Screaming for them to wake up, but they didn’t and they never would. One of the nobles told Flurry to shut up and be quiet. Twilight slapped him to the ground.

They left after that disappearing in a flash of teleportation and waited for the end of the parade to stand at the foot of Cadence’s and Shining’s graves. Twilight finally explained why Flurry Heart’s parents weren’t coming back and held the little princess as she cried and cried. She made a choice that day, a choice to take care of her niece. She packed her things and left for the crystal empire, saying good bye to the friends that saw her off. Applejack, Pinkie and Rarity were the only ones to show.

She hasn’t spoken the any of them in the past five years. The friends she’s abandoned. The choice while simple was a hard one. Stay for her friends or go for her family. She chose family. Her friends said they understood, but there was still a feeling a betrayal as she packed up to leave home for the Crystal Empire. She could have raised Flurry Heart in Ponyville, but it would be better for future to raise Flurry in the kingdom she was supposed to rule. She couldn’t get the same experience being raised in Ponyville, she couldn’t grow up around the people and see how they lived and get to know them from hundreds of miles away.

So Twilight made her choice, whether or not it was right could be debated till the end of time.

Her old castle she left for Starlight to care for and to use as home. As her only student it was the best choice. Over the past five years Starlight has kept her up to date with the happenings of Ponyville via letters; she’s also kept her up to date with what was happening in her friends’ lives. Each letter seemed to get more heart wrenching as time went on. Starlight as become a sort of shrink for the five and the poor woman was at her wits end.

Twilight held up Starlight’s latest letter to the lamp.

(Dear Twilight,

I need your help! I’ve tried my best to help our friends, but my efforts have proven fruitless. Please you must come home! Even it’s just for a few days. They need you Twilight.

Love, Starlight Glimmer)

She was torn. Her friends were like family to her, but Flurry Heart was family and it was too dangerous to take her out of the empire. She didn’t feel comfortable leaving twelve year old alone for longer than day if she had to leave the castle, let alone leave the country.

Her eye fluttered, heavy with sleep, Twilight turned to her clock the time was twenty past two in the morning. She had magic lesson to give in six hours. Better get some sleep, maybe when she wakes up she can find a solution to her friends’ problem.

Morning rolled around. Tiredly Twilight opened her eye to read the clock; it was twelve in the afternoon! She snapped awake falling out of bed in the process as she scrambled down the crystal halls in her PJ’s to where she was hosting Flurry Heart’s magic lesson.

“I’m so sorry Flurry I don’t know why, but my alarm…” The words died on her tongue as Twilight come face to face with Starlight Glimmer teaching Flurry Heart magic with Sunburst.

“Hi Auntie!” Flurry squeezed floating several balls around in the air. “You were running late and then Ms. Glimmer showed up and said she would teach me and it’s been so much fun! Look at what I can do!”

Flurry did several tricks while Starlight gave her a warily smile, “Hi Twilight, it’s been awhile. I hope you don’t mind me dropping, but the staff had said you’ve been staying up late and waking up early, so I thought it would beneficial to let you rest a little longer. Sorry I didn’t wake you up sooner, I just go so wrapped in the lesson we kind of lost track of time.”

Twilight looked between the three, her mind trying to wrap about the situation, till finally she just gave up and admitted defeat.

“That’s fine Starlight. Why don’t you go play in the gardens Flurry, while Starlight and I catch up, preferably over coffee?”

Starlight smiled as she stepped closer and gave her hug, “That sounds lovely; I assume you’ll want to change first? Maybe even shower?”

Twilight took good sniff and bulked, “Yeah that sounds like a good idea. I’ll see you in the dining hall in about thirty minutes.”

Refreshed and washed Twilight entered the dining room dressed in purple pants and a light blue shirt. She sat down across from Starlight and took the fresh cup of coffee in front of her and sipped on it. A few minutes later some servants entered and delivered fruit and pancakes.

“Pancakes for dinner?”

Twilight gave a soft smile as she placed some strawberries on top of the stack and poured some syrup.

“Yeah, Spike used to make pancakes whenever I woke up late. I guess you might not remember. I got used to waking up early when I took you on as a student, so it didn’t happen as much. Still Spike’s pancakes were the best.” Starlight nodded and they both silently dug into their respective stacks. Once they were finished Twilight dabbed her lip with a napkin and decided to cut to the chase. “Why are you here Starlight?”

Starlight turned crimson, “What? Can’t I come and visit my teacher on whim?”

Twilight’s eye narrowed, “You don’t do anything on a “whim” you planned the plan for your plan to plan to ask Sunburst on date months in advance. I know I helped with the check list of the plan on how to make a plan. So, I’ll ask again and you better answer me honestly this time or I’ll have to see about some remedial classes in your future, why are you here?”

“But I graduated!”

“Starlight.”

“Ok fine! I came here to convince you to go home! You’ve gotten my letters. I know you have! They need you Twilight. I’ve tried to help, but I don’t have the connection to them like you do. Fluttershy tried to bit me for Celestia’s sake! Fluttershy!”

“I told you awaking her bat DNA wouldn’t trigger a miraculous healing effect.”

“That’s beside the point! I need you to go home; they need you to go home!”

Twilight sighed, “And do what exactly? I’ve been looking into cures for all them Starlight and you know what I discovered? Nothing! I can’t fix Rarity’s back, I can’t fix Applejack’s womb, can’t help Pinkie get over the trauma of losing Maud, let alone help Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy! There’s no magic fix any of that!”

She was panting hard from her rant, Starlight placed her hands on top of Twilight’s as she looked the purple princess in the eye and said, “They don’t need magic Twilight; they need you. You’re their glue, you help keep them together. You’re the embodiment of the elements of harmony. There’s nothing you six can’t do when you come together.”

“I want to help, but what about Flurry Heart? I can’t just leave her.”

Starlight smiled, “Sunburst and I can watch her and I can teach her while you’re gone. I did learn from you after all. It will only be for a few days, just enough to help them.”

“No.”

“No?”

