The Se7enby Coyotek4ChaptersMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridayThe End of the WeakThe Mourning AfterMondayA steady rain falls upon Ponyville in the pre-dawn hours. Nopony is out and about, save for a pair of unicorn siblings braving the elements as they make their way to their final destination. “You certainly picked one glorious morning to do this,” Rarity comments as he magically adjusts the large umbrella hovering over her and her sister’s heads. “I said I’m sorry,” Sweetie Belle pleads, trying to avoid large puddles in her path. “Honestly, you’ve known about this school picnic for a week now; why again did you wait until last night to inform me you needed two dozen cupcakes for your class?” “I’ve been busy, sis. Cheerilee’s been giving us more homework than usual, and the CMCs continue to get requests from all over Ponyville, and even some neighboring towns. Actually … it makes me appreciate all that you get done when you’re busy.” Rarity smiles as she turns to her sister. “Well-played, Sweetie Belle, but I’ve been around you long enough to be wary of your manipulative abilities.” The two share a laugh as the rain begins to ease up. “Well,” Rarity comments, “Rainbow Dash did state that the rain would end before daybreak. And we’re almost at Sugarcube Corner.” “You sure Pinkie Pie will be able to help us this early?” Sweetie Belle asks. “Princess Luna hasn’t even set the moon yet.” “In Pinkie’s line of work, the most important tasks get done before the sun rises,” Rarity explains. “Daytime is when customers come to purchase the wares she and the Cakes have created. In any case, this type of schedule frees up the rest of her day to do …” She muses for a moment. “I suppose party-planning, but with Pinkie Pie it could be anything.” “But the Cakes weren’t even here this weekend,” Sweetie Belle notes. “Everypony can use a break now and then, least of all a family with little foals. Besides, Pinkie’s been left alone to run things in the past; she’s a lot more responsible than most ponies give her credit for. Ah then …” Their conversation having taken them to the front steps of the bakery, Rarity closes up the umbrella and approaches the door. “Well, maybe not always responsible,” she notes; “she left the front door open. Well, saves us the trouble of knocking.” Rarity opens the door, causing a welcoming bell to tinkle overhead. “Yoohoo, Pinkie Pie,” she calls out. “I know this is super-short notice, but Sweetie Belle … needs …” Sweetie Belle emits an ear-piercing shriek as Rarity suddenly sprints over to the far side of the store. Seated and motionless behind the display counter, with numerous half-eaten cakes and pies strewn about the countertop, Pinkie Pie’s upper torso and forehooves lay splayed atop the confections. Her head lay face down, buried in the remnants of a large chocolate cake, and her hooves likewise lay deep within half-full pie tins. Fighting her convulsions, Rarity races back to her sister. “Sweetie Belle, go the Castle of Friendship and get Twilight immediately!” Her sister nods, tears streaming from her eyes, as she turns and bolts out the door. Turning back to the scene and unable to contain her urges, Rarity throws up in disgust. Spitting out traces of phlegm and bile, she composes herself and hurriedly trots over to her friend. “Pinkie Pie!” she screams. Her horn glows as an aura lifts Pinkie’s head from the cake. She stares at Pinkie’s dead eyes, the latter’s pupils hanging low in their sockets. Half-eaten cake and drool emanate from her mouth and nose; wincing, Rarity turns away as the glowing ceases and Pinkie’s head crashes back down on the cake. “Oh, Pinkie … why …” she sobs as tears now flow freely. She walks over to a dark corner, curls up and cries into her forehooves as she waits for Twilight to come. A nagging thought causes her to wipe her tears and look around. She sees that the blinds had been lowered and the curtains drawn throughout the lower level of the building. Her horn glows again, and a single curtain is opened, letting light into the establishment. She takes a final look in the direction of her friend … and notices a peculiar pattern in whipped cream. She gets to her hooves and walks over to Pinkie’s body, now noticing a single word formed on the floor from the whipped cream: GLUTTONY She can only ponder the meaning for a moment, as Twilight bursts through the front door with Sweetie Belle trotting behind. “Oh sweet Celestia, what happened?” Twilight quietly asks herself. A crowd of ponies swarm outside the Castle of Friendship, desperate for answers from those closest to the ebullient pink pony party planner as to how she could be found in such a decrepit state. Inside, Twilight Sparkle prepares to address the remaining Elements of Friendship. Twilight turns from one friend to the next, mindful of the pall hanging over the cutie map room. “I’m glad you could all come on such short notice,” she says to the others. “This is the worst of circumstances that any group of friends could have to be together, but I think it best to reflect amongst ourselves before answering the questions that the masses will no doubt have for us once we leave here today.” Applejack and Rarity nod in agreement, while Rainbow Dash looks on in silence, devoid of emotion. Fluttershy also nods, tears still forming in her eyes. “So what do we … uh … what do we know, Twilight?” Applejack asks. “The early indications are that she simply overindulged, and possibly had a heart attack,” Twilight answers. “Does anypony here know if she was acting strange over the past few days?” “This is Pinkie Pie we’re talking about,” Rarity states. “ ‘Strange’ to us is rather commonplace for her, is it not?” “Well, strange for Pinkie Pie, then,” Twilight responds. “Was she depressed over anything? Any particular stress upon her life. Family troubles?” Applejack, Rarity, and Fluttershy turn to each other and all shake their heads. “Nothin’ we know about, anyway,” Applejack answers for the group.” “OK.” Twilight turns from one to the other. “I never thought I’d have to say this so soon, but we will need to make funeral arrangements. Rarity, I ask that you take the lead on this; I know you’ll come up with something tasteful that will honor her life.” “Yes, of course; anything for Pinkie Pie,” she remarks. *PAH* The shout of derision causes the others to turn to Rainbow Dash. “You can’t do ‘tasteful’ and ‘honor Pinkie Pie’!” Rarity turns to Rainbow Dash and stares daggers at her. “What do you mean by that comment?” “Maybe you all forget who we’re talking about! Pinkie wouldn’t mourn her death. She’d celebrate her life … her crazy, carefree, anything-for-a-laugh …” Now fighting back tears, Rainbow gets up and approaches a wall. She slams her forehoof into the wall, cracking the structure and leaving her hoof cracked and bleeding. She continues to smash her forehoof into the wall as blood spatters onto the wall and upon her face and mane. “Um … Rainbow Dash?” Fluttershy starts. “Are you OK?” “NO I’M NOT ‘OKAY’!!!” Rainbow Dash shouts as she turns to the others, her hoof now a bloody stump. “MY BEST FRIEND IS DEAD! EVERYTHING WE’VE DONE TOGETHER, EVERYTHING WE’VE BEEN THROUGH … all meaningless now …” she trails off. “I’m sorry, I … I can’t do this right now.” Spreading her wings, she quickly flies out of the room. “Ah’d better follow her,” Applejack says as she gets up from her chair. “I’ll come with,” Fluttershy adds. Seconds later, Twilight finds herself alone with Rarity. “How are you holding up,” Twilight asks. “That had to be a horrible experience, being the first one to see her like … like that.” “I’m more concerned about Sweetie Belle,” Rarity responds. “Poor thing has never been through anything like this … no foal should have to see something so horrid.” “Where is she now?” “At Sweet Apple Acres with Apple Bloom and Scootaloo; Granny Smith and Big Mac are watching over them.” Silence pervades for several seconds, as both Twilight and Rarity process the last couple hours. “There’s something I need to ask you,” Rarity finally states. “Oh?” Twilight turns to Rarity with a quizzical look. “Right before you came to Sugarcube Corner, I found a word sprayed on the floor in whipped cream. ‘Gluttony’. Do you know why Pinkie Pie would spray that word on the ground?” Twilight ponders the question. “That is not Pinkie Pie behavior in the slightest. But then again … maybe there were things going on in her life … dark things … honestly, I don’t know what to think right now.” Rarity sighs. “I suppose whatever demons were inside her are now silenced. So … do you know if the wood from the Apples’ trees can be used for coffins?” Twilight opens her mouth to respond, but cries from outside the castle quickly grab their attention. They quickly scramble to the main entrance and open the door. The twosome observe scores of ponies scattering in all directions, with the source of the panic standing at their front door. “Dragonlord Ember!” Twilight exclaims. Ember looks over her shoulder. “Sorry, didn’t mean to cause a panic here … seems like ponies in general scurry over the slightest things.” “Whatever caused their panic?” Rarity asks. “Hey, don’t blame me. I was just trying to get to the front door, but there seemed to be a lot of ponies waiting around for you. So I may have shot a breath of fire into the air, to let them know of my presence.” Twilight does her best not to roll her eyes. “Well yes, ponies don’t usually see such spectacles.” “Just one of many culture shocks I need to get used to,” Ember admits. “Dragons got no problems with forcing their way through others when needed. Say … why’d you have so many ponies standing around waiting for you, anyway?” Twilight and Rarity turn to each other, then bow their heads with their eyes closed. Twilight lifts her head back up and addresses Ember. “It’s been a terrible morning for us … for all of Ponyville, really.” “Oh?” Ember asks with some concern. “We’ve … we’ve lost Pinkie Pie.” “Lost? You mean … she …” “My sister and I found her in Sugarcube Corner this morning,” Rarity replies. “She overindulged last night … none of us know why …” “Oh …” Ember’s eyes dart to corners as she takes in this information. “Wow … this is, really awkward now.” “It’s not your fault,” Twilight says. “Have you met her before?” “Can’t say that I have, no … but, ho boy, maybe I should come back later.” Twilight and Rarity eye Ember’s sudden discomfort. “Ember,” Rarity starts, “is there something wrong?” “Yes, there is,” Ember replies solemnly. “You better follow me.” Ember slowly flies off towards the edge of town. Twilight and Rarity follow in concerned silence. As the last of the day’s light fades away, Twilight and Rarity stare into the maw of a large cavern. “This cave looks familiar,” Twilight states, “but I can’t quite place it.” “Can the two of you provide a light source?” Ember asks. The two ponies nod and concentrate as their horns illuminate the darkness. “OK, follow me … but prepare yourself.” Ember flies into the cavern, with Twilight and Rarity trotting in pursuit. After traveling for several minutes, the threesome come upon a large pile of gems. Rarity gasps as she sees a green dragon lying off to the side, his eyes fixated on the group. “Don’t worry about Grundle,” Ember says. “I’ve ordered him to just sit and wait; I’ll deal with him later.” “Waitaminute,” Twilight states upon eyeing the dragon. “I’ve seen him before … in my first year in Ponyville. He chased Spike out of his lair, and probably would have killed him if it weren’t for Owliwicious.” A chilling realization dawns upon Twilight, who turns to Ember. “Why did you bring us back here?” Ember sighs and points to an unlit portion of the wall. “For this,” she says as she flutters over to the section she pointed out. As Twilight and Rarity get closer, then horns soon cast light upon a figure lying on his back, charred and broken as he lies in a pool of blood. The twosome recoil in horror and disgust, sobbing and emitting fresh cries of “Why?” that echo throughout the cavern. “I’m sorry, I truly am,” Ember solemnly states. “I’ve asked Grundle what happened; he says that he left his cavern for a spell, and when he returned, he found Spike just lying atop his hoard. Instinct kicked in, he breathed fire, and, well ... it’s a dragon thing; it doesn’t normally end so badly … but with one as small as …” Sorrow quickly gives way to anger as Twilight turns to face Ember. “Why was Spike even in this cave! Why would he endanger his own life when he ALREADY KNEW WHO ELSE WAS IN HERE???” “Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Ember says defensively. “I have no idea why Spike came back here. I didn’t even know he’d been here before. I only found out about this yesterday evening.” “LIAR!” Rarity accuses, her eyes red and focused. “You think I had anything to do with this?” Ember turns away from the twosome. “You think I wanted this? Spike meant everything to me … I wouldn’t be Dragonlord without his help. He was a true friend, a pioneer among dragons for showing us what could be gained from others. I dreaded having to tell you, and I’m truly sorry that you had another tragedy to deal with before I showed up.” Twilight and Rarity feel their anger dissipate, giving way to more grief. Ember turns back to face them. “Grundle will not harm or obstruct you in any way while you do what needs to be done. Though Spike is a dragon, I believe he would want his final resting place to be among the ponies he grew up with. I must leave now, but I’ll return to gain more information from Grundle. Again, I am deeply sorry for everything you’ve had to contend with.” Having said her fill, Ember flies back towards the cave’s entrance. Grundle gives the twosome a final look before closing his eyes and resting his head. With heavy hearts, Twilight and Rarity walk over to Spike’s lifeless body. Twilight shakes her head. “I don’t understand it, Rarity. Spike’s been here before; why would he return, knowing this place was guarded.” “I remember