Tears were running down Twilight's face. "No Dash, don't go!" she said.
"Sorry Twilight, but this is goodbye." her mangled friend said, in a voice that was no more than a whisper. With those last words, Rainbow Dash died in her hooves.
"Ah-Ah can't believe she's gone." said Applejack.
"No." Twilight said, then with more determination, "No! There is one way. It's called alchemy. I've been studying it lately. I should be able to bring her back." Twilight gently laid her friend's body down, and carved out a transmutation circle in the dirt. "Here goes." she said, putting her hooves onto the circle, making it glow.
--
*10 minutes ago*
Suddenly a giant green, monster was the only way to describe it, lumbered up to Ponyville. It was hideous looking. Nopony had any warning before it attacked. It just started destroying everything. The mayor ordered a fullscale evacuation, but it was already too late for some ponies.
"Stop Dash! You can't go, it's too dangerous!" Twilight said, keeping a hold on her friend's tail with her magic.
"I don't care!" Dash yelled, "I have to!" Twilight was able to hear the desperation in her voice.
"Alright." she said, "But be careful." Twilight would regret that decision for the rest of her life. Shortly after she let Rainbow Dash go to fight, she was badly injured by the monster.
--
Twilight was completely surrounded by a white void. "W-Where am I?" she asked.
"You're at the gate." a voice said behind her. She whipped around to find a white pony, and a giant, floating, door behind him.
"W-Who are you?" she asked.
"Me? You could call me the world. The universe. God. The truth. I am one, and I am all. I am you." the pony said, his voice changing to sound like hers.
"Why am I here?" she asked.
"You wanted to bring back your friend right?" he asked.
"Yeah." she said.
"There's a price you must pay for that." he told her.
"What price?" she asked. The pony just smiled as a purple horn materialized on it's head. "T-that looks like-" Twilight cut off as she felt for her horn. She was unable to find it though. "W-What's going on?" she asked, "Why is my horn gone?"
"That is the price you must pay if you wish to get your friend back." the pony said, "You do want to bring her back don't you?"
"Of course!" she said, "I'll do anything!"
"Well this is the price you have to pay." he said. Just then the doors opened, and she got sucked in. The only thing she could do was scream as data was poured into her head. Even for Twilight it was too much. Just when she thought her head would explode everything made sense. Then she was back in the room with the pony.
"What was that?" she asked.
"That was the truth." he said, "And that's all you see for the toll you have paid." Suddenly Twilight was jolted awake. She saw her four friends standing over her.
"Where's Rainbow Dash?" she asked, anxious.
"She's alright. She's sleeping right now." Applejack told her, "I'm not so sure 'bout you though."
"What do you-" Twilight cut off as she realized what Applejack had meant. She reached a shaky hoof up to her forehead, and it felt wet She brought her hoof to her face to reveal a crimson liquid. "Tell me, is my horn missing?" she asked.
Nopony was able to look at her. "Yes, it is." Applejack said.
"So it was real." she breathed.
"Could ya tell us what happened?" Applejack asked her, "There was this bright light, and then Dash was better, and you were missin your horn."
"I-I brought Rainbow back to life." she admitted, "And I paid the price." They all gasped.
"Bringing somepony back to life? Is that even possible darling?" Rarity asked.
"I-I don't know." Twilight said, "I-" She cut off as she passed out.
--
Twilight jolted awake. She was surprised to see that she was in her room in the library. Was that all a dream? She wondered. She reached a hoof up, and found that her head was bandaged. I guess not. Just then Spike walked up the stairs with a glass of water in his hand.
"Oh you're awake!" he said, "Here, I brought you water." He handed her the glass, and she thankfully drank it all.
"Ahh. That was good." she said.
"I'll go get the others." Spike said, walking back down the stairs. Within seconds she was flocked by her five friends.
"Dash you're alright!" she said, crushing her friend in a hug.
"Yeah, but Twilight your horn." Dash said.
"Don't worry about that. I'd have given anything if it meant saving you." Twilight told her.
"Yeah, but I still feel guilty." Dash said, "I was the one who insisted on fighting that monster, and look where it got you. One way or the other I'll help you get it back." Twilight shook her head.
"I'm not even sure if I can get it back." she said, "I'm just glad you're alright." Dash couldn't hold back her tears as her friends embraced her.
"I promise." she said, "I promise I'll find a way." Soon they broke up.
"Ah think it's time we head home." Applejack said, "We should let Twi here get some rest." They nodded in agreement, and one by one they left. Rainbow Dash was the last to go.
"I won't give up. Otherwise I'd be a terrible element of loyalty." she said.
"I know you won't." Twilight said. With that Dash left. When she was gone Spike brought Twilight some dinner.
"You should eat." he told her.
"Right." she said, taking a bite of her daisy sandwich. "Thanks Spike." she said. After she was done Spike took the dishes down to the kitchen so he could wash them.
"You should get some sleep Twi." he said.Twilight knew that he was right, and that she needed rest, so she laid down.. Eventually she drifted off to sleep.
--
A/N: I'm probably not going to update this for a while. I just wanted to put this idea up, so other people could use it if they want. I'd love to see this made into someone's own idea.