Twilight nodded, “Going home and reconnecting everyone will only be a temporary fix. After I leave given some time they’ll being to drift apart again. They’ll bury themselves in their work and lose themselves and it will just repeat itself. If I’m going to do this I need a more permanent situation and I think have an idea on how to do that.”

“Really what?” Starlight asked excitedly. She couldn’t believe this was happening! Twilight’s going home!

“Well, it kind of involves you… and Sunburst.”

“Oh, am I going to like were this goes?”

“Maybe? How do you feel about Crystals?”

Starlight blinked, her mind working a mile a minute to figure out Twilight’s plan and then she suddenly got it! It was perfect! It was… it was what she wanted for so long!

“I’ll go tell Sunburst!”

Twilight smiled watching Starlight’s retreating back. Slowly her smile began to fade to a frown. Her right hand trembled. Could she do this again? Could she reunite her friends? Past experience said yes, but it’s been five years since they’ve been together. What if it was too late this time?

What if she couldn’t save their friendship?

Author's Note

Wouldn't it just suck if I ended there? I mean this chapter was a bit more cheery then the others, but its still a bit depressing. Anyway this wasn't part of my original plan but there will be a 7th chapter. It will be long, not too long, but longer then the previous chapters.

Update 7 /26 /16 new content added before the break that goes to the next morning.

Final

Post War: Conclusion

By Foxgear

It was a hot day; too hot to be up in this stuffy barn throwing hay, why did haying always land on the hottest days Applejack wondered as she tossed up another hay bale. Her body was drenched head to toe in sweat, making the falling chaff of hay stick to her skin. She gave an exhausted sigh as she unbuttoned her flannel shirt and tossed it aside; leaving her in her undershirt and daisy shorts. Plopping down on a bale she took up the jug of water next to it and chugged down a few good ounces of cool refreshing water.

“It’s too damn hot.” She complained looking out the door of the barn. There were three more racks of hay to stack. Each rack held about two hundred and some bales, adding up to roughly six hundred bales and after those were empty they would be filled and unloaded again.

“Bloom and Mac better get home soon; I’m not doing this by myself again.” She remembered that time, when she stupidly bragged she could bring in all the hay herself. They didn’t put up much hay. Only enough for two thousand bales or so, nothing compared to the apples they raised. Only she had forgotten how much heavier the bales were and how the prickly strains of green liked to prick and cut her skin.

Deciding she earned a little longer break Applejack reclined against the bale and shut her eyes. Her thoughts drifting through her list of chores for the day until eventually drifted to Rawhide, the stallion she met during the war. It had been a few months before her injury. She had really taken a liking to him; he was a quiet man, strong, and not afraid of some hard work. He had been a miner by trade, but he quickly signed up for the army once the war began. He was quite the sight wielding a pick axe into battle.

After the fight with Rainbow in Canterlot she returned home to find him stationed in Ponyville with a huge new scar on his eye. The doctors said he wasn’t fit for front line duty, but gave him a pass for regular guard duty for a little town. He hadn’t been happy about it at first, but he seemed to cheer up once he discovered it was her hometown. He even came out to help on the farm every once in a while, soon becoming almost every day.

A blush came to her cheeks has she remembered a few of his nightly visits. A few just so happen to take place right in this very loft. Everything seemed so bright with him around, even with the war happening. Of course it didn’t stay that way.

The sound of someone climbing up the loft ladder brought Applejack out of her musing and she grabbed the pitch fork beside her out of reflex and held it like a spear.

“Whose there!” She demanded getting into the spear stance she learned in the army. She usually fought with fist and magic, but she was bit tired to be throwing punches and stabbing was so much more effective as she come to learn.

The intruder answered as a bob of familiar purple hair appeared in Applejack’s vision, “Just an old friend.” They answered through muffled words. Applejack couldn’t believe her eyes, Princess Twilight Sparkle was in her barn, climbing up a ladder with one arm and carrying a six pack of Apple Ale Cider between her teeth.

“Twi!” Applejack hurled over and took the six pack from the girl’s mouth and hulled her up the rest of the way with one lift. “What are you doing here? And when did you get so short?”

Twilight puffed out her cheeks as she took note that she only stood as tall as Applejack’s chin. Seems someone still had a grow spurt left it seems.

“I’m not short, your just ridiculous tall, your six feet tall for Celestia’s sake!”

Applejack looked curiously at the short purple princess. “Huh, guess I never noticed. Mac is only a little taller than me and Applebloom has gotten so tall now. I suppose I never noticed since I don’t leave the farm much anymore. That aside Twi, what brings you here? Not that it’s not nice to see you again I mean. How’s Flurry Heart doing? She with you?”

Twilight shook her head as she took a seat on a bale and grabbed one of the ales and popped it open. She took a one long swing before answering. “No, Flurry is still in the Empire. I have Starlight and Sunburst looking after her. Starlight insisted that I should come home for a bit and I found her reasoning sound and decided to come.”

“Ah huh,” Applejack said popping open her own bottle. “So you are just stopping by or…”

“Or…”

Applejack sighed, “I know you kept tabs on everyone Twi, and even if you didn’t Starlight would have told you what’s going on. So I… I was wondering if you… oh say found a cure… for me for you know…” her hand fell on her stomach, she could feel Twilight’s eyes staring at it as she nervously licked her lips preparing for the answer.

Twilight sucked in a breath and finished off her bottle, quickly popping a second one as she tried to find the words to say to her friend.

“I looked AJ. I really did. I studied and researched and talked to every doctor in Equestria and the Empire. There’s no fixing what’s been done to you, at best it could be fifty years before we discovering enough to safely try rebuilding tissue with magic, but even then the chances if it working are spotty.”

“Oh… I see.”

“But,” Twilight said suddenly, “While I was researching I did find some more alternative methods. They’re still in the developing stage, but there have been some tests and they have been shown to be quiet fruitful. It’s called Surrogating. We can take your DNA and the DNA of your mate or spouse and implant it in a different carrier and they carry your offspring to term. There’s also wombs transplant, but that’s still a bit iffy, mainly because it’s hard to find a donor and there isn’t much demand, and the possibility of your body not accepting the transplant.”