that one incident when he became … infatuated with property,” Rarity recollects. “Was he experiencing any urges recently.” “No, nothing at all.” Twilight’s horn increases its radiance as Spike’s body begins to levitate off the ground. Blood drops run down his features and drip into the puddle left behind. Rarity observes Twilight’s actions, but notices a strange pattern of gems on the floor not far from his body. “What’s that?” she asks. “What’s what?” Twilight inquires in return. Rarity edges closer to the pattern of gems, her horn glower ever so much brighter. There on the ground, the pattern spells out a single word: GREED Twilight carefully lowers Spike’s body to a dry spot, then joins Rarity. “ ‘Greed’? Rarity, what do you make of all this?” “I don’t know,” Rarity solemnly answers, “but considering that ‘gluttony’ and ‘greed’ are just two of the ‘seven deadly sins’, I fear we may endure five more of these before all is said and done.” TuesdayThe horrors of the day’s events caused an insomnia attack, the likes of which Twilight hadn’t dealt with over a lifetime of cramming for tests and projects. Images of Pinkie Pie and Spike during happier times flashed around the insides of her eyelids, interspersed with the conditions Twilight found them in not twenty-four hours prior. At times, she would call out to them, begging to know why. Other times, she simply gazed at them, reminiscing about what once was and now never could be again. Then the realities set in. There was still a funeral to plan … now two funerals, even if one would be mostly a private affair for her number-one assistant. And most of the others didn’t even know about Spike; how would she break that news to them, so shortly after they had lost Pinkie Pie. Both of their deaths … so many unanswered questions. Was Pinkie’s death a cry for help that no one recognized? Why did Spike invade the cavern of another, more powerful dragon? And what was to be made of the words ‘gluttony’ and ‘greed’ found at each scene. What message was each trying to get across? And what if the messages weren’t from them? If not them, then who? And why? … “Twilight? Twilight, dearie, are you all right? Twilight? … The alicorn’s eyes flicker several times before fully opening. Sunlight shines through the open windows in her room; she rises with a start and sees Rarity standing beside her bed. “What … what time is it?” Twilight asks groggily. “Just after two, dearie.” “2 PM??? As in 2 in the afternoon?” The news strikes Twilight like a bucket of ice-cold water; she leaps from the bed and scurries around the room, unsure what needs to get done first. “In light of yesterday’s … unfortunate …” Rarity pauses, needing a moment to compose herself. “I think we can both be forgiven for not being at our best.” “Where are the others?” Twilight asks as she slows her scurrying. “We need to let them know what happened to Spike.” “Applejack and Fluttershy are in the Cutie Map room; they haven’t been waiting long, though I admit that I do not relish having to relive last night.” “And Rainbow Dash?” “Probably practicing with the Wonderbolts right now. The distraction should prove beneficial; she took Pinkie’s … demise … worst of all.” Twilight nods in agreement. “Then there’s no more time to lose. Come on.” She quickly trots out the door, with Rarity following closely behind. Navigating the myriad of hallways and staircases, the twosome make their way to the Cutie Map room; upon their entrance, Applejack and Fluttershy turn from a personal conversation to face them. “I’m so sorry for keeping you waiting,” Twilight states. “Please … how is Rainbow Dash doing?” “Not great, Twi. We found her lyin’ face-down in the branches of a tall tree, sobbin’ her eyes out. We did the best we could to console the poor thing; ain’t that right, Fluttershy?” Fluttershy nods in silent agreement, and Applejack continues her description. “The truth is, this hurt all of us. Ah mean, she ‘n I were family … there’s no getting’ over losin’ a loved one. Never gets easier, and ya never get completely over it; Ah can tell you that much first-hoof.” “Is she still in the tree, then?” Rarity inquires. “She didn’t wanna move for a long time … but after all of us exchanged our own favorite Pinkie Pie stories, she eventually started to come around.” Applejack chuckles. “Did Ah ever tell y’all ‘bout our Hearthswarming spent with the Pie family?” The solemn stares from the others causes Applejack to reconsider her question. “Shoot, Ah … Ah guess Ah forgot that we’ll need to inform them ‘bout Pinkie. Sorry, all.” She then bows her head in shame. “No, don’t go beating yourself up over this,” Rarity states. “We all have wonderful memories of the past, and perhaps Rainbow Dash is right when she says it’s better to celebrate the life rather than mourn the death. More than anypony else, she would be the first to say you can’t spell ‘funeral’ with ‘F-U-N’.” Rarity’s comment elicits a small laugh from the group. “I remember when Pinkie Pie cloned herself, and we had to get all the Pinkies to watch paint dry to figure out which one was the real Pinkie,” Fluttershy recollects. “Oh … I wonder if there are any clones of Pinkie still around. I mean, I know it wouldn’t be exactly the same, but … never mind,” she meekly concludes. “I remember when I first came to Ponyville,” Twilight remembers, “and this crazy pink earth pony decides to just throw that stranger a party.” She smiles at the thought, then sighs. “I’m sure we’ll eventually have more parties … even if we can’t imagine doing so now.” Determined not to bring up any more stories related to the Pie family, Applejack attempts another anecdote: “Remember when Rainbow Dash an’ me got caught up in racing each other during the runnin’ of the leaves? Ah can still remember Pinkie Pie hoverin’ over all of us in that balloon, announcin’ all the action with Spike.” The mention of Spike’s name causes Twilight and Rarity to frown, tears forming in their eyes anew. “Ho boy, what’d I say now?” Seeing the twosome have a difficult time regaining their composure causes fresh concerns for Applejack. “Twi’? Rare? Is there somethin’ else that Fluttershy an’ me need to know?” Twilight sniffs and wipes the tears from her eyes. “I’m sorry, I really am … we all got so caught up in the moment, that I forgot.” “Forgot what?” Fluttershy innocently asks. Twilight takes a deep breath, then resolutely addresses the matter at hoof: “Not long after the two of you left, Dragonlord Ember paid us a visit. She led us to a cavern not far from here, where we found …” fresh tears begin to form in Twilight’s eyes. “… where we found …” “No,” Applejack pleads. “Please don’t tell us what Ah think you’re … it can’t be …” “Spike is DEAD!” Rarity blurts out before crumpling to the floor. The news catches Applejack and Fluttershy hard, and neither is able to hold in tears as the two embrace each other in a hug of solidarity. “What … what happened to the little fella?” Applejack asks through numerous throat-chokes and a haze of tears. “We don’t know,” Twilight responds, mentally pushing through the fresh feeling of regret. “All we do know is that the dragon who resides in that cavern found Spike lying atop his hoard of gems. Dragons being what they are, he attacked Spike, and … I can’t really say more; I’m sorry.” “Where is Spike now?” Fluttershy asks. “Is his body still in that cavern?” “No,” Twilight responds with a sigh. “Rarity and I were able to bring his body back. I’ve converted one of my basement labs to a ‘cold room’; his body lies next to Pinkie Pie’s, until such time comes that we can prepare … two funerals.” Applejack ponders the new revelation for a minute. “Twilight,” she asks, “Ah don’t mean to sound selfish or anything, but I hafta ask this: is there reason to think these deaths are related?” Fluttershy turns to Applejack, fear in her eyes. “You mean … somepony out there wants to … kill us?” “Look,” Twilight tries to reassure, “I think right now is too soon to make any wild speculations.” Her thoughts turn to the ‘sin’ words found at each scene. You need to warn the others, Twilight. We don’t know if there’s anything to those words! Right, so it’s just COINCIDENCE that a splotch of whipped cream spelled out ‘gluttony’? I know it’s not coincidence, but maybe Pinkie Pie put that word there herself. Maybe it was one final message to the world. You don’t really believe that! “I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO BELIEVE, OK???” Twilight turns to the others; her outburst is met with strange looks from each of the other three. After a long pause, Applejack strolls over to Twilight and puts a foreleg around her friend’s shoulder. “Look Twi. We’ve all been through Tartarus these last couple days, especially you. None of us know what’s goin’ on, but we’ll figure it out, together. Like we always do.” Tears of sadness give way to tears of relief, as Twilight fully embraces Applejack. Rarity, herself finally re-composed, walks over to the group along with Fluttershy, and the foursome lock forehooves in a hug that feels like an eternity … … “Sorry, did I come at a bad time?” The foursome quickly break off their embrace and turn to face the leader of the Wonderbolts. “Spitfire!” Twilight calls out. “I’m sorry, none of us heard you come in.” “My apologies; I let myself in,” Spitfire remarks. “I heard through the grapevine about Pinkie Pie; I speak for all the Wonderbolts when I express my deepest sympathy about her untimely demise.” “We are very grateful for your kind words,” Twilight responds, “but is that why you flew all the way over here?” “More or less; I really wanted to check in on Rainbow Dash, figuring she would be mourning with the rest of you.” Twilight, Rarity, Applejack, and Fluttershy turn to each other, exchanging quizzical looks. Twilight turns back to Spitfire. “She’s not with us. We thought she was with you.” “Yeah, she’d be all about usin’ work and such to clear her mind,” Applejack adds. “Well, she didn’t come around for training today. I’ll give her another day or two, but she’s gotta report back by the end of the week. Give my regards when you see her.” Spitfire gives the group one final look, turns around and flies off. Rarity turns to Applejack. “You said she started to come around, after you were all sharing stories and such. What happened next?” Applejack shrugs. “Not much. She said she wanted to just go home and get some rest. Said she’d ‘get her head right’ in the morning. I just thought that meant she’d be reportin’ back to Wonderbolts Camp first thing.” “Well, it was a long day for all of us,” Fluttershy admits. “And, well, we all know how she can sometimes get a bit lazy.” Fluttershy’s final word triggers a sense of dread in both Twilight and Rarity. Applejack quickly notices the look of horror on their faces. “You two look like the early worms catchin’ a flock o’ birds. What’s wrong?” Mumbling to herself, Twilight suddenly casts a spell that hits both Applejack and Rarity flush, knocking both of them back a few steps. “What in tarnation was THAT for?” Applejack calls out. “Preparations,” Twilight curtly responds. “Now everypony close your eyes!” Not willing to argue, the remaining three do as told. Moments later, a loud *POP* resonates throughout the room as the foursome disappear. Applejack hesitantly opens her eyes and looks down at the ground … the white, puffy ground that somehow continues to hold her weight. Looking back up, she immediately recognizes the residence of her friend Rainbow Dash. “So that was—” “The same spell I cast on you back during the Young Fliers’ competition, yes,” Twilight abruptly acknowledges as she turns to the front door and starts banging on it with her hoof. “RAINBOW DASH, IT’S US. PLEASE COME TO THE DOOR!” Seconds pass like hours as the ponies wait for a response that never comes. She attempts to push the door open, but finds it locked tight. “OK everypony: Plan B. Close your eyes again.” The others again follow instructions; one *POP* later, the four find themselves in the main foyer of their friend’s house. Twilight wastes no time rushing to the bedroom, with the others quickly following from behind. Upon stampeding through the bedroom doorway, the four come across their friend, curled up in bed and completely serene, her head lying comfortably upon a cumulus pillow. Twilight exhales in relief at the sight. “Sorry everypony, I honestly thought something horrible happened to Rainbow Dash.” She turns to Rainbow Dash and begins nudging her body. “Rainbow Dash, wake up; there’s additional news we need to share with you.” Sensing no reaction, Twilight give Rainbow a harder nudge … causing a small cylindrical container to dislodge from the latter’s clutches and roll off the bed. Rarity’s horn glows as the container hovers to her eye level; moments later, she lets out a gasp as her horn’s aura disappears and the container falls back to the floor. Twilight looks up at Rarity; upon seeing her face, she turns back to Rainbow and begins shaking the pony vigorously. “Wake up, Rainbow Dash … WAKE UP, DAMMIT! DON’T DO THIS TO US!!!” Fluttershy turns away and leaves the room, tears once again welling in her eyes. Applejack closes her eyes and hangs her head down. “Damn,” she silently says to herself. “Why, Rainbow?” The shaking quickly gives way to Twilight clopping her forehooves together and slamming down on Rainbow’s chest, in an effort to somehow force life back into the pegasus. An aura soon restrains her from causing any more physical harm to the body, as Rarity pulls Twilight back. “That’s enough, Twilight,” Rarity insists. “There’s nothing we can do now. I’m sorry.” “NO!!! THIS CAN’T BE HAPPENING AGAIN!!! IT’S NOT FAIR!!! WHY IS THIS HAPPENING???” Applejack walks up behind Twilight and augments Rarity’s magical restraint by putting her forelegs around Twilight’s body. “You gotta calm down, Twi. It’s gonna be all right.” Twilight breaks from Applejack’s grasp as Rarity eases off her restraining. She turns to face AJ and eyes daggers at