Revenge of the Shadow Pony

Meanwhile, Sunset and Apple Bloom, having thrown the creatures off their trail, walked through the forest and searched around for Starlight and Tempest. However, they continued onwards, unknowing of their fate but not wanting to lose anymore lives. Then Apple Bloom asks,

“Does she hate me?”

“Huh?” Sunset asked, confused by Apple Bloom’s question.

“When the Crystal Empire was destroyed and I was imprisoned by Spike and that awful creature, I said some things to my big sis. Things that you should never say to your family when you die. I lost my family and my friends. I don’t even know if we are the only two ponies left now and I feel that I did something awful. I was often the lazy one of the Apple Family, after all. Always shirking my chores and never doing right by my family while goofing around with the Crusaders. Did she hate me…? Did Applejack always hate me…?” Apple Bloom asked, starting to tear up.

Sunset immediately shook her head and raised up Apple Bloom’s head with her chin to look her straight in the eye.

“No. Applejack would never say that to you. And whether or not her opinion has differed on you has changed, it doesn’t matter. Applejack was always worried about you. She would never sell you or throw you out. You were always her ray of sunshine and she died, telling me to tell you that she always loved you more than she loved apple cider. She will always be with you. Always.” Sunset said, comforting the sad foal.

Smiling after hearing the unicorn’s kind words, Apple Bloom asked,

“Can I live with you when we get back? I won’t get in the way of your duties.”

“If you really are the last member of your family, I’ll think about it…” Sunset said before hearing a noise.

The two ran towards the source of the ruckus and it appeared to be a huge wagon carrying three containers. It was being pulled by a large manticore and it was commandeered by two dragons.

“I heard through the grapevine that there’s a huge battle going down at Canterlot. Should we join in on the fun?” one dragon asked, feeling eager.

“Nah. We’d just be in the way. Besides, we have a job to do. And it’s to dispose of these.” the other dragon said, pointing at the containers with his right thumb.

“Don’t you feel like taking a break though? I’ve been craving some rabbits and squirrels lately.” the first dragon said, rubbing his hungry stomach.

“I suppose there could be some around. Let’s have a look.” the second dragon said before jumping off the wagon with the other dragon.

They unhooked the manticore from its chains and went hunting for food. Seizing the opportunity, Sunset and Apple Bloom moved towards the wagon holding the containers. The latter found the keys near the front and grabbed them before giving them to the former. Sunset walked towards the first container and unlocked it. Opening it, they were shocked to see that it was none other than Rainbow Dash herself. She fell to the ground, but Sunset caught her before she could make an impact.

“Squirt…?” Rainbow Dash asked in a traumatized tone.

"Rainbow Dash! You're alive!" Apple Bloom exclaimed, surprised to see the wingless pegasus.

"Yeah. We were told they weren't gonna kill us… but they said we would die as slowly as we could. Where are the others…? Are they okay…?" Rainbow Dash talking in a fast tone.

"Just relax, Rainbow Dash. But the first thing we need to do is get the other girls out of here. Are they in those containers?" Sunset asked.

"Fluttershy and Rarity, probably…" Rainbow Dash said before coughing.

Sunset immediately turned her attention towards the other two containers and unlocked the other one next to Rainbow Dash's. After unlocking it, she opened it and Rarity fell out of the container. She was scarred all over her body and her horn was missing. A horrified Sunset helped her and said,

"Rarity! Are you okay? What happened?"

"H-He… came… and then… he… got to Apple Bloom's… and… he…" Rarity said in a traumatized tone.

"It will be okay, Rarity. Starlight and Tempest are on their way over here. When they get here, we'll do something about Spike and this Abyss clinging onto Equestria. You have our promise." Sunset assured.

F-Fluttershy! You need… you need to save her! Where is she…?" Rarity hysterically asked.

"Calm down, Rarity. We'll get her out." Sunset said before turning to the other container.

She unlocked the door and opened the container. Upon seeing the door open, Rainbow Dash shoved Sunset out of the way in a crazed manner and hugged Fluttershy who nearly fell to the ground.

"Fluttershy! Are you okay? C'mon, say something!" Rainbow Dash begged after hugging her friend.

"Rainbow Dash…?" a horrified Sunset Shimmer said upon looking at Fluttershy.

"What…?" Rainbow Dash quietly asked before turning around.