“What’s your point Twi?”

Twilight took another sip, smacking her lips as she tried to work up the courage to speak her mind, to be… honest.

“My point Applejack is I thought you needed something to be better, something specific, it needed to be exactly what you wanted. What I’ve come to realize is maybe it’s not exactly what you need. I know. I know you want nothing more than to have your own children, to give life to them yourself. Maybe you can’t have them the way you wanted, but there are other ways to have kids that will be yours, you can still be a mother. Just not the way you were expecting.”

“That’s…” Applejack began, but the words died in her throat as she pondered what Twilight was saying. “Would those things you said… would they work? Could I… could I have Rawhide’s kids?”

Twilight nodded.

“That’s um…” Applejack began to softly laugh as tears fell rolled down her cheeks. She swiped them away, spreading dirt, sweat, and tears across her face. “That’s great! That’s really great! I… I don’t know what else to say. I’ve been pushing that foolhardy miner away for a long time, but he’s never given up. He’s always come back after each time I sent him away. He wants kids as badly as I do, I didn’t want him to be saddled with a wife that couldn’t give him any kids of his own. I can’t even remember how many times I rejected his proposals to marry me. Each time he would just say he’d be back in the spring and go back to the mine and come back again. He’d just show up and start helping on the farm.”

“You must have him pretty smitten.” Twilight teased. “Rawhide… was he that guy that…”

“Help me protect the town when those golems attacked? Yeah that was him. We got on real quick after that. The way he swung that pick axe… it was divine.”

Twilight hummed as Applejack got a dreamy look in her eye, which did not happen often, but she just couldn’t help but point one little fact that they all notice about Applejack’s boyfriend when they first met him.

“You know he’s strangely similar to Mac, right? He’s big, red, and quiet. Other than being a miner they are basically the same.”

“Your point, Miss BBBFF?”

Twilight blushed, remembering the song she had written and yeah, time to move on and keep drinking. “Point taken. You’ve probably figured it out by now, but I’m not here just to see you.”

Applejack nodded, “I figured. Trying to get the band back together again? Well I won’t say I think you got a good shot of it this time, but you can count me in.”

“Good,” Twilight smiled, grabbing her third beer and handing AJ’s her third. “Course you’re going to have take one for the team if we’re going to help Rarity.”

“Oh great, I wonder what this plan could be.” AJ said sarcastically. She knew were this was going from a mile away. “You got another six pack? I think I’m going to need it.”

Rarity was alone in her living room with a cup of tea on the stand next to her as she held her old sewing needle in her hands. Her fingers trembled as she tried to push the pointy needle though the cloth. The pain in her thumbs flared up and she bit her lip to bit back a scream. She could do this. She could do this! She chanted pushing harder till her fingers cramped up causing her to drop the needle and cloth. Muffling a scream of frustration she reached for the needle and got nowhere near close enough to grab it.

“Dammit all,” She muttered under breath as she stretched out her hand. A soft blue glow surrounded the needle and slowly it floated upwards. Sweat marred her brow and her breathing became rapid, but it was almost…there!

The doorbell rang, breaking her focus, the needle feel back down to the floor. She looked it, feeling angry and disgusted with it. Taking a sip of tea she practiced smiling before calling out to her guests.

“I’ll be right there!”

“Ah shucks, no need to bother with that Rares. I can let myself in.”

Rarity could hardly believe her eyes. “Applejack darling, whatever are you doing here?” A flash of purple caught her attention, wheeling around the tall farmer, Rarity gasped as Twilight awkwardly waved and smiled. “My word… Twilight…”

“Yep Twi’s home, but that’s not why we’re here. I need a favor Rarity, more specific a dress.”

Today was just full of surprises it seems.

“You,” Rarity pointed accusingly, “Applejack, what me, to make you a dress?” Applejack smiled while nodding. “Well I’m afraid you’re several years too late. I… I don’t make dresses anymore. I can put a good word for you with Coco, she’s just as good, if not better them me now. I’m certain she can help you for a decent price.”

She tried to roll away, but two powerful hands grabbed the arm rest holding her in place. “I don’t want Coco to make it Rarity. I want you to. It’s for… well it’s for a special occasion.” Applejack’s faced turned bright red. “Please Rarity, I need your help.”

Gently Rarity pried Applejack’s hands off the arm rests and wheeled herself a few feet away. She raised her hands staring at them, her thumbs trembling.

“Applejack, it’s not that I don’t want to do it. I would love nothing more than to make you a dress that would put the princess’s to shame, but I can’t, my hands are too weak. Maybe if I had my magic I could do it, but I can’t!” She screamed her voice turning to whisper as she clutched her fists. “I can’t…”

Someone placed a hand on her back; it was Twilight, wearing a big smile. The smile she would wear when she solved a problem.

“Well, if it’s magic you need, I got plenty.” The purple princess said and suddenly Rarity felt a surge of power flood her veins. It was strong, warm, and plentiful, the magic of alicorn.

Carefully Rarity stretched out her hand the blue/purple magic gathering in her palm. She focused on her sewing needle on the floor; the needle flew to her instantly. Her mouth hung open, she could use magic… SHE COULD USE MAGIC! Applejack’s face appeared in her vision as adrenaline coursed through her body, there was a big knowing smile on the farmer face as she said, “So up for an order?”

Rarity’s grin threatens to split her face. “You know it! Let’s get started!” It was at that moment Applejack’s smile dropped as she was engulfed in magic.

“No, no, no not like this!”

“Twilight, if you please push me into the studio. I have some work to do.” Twilight could only smile sheepishly as Applejack was carried through the air to the modeling stage, stripped and then wrapped in tape measures; fabric of all colors and sizes flouted around the room in a maelstrom of colors. Twilight could feel Rarity’s excitement as she weaved her needle to and fro. She could fell Rarity’s joy, her happiness of her dream coming to life again.

Rarity hummed as she worked, while Applejack struggled to stay standing as one dress after another was placed on her and then taken off before she could even see the results and Rarity wondered why she rarely came for dresses.