her. “LIAR!” Applejack turns away, attempting to maintain a cool demeanor. “Yeah … I ain’t never been much of a good liar. But there’s nothin’ we can do now. You see that, right?” For one more time too many, Twilight feels her anger wither away, with pain and sorrow filling the void. “What is happening to all our friends?” she pleads to nopony in particular. “If anything, it’s mah fault, Twilight. Ah thought she was getting’ past Pinkie’s … unfortunate end. Ah guess she had me ‘n Fluttershy fooled. Ah just wished Ah coulda seen the signs sooner.” Twilight shakes her head in disbelief. “It’s not your fault, Applejack,” she quietly says. “It’s my fault. I should have seen this coming, but didn’t want to believe it.” “Now how can you say somethin’ like that?” Applejack asks with a slight undertone of resentment. Out of the corner of her eye, she notices Rarity staring at a section of the wall. “Rare, what’cha fixatin’ on?” Rarity ignores Applejack’s query and stares at the wall. Applejack walks over to get a look, and notices a word chiseled into the concrete: SLOTH “Now what the heck is that word doin’ etched in Rainbow’s wall? Ah know she liked to ‘chillax’ a lot, but I didn’t think she’d be usin’ it as a mornin’ mantra or somethin’.” Rarity sighs. “ ‘Sloth’ is a sin,” she points out. “Just like ‘gluttony’ and ‘greed’ … just like how we found those words at the other scenes.” “The other scenes? You mean …” A fire ignites within Applejack; she turns to Twilight and tackles her to the ground. Standing over Twilight, she barks accusations at the hapless alicorn. “YOU KNEW … YOU KNEW ABOUT ALL OF THIS, AND YOU LEFT THE REST OF US IN THE DARK, DIDN’T YOU???” Twilight simply nods, bawling uncontrollably as Applejack continues her verbal assault. “SO ANYPONY COULDA BEEN NEXT! FLUTTERSHY COULD BE DEAD RIGHT NOW, INSTEAD OF RAINBOW DASH! OR MAYBE RARITY!” “Actually,” Rarity corrects, “I, too, knew about those words at the scenes.” “YOU … YOU KNEW TOO???” Applejack releases her grip on Twilight and confronts Rarity muzzle-to-muzzle. “Ah thought we could all count on each other! Guess the notion of ‘loyalty’ died with Rainbow Dash, didn’t it!” “Please, Applejack, we honestly didn’t know there was this strong a connection,” Rarity pleads. “We both thought it possible that Pinkie Pie and Spike were leaving final messages behind. It was a perfectly rational explanation.” “And look where your fancy thinkin’ got us! Now get us all outta here, Twilight Sparkle!” Lying upon her back, Twilight nods and closes her eyes. Another *POP* later, the threesome find themselves back in the Cutie Map room. Twilight rolls over and gets back on her hooves, still stinging from Applejack’s assertions but otherwise regaining her rationality. “Waitaminute,” Rarity says, “what about Fluttershy? We can’t leave her in Rainbow Dash’s house alone … not like this.” “You all can go ahead and teleport yourselves back and do whatever you think you all need to do!” Applejack turns and heads for the hallway. “Wait, Applejack,” Twilight calls out. “Where are you going?” “Ah’m goin’ back home to be with family that Ah can trust … before Ah let loose mah own sin and beat y’all to death with all the wrath Ah gots inside me! And as for you two, you can both go to Tartarus for all Ah care!” Applejack reaches the entryway and quickly departs. Rarity turns to Twilight. “So what do we do now?” “First, we go back.” Twilight closes her eyes yet again and *POP*s back with Rarity to Rainbow Dash’s bedroom. After so many teleportations, Rarity feels the need to prop up against a wall. “I’m sorry, Twilight, but I haven’t been teleported so many times in such a short span.” Paying little heed, Twilight races out of the bedroom … and is relieved to see Fluttershy lying down on a couch, breathing heavily as she processes the most recent turn of events. “Fluttershy,” she says quietly, “how are you holding up.” “Not very well,” she timidly replies. “Believe me, I never meant to keep you or Applejack in the dark. From now on, I’ll be open with any new information that comes to us. Do you trust me?” Fluttershy nods, causing a brief glimpse of a smile to form on Twilight’s face. “I want to go home now,” Fluttershy admits. “Can I go home now?” “Honestly? I don’t even know if it’s safe for any of us to be separated from the others.” “Well … I really want to be back with my animal friends. And I’m sure you’re exhausted from all your teleporting. I’m … I’m sure I can make it back OK. I’ll just be extra-careful.” Fluttershy’s response catches Twilight off-guard. “Wow … you really have come a long way from when I first met you. You’re really somepony special.” “Thanks,” Fluttershy quietly responds. “But what about Rainbow Dash? We can’t just leave her here, can we?” “I’ll take care of her. You just get yourself home safely … and if you can, maybe you can reach out to Applejack. She’s still very bitter about things now.” “I’ll do my best,” Fluttershy promises. She gets to her feet, spreads her wings, and flies off towards Ponyville. Twilight trots back to the bedroom, where she finds Rarity examining the wall. “Anything else?” “Sadly, no.” Rarity turns to face Twilight. “So what do we do now?” “ ‘Now’, we transport Rainbow Dash’s body to the ‘cold room’ with the others. Tonight, I will start examining their bodies.” Rarity gulps and turns her nose up in disgust. “I know, Rarity, believe me … but if there’s any clue to be found, maybe their deaths won’t be in vain. There’s still four sins left … and four of us. Whoever is doing this cannot be allowed to complete this twisted legacy.” “What do you need of me, then?” “I need you to spend some time with your sister. She’s going to need a lot of consoling … and Scootaloo too, once she learns about this. Apple Bloom as well, but it’s probably best for us to steer clear of the Apple family, at least until the morning.” “But her life is in danger!” “All our lives are in danger,” Twilight retorts, “but at least nopony’s gonna sneak up on us any more. Forewarned is forearmed.” Rarity sighs and nods in agreement. “You ready for one last teleport tonight.” “As ready I can be, under the circumstances.” One final *POP* sends Twilight, Rarity, and the body of Rainbow Dash back to the Cutie Map room. “You going to be OK to get back to the boutique.” “Don’t worry about me, Twilight. You just do what you can, and I’ll meet with you in the morning. Rarity and Twilight exchange one final hug. Rarity takes one final look at Rainbow Dash, shakes her head in disgust at the events over the past two days, and trots off. WednesdayA loud rapping at her front door rouses Rarity from her sleep. Not like I can get much sleep anyway, she thinks to herself as she trots down the stairs to the main showroom area. “Hold your hooves,” she calls out as the rapping continues. Glancing out the window, she questions why anypony would be up at such an ungodly hour. She opens the door, and … “I love you, Rarity!” Spike blurts out as he quickly runs up and embraces her in a tight hug. “WHA? …” Rarity breaks free and takes several steps back, her mind racing. “Spike, what are you DOING here???” “I’m here for you,” he gallantly answers. “I can’t believe I had to die before I could get myself to say it, but I’m saying it now:” he drops to one knee and stretches an arm out. “Rarity, please be with me for the rest of our time together!” “Awww, so sweet!” Pinkie Pie states as she bounds through the doorway into the shop, ebullient and effervescent as ever. “Hey, who’s up for an afterlife party!!!” “Pinkie Pie???” Rarity stammers for a continuation. “But how … I mean … you’re both dead!” “So are you, now!” A voice from behind causes Rarity to spin around and come face-to-face with Rainbow Dash. “What? Me, dead?” “Well you can’t be that surprised to learn that,” Spike deadpans. “Yeah,” Pinkie continues, “I mean, whoever’s killing us is really super-stealthy and sharp. And did you see the pose I got put in? I mean, that murderer really knows my weaknesses, amiright?” “No …” Rarity shakes her head in disbelief. “I can’t be dead. I’m just sleeping in my room.” “You mean like I was?” Rainbow Dash points out. “And I was in the clouds; your place is much more accessible. Admit it: security in Ponyville isn’t exactly top-of-the-line.” “Ooh, ooh, what do you think her ‘sin’ was, huh?” Pinkie asks as she continues bouncing around the room. “I say ‘pride’. I mean, you are one proud fashionista!” “Please be ‘lust’, please be ‘lust’,” Spike pleads to himself repeatedly. “Now look here, all of you,” Rarity announces to the threesome. “I’m not dead … I, I can’t be dead … can I?” “Nopony’s ever ready for when it’s truly ‘their time’,” Rainbow says, “but once your number’s up, it’s up.” “Besides,” Pinkie adds, “it’s not like we’re in any pain or suffering.” “Yeah,” Rainbow adds. “The afterlife is awesome!” Rarity looks from one to the other, unsure what to make of things. “So it’s true? … I was the next victim?” “ ‘Fraid so,” Spike says. “But at least now we can be together again.” Rarity paces around the showroom several times before letting out a sigh. “So this is how it ends. It’s weird; it feels no different than when I was alive. It’s actually … not so bad, I suppose.” “Woohoo!” Pinkie cheerfully exclaims. “Now who’s up for a party?” “Really, Pinkie Pie, is that all you can think about? We’re all dead now, and you can’t stop celebrating!” Rarity shakes her head, but cannot suppress a chuckle. “That’s the spirit,” Rainbow adds. “At least I can spend my time here with all of you … and I know I should be, quite literally, eternally grateful for that.” Rarity looks down and closes her eyes. “But still, I’m going to miss Twilight and the others … and especially my little sister, Sweetie Belle.” “You don’t have to miss me.” Rarity turns to the stairs, horrified to see Sweetie Belle trot down towards them. “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!” … “Rarity … Rarity, are you OK?” Rarity’s eyes flicker open; the faint glow of a worn-down candle sheds little light to her room. Turning to her side, she makes out the features of Sweetie Belle standing over her, a look of concern in her eyes. “Sweetie Belle,” she quietly states with a tired smile, “you’re alive … we’re alive.” “Well, yeah. You woke me up with a loud scream; is everything all right?” Rarity thinks back to the previous night. To breaking the news to her sister that Rainbow Dash was killed in her sleep. To holding her sister as the two wept over the loss of so many loved ones in such a short and sudden period. “No.” For much of the trek through Ponyville proper on the way to Sweet Apple Acres, Rarity and Sweetie Belle walk in icy silence. As they reach the outskirts of the town, the younger unicorn starts asking questions, each a tiny barb into Rarity’s psyche. “Will you and Applejack still be friends after this?” “I don’t know,” Rarity glumly replies, never turning her head as she speaks. “Can Apple Bloom and I still be friends after this?” “I don’t know,” Rarity repeats. “Do you think Scootaloo knows about Rainbow Dash?” “I don’t know.” “Rarity … is Equestria just a bad place? “…” Rarity stops in her tracks, shakes her head and turns to face her sister. “I’m sorry, I truly am. These last couple days have been the roughest stretch that any pony has even had to endure. But know this: Applejack and I will be friends after all this, you and your Crusader friends will remain loyal to each other long after this ordeal passes, and Equestria is a wonderful place.” “But what about Scootaloo?” Rarity muses for a moment. “I’m sure she’ll find out soon enough, though I’m sure she might already be aware. And I am well aware how close those two were … this will not be an easy time for her. But with your help … with Apple Bloom’s help … she will get through all this.” Rarity gives her sister a quick embrace, then resumes her trip towards the farm. . . . Passing through the gated entranceway, Rarity inspects the tree-studded area. “I always underestimate the sheer size of the Apple family’s farm. Sweetie Belle, do you see Applejack anywhere?” Sweetie Belle scans the forested pasture. “I don’t see her either.” “Well, she might be indoors. Let’s go and …” Out of the corner of her eye, Rarity spots an orange lump lying on the ground, fallen apples all around. “No,” she quietly comments as she gallops towards the still figure, her sister giving chase. Darting past one tree after another, she quickly comes upon the lifeless figure of her farmer friend, lying on her side with bruises on her upper hindlegs. “APPLEJACK, NOOOO!!!” “Who, what now? …” Jostled awake, Applejack quickly scampers onto her feet and turns to Rarity. “Oh, it’s you!.” Rarity swarms Applejack in a tight embrace, fighting back fresh tears. “You startled me!”