When she faced forward, Rainbow Dash was horrified to see what had become of Fluttershy. She was mangled everywhere all over her body. Her skin and fur was torn off, her lips and teeth were pulled away, and she was in a catatonic state.

"Oh no… no no no no no. Fluttershy! No no no no no! What did they do to you!?" Rainbow Dash cried.

"F-Fluttershy!" Rarity cried out, rushing to the broken Pegasus' side as well.

Sunset has seen a lot of dead ponies during her mission, but nothing would come close to Fluttershy’s fate. The only emotions she could feel at this point were disgust and sadness. Rarity and Rainbow Dash begged Fluttershy to come back, but she was so braindead that all she could do was stare off into space.

“...Fluttershy! C’mon! It’s us! Please! Wake up!” Rainbow Dash tearfully begged.

“Darling! Please! Don’t leave us!” Rarity begged as well.

Their pleas were in vain as Fluttershy displayed no signs of attention and speaking. Rainbow Dash turned to Sunset and grabbed her before saying,

“Do something, Sunset! We don’t know what else to do! She’s-” Rainbow Dash pleaded before Sunset calmed her down.

“Rainbow Dash… it’s okay.” Sunset said with sadness in her voice.

“Sunset…?” Rarity asked with tears staining her eyes.

Sunset backed away to hug a crying Apple Bloom’s eyes as Rainbow Dash turned around to say goodbye to her childhood friend.

“Fluttershy… I’m so sorry. I love you so much… more than anything… in Equestria.” Rainbow Dash tearfully said as she hugged Fluttershy.

“Me too, darling. You are… the gem… in our hearts.” Rarity tearfully said, hugging Fluttershy as well.

When the time came for them to let go, Sunset tearfully went up to Fluttershy and charged up her horn. She felt nothing but hesitation as she faced the broken pegasus before her. She cried while looking at her, but held back her emotions long enough to fire a blast into Fluttershy’s head, ending her misery once and for all.

“She was our best friend…” Rarity sobbed as she collapsed on the ground.

“Why did he do it…? We never did anything to him…” Rainbow Dash quietly said.

“But you did. You threw him out of the castle and out of your lives. You think anything can remedy this entire mess after what you did?” Sunset bluntly said with a disappointed look.

“But that’s the thing! We don’t remember doing that!” Rarity shouted.

“Then tell me what happened.” Sunset said.

“It’s simple. Nothing happened. We were too busy to be at Twilight’s castle and we may have issues with him, but we would never do anything to harm Spike at this level.” Rainbow Dash claimed.

“Then how do you explain all this?” Sunset asked, feeling a little angry.

“Wait a minute… it had to be Discord! I always knew that he was a conniving trickster, but this is unlike all the other times that he played us!” Rarity shouted.

“He’s lucky that he’s dead. Otherwise, I would have had the pleasure of turning him back into a statue again!” Rainbow Dash said, clapping her hooves together.

“But if it’s Discord, then how come he’s dead?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Like I would know. But all I can say is-” Rainbow Dash said before suddenly being shot through the head by an arrow.

“RAINBOW DASH!!!” Rarity cried out once again as she grabbed her friend’s freshly-dead body.

Just then, Rarity was shot down by several more bolts before falling to the ground. Sunset and Apple Bloom try to help her up, but Rarity refuses their aid.

“C’mon! We can’t just leave you here!” Apple Bloom begged.

“It’s fine, darling. Sweetie Belle is waiting for me…” Rarity assured as she rested her head on the ground.

Having no other choice and seeing the guards coming from a mile away, Sunset grabbed Apple Bloom and hid behind a tree. The former covered the latter’s mouth as well as her own in order to avoid drawing any attention to themselves.

“You were talking to somebody. Where are they!?” the first dragon shouted.

“Like it even matters. These ponies are dead either way…” the second dragon said before putting Rarity out of her misery.

“I had so much fun, torturing that yellow pegasus. I almost wished she hadn’t gone braindead…” the first dragon said as he flew away with the second dragon.

Sunset and Apple Bloom came out of the hiding spot and looked up at the Abyss-covered and lightning-filled skies above them.

“This hatred needs to end…” Sunset said in a cold, angry voice.

With that being said, Sunset and Apple Bloom continued to walk through the forest where they eventually made it back to Zecora’s hut where she and Flurry Heart were waiting.