“The color should defiantly be green, it contrasts your skin tone wonderfully, red works to, but red is overdone now a days. Let’s see… boots, you need new boots, a lighter brown, maybe a sandy color. How about earrings? No, no earrings, not your style. Maybe necklace, something simple, a jade! Yes, a jade to go with your dress. There were go and perfect!”

Applejack finally found her feet again as her world finally stopped spinning. She stood on the model stand, surrounded by mirrors. She gasped for breath at the sight of her in the mirror. She looked… beautiful. The dress was a light green color, almost like a Granny Smith and traveled down to her knees, where her new boots a genuine Lacrosse pair reached high on her legs. She gave a twirl, the helm of the skirt rising gently as the jade around her neck bounced against her breasts. This was better then she imagined.

“Thanks Rarity, you have no idea how much this means to me.”

Rarity chuckled lighting, “Oh I have a feeling I do. Please feel free to contact me for a wedding dress. I’ve had the perfect design in mind for years that will surely make Rawhide’s jaw drop to the floor. That is if Twilight will lend me her magic again.”

“Not a problem, the spell is simple, all it does it let you use my magic like battery. All you need is someone with unicorn magic and your set. Though they might tire quickly if you do what you did today.”

“Why darling you make sound like I’m going back into business.”

“Well are you? I mean you can with this spell.”

Rarity hummed, “I did enjoy making dresses again, but it got me thinking about other things. There’s so much more I can offer people then just a fancy dress, like with Coco and Sassy, why I could become a mentor! Imagine all the new designs that could be born through my guiding hand!”

“What about your dream Rarity?” Applejack asked stepping off the model stand. Rarity smiled softly as she maneuvered to look at the two.

“I’ve already fulfilled my dream a long time ago. I have stores in just about every major city and beyond. I think it’s time for a new dream, one where I’m living in the present and not the past.” She looked between the two, her smile widening, “And I would like you girls to be apart it and by that I mean all of us. So just tell me what I can do to help.”

“Well, we need you to talk to Fluttershy, or rather show us where she is during the day. I looked in her cabin and it looks like she hasn’t been there for a while.”

“I’m afraid Twilight there is only one sure fire way to meet with Fluttershy these days and it’s dangerous. I assume this will not detour you?” Twilight nodded. “Very well, then we best sit down for some tea, because it’s a long time till night.”

Her eyes darted swiftly around the room, her hand clutched to her robe, she didn’t feel safe. Not since Starlight’s intrusion of her private place, her sanctuary. Maybe she should find a new one? Others were sure to come. They would be looking for her. Hunting for her.

“No, no, no! That’s not right! Nobody is after you! They’re friends…friends that never come to see you, friends that have abandoned you.” Fluttershy looked over the edge of the pool, her bright red eyes staring back at in the water, it was getting worse. The bat, the bat was taking control.

The burns on her body stung. She needed to get in the water, but she was too afraid to! What if someone was here? What if they saw her? What if she went batty again? She might hurt someone again! Her tongue licked around her enlarged fangs, she remembered the blood, it tasted… good.

Her skin began to heat up. The urge to scratch was unbearable! Hissing she threw her robe away and jumped in the pool with a slash! The water soothed her skin, her mind, and her soul. Zecora made the bath mixture. Fluttershy wasn’t sure what was it in, but it felt good and it kept her in check. Strange she had to be fully nude for the water to work; she couldn’t even wear a swimsuit. Zecora explained it was just the way the magic worked.

Neither the less the water dig it’s job wonderfully. The pain from her burns lessened and her bat urges were lessening; now she just needed to be in here for the entire night with no…

“Hi Fluttershy.”

…Interruptions.

Anger surged, but she bit her lips to suppress her hiss, her long fangs drawing blood. Carefully she crossed her arms over her breasts and looked over her shoulder to see Rarity, alone, in a wheel chair, easily prey…

NO! Rarity is not prey!

“Hi... what are you doing here?”

“Oh I happen to be in the mood to come and see you. Starlight mentioned her… last visit with you and I grew concerned. Have your symptoms been worsening?”

Fluttershy shivered, but not from being cold, no she was shivering with hunger. “Yes, they have been getting worse. Perhaps the water is losing its effectiveness or I’m developing a resistance to it. I’ll speak with Zecora about making a new mixture.”

“That’s wonderful to hear darling… um why are you standing so close to me?” Rarity slowly rolled away from the edge of the pool. Fluttershy dripping wet and naked slowly stalked closer with haunting red eyes. Why did she have to be the bait in this plan?

Fluttershy licked her lips as she grabbed Rarity’s wheel chair, “You really shouldn’t be here Rarity. I don’t like being disturbed and you look… soooo… good… especially your veins… veins filled with blood.”

“Umm… Twilight! Applejack! Please help!”

The two stepped out from the shadows surrounding the bat girl. Fluttershy hissed scratching at the air with her long nails and baring her fangs at the trio. A glow of dark yellow surrounded her and she changed completely to her bat form, complete with two huge leather wings protruding from her lower back.

“Stay away! I knew you would come for me! I knew you couldn’t let me be!” Fluttershy cried falling to her knees, tears streaming down her face like a waterfall. “I knew you couldn’t let a monster like me be. I’ve tried my best, but I can hardly control it anymore! I feel so angry all the time, all the pain and anguish I suppressed over the years. The hate, I hate having to fight in the war, hate watching as people lay dying in front of me crying for their mothers and being able to do nothing! I hate Celestia for not warning us about Discord! I hate Starlight for turning me into this thing! I hate it! I HATE IT!”

Fluttershy screamed at the top of her lungs pounding her fists into the cement floor, leaving cracks with each blow. She fell to her side crying, her long pink bangs covering her face as she cried.

“Just get it over with; please make it quick, it’s the kind thing to do.” She mumbled as Twilight knelt down stroking her back.

“Oh Fluttershy, I’m sorry I… no we let you get this bad. We’re your friends we should have been there for you. I shouldn’t have let Starlight try her experiment on you without making sure it was safe. I just… I just let things get away from me, but I’m here now. We are here now and we say you are not a monster, your still our friend and we what to help you. I can’t cure your burns or maybe even your bat transformation, but we can make sure you don’t have to face them alone, not anymore.”