. “OK now,” Applejack starts as she pulls away from Rarity and lets out a yawn. “Didn’t me to frighten you; it’s just been a long morning is all.” “Applejack!” a voice calls out. The threesome turn to see Apple Bloom come into view. “Everything alright?” “Apple Bloom!” Sweetie Belle exclaims as the two fillies share a hug. “How have you been holding up?” “Hasn’t been easy. Big Mac and Granny Smith’ve been at a cultivation conference in Baltimare the past several days, so it’s just been me ‘n mah sister here … and that was before all the …” Apple Bloom closes her eyes and turns away. “Yeah … have you seen Scootaloo? I’m worried about how she’s holding up.” “She’s in the barn … tryin’ to fly.” Sweetie Belle gives Apple Bloom a quizzical look. “She’s been with me ‘n Applejack over the weekend. When she found out about Rainbow Dash, she …” “I’m sure she wept a lot last night,” Sweetie Belle comments. “Rainbow Dash was basically her big sister.” “Actually, no,” Apple Bloom corrects. “She just said nothin’ … no tears, no commiseratin’ … she just went into the barn and been practicin’ tryin’ to fly ever since. Been doin’ it since last night. No words, no breaks, just … all around the barn, flappin’ her wings.” “Any success?” “No … but she refuses to stop. Maybe seein’ you will get her to at least take a break.” “Lead the way.” The two fillies scamper back to the barn, leaving Rarity and Applejack alone to discuss matters. “So,” Rarity begins, “are you OK? I didn’t expect to come over and find you … lying on the ground, like …” “It’s just exhaustion,” Applejack tiredly responds. “Despite all that’s happened the last couple days, life still moves on, an’ the farmin’ ain’t gonna take care of itself. Ah fell behind a bit ‘n ah’m tryin’ to make up for lost productivity.” She bucks a tree behind her as a few apples fall to the ground. “Slow goin’ today, Ah guess,” she muses to herself out loud as she stifles a yawn. “Are you sure I can’t be of any assistance?” “Ah’m getting’ mah second wind,” Applejack insists. “And honestly … Ah need this time for distraction purposes. Fer focusin’ and whatnot.” “Very well.” Rarity sighs briefly before continuing. “Applejack, about last night …” “Yeah, Ah’m sorry ‘bout how all that went down.” Applejack’s apology catches Rarity off-guard. “Ah know you ‘n Twilight’re doin’ the best you can under these circumstances, ‘n Ah shouldn’t be so quick to snap at mah friends.” “Wow … you have me at a loss.” “What’d you lose, now?” “Nonono,” Rarity quickly corrects, “I mean we should be apologizing to you. You were right that we should not be keeping anything from our friends during our investigations … and I can assure you that we won’t leave you in the dark anymore.” “Ah appreciate that.” Applejack bucks the same tree a second time, causing another small batch of apples to fall. “So Ah’m wonderin’,” she continues, “do you think both Pinkie Pie an’ Rainbow Dash could’ve just … you know … done in themselves? That maybe this ain’t somepony comin’ after us?” “I wish that were the case, Applejack.” The twosome look to the sky as Twilight flies over to their location, Fluttershy following behind, and comes to rest. “Glad I found you two … alive and well.” “Glad to see the two of you,” Applejack replies. “You been together all mornin’?” “I swung by Fluttershy’s cottage first; this was too important not to fill everypony in.” “OK then,” Applejack replies, “so what’d you find out?” “I took a closer look at Pinkie’s and Rainbow’s bodies.” Twilight’s comments cause the others to wince. “It wasn’t … a pleasant experience, I admit. But I had to see if there was anything out of the ordinary … and there was.” “What did you find?” Rarity asks. “A pinprick, right next to the cutie mark. Each of them had one. A thin trail of blood leading from the hole … someone injected some sort of poison into each of them. That was both their causes of death.” Applejack closes her eyes. “So someone is targetin’ us.” She opens her eyes and sees Twilight give a small nod. “But who? And why?” “Well, who have been Equestria’s greatest threats?” Twilight asks. “Well,” Fluttershy starts apprehensively, “there was that mean King Sombra when the Crystal Empire returned … but he didn’t survive that, right?” The others nod in agreement. “And Tirek is still in Tartarus,” Applejack adds. “He ain’t no threat to anypony.” “Chrysalis is still out there, somewhere,” Rarity muses, “but getting close to us with needles? This really doesn’t sound like her.” “And anyway,” Applejack continues, “whoever’s been doin’ this was able to creep up on Pinkie Pie … how come her ‘Pinkie sense’ didn’t alert her to any danger?” “You don’t think it’s somepony we know, do you?” Fluttershy asks. “Well there has to be someone we’re missing,” Twilight finally concludes. “Someone who knows us. Someone harboring a big grudge against us.” “I’m sorry Twilight,” Rarity responds, “but we’re not the type of ponies to accumulate enemies. I really can’t think of anyone.” “Ah can, but … Ah mean, it just don’t seem like it really could be.” “I’ll take any theory you got, Applejack,” Twilight insists. “What’s on your mind.” “Well … there is one pony who really hated us. And Ah mean despised us with all her heart. An’ Ah could see her gettin’ revenge in a fashion like this … but …” “But what?” Twilight asks. “But … she’s reformed now … an’ she looks up to you now, so Ah don’t think …” Twilight quickly realizes who Applejack is alluding to. “You’re … you’re referring to Starlight Glimmer, aren’t you?” Applejack nods in silence. “That’s impossible!” Twilight responds angrily. “I know she was upset at us, but that was years ago … and even if she harbored bad feelings, she wouldn’t resort to straight-up killing us in our sleep!” “Well to be fair,” Rarity admits, “Her actions did nearly cause an apocalyptic future … that’s how you described it to us, anyway.” “There’s NO WAY Starlight could be responsible for our friends’ deaths,” Twilight states, stomping her hoof in emphasis as she turns to Fluttershy. “You agree with me, right?” “Oh … I couldn’t see anypony doing these awful things to our friends.” “Besides,” Twilight continues as she turns to face the others, “Starlight and Trixie has been in Fillydelphia the past several days giving stage performances.” “Starlight does know how to teleport,” Applejack points out. “Starlight is not going around killing our friends. END OF DISCUSSION!” Twilight’s outburst causes the others to back away slowly, as Twilight takes several breaths. “I’m … I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to …” “We’re all a bit on edge,” Rarity states. “It wouldn’t be natural if you weren’t a bit more … assertive.” “Look … Starlight is due to return this afternoon. I’ll fill her in on … everything that’s happened. Maybe she’ll have some fresh thoughts. In the meantime, watch for any suspicious behavior. It’s terrible enough that we’ve lost three dear friends … I don’t want to lose any more any time soon.” “You take care of yerself too, Twi,” Applejack replies as Twilight spreads her wings and flies off. “I have to finish taking care of my animal friends,” Fluttershy tells the others. “After that, I think I’ll just lock myself in and wait for one of you to come by. I hope that’s OK.” “All things considered, sounds like a smart idea,” Rarity replies. “You take care of yourself. I still have … arrangements to make. It won’t be a pleasant day for any of us, I guess.” “Ah’ll tend to the fillies if ya need me to,” Applejack offers. “That would be generous of you. Well … I’ll see you all later.” The threesome embrace each other one last time before Fluttershy flies off and Rarity trots off, leaving Applejack to resume her apple-bucking responsibilities. For all that Starlight had done in her sordid past, hearing Twilight describe the macabre scenes she and Rarity had come across left her dumbfounded, shocked, saddened, and confused. She walks around the cutie map room, muttering to herself as she processes the loss of several recent friends. “… and you’re certain that it’s somepony that we know,” she finally says to Twilight. “I highly doubt some random stranger would carry out these killings,” Twilight responds. “Anyway, only someone Pinkie Pie trusted would have kept her ‘Pinkie sense’ from kicking in.” “Are you sure about that? I mean, to Pinkie Pie, everypony was a close friend. And as for Rainbow Dash, she did have a tendency to sleep soundly.” “Well stranger or not, someone is out to get us … and I hate to say this, but that could mean you’re a target too.” Starlight winces at the thought, but quickly shakes the feeling off. “We’ll catch this killer. I promise you that. It’s only a matter of … time …” Twilight notices a grin on her protégé’s face. “What’s on your mind?” “Twilight, that’s it! We just go back in time!” Twilight ponders Starlight’s idea. “I did find one spell that let me go back in time … but it only lasted for a couple minutes. I don’t know if we could convince Pinkie Pie that somepony was going to kill her in only a couple minutes … she might think the whole thing was a lame joke.” “What about something more powerful?” “More powerful? You mean … you mean that spell you put on me and Spike?” “Exactly … but use it for good this time! You said Pinkie Pie was found on Monday morning; all we need to do is go back in time a couple days, and we’ll catch this killer before he or she can do any harm.” The thought of literally undoing all the events that had recently occurred raises Twilight’s hopes. “But can you replicate that spell? That was some seriously complicated work the last time, and I thought you destroyed the scroll.” “It was challenging,” Starlight admits, “but with both of us working together, I’m sure we can recreate that spell in less than a day’s time. What do you say?” “Follow me to the main library,” Twilight cheerily replies, the thought of once again reuniting with all her loved ones buoying her spirits. As Scootaloo continues to run circles around the barn, her wings constantly in motion, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle observe in acceptable of their friend’s determination. “How long do you think she can keep this up?” Sweetie Belle asks. “Ah’m surprised she’s still goin’. Ain’t no use in stoppin’ her ‘til she stops herself.” The two turn their attention back to their pegasus friend, who continues to race around desperately flapping her wings. She stumbles after one particular turn, tripping over her forehooves and somersaulting several times before crashing into a wall. The others quickly race up to her. “Scootaloo!” Apple Bloom cries out. “You OK?” Lying upon her back staring up at her friends’ eyes, tears well up in her own. She turns to her side and sobs uncontrollably. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle look at each in silence, then turn back to observe their friend. “It’s not fair!” Scootaloo yells out through her tears. “She was the best sister anyone could have, and now she’s gone …” Her friends attempt to give her a hug, but she quickly shakes them off and rolls onto her hooves, sadness giving way to anger in her tone. “All the time she put in with me, all the support, all the practice …” She glances at each of her wings in despisal. “For what? I can’t even honor her legacy. It should’ve been me, not her. She was the most special pegasus ever, and I’m still nothing.” She takes several steps away from the others, buries her head in her forelegs, and lies back down on the ground. “You’re not nothing,” Apple Bloom angrily scolds. “Everything we’ve done since we met, everypony we’ve helped … that ain’t nothing!” Sweetie Belle gently nudges Apple Bloom away. “Let he be for now.” Sighing, Apple Bloom strolls to the barn door; opening it, she is surprised to hear crickets chirping as she eyes a clear moonlit sky. “How long have we been in here?” Sweetie Belle joins her friend at the entrance. “We must have lost track of time … why didn’t Applejack call us for dinner?” Apple Bloom turns to Sweetie Belle, a look of terror quickly forming on her face. “What, something I …” her friend’s fears soon dawn on the unicorn. “No, she couldn’t have …” Apple Bloom sprints out into the blackness of the tree-filled farmland. Sweetie Belle’s horn illuminates as she gives chase. Scootaloo raises her head and watches the two dart out; she gets to her hooves and follows, her mind now refocused on her friends. “APPLEJACK!” her sister repeatedly calls out as she weaves her way past one tree after another, her visibility hampered by the darkness. In her haste, she stumbles over a pair of loose apples on the ground and stumbles into an apple pile, strewing fruit all around a clearing. Sweetie Belle catches up to her fallen friend, her horn shedding light on a prone figure on the ground. She walks over to the figure and gasps: Applejack lay motionless on the ground, a trickle of dried blood leading from a tiny hole located just below her cutie mark. Apple Bloom gets up from the apple pile and turns to see her sister lie still on the ground. She cries out in anguish and quickly hugs her sister’s body. Scootaloo reaches the others, but Sweetie Belle blocks her from getting closer and nudges her away from scene. As she turns away, the light from her horn shines upon a group of smashed apples aligned in a way to spell out a word: PRIDE Sweetie Belle turns back to Apple Bloom; she and Scootaloo look on in silence as their friend remains attached to her sister. ThursdayTwilight observes the never-ending barren wasteland in front of and all around her. A slow, steady breeze bites at her exterior, but she remains unaffected by the bitter chill. She sighs and lowers her head. “This is not a particularly welcoming place, Twilight Sparkle.” Twilight raises her head and comes face-to-face with Princess Luna. Rather than bow in respect, she simply lowers her head and closes her eyes once again. “Where are we?” Luna asks. “Years ago, I was trapped by a spell of Starlight Glimmer’s, forcing me to witness one bad future after another. This place was the final such future.” Luna looks all around, seeing nothing and no one all around as Twilight continues. “I had witnessed wars, invasions, devastation of all kinds. I had thought this place was the worst possible outcome for ponykind … and right now, I would willingly spend all eternity here, if it would undo the last three days I and my friends have had to endure.” “So then it is true …” Luna’s terse comment causes Twilight to again raise her head and make eye contact. “Two nights ago, I saw strange images from a number of dreams emanating from Ponyville, many of which revolved around Pinkie Pie. And last night, I heard a scream of anguish … I believe it was Rarity, but she had woken before I had a chance to intervene. I have grave fears about what has actually happened over these past few days, but I need you to fill in the details.” Luna again looks around the area. “The setting you have chosen does seem appropriate.” Twilight takes a deep breath and exhales. “Someone is murdering the Elements of Harmony … someone is murdering my friends.” “ ‘Friends’? As in, more than one?” “First Pinkie Pie, then Spike. Then last night we found Rainbow Dash, killed in her sleep. And just tonight, my work was interrupted by Apple Bloom and her friends … they had discovered Applejack’s body in her field.” Luna attempts to embrace Twilight, but backs away upon receiving no movement or emotion in return. “I’m drained,” Twilight coldly states. “I have no more tears in me left to cry for my friends. All I have is numbness now … numbness to the senseless deaths of everyone I care for. And the worst part is, I know there’s still three murders to come, and I don’t know if I can stop them.” Luna takes several paces around the area, processing the information Twilight has given her. “Have you no indication as to who is behind all this?” “None,” Twilight responds. “Applejack suggested that Starlight wasn’t actually reformed, but … I just can’t believe that.” “Starlight … the same pony who caused this reality, correct?” “She’s trying to help me recreate the time-travel spell that led me here in the first place.” Twilight muses for a moment. “Right now my head is probably face-down in a book; once I wake up, me and Starlight will continue our work.” Luna frowns. “Don’t be so quick to wake up; your mind needs to be recharged. And I am concerned about this ‘time-travel’ spell you wish to recreate … the side effects could prove more harmful than you realize.” “Seriously!?” Twilight instinctively snaps, before realizing who she is addressing. “I’m sorry, Princess Luna,” she says in a non-threatening tone. “No need to be,” Luna replies. “It’s just that … for everything that’s happened these last three days, I just can’t imagine anything Starlight and I could do that would make things worse.” “Well … there’s this,” Luna says as she again inspects their surroundings. Twilight follows Luna’s gaze into the nothingness around them. “I have to try,” she states with total resolve. “I understand … but tread carefully, for all of Equestria’s sake.” Luna turns away. “My sister will be visiting you today; we are at your service in this time of need. I must go now; I wish to inform Rarity and Fluttershy of our plans before morning comes.” Luna’s horn glows as a rift forms near their surroundings. She begins to walk towards the rift. “Wait!” Luna turns back to Twilight. “What is it?” “What about the Elements themselves? What’s to become of them?” “My sister knows more about the Elements than I, so you will be better served addressing that question to her tomorrow … but I know that the Elements have been around for many centuries, long before you and your friends became their bearers. They will remain, long after all this has passed. But for now, concern yourself with the present. And again, I am sorry for everything you’ve been through.” Twilight runs up and embraces Luna, who holds her for just a little while longer. Upon reaching her sister’s boutique, Sweetie Belle notices the ‘Closed’ sign hanging from the inside. Her horn glows as the door quietly swings open; she steps through as the door closes just as gently. She looks around the main area; a place that would often see numerous potential customers sampling the wares is now eerily deserted. Unfinished designs lay set out among various maneiquins, a few now spotting a cobweb or two. “Rarity?” she calls out half-heartedly, unsure what to make of the scene. She reaches the staircase and walks up to Rarity’s private room. Nudging the door open, she sees her sister sprawled out over the bed, her eyes closed and her forelegs hanging over its edges. She starts to take a step, but retracts her hoof upon seeing broken glass shards lying near the dented frame of a magnifying glass. “Rarity?” she innocently asks again. Her sister responds with a low moan. “Are you OK, sis?” Rarity opens her eyes and sees her sister standing in front of her. She takes a breath and sighs. “It’s not often that one gets real-life news from one’s dreams.” Sweetie Belle gives her sister a puzzled look as the latter continues: “Luna came to me last night. She told me about Twilight’s and Starlight’s idea … and she told me about Applejack.” A realization hits Rarity, who suddenly gets to her hooves and leaps out of bed to embrace her sister. “Heavens, I didn’t even consider what you went through. I can’t imagine how you felt after last night.” “Well, I still have you. Actually …” Scootaloo looks down at the ground. “… Apple Bloom and Scootaloo reminded me as much this morning.” The two exchange glances, Rarity now appearing surprised as her sister picks her head up and continues: “I feel terrible for both of them, but I can’t help but sense a bit of envy from the others, since they each lost someone so close and I haven’t.” Sweetie Belle turns away. “At least, not yet.” “Oh, dear Sweetie Belle … we can’t live the rest of our lives in fear or dread. We have to move on, and …” She looks around the room. “Well, I should probably listen to my own words more often.” “What’s with the broken glass?” Sweetie Belle asks. “Well, I couldn’t get back to sleep after Luna’s appearance and news. I tried reading to ease my mind, but as I was reading and reflecting … well, it’s obvious that I’m no Shadow Spade, the little good I’ve done so far with our own plight. I guess I let my frustrations get the best of me; I threw my magnifying glass against the wall and my book into the corner. After that, I really don’t remember much.” Rarity sighs; her horn illuminates as a broom and dustpan hover over to the floor and sweep up the glass shards and broken frame. “Last night’s news may have been the hardest yet for me to take. I know it’s odd, considering how little Applejack and I had in common, but among all my friends, I felt closest to her.” “So how do you move on, after losing everypony that’s close to you?” Rarity muses for a moment. “You remember who you still have. I still have Twilight and Fluttershy … and I still have you.” She forces a weak smile as the rest of the debris is cleaned up. Starlight snaps her head out of an open spellbook as she wakes up with a start. Blinking, she glances at a clock. Four-fifteen??? Realizing how long she had been unconscious, she leaps out of her chair and lands on her hooves … … right in front of Princess Celestia. Instinctively, she kneels, bows her head and closes her eyes. Moments later, she raises her head and opens her eyes; the scowl on Celestia’s face fills her with concern. “I apologize, Princess Celestia; I wasn’t expecting to see you here …” As she speaks, she notices Celestia’s horn radiate as a piece of parchment hovers over to her. The parchment is rotated to face Starlight, who quickly recognizes the ‘no equals’ symbol she had posted as a reminder of her past. Underneath the symbol are unfamiliar words, “THEY DID THIS. ALWAYS REMEMBER”. Starlight opens and closes her mouth in an effort to explain the message, with no sound emanating from her. The parchment flutters to the floor as smaller objects are levitated in front of her … a set of syringes, one of which contains a small portion of liquid and whose needle is stained in red. Starlight inspects the syringes, then looks back to Celestia’s face; her expression unchanged from before. “I … I don’t understand,” Starlight starts to plead. The syringes drop to the floor as she feels her own body being enveloped by a spherical aura. She sees through the wall of the bubble that now encases her that Celestia is leading her out of her room. She begins to pound on the interior of the wall, to no avail. Celestia silently trots through the hallways, Starlight’s confinement in tow, until she reaches the main library. Starlight notices two security pegasi awaiting their entrance, likewise showing no emotion; she also notices the empty shelves of books lining the walls; the majority of tomes now residing in a large pile in the center of the room. “I don’t understand,” Starlight again cries out, her voice unable to penetrate the bubble. She sees Celestia give a nod to the guards, who start to move tomes off the pile. Quickly, they uncover a purple wing. “NO!” Starlight screams as more books are moved, soon revealing the crumpled body of her mentor. She bangs on the bubble with no effect. “WHO DID THIS???” she cries out, nopony hearing her pleas. Her bubble hovers to a corner of the room, where pages had been torn out of a particular tome and shredded to bits. The shards had been arranged to spell out a word: LUST Starlight gasps, sorrow quickly turning to fear. “I DIDN’T DO THIS! I’M INNOCENT!” she screams; no attention is given. The bubble pulsates as it quickly shrinks around her. She feels the surface of the bubble pierce through her body as her head begins to throb. She crashes to the floor in a heap, the guards rush to her and tie her up. She tries to explain, but is unable to utter any sound; she concentrate on trying to use a spell, but is unable to cast anything. Bound in place, she can only observe as Celestia turns to face her. “The silence and magical inhibition spells are for our security,” she states coldly, no inflection in her voice. “I will take no further action against you today, but what I have found here disturbs me in a way I have never felt in all my centuries of life. You will be taken to Canterlot, and you will be questioned … and if you have done what I believe you have done …” Celestia turns away in disgust as she gives orders to the guards. “Take her away … and let nopony know what you have seen. I need time to determine how to break this news to the populace … and I need time, for myself.” The guards solemnly and silently escort Starlight away from the scene. The cobwebs had been swept away. Unfinished designs had been moved off the showroom floor. The dilapidated state of the boutique was now a not-so-distant memory. Having toiled over what felt like several hours, Rarity plops down on a couch, taking deep breaths as her sister inspects the work done in the main area. “Goodness, I let things go quickly,” she admits out loud before sighing. “Life refuses to take a break, no matter how much one needs it.” “Do you feel like opening the store now?” Sweetie Belle asks. “It’s probably much too late to do so,” Rarity replies. “Anyway, I can’t forget about my duties to my friends … as much as I would like to do so.” Sweetie Belle glances at a clock. “Is your clock running a bit fast?” Rarity’s head perks up. “No, why do you ask?” “Your clock says it’s eight, but it’s still broad daylight outside.” Rarity snaps to her feet and looks out the window. She sees a number of ponies looking to the sky with inquisitive expressions. “That is odd, why wouldn’t Princess Celestia …” She stops mid-sentence as a number of unpleasant thoughts enter her mind. “Sweetie Belle, wait here; do not leave the boutique. I need to check in on somepony.” She quickly bolts out the door, heading for Twilight’s castle. There’s no WAY any harm could have come to the princess … could there? Maybe that time spell Twilight and Starlight were working on … did they freeze time in error? But then, wouldn’t I be frozen in time too? But if not that, then what? … Minutes later, Rarity arrives at the castle. Her horn lights up as the door opens. “Twilight?” she calls out as she enters. “Starlight? Anypony here?” Hearing no response, she cautiously walks through the main foyer. She notices the door to the main library open and trots towards it. As she gets to the entranceway, she lets out a gasp and instinctively drops to the ground in deference to Princess Celestia; the latter turns her head, eyes Rarity, and slowly gets to her hooves. Celestia then turns to face her penitent subject … “I bid you not to bow … I am unworthy,” she says. Rarity looks up and sees Celestia’s watery eyes. “I don’t under—” she starts before the horrifying realization falls on her. “… no, you needn’t say anything,” she states in a cold, monotone voice. “Where … where is she?” Celestia indicates the pile of tomes, now only partially covering Twilight’s broken body. Rarity treads carefully towards the pile and nudges away a number of books. She eyes Twilight’s cutie mark, finding a tell-tale pinprick in the vicinity. “Which sin was indicated,” she asks. “Lust,” Celestia responds. Rarity shakes her head. “That doesn’t make any sense,” she states. “But I suppose it matters not; there’s only two sins left, and only Fluttershy and myself remaining.” “I’ve had Starlight Glimmer taken into custody,” Celestia notes, causing Rarity to turn to her. “Starlight?” “We found a set of syringes next to her, along with evidence of motive … I’m afraid Twilight put her faith in the wrong pony.” “But … that cannot be,” Rarity says as she shakes her head. “Starlight was assisting Twilight to recreate a time spell, to undo everything that’s been done over these past several days.” “All in an attempt to get close enough to Twilight to administer the poison,” Celestia counters. “We will have a trial, to be sure … but if found guilty, I need not tell you the consequences.” Rarity looks down, unable to speak. “I cannot even begin to know how you must be feeling,” Celestia starts, “but heed my advice: take at least a little solace that this is over … you and Fluttershy no longer need to fear such a fate as your friends have fallen victim to. Go to Fluttershy … more than anypony, she will need your assistance in this time of need.” Rarity nods. “I need to prepare a speech for Equestria, to try to explain why their newest alicorn princess is now dead. It will be the toughest speech I’ve ever had to create; I do not know when it will be ready, but I ask you not to speak of today’s deeds before then. Tell Fluttershy … and your sister and her friends, as they should be informed as such … but no other.” “I will,” Rarity says. “Then as a final request, I ask that you leave me in peace … for a little while longer.” Rarity nods and slowly backs away, closing the door to the library as she departs. Dinner at Fluttershy’s cottage is a subdued affair. Seated around a table, the host would look from Rarity to the three Crusaders, each of whom would glance at the others as they supped on simple fare. “So … is it really over then?” Sweetie