Fluttershy hiccuped as she swiped away her tears. “You… you don’t think I’m a monster? You still want to be my friends, even though I really, really want to bite your neck and suck your blood?” Twilight nodded, though her smile was a bit shaky, especially when Fluttershy hugged her. The fangs were just a bit too close for comfort.

“We’ll never stop being friends Fluttershy and if we need start wearing garlic perfume then so be it.” They shared a laugh, Applejack handed Fluttershy her robe and they all moved to the nearby bench to sit down and chat, telling Fluttershy that they were getting the gang back together.

“Oh that’s wonderful! What can I do to help?”

“Well, do you happen to know were Pinkie is?”

It was early dawn on the Pie family Rock Farm and four figures stood on the edge of the property wondering what they should do. Should they wait here and meet their target in the fields or go to the house?

“Showing up while she’s working is usually acceptable; you all do it all the time at mah farm.”

“I always got a feeling that wasn’t as appreciated as you led on dear Applejack.”

“I’m kind of with Rarity on this one; it seems kind of rude to show up while she’s working. What do you think Fluttershy? Um… Fluttershy?” Twilight and the other two looked to see Fluttershy boldly making her way across the rock fields to the farm house. She was really moving fast and… smoking… “Oh right, vampire. Come on lets go to the house I guess. Applejack you wanna carry Rarity? The terrain isn’t the best for wheelchairs.”

The farm girl nodded, gathering up the fashionista bridal style and followed the purple princess across the fields.

“Don’t get any funny ideas from this Rarity,” Applejack muttered as Rarity was giving her the “What can I do with you look” usual it meant another fashion show.

“Perish the thought Applejack, on an unrelated topic how would you feel about modeling some suits for me? You have quiet the build for it.”

Applejack’s eyes narrowed at the fashionista, “If yawls calling me mannish, I’ll drop you here and let you crawl to the house.” Rarity chuckled nervously, looking anywhere but at the farmer.

“Oh look, we’re already here, how time flies.”

From the house Fluttershy called out, “I could use some help in here!” Quickly all three women charged into the farm house. They ran through the dining room to the open door at the end of the hallway. Inside a naked Pinkie Pie was being subdued by Fluttershy, a butcher’s knife lay across the floor by the wall.

“Pinkie what are you doing?” Twilight gasped as the pink girl reached for the knife. Acting quick Twilight made the knife vanish from view and knelt before the struggling girl. “Applejack, please help hold her down.”

“Right,” Applejack said setting Rarity on the bed. She knelt down on the right side of Pinkie’s back holding down her right arm and leg, while Fluttershy held down the left side. Pinkie thrashed beneath them with great force, nearly bucking them off a time or two before finally tiring.

“She was trying to cut off her arm, Twilight!” Fluttershy said explaining what she saw when she entered the room. Pinkie had been on the bed, her right arm held up against the wall, with the knife in her left. She had lad the knife on the stitch, lining up for the cut before pulling back to sever the arm in one swing.

All of them stared at the former party planner, unable to comprehend why she would try to do such a thing. Quietly Twilight leaned down closer to Pinkie’s face, the girl’s lips were moving, whispering something so softly she could barely hear what it was.

“Must not become Maud,” Was what she said, over and over again.

Twilight bowed her head, and gestured for Applejack and Fluttershy to lift the poor girl up and sit her down on the bed. Pinkie didn’t struggle as they moved her, but Applejack and Fluttershy kept a tight grip on the pink girl as they sat beside her.

“Pinkie,” Twilight said reaching for the girl, Pinkie turned away anger and sorrow in her eyes. “Pinkie please let us help you. You’re not well.”

Pinkie snorted, “Says the girl with one arm and eye and struggling to raise the daughter of her dead brother and is feeling like she’s failing miserably.”

“I see you’re perceptive as ever. Yes, I’ve come to realize you can’t learn to be a parent or even a role model from just reading a book. You can’t just insert yourself into the role and expect everything to go well. For the first year Flurry Heart wouldn’t talk to me about anything. She would always smile and say she was fine, but I’d see her crying in her bed when she went to sleep, calling out for her mommy and daddy. I should have been the one person who could understand her, but I didn’t lose my parents at her age. Hell looking back I hardly spent time with my parents after I joined Celestia’s school and when they passed it hurt, but didn’t hurt as much as it should have. They had become like distant relatives to me, never noticed them when they were there, didn’t notice when they were gone. I failed one family already; I’m not failing this one.”

A smile appeared on Pinkie’s face, but it’s wasn’t a happy one, “I think you already failed this family Twilight. We needed you to keep us together. You were the glue, the rock of the entire thing; with you gone we all just drifted away again. Some tried to mend the ties that had broken, IE me, but balloons and cake can only do some much. Even the townsfolk turned against me, I lived with them for years, served them cake, knew all their names, knew every little thing about them, I treated every one of them like family and when it was their turn to give back. To help me when I was down, they stabbed me in the back and chased me out of town just because I came back a little different from a war I fought to protect them. If that’s how they treat their friends, I’d hate to be their enemy.”

“Pinkie’s right you know,” Applejack said suddenly, “The town did fail her, but I did her one worse. I was too wrapped up in my own grief to even lift a finger to help her. I hadn’t even known she left down till a month passed. I’m sorry Pinkie, should have been looking out for you.”

“As am I,” Rarity spoke up, “I just sat by and let you walk out of town without even a word. I should have scolded those town folks something fierce.”

“And I should have done more for you too; I was on staff when we did the transfer. I didn’t even think about the mental trauma and left you to strangers to take care of.” Fluttershy admitted meekly.

Tears rolled down Pinkie’s cheeks as she shook her head fiercely about. “No… I… I shouldn’t have said those things. I should have gone for help instead of leaving, but I… I just couldn’t do it. I didn’t know how to make you smile anymore. To make you laugh, to make you happy. I felt so silly thinking parties could fix anything, such a stupid childish thing to believe.”