Belle asks the group. “If it’s true what Celestia believes with regard to Starlight, then yes, I suppose so,” Rarity responds. “Too late,” Apple Bloom mutters; Scootaloo nods in agreement while matching the former’s scowl. Fluttershy opens her mouth to speak but cannot think of an appropriate follow-up, leaving Rarity to turn to the foals and address them. “I won’t pretend to know how you both must feel, but know that everypony who died was family to me and Fluttershy as well. What we lost over these past several days cannot be made up over the course of a lifetime … yet we have no choice but to carry on, if for no other reason than to honor their legacy.” Apple Bloom pushes her plate away. “Ah ain’t hungry,” she says as she leaps off her chair and slinks away, with Scootaloo following her lead. “Wait for me,” Sweetie Belle pleads as she rushes off to join the others, leaving the two mature ponies alone. “I don’t know what to do about Sweetie Belle,” Rarity admits to Fluttershy. “It feels like Apple Bloom and Scootaloo are bonding over the loss of their sisters, and they’re leaving my sister behind because I’m still here.” “I’m sure they’ll come around in time,” Fluttershy replies. “Would it help if I watched over all of them overnight?” “Actually, it would … after all this, now I have to think how to honor the memory of all our fallen friends. To tell the truth, I don’t know where to begin.” Fluttershy thinks for a moment. “If you need inspiration, perhaps we could experience an event that tied the others together.” Rarity tilts her head. “You have something in mind?” “Well … there’s a plateau that overlooks the tree-lined path for that ‘running of the leaves’ event. Remember that one time Rainbow Dash and Applejack competed in that race, and Twilight ended up finishing ahead of both of them? And Pinkie Pie and Spike announced the whole thing?” “That was years ago, Fluttershy … and neither of us were even there.” “Exactly … maybe taking in the scenery, putting ourselves where all of them were … maybe something there will give you that ‘a-ha’ moment.” Rarity turns the suggestion over several times. “I don’t know if there’s much there … but I don’t have anything better in mind.” “What if I brought a picnic and we had the foals with us? I’m sure they would like a bit of normalcy, wouldn’t they.” Rarity’s thoughts turn to her sister. “That would be nice … I really shouldn’t be surprised by your kindness,” she says with a chuckle. “All right … I’ll meet you on the plateau at around what, maybe eleven?” “That would be perfect,” Fluttershy replies. “Now go home … I’ll take care of the others.” “Thank you again,” Rarity says as she rises from the table. “I suspect the two of us will be closer than ever after all this.” FridayConfliction ate at Rarity’s psyche with each step she took. Gazing at the area around her, she was struck by the combination of natural beauty and isolation. A grassland-topped plateau stretched far in all directions, with no signs of activity to remind her of civilization. Nopony has been here in a long time, she thought to herself as she proceeded to the edge. The juxtaposition of her environment fit well with her frame of mind. Still saddened at the loss of all her friends, she could not help but feel some solace in the thought that the fate the befell the others would not be hers or Fluttershy’s. Perhaps this picnic would be a stepping stone on the road to normalcy. . . . . Upon reaching the plateau’s edge, Rarity gazes at the scenery below. Majestic trees line a wide dirt path that clearly had been trod upon many times, but with no signs of recent activity showing. Looking down, she could see the rocky cliff upon which she currently resided. Turning to each side, she eyes a figure to her left, sitting on a blanket while observing the scenery herself. Glad to see a familiar face, she heads off to meet up with her friend. As she gets close enough to initiate conversation, Rarity inspects the spread. A tablecloth lay on the ground nearby, with a tea kettle resting in its center and a cup-and-saucer set laid out at the near end. Off to the side rests a white square-shaped box tied up with an ornate purple bow. She glances back up at Fluttershy, noting the teacup in her hoof. “Fluttershy, it’s good to see you,” Rarity starts. Fluttershy pays no heed, continuing to look over the cliff as she sips her tea. Rarity then takes another look around the area. “I daresay the views from up here are breathtaking. How long before the next ‘Running of the Leaves’?” No response. “So, uh … what’s in the box?” she asks sweetly. Again, no response from her friend. Rarity looks around the area as another thought comes to mind. “Where are Sweetie Belle and the others? I thought they were joining us for this?” Fluttershy takes another sip of tea, oblivious to her friend’s queries. A look of concern comes over Rarity’s face. “Fluttershy, dear, is everything all right?” The pegasus responds as she continues to observe the scenery. “I admire you, Rarity.” Rarity cocks her head. “I beg your pardon?” “You and all the others … you all make it look so easy to get others to come to you. Most of the time, when I have tea parties or picnics, they’re with my animal friends.” Rarity stumbles for a response to the non-sequitor. “Yes, well … that’s all well and good. We all have our ‘things’, of course.” “They never judge, you know,” Fluttershy continues. “They just appreciate what you do for them and join in your feelings of happiness. They’ve always been a calming influence for me.” “Of course, dearie. Look, I don’t wish to be forward, but I must ask again; where are the CMCs?” Fluttershy continues her train of thought. “You know who else I’ve enjoyed tea with? Discord.” Hearing that name causes a small shiver to run down Rarity’s back. “Fluttershy, dear, we all felt bad for what happened to—” “He did all that for me, you know. Tried to be more normal, because everypony told him that’s what I’d want. Visiting him in his own dimension for the first time, I saw firsthoof everything he did to make me feel more at home … I watched him vanish before my very eyes, and there wasn’t a thing I could do to stop it.” Rarity looks down in silence as her friend continues. “Oh, I tried things … a few mirrors here, some cushions and bookcases there … thinking that would create enough chaos to bring him back.” She chuckles as she takes another sip. “All for nothing, though. His last look to me, Rarity … in his eyes, I could see true sadness. He didn’t want to go … not like that.” “Well, again, we were all truly sorry for your having to experience that.” Fluttershy turns to Rarity as she maintains her calm voice. “He helped save Equestria. With no magic. He and Starlight and the others; he was as much a part of that as anyone … and there was so much more that he did for us. Secrets that he confided in me as he vanished. And when he went away, we did nothing for him. No remembrance. No honoring. No funeral. Nothing but … relief, from everypony else.” “Well ‘relief’ is a bit strong, is it not?” Rarity responds. “And anyway, you can’t entirely blame us for our behavior; he wasn’t particularly nice to any of us. Except for you, of course.” “There was good in him,” Fluttershy replies as she sets her cup down. “But I suppose it was easier for everypony to just focus on the bad parts. But who among us doesn’t have ‘bad parts’, Rarity? Which of us is truly without sin?” “Surely we all have parts of us that …” Rarity stops as a cold possibility enters her mind. “Fluttershy … exactly what are you saying?” “We all have our sins … even the bearers of the Element of Friendship,” Fluttershy continues, her voice becoming slightly louder. “I mean, take Pinkie Pie … how many cakes and pies did she ruin by taking large bites out of them, with no regard to the ponies around her? And not just in our company; she would devour pastries made for Princess Celestia, right in front of her no less. And there was no limit to her appetite. Pinkie was clearly associated with gluttony … but I guess you were never going to bring that up at her funeral, would you?” “Fluttershy? …” “And what about Rainbow Dash? Her idea of an ‘activity’ is taking a nap. Half the time we’d find her dozing away on some cloud somewhere. But we don’t consider her laziness when we remember her, do we? Or Applejack, and her insistence on doing everything her way … always prideful of her work and stature, always forced to accept help from others. And Twilight’s overwhelming thirst for knowledge, her infatuation for everything associated with the written word. And even Spike, with his obsession towards gems. That he would shake his own friends down for those sparkling rocks … I mean, no one is truly without sin … not even the bearers of the Elements.” “Fluttershy, please,” Rarity pleads through watery eyes. “Tell me this wasn’t all …” “It’s a lesson that all of Equestria needs to learn,” Fluttershy concludes with a dreamy smile. “Nopony is without sin … and our examples will live on in history, for countless generations.” “You … you killed our friends???” Rarity shouts out in anguish. “How could you??? … For Celestia’s sake, you’re the element of kindness!” “Oh but I was very kind. No pain, no suffering, no torment. Just a little pinprick for the poison to take effect … I learned a lot while spending time with Zecora these past few weeks. The passages I came across in some of her books … it’s surprising how many natural toxins exist that we’re oblivious to.” “So … when my sister and I found Pinkie Pie …” “An appropriate pose for an appropriate sin,” Fluttershy continues. “She didn’t suffer … no one suffered, though I did not expect that green dragon to ruin what I had planned for Spike; you were supposed to find him simply resting atop that hoard. But the others? All found as they lived … the lazy one, the one too stubborn to stop working, the one obsessed with knowledge. And soon, all will see those sordid sides of them.” Holding back any further signs of emotions, Rarity shakes the tears from her eyes and calmly addresses the pegasus. “Fluttershy, dearie, you’re not … you’re not well. Let me take you to Canterlot; we can clear Starlight of any wrongdoing, and there are some wonderful hospitals that cater to those who are not well in a fashion such as this.” Fluttershy quietly responds: “Oh, but we can’t go; we have to join the others. You see, I’ve always admired how you and Twilight … all the others, really … how you’re all able to face the world with no fears or anxiety. I wish I could have been more like that. So you see … envy is my sin. And that’s why I need you, Rarity.” Rarity blinks. “You need me?” “I need you to strike me down … I need you, Rarity, to embrace wrath one last time … and then all will be complete.” “You associate me with wrath?” the unicorn asks incredulously. “You can’t tell me you haven’t felt anger before,” Fluttershy calmly notes. “Anger yes, but not wrath … I am not a murderer, Fluttershy!” “But now is a perfect time to let go. Consider it, Rarity … I’m the one who took all our friends’ lives. I’m the one who deserves no less than the full force of white-hot rage and revenge. Let loose, Rarity.” Rarity eyes her friend one last time, then closes her eyes. “I won’t do it, Fluttershy. This twisted game ends now. I need you to come with me … and if you refuse, I will have to send for others. But I won’t kill you.” “Yes,” Fluttershy says with a frown. “I thought you would react that way. That’s why I had to take one final step.” Rarity opens her eyes as Fluttershy tilts her head towards the box. Fluttershy then closes her eyes in anticipation. “What’s in the box, Fluttershy?” Rarity asks with a hint of anxiety. The pegasus responds with a single word: “Incentive.” “Wha … what do you mean by that?” Rarity asks with greater urgency. “What’s in the box???” Fluttershy says nothing, remaining motionless in place. Rarity springs to the box, her horn lighting up as the bow is loosened and falls to the ground. The lid is flung from the top as the unicorn peers in … and recoils in horror at the sight of her sister curled up within, a sliver of dried blood running down her hindquarter. “NO … HOW COULD YOU … SHE WAS …” Rarity paces around the area in circles, her mind clouded by visions of herself and her sister in past times. She turns one final time to the motionless, emotionless Fluttershy, her own blue eyes giving way to blood-red dots. She lowers her head, screams and charges straight at her former friend. Her horn pierces the pegasus’s neck, spraying crimson onto her face and mane as the momentum carries the two of them off the cliff. They follow a parabolic path through the air before crashing down upon the ground below, the two separating as Rarity’s neck snaps in two, her bones shattering upon impact. The two lie motionless, separated by mere meters, each staining the green grass with pools of their own blood. For an hour, the sun and clouds pass overhead, the gentle breeze unable to disturb the scene. From atop the plateau, the box begins to stir … The End of the WeakDaylight pours through an open window, catching Apple Bloom’s closed eyes. She shakes her head, mumbles to herself, and throws off the covers. As her mind begins to start itself up, it occurs to her that it’s well-past the early morning. She turns to Scootaloo and gasps. “Scootaloo, wake up!” she urgently insists as she shakes the young pegasus awake. “Hmmrmm … wha? … what is it,” Scootaloo groggily asks. “Your flank!” Scootaloo tilts her neck to see a scarred-over pinprick aside her cutie mark, snapping her consciousness into overdrive. She rises with a start and turns to her friend. “Your flank!” she calls out, causing Apple Bloom to notice her own injury. “We’ve been shot!” Apple Bloom concludes, before a curiosity dawns on her. “But … we’re still alive.” Scootaloo processes the comment. “Whoever did this didn’t want us dead like our sisters,” she concludes. “They just wanted us out cold.” “But that means …” Apple Bloom races out of the guest room, tearing through the cottage to find signs of its owner. “Fluttershy!” she calls out several times to no avail. She runs out the door to inspect the exterior, continuing to call Fluttershy’s name out in the hopes of a response. She soon returns to the front door and an awaiting Scootaloo. “She’s gone,” Apple Bloom dejectedly admits. “So is Sweetie Belle,” Scootaloo adds, a serious look on her face. The mention of her friend’s name causes Apple Bloom to squirm slightly. “Sweetie Belle probably ran back to be with her sister … but Ah feel pretty bad about distancing ourselves from her the past couple days.” “It’s worse than that,” Scootaloo responds. “Take a look.” The pegasus beckons the earth pony to follow her into Fluttershy’s bedroom. She indicates a basket near the foot of the bed, which Apple Bloom peers into. She notices a number of syringes, some of which were tinged with blood. A tingling sensation begins to come over her. “What if Fluttershy wasn’t a victim?” Scootaloo asks. “What if she …” “Fluttershy was talking about having a picnic last night, remember?” Apple Bloom urgently asks; Scootaloo nods. “She mentioned something about the ‘Running of the Leaves’ … we watched part of that race, when AJ and Rainbow Dash competed. Remember where we were?” “Yeah, on that flat hill overlooking the path,” Scootaloo answers. “She said she wanted to take us and meet Rarity there … we gotta go!” The two turn tail and race out the cottage. Her eyes flickering open, Sweetie Belle wakes up in a daze … and in a box. Sunlight pours in from above as the filly shuffles her body, causing the box to tip over on its side. Sweetie Belle crawls out and looks around the area. “Hello?” she calls out, with no response. “Anypony here?” she calls out again, met with further silence. She becomes aware of an acute, stinging sensation; she turns to inspect her flank and notices a tell-tale pinprick, a thin trail of crimson contrasting her white coat. How did that … A chilling thought crosses her mind as she takes a second look around the area, her eyes resting upon the blanket spread out upon the ground; two cup-and-saucer tea sets had been laid out, but each had been knocked over, spilling tea onto the blanket and into the grass. Her mind races back to the previous night … how she had been shunned by her fellow CMCs, how she asked to sleep with Fluttershy for the night, how she snuggled into bed with the caring pegasus … but how did she end up here, in the middle of nowhere? “Fluttershy? Rarity? Are you here?” More silence. She walks over to the precipice of the plateau, gazing over the trees and pathway down below. Her eyes fall upon the broken bodies of … “NOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!” … For what felt like eternity, Sweetie Belle sat at the edge of the pleateau, gazing down at her sister’s lifeless body. Her mind clouded with images over the past week … of Pinkie Pie, slumped over face-down in a pastry-induced coma, of Applejack, dead from apparent exhaustion, but both of which she knew to be the work of some twisted psychopath. And now that murderer had claimed the lives of the last two Elements of Friendship … the caring pegasus who kept her protected last night, a calming influence in the world of chaos she had now been thrust into … and her sister, who always looked out for her, who always cared for nopony moreso than her … Through tears, she wrestled for an explanation. A reason why someone would be so cruel as to do this to her sister and her friends … to leave so many families and friendships forever broken … but nothing came of it all to her. No meaning … no meaning to anything. There was nothing left. Nothing at all. Behind her, she could her a voice … but it was all whitenoise to her. She gets to her feet. She takes a final look down below. Soon, she would be reunited with her sister. She takes a step forward … The two fillies sprinted in silence, side by side and in step, pushing their physical limits. Upon reaching the base of a grass-covered hill leading to the plateau, exhaustion finally gets the better of Scootaloo, who comes to a halt to catch her breath. Apple Bloom slows and turns to her friend, who beckons her to continue. “Go … I’ll catch up … just need … a minute …” the pegasus says between breaths. Apple Bloom nods, turns and races up the hill, a lifetime spent on the farm having built her endurance up to enhanced levels. As she gets closer to the vantage point, the image of a pony comes into focus; someone sits motionless on the edge … a young pony, with a white coat … “Sweetie Belle!” she calls out as she finally slows to a crawl, puffing and panting as fatigue catches up with her. No response. Apple Bloom catches her breath and edges closer to her friend. “Are you all right? Where’s Rarity and Fluttershy? Scootaloo and I found … Sweetie Belle?” As she eyes the unicorn get to her feet and stare down over the edge, she redoubles her efforts to reach her friend, once again sprinting towards her. Don’t do it, please don’t do it, she tells herself as she rushes towards the unicorn, closer … closer … Sweetie Belle takes a step forward. With a final lunge, Apple Bloom leaps and catches her friend’s tail in her teeth. For a split-second, the unicorn begins a descent, before being caught, hanging off the plateau. In an instant, the numbness felt by Sweetie Belle shatters, replaced by raging fear. I DON’T WANNA DIE!!! Apple Bloom keeps her teeth clenched upon her friend’s tail, unwilling to let go for anything … but she struggles to maintain her position. She digs her hooves into the ground, but feels them scraping closer to the edge. Seconds later, the strain proves too much … and she and her friend both tumble over the precipice. After a brief spate, Scootaloo finds a second wind and resumes her sprint up the hill. Though behind, she still sees Apple Bloom and follows in pursuit, unwilling to exert extra energy by shouting out after her. As she nears the peak, she notices Apple Bloom take a pause and slows down herself, curious as to the goings-on in front of her. She hears the earth pony’s call to their friend as she continues her slow ascent. Suddenly, she sees Apple Bloom dart towards the edge; fearing the worst, she picks up the pace and rushes towards her. As she reaches the plateau’s top, she sees Apple Bloom desperately trying to keep something from falling off the edge. Her heart palpitates rapidly as she streaks closer and closer … and she watches Apple Bloom topple off the cliff. Her eyes narrow as she gallops up to the edge and leaps, her tiny wings suddenly racing into overdrive. She focuses on her two friends as she lifts her forelegs in front of her, soaring towards the twosome as all three plummet to the ground. In her streamlined pose, she catches up to her friends and clutches both as she attempts to level off. The ninety-degree drop quickly becomes eighty degrees … sixty … thirty … Moments later, the threesome soar horizontally along the dirt path below … when the combined weight of all them prove too much. The fillies crash along the dirt path, all three bouncing off the ground and somersaulting head-over-hooves numerous times, traversing hundreds of feet before finally coming to a rest. Disoriented, each one gradually gets back on her hooves, groaning in pain from the countless scrapes and bruises among all of them. The threesome turn back to eye the cliff they had fallen from, then turn back to face other, the silence broken only by the occasional cricket. At once, the three come together in a tight embrace, all three saying nothing while openly weeping tears of both sorrow and relief. The Mourning AfterA steady rain falls upon the landscape, dampening the tracks upon which a train rolls along. Seated in a booth, Sweetie Belle gazes out the window and watches the grey-skied scenery. The melancholy atmosphere helps her reflect on the previous 16 hours. The seeming eternity she embraced her fellow CMCs on that dirt path, having avoided a certain death that she knew she would have caused. Catching a train to Canterlot and meeting with Princess Celestia, explaining to her directly how Starlight Glimmer was innocent of all crimes. The warm embrace Starlight gave her and her friends upon her release, grateful to be free again yet saddened at the loss of everyone who helped her become the pony she now was. She thought about her sister while put up for the night in the same room Rarity had once occupied during a stay in Canterlot … but then, everyone and everything around her would offer some flashback to a happier time. She got little sleep that night; when morning came, she could tell that she was not alone in her feelings or drowsiness and sorrow. Celestia’s morning address to the masses was short and sad; she simply informed the crowd about the tragic loss of the Elements of Harmony, adding that the killer had taken her own life but careful not to specify who that killer was. Soon, Sweetie Belle thought, everypony in Equestria would be aware of the loss of Twilight and the others … including her sister … It was Celestia’s decree that the weather reflect the mood of the land. Appropriate, Sweetie Belle thought as continued gazing out the window. She sighs to herself and turns from the passing scenery back to her fellow CMCs and Starlight. The foursome ride along in silence, their train car reserved by Celestia herself so that they would have privacy during the trip back to Ponyville. “So what was it like, being … put up, like that?” she asks Starlight, unsure if it was too soon to ask such a question. “It’s strange,” Starlight begins as the others turn their head to hear. “My time as Twilight’s student gave me a lot of time to reflect upon all I’d done … enslaving an entire village, nearly destroying the history of Equestria itself … and it occurred to me that I had never really been held accountable for those actions. For a while, I felt like I needed to turn myself in, to be incarcerated for a period … perhaps even banishment. Every time I brought these thoughts to Twilight, she would just assure me that my time was better spent learning friendship than being holed up in isolation. And now … having spent a day in such an isolation, everypony passing by my cell giving me sinister looks, asking themselves how I could do something I was truly not guilty of doing … I know more than ever how right she was.” Starlight turns from Sweetie Belle to Apple Bloom and Scootaloo and back. “I owe all of you my life, just as I owe Twilight and the others for everything they taught me.” Sweetie Belle frowns. “I owe Scootaloo my life,” she responds repentantly. “No, we owe you an apology,” Apple Bloom replies. “We should never had isolated you … it was our fault you got to that point.” “Nopony owes anypony anything,” Starlight states to the others. “Nopony could be in a rational state of mind after going through everything you three have been through. What’s important is you’re still here … you still have each other, and you still have many ponies in your life who care for you. The worst is over; all we can do now is reflect on the past, honor their lives in the present, and carry on towards the future.” The CMCs turn to each other and to Starlight and bow in acceptance as the train rolls on ...
MondayA steady rain falls upon Ponyville in the pre-dawn hours. Nopony is out and about, save for a pair of unicorn siblings braving the elements as they make their way to their final destination. “You certainly picked one glorious morning to do this,” Rarity comments as he magically adjusts the large umbrella hovering over her and her sister’s heads. “I said I’m sorry,” Sweetie Belle pleads, trying to avoid large puddles in her path. “Honestly, you’ve known about this school picnic for a week now; why again did you wait until last night to inform me you needed two dozen cupcakes for your class?” “I’ve been busy, sis. Cheerilee’s been giving us more homework than usual, and the CMCs continue to get requests from all over Ponyville, and even some neighboring towns. Actually … it makes me appreciate all that you get done when you’re busy.” Rarity smiles as she turns to her sister. “Well-played, Sweetie Belle, but I’ve been around you long enough to be wary of your manipulative abilities.” The two share a laugh as the rain begins to ease up. “Well,” Rarity comments, “Rainbow Dash did state that the rain would end before daybreak. And we’re almost at Sugarcube Corner.” “You sure Pinkie Pie will be able to help us this early?” Sweetie Belle asks. “Princess Luna hasn’t even set the moon yet.” “In Pinkie’s line of work, the most important tasks get done before the sun rises,” Rarity explains. “Daytime is when customers come to purchase the wares she and the Cakes have created. In any case, this type of schedule frees up the rest of her day to do …” She muses for a moment. “I suppose party-planning, but with Pinkie Pie it could be anything.” “But the Cakes weren’t even here this weekend,” Sweetie Belle notes. “Everypony can use a break now and then, least of all a family with little foals. Besides, Pinkie’s been left alone to run things in the past; she’s a lot more responsible than most ponies give her credit for. Ah then …” Their conversation having taken them to the front steps of the bakery, Rarity closes up the umbrella and approaches the door. “Well, maybe not always responsible,” she notes; “she left the front door open. Well, saves us the trouble of knocking.” Rarity opens the door, causing a welcoming bell to tinkle overhead. “Yoohoo, Pinkie Pie,” she calls out. “I know this is super-short notice, but Sweetie Belle … needs …” Sweetie Belle emits an ear-piercing shriek as Rarity suddenly sprints over to the far side of the store. Seated and motionless behind the display counter, with numerous half-eaten cakes and pies strewn about the countertop, Pinkie Pie’s upper torso and forehooves lay splayed atop the confections. Her head lay face down, buried