“Don’t say that!” Twilight shouted, shedding tears. “Don’t say they were stupid, your parties. Yeah, they were silly, and maybe childish, but sometimes that’s what you need. Maybe parties can’t fix everything, but for even just a moment they can make it feel like the world isn’t crashing down around us. Your parties didn’t just make us laugh with joy or happy, they gave us hope that things can always get better.”

Pinkie made a soft sad smile as she held up her right hand, Maud’s hand. “That’s nice to hear, but I’m not sure I’m the same Pinkie anymore. I might not even be Pinkie at all.” Twilight grabbed the hand and held it tight.

“You maybe aren’t the same Pinkie you once were, but I’m not the same Twilight either, none of us are the same anymore and we can’t go back, but we can go forward, together. I can’t promise an instant fix, but let us help you.”

Pinkie’s hand tightened around Twilight’s. She flexed each finger and then each toe, she was in control; they were her limbs now, not Maud’s.

“We’ll need Rainbow Dash,” Pinkie replied with a genuine smile, “I hope you girls remember how to tussle, because Rainbow never goes down easy. Remember last time?”

Twilight nodded and smiled, “Why do you think we got Fluttershy?”

Rainbow Dash staggered through her apartment kicking empty bottles out of her way as she dug around the mess that was her home. Grumbling she searched the floor for a clean pair of panties, growling when she found none. Running out of time she opened the top drawer of her dresser, where she kept her more saucy underwear, the kind she would wear for Soarin on their off duty date nights. Carefully she pulled the wonderbolts thong from the drawer, the pair he’d gotten her when she first joined, it was meant to be a sort of a gag gift, but it became the catalyst for their relationship.

Looking at the clock and seeing she didn’t have time to get emotional over such silly things as underwear, she slipped on the yellow and blue panties and quickly dressed in her formal uniform. As she marched towards the door she grabbed a bottle of bourbon on the table and chugged half of it down before leaving.

Swaggering out into the hall she had to pause and right herself against the wall. The alcohol from last night must still be in her, must be why her stomach hurt like hell. She could feel the vile rising in her throat, maybe she should just call in sick, what’s her name can take over for a day.

“What was my secretary’s name again?” Rainbow wondered as she stumbled back to her apartment. Fiddling with her keys she sluggishly tried to open the door, missing the keyhole several times, leaving scratch marks on the knob. Finally she got the key to go in and reentered her apartment.

Grabbing the phone by her bed she called in sick to her office and laid out the training plan for the day to her secretary before hanging up. Once done she broke out into giggles as she drowned the rest of the bourbon and then moved onto the vodka in the cupboards, and then the scotch and every bottle she could find.

At five pm Rainbow lay smashed on the floor, clothes in disarray and empty bottles surrounding her and it still wasn’t enough for her.

“Guess I should get some more,” She monotony said, twirling a bottle with in her hand. She stood up, bottles clattering around her as she swaggered to the door. Her feet catching one of the empty bottles making her slip and fall; her head hitting the corner of the table.

Hissing she held her hand to her head, only to quickly move it away as the pain worsened. Moving her hand in front of her eyes she saw it was covered in blood.

“Oh… that might not be good.” She slurred, head falling to the floor, a pool of blood forming around her.

“This is Rainbow’s apartment. She called in sick today, so she should be here. Now when she opens the door, Applejack will jump her first and then Fluttershy will hit a pressure point to paralyze her temporary, giving me time to form a binding spell. I’m not as quick as I was before with my eye gone when it comes to aiming spells. Pinkie be ready to jump in, in case I’m too slow, Rarity as a last resort I want you to grab my hand and use my magic to cast the spell if I take too long. Everyone got the plan?”

“Got it,” They all replied in unison.

Twilight nodded, everything should go off without a hitch, and maybe this time they can avoid having to fight Rainbow like last time. That is after they calm her down. None of them have seen the speedster in years, so they didn’t know if she was still having a grudge or not from their last fight. They decided on this plan as Rainbow tends to holds grudges and be stubborn when she doesn’t want to listen to reason or simply doesn’t want to hear what you got to say. That being said, they’ve all had that mind set before.

“Alright, let’s go this!” Twilight grabbed the knob with her magic, twisting the lock till it unlocked. Applejack bolted inside, Fluttershy right behind her, they all filed in quickly ready for an angry Rainbow Dash to come charging at them. Only she didn’t.

“Is she not home?” Rarity wondered aloud rolling into the apartment. “Oh my, it’s so… dirty.”

Spotting the empty booze bottles Twilight picked it up and sniffed the contents. The smell of alcohol was still strong; this bottle had only recently been emptied. Taking up another she got the same results, again, again, and again. Most of the bottles were just recently drank, this much alcohol was nearly lethal!

“Rainbow! Rainbow are you here!”

A low groan came from the other room, quickly the five rushed to the kitchen where Rainbow lay on the ground, a pool of blood beneath her head.

“Fluttershy first aid quick!” Twilight ordered knelling down and performing a scanning spell on Rainbow. She had a concussion and there was some damage around her neck. Carefully Twilight rolled Rainbow’s head to the side, gasping at the piece of glass sticking out of her neck!
“Call for an ambulance, we can’t help her like this.” Applejack nodded and quickly left, looking for a phone.

Rainbow’s eyes fluttered open, weakly she reached for Twilight, her arm falling back to the floor. “Twilight…” The blue skinned girl croaked weakly, “What are you doing here? Is that Fluttershy? Way to rock the bandana girl.”

“Twilight something isn’t right,” Fluttershy said sitting down next to the princess. She began wrapping Rainbow’s head wound, but she was afraid to touch her neck without surgical tools available.

Nodding in agreement Twilight preformed a more advanced scanning spell. “Her blood is practically half alcohol. She’s been drinking a large amount fairly consistently for a long time given the damage to her liver. Rainbow what days is it.”

“Apple cider day.”

“How many fingers am I holding up?”

“Twenty six.”

Twilight bit her lip, “She’s defiantly got a concussion, worse, and she fell asleep with one. Applejack how long till the medic arrives?”

“I see flashing lights outside,” Pinkie said from the window.

“Good, you hear that Rainbow? You’re going to be alright.” She said grabbing Rainbow’s hand as the medics came into the room and placed Rainbow on a stretcher.

“Twilight,” Rainbow mumbled, “I’m sorry.”

Rainbow’s eyes fluttered close. Quickly the medics rushed her down to the ambulance and proceeded to try and revive her. Her friends watched in horror as Rainbow’s body bounced from the shocks as the doors closed and the ambulance sped off; leaving the five running after them with tears streaming down their eyes.

They ran all the way to the hospital, Applejack carrying Rarity, together they burst through the door and rushed up the stairs to the ECU. They made a break for the doors, pushing past the nurses and doctors, coming to a stop at the observation window. Rainbow lay inside, surrounded by surgeons working vigorously to save her life.

Someone tapped Twilight on the shoulder, she turned and gasped as Princess Luna stood behind her. The princess of Day and Night embraced the younger princess and led her and the others to nearby bench to sit down. Together they watched and waited.

Rainbow awoke feeling awful. Her head heard, her neck stung, and her stomach felt like someone was twisting and then tying it into a knot. Also someone was squeezing her hand really, really hard! She tried to move her head to see who it was, but a brace stopped her from moving, so she strained her eyeballs to get a better look at the person. She smiled when she spotted a tuff of purple hair.

"Twilight..." She whispered, squeezing the purple princess's hand, she awoke instantly.

"Rainbow! Your awake! I'll get a nurse."

"Wait..." Rainbow said holding Twilight's hand as tight as she could. "I... I want to talk to you. Could you come a little closer?" Twilight nodded and sat back down, leaning in so her ear was right next to Rainbow's mouth. "I'm glad to see you again. I was... I was lonely. I missed all of you, but I was too stubborn to go make amends. I was afraid. Afraid that I'd loose you gals, like I lost Soarin, Spitfire, Fleetfoot and the others. And I was too afraid to face you after what I said during the fight by Discord's statue. I-I...(SOB) I'm sorry..."

Twilight wiped the tear from Rainbow's eye, "It's ok, I know, we all know." From behind Twilight, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie, and Rarity appeared and smiled down on Rainbow. The speedster continued to cry, and she even started to hiccup, but her smile was never more wide or more genuine then it had been in years.

"This might sound strange," Rainbow said quietly, "But could you guys sing me a song?"

They all smiled and said, "We'd love to." Rainbow leaned back and closed her eyes as her friends sang for her.

When they finished, Rainbow Dash was fast asleep with a smile on her face. Quietly the five left the room to let her rest. The last one to leave was Twilight, who smiled one last time before leaving.

"I'm glad we were in time." She whispered and shut the door.

Rainbow Dash

Post War Chapter 3: Rainbow Dash
By Foxgear

A new uniform, a large desk in an office overlooking the training yards, and a bright gold plate with her name engraved on it. Everything a newly minted Wonderbolt captain would need to start her career.

“Ok Rainbow… you can do this.” Rainbow Dash said smoothing out the lines in her skirt. She hated the female uniform. She didn’t mind wearing skirts, but this knee length made it hard to run. Funny how she was one of the few female officers in support for shorter skirts or at the very least shorts or why not just pants? What was wrong with pants?

Frustrations about her wardrobe aside Rainbow was ready for her first day of being captain, her first order of the day… finding out what the hell she was supposed to do.

“Hey um… secretary lady… what’s my schedule?”

From the intercom on her desk her secretary, Free Flight, replied in a flat professional tone. “Ten o’clock you are to do an inspection of new trainees, followed by dinner with the princess for the annual Wonderbolt fundraiser, and then you have the rest of the evening off. Is there anything else you need Captain Dash?”

“No, that will be all… thanks… I guess.” Free Flight ended the call, leaving Dash alone with her thoughts; it was only eight o’clock right now. She had two hours to kill and she didn’t have the usual piles of paper work that Spitfire usually had…

Rainbow felt her lip quiver at the thought of the former captain and quickly pulled a bottle of her “medicine” from the bottom drawer of the desk. It had been left there as a gift from the former captain. She wished she was here to enjoy it.

“Just a little sip.”

Ten o’clock rolled around and Rainbow swaggered out to the training fields where the latest batches of Wonderbolt hopefuls were lined up. Rainbow tried hard to keep the redness of her cheeks hidden. She’s been on the receiving end of a Spitfire’s drill sergeant routine many times but she was a little nervous about being on the other side now.

“Alright listen up… maggots! You think you’re ready to be wonderbolts? Well let me tell you you’re not! If you had what it takes you would already be one! Now get out those wings and give me twenty!” At first no one move, all of them looking uncertain about what to do. “Well what’s wrong? I said give me twenty!”

A single shaky hand was raised. Stomping over to the owner Rainbow stared down the shaking filly as she struggled to speak. “What was that limp wings? Speak up! I can’t hear you!”

“Um… ah… twenty what? Captain Rainbow Dash sir ma’am?”

Rainbow wanted to slap herself, she really did. How could she forget that! Stupid, stupid, stupid!

“Twenty laps… do twenty laps… which is forty now around the base. Get going before I make it eighty!”

“Yes ma’am!”

All at once the group of trainees took off flying high and flying fast while she waited on the ground with her stop watch observing how they flew. So far everyone was doing good, flying steady, no crashing or anything, this looked like pretty promising group.

For the next few hours Rainbow ran the newbies through the wringer as Spitfire had did to her before. As expected when the group landed they were sweaty, tired, and sore, just way she liked them after a workout.

“Good job out there kiddies, shower up and I’ll see you here tomorrow.” She grinned evilly for added effect and walked off. She had lunch with the princess.

Rainbow Dash sat awkward to Princess Luna, who looked equally as awkward next to her. It had been awkward for everyone when Princess Celestia retired from the throne. It had been at the end of the war, maybe a few days or weeks after and she just disappeared one day. Rainbow and Fleetfoot, the only other Wonderbolt to survive the war at the time, were the first to go look for her while everyone else was still organizing. They found her fairly easily, she was visiting Twilight, or Twilight’s castle at least. Twilight was in the Crystal Empire and would be for several more years. That was another story though.

They found Princess Celestia in the kitchen eating cake. Rainbow didn’t know how many times she had told people that’s what really happened, but they had a hard time believing her. Anyway Celestia sat them down and explained why she left without a word, even to her sister. She said she needed some time to think and that she had decided to step down as quote “head princess” despite her and Luna being co rulers. She said the time has come for some else to take the helm and that she was no longer the princess Equestria needed.

She remembered the sadness in the princess’s eyes when she spoke to them. She hadn’t noticed before but Celestia was looking… old… which she was, but she always looked like she was in her mid-thirties and has for over a thousand years. That day Celestia dropped the veil. Her glamour fell, a magic that hid her true age, showing for the first time in a thousand years and the strong powerful princess faded to tired old woman.

Celestia looked like she was in her fifties pushing sixty. Her bright rainbow hair was dull and faded gray. There were wrinkles on her face, actual wrinkles! It was a sight Rainbow could never forget.

“Tell Luna…” She said softly, “Tell Luna I’m sorry.”

After that Celestia left for the Everfree forest. Where she is said to wonder to this day, every now and then in that old castle you could see the signs of her visits or if you talked to Zecora she would tell you of a time or two that the ex-princess had stopped by for some tea. Other than that, no one saw Celestia again. Not even Luna, at least not in person.

“How’s she doing?” Rainbow asked as the charity event got underway; it would be awhile before she needed to actually do anything or anything at all. Mostly just smile and wave to the kids.

Luna gave her said smile, “She’s gotten married. Found an old widowed zebra that lived on the other side of the forest. He’s very nice to her, he makes her happy.”

“Did she tell him who she was?”

Luna’s smile brightened. “She did, he laughed and said he would eat his shoe before he would believe that she was the lost princess. His shoe could have used salt he said afterwards.” Rainbow fought to suppress her giggles.

“How’d she prove that?”

“How else? She moved the sun.”

They shared a laugh, just in time for someone to snap a picture of them; making the perfect front cover picture. After they settled down a bit and the reporters got their way with them. Luna asked Rainbow how she was doing.

“Oh me? I’m fine. Perfectly fine. I’m the captain of the wonderbolts life could not be better…”

“Your nightmares say differently Rainbow Dash, I wish you would allow me to help you.”

“I’m just one person, you got whole nation to worry about.”

Luna wrapped her arm around her shoulder, “You are not just one person Rainbow Dash. You’re a hero to the people and my friend. Please let me help you tonight.”

“I’ll… I’ll think about it.”

For the rest of the event they exchanged little dialogue and when it finally ended Rainbow dashed out of there as fast as she could into the coming night.

Several hours later Rainbow landed in the streets of Canterlot. Her eyes tired with sleep, but she didn’t want to sleep. She didn’t want to see Luna in her dreams. She didn’t want to see her dreams period.

(Rainbow) Luna’s voice echoed in her head. Rainbow Dash shook herself to stay awake as she breathed hard against the alley wall. Princess Luna’s powers have gotten more powerful over the years; she could now speak to ponies even if they were still partly awake and lead them to sleep. The princess has been relentless in her goal to get her to have a dream intervention. There was only one way Rainbow knew to block her out. Black out.

She stumbled into the nearby liquor store and threw her entire bag of bits at the cashier and walked out with an armful of liquor, AJ’s Apple Sucker punch, to be exact. The stuff literary felt like someone punched you in the face when you drank it, it was tough stuff.

Arms full of booze Rainbow ran for the Canterlot memorial cemetery. Rain began to fall as she passed through the gates and her foot slipped on the grass sending her and her bottles flying as she came to stop before Spitfire’s and the others graves.

“Hey Captain Spit… how’s it going?” Rainbow groaned as she rolled up to lean against the former captain’s grave. She was covered in mud, but she didn’t care and just opened a bottle and started drinking it straight. The alcohol burned her throat, again she didn’t care. She just tossed the empty bottle aside and grabbed another from the muddy ground. She noticed a red stain on her uniform and touched the side of her face… she was bleeding. She poured some of the contents on her face, the wounds hissing, but she paid them no mind and starting chugging her second bottle.

“I’m great by the way…” She slurred, “Never better. The famous captain Rainbow Dash… just like I always wanted… but… but… not the way I wanted it. I wanted to…” Rainbow sobbed, “I wanted to beat you! I wanted to earn it! I didn’t… I didn’t… I didn’t want you to die… I didn’t want any of you to die! I DIDN’T WANT YOU TO SAVE ME!”

“Rainbow…”

“Shut up Luna!” Rainbow screamed into the sky, “Leave me alone!”

“I will not!” Luna’s voice thundered and suddenly the world changed. Rainbow as no longer at the cemetery, but in a long hallway filled with doors. In front of her was her door.

“No, no, no! Don’t make me relive it! Please don’t make me!”

Her cries were ignored as she was dragged through the door and straight into her personal hell. She was in King Sombra’s fortress. He was the last holdout of the resurrected villains. He took over the Crystal Empire for a third time and it was their mission to get steal the Crystal Heart well the Princesses held his attention outside. They didn’t run into the same traps Twilight did when she went looking for it. No they were left with something much, much worse.

Throughout their entire journey in the castle they encountered nothing. They got cocky, impatient, and careless. They never even gave it a second thought when they saw the Crystal Heart just floating there unprotected. The moment they moved it, they all knew they screwed up. There was blinding light, Spitfire flew on top of her and pushed her outside of the room to safety and in an instant Spitfire was gone and so was everyone else, reduced to nothing but a couple of blood smears on her uniform.
They were all gone, yet she was still here.

“Rainbow…”

“Leave me alone!”

“Rainbow you must forgive yourself, it wasn’t your fault.” She sobbed as the Princess appeared before her staring down at her with sad eyes. “Please Rainbow; it is time to move on. They would not what you to be hurting like this because of them.”

The dream faded and Rainbow awoke in the cemetery, cold, bloody, and alone.

“I can’t…” Rainbow cried curling into a ball and grabbing another bottle.