in the remnants of a large chocolate cake, and her hooves likewise lay deep within half-full pie tins. Fighting her convulsions, Rarity races back to her sister. “Sweetie Belle, go the Castle of Friendship and get Twilight immediately!” Her sister nods, tears streaming from her eyes, as she turns and bolts out the door. Turning back to the scene and unable to contain her urges, Rarity throws up in disgust. Spitting out traces of phlegm and bile, she composes herself and hurriedly trots over to her friend. “Pinkie Pie!” she screams. Her horn glows as an aura lifts Pinkie’s head from the cake. She stares at Pinkie’s dead eyes, the latter’s pupils hanging low in their sockets. Half-eaten cake and drool emanate from her mouth and nose; wincing, Rarity turns away as the glowing ceases and Pinkie’s head crashes back down on the cake. “Oh, Pinkie … why …” she sobs as tears now flow freely. She walks over to a dark corner, curls up and cries into her forehooves as she waits for Twilight to come. A nagging thought causes her to wipe her tears and look around. She sees that the blinds had been lowered and the curtains drawn throughout the lower level of the building. Her horn glows again, and a single curtain is opened, letting light into the establishment. She takes a final look in the direction of her friend … and notices a peculiar pattern in whipped cream. She gets to her hooves and walks over to Pinkie’s body, now noticing a single word formed on the floor from the whipped cream: GLUTTONY She can only ponder the meaning for a moment, as Twilight bursts through the front door with Sweetie Belle trotting behind. “Oh sweet Celestia, what happened?” Twilight quietly asks herself. A crowd of ponies swarm outside the Castle of Friendship, desperate for answers from those closest to the ebullient pink pony party planner as to how she could be found in such a decrepit state. Inside, Twilight Sparkle prepares to address the remaining Elements of Friendship. Twilight turns from one friend to the next, mindful of the pall hanging over the cutie map room. “I’m glad you could all come on such short notice,” she says to the others. “This is the worst of circumstances that any group of friends could have to be together, but I think it best to reflect amongst ourselves before answering the questions that the masses will no doubt have for us once we leave here today.” Applejack and Rarity nod in agreement, while Rainbow Dash looks on in silence, devoid of emotion. Fluttershy also nods, tears still forming in her eyes. “So what do we … uh … what do we know, Twilight?” Applejack asks. “The early indications are that she simply overindulged, and possibly had a heart attack,” Twilight answers. “Does anypony here know if she was acting strange over the past few days?” “This is Pinkie Pie we’re talking about,” Rarity states. “ ‘Strange’ to us is rather commonplace for her, is it not?” “Well, strange for Pinkie Pie, then,” Twilight responds. “Was she depressed over anything? Any particular stress upon her life. Family troubles?” Applejack, Rarity, and Fluttershy turn to each other and all shake their heads. “Nothin’ we know about, anyway,” Applejack answers for the group.” “OK.” Twilight turns from one to the other. “I never thought I’d have to say this so soon, but we will need to make funeral arrangements. Rarity, I ask that you take the lead on this; I know you’ll come up with something tasteful that will honor her life.” “Yes, of course; anything for Pinkie Pie,” she remarks. *PAH* The shout of derision causes the others to turn to Rainbow Dash. “You can’t do ‘tasteful’ and ‘honor Pinkie Pie’!” Rarity turns to Rainbow Dash and stares daggers at her. “What do you mean by that comment?” “Maybe you all forget who we’re talking about! Pinkie wouldn’t mourn her death. She’d celebrate her life … her crazy, carefree, anything-for-a-laugh …” Now fighting back tears, Rainbow gets up and approaches a wall. She slams her forehoof into the wall, cracking the structure and leaving her hoof cracked and bleeding. She continues to smash her forehoof into the wall as blood spatters onto the wall and upon her face and mane. “Um … Rainbow Dash?” Fluttershy starts. “Are you OK?” “NO I’M NOT ‘OKAY’!!!” Rainbow Dash shouts as she turns to the others, her hoof now a bloody stump. “MY BEST FRIEND IS DEAD! EVERYTHING WE’VE DONE TOGETHER, EVERYTHING WE’VE BEEN THROUGH … all meaningless now …” she trails off. “I’m sorry, I … I can’t do this right now.” Spreading her wings, she quickly flies out of the room. “Ah’d better follow her,” Applejack says as she gets up from her chair. “I’ll come with,” Fluttershy adds. Seconds later, Twilight finds herself alone with Rarity. “How are you holding up,” Twilight asks. “That had to be a horrible experience, being the first one to see her like … like that.” “I’m more concerned about Sweetie Belle,” Rarity responds. “Poor thing has never been through anything like this … no foal should have to see something so horrid.” “Where is she now?” “At Sweet Apple Acres with Apple Bloom and Scootaloo; Granny Smith and Big Mac are watching over them.” Silence pervades for several seconds, as both Twilight and Rarity process the last couple hours. “There’s something I need to ask you,” Rarity finally states. “Oh?” Twilight turns to Rarity with a quizzical look. “Right before you came to Sugarcube Corner, I found a word sprayed on the floor in whipped cream. ‘Gluttony’. Do you know why Pinkie Pie would spray that word on the ground?” Twilight ponders the question. “That is not Pinkie Pie behavior in the slightest. But then again … maybe there were things going on in her life … dark things … honestly, I don’t know what to think right now.” Rarity sighs. “I suppose whatever demons were inside her are now silenced. So … do you know if the wood from the Apples’ trees can be used for coffins?” Twilight opens her mouth to respond, but cries from outside the castle quickly grab their attention. They quickly scramble to the main entrance and open the door. The twosome observe scores of ponies scattering in all directions, with the source of the panic standing at their front door. “Dragonlord Ember!” Twilight exclaims. Ember looks over her shoulder. “Sorry, didn’t mean to cause a panic here … seems like ponies in general scurry over the slightest things.” “Whatever caused their panic?” Rarity asks. “Hey, don’t blame me. I was just trying to get to the front door, but there seemed to be a lot of ponies waiting around for you. So I may have shot a breath of fire into the air, to let them know of my presence.” Twilight does her best not to roll her eyes. “Well yes, ponies don’t usually see such spectacles.” “Just one of many culture shocks I need to get used to,” Ember admits. “Dragons got no problems with forcing their way through others when needed. Say … why’d you have so many ponies standing around waiting for you, anyway?” Twilight and Rarity turn to each other, then bow their heads with their eyes closed. Twilight lifts her head back up and addresses Ember. “It’s been a terrible morning for us … for all of Ponyville, really.” “Oh?” Ember asks with some concern. “We’ve … we’ve lost Pinkie Pie.” “Lost? You mean … she …” “My sister and I found her in Sugarcube Corner this morning,” Rarity replies. “She overindulged last night … none of us know why …” “Oh …” Ember’s eyes dart to corners as she takes in this information. “Wow … this is, really awkward now.” “It’s not your fault,” Twilight says. “Have you met her before?” “Can’t say that I have, no … but, ho boy, maybe I should come back later.” Twilight and Rarity eye Ember’s sudden discomfort. “Ember,” Rarity starts, “is there something wrong?” “Yes, there is,” Ember replies solemnly. “You better follow me.” Ember slowly flies off towards the edge of town. Twilight and Rarity follow in concerned silence. As the last of the day’s light fades away, Twilight and Rarity stare into the maw of a large cavern. “This cave looks familiar,” Twilight states, “but I can’t quite place it.” “Can the two of you provide a light source?” Ember asks. The two ponies nod and concentrate as their horns illuminate the darkness. “OK, follow me … but prepare yourself.” Ember flies into the cavern, with Twilight and Rarity trotting in pursuit. After traveling for several minutes, the threesome come upon a large pile of gems. Rarity gasps as she sees a green dragon lying off to the side, his eyes fixated on the group. “Don’t worry about Grundle,” Ember says. “I’ve ordered him to just sit and wait; I’ll deal with him later.” “Waitaminute,” Twilight states upon eyeing the dragon. “I’ve seen him before … in my first year in Ponyville. He chased Spike out of his lair, and probably would have killed him if it weren’t for Owliwicious.” A chilling realization dawns upon Twilight, who turns to Ember. “Why did you bring us back here?” Ember sighs and points to an unlit portion of the wall. “For this,” she says as she flutters over to the section she pointed out. As Twilight and Rarity get closer, then horns soon cast light upon a figure lying on his back, charred and broken as he lies in a pool of blood. The twosome recoil in horror and disgust, sobbing and emitting fresh cries of “Why?” that echo throughout the cavern. “I’m sorry, I truly am,” Ember solemnly states. “I’ve asked Grundle what happened; he says that he left his cavern for a spell, and when he returned, he found Spike just lying atop his hoard. Instinct kicked in, he breathed fire, and, well ... it’s a dragon thing; it doesn’t normally end so badly … but with one as small as …” Sorrow quickly gives way to anger as Twilight turns to face Ember. “Why was Spike even in this cave! Why would he endanger his own life when he ALREADY KNEW WHO ELSE WAS IN HERE???” “Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Ember says defensively. “I have no idea why Spike came back here. I didn’t even know he’d been here before. I only found out about this yesterday evening.” “LIAR!” Rarity accuses, her eyes red and focused. “You think I had anything to do with this?” Ember turns away from the twosome. “You think I wanted this? Spike meant everything to me … I wouldn’t be Dragonlord without his help. He was a true friend, a pioneer among dragons for showing us what could be gained from others. I dreaded having to tell you, and I’m truly sorry that you had another tragedy to deal with before I showed up.” Twilight and Rarity feel their anger dissipate, giving way to more grief. Ember turns back to face them. “Grundle will not harm or obstruct you in any way while you do what needs to be done. Though Spike is a dragon, I believe he would want his final resting place to be among the ponies he grew up with. I must leave now, but I’ll return to gain more information from Grundle. Again, I am deeply sorry for everything you’ve had to contend with.” Having said her fill, Ember flies back towards the cave’s entrance. Grundle gives the twosome a final look before closing his eyes and resting his head. With heavy hearts, Twilight and Rarity walk over to Spike’s lifeless body. Twilight shakes her head. “I don’t understand it, Rarity. Spike’s been here before; why would he return, knowing this place was guarded.” “I remember that one incident when he became … infatuated with property,” Rarity recollects. “Was he experiencing any urges recently.” “No, nothing at all.” Twilight’s horn increases its radiance as Spike’s body begins to levitate off the ground. Blood drops run down his features and drip into the puddle left behind. Rarity observes Twilight’s actions, but notices a strange pattern of gems on the floor not far from his body. “What’s that?” she asks. “What’s what?” Twilight inquires in return. Rarity edges closer to the pattern of gems, her horn glower ever so much brighter. There on the ground, the pattern spells out a single word: GREED Twilight carefully lowers Spike’s body to a dry spot, then joins Rarity. “ ‘Greed’? Rarity, what do you make of all this?” “I don’t know,” Rarity solemnly answers, “but considering that ‘gluttony’ and ‘greed’ are just two of the ‘seven deadly sins’, I fear we may endure five more of these before all is said and done.”
TuesdayThe horrors of the day’s events caused an insomnia attack, the likes of which Twilight hadn’t dealt with over a lifetime of cramming for tests and projects. Images of Pinkie Pie and Spike during happier times flashed around the insides of her eyelids, interspersed with the conditions Twilight found them in not twenty-four hours prior. At times, she would call out to them, begging to know why. Other times, she simply gazed at them, reminiscing about what once was and now never could be again. Then the realities set in. There was still a funeral to plan … now two funerals, even if one would be mostly a private affair for her number-one assistant. And most of the others didn’t even know about Spike; how would she break that news to them, so shortly after they had lost Pinkie Pie. Both of their deaths … so many unanswered questions. Was Pinkie’s death a cry for help that no one recognized? Why did Spike invade the cavern of another, more powerful dragon? And what was to be made of the words ‘gluttony’ and ‘greed’ found at each scene. What message was each trying to get across? And what if the messages weren’t from them? If not them, then who? And why? … “Twilight? Twilight, dearie, are you all right? Twilight? … The alicorn’s eyes flicker several times before fully opening. Sunlight shines through the open windows in her room; she rises with a start and sees Rarity standing beside her bed. “What … what time is it?” Twilight asks groggily. “Just after two, dearie.” “2 PM??? As in 2 in the afternoon?” The news strikes Twilight like a bucket of ice-cold water; she leaps from the bed and scurries around the room, unsure what needs to get done first. “In light of yesterday’s … unfortunate …” Rarity pauses, needing a moment to compose herself. “I think we can both be forgiven for not being at our best.” “Where are the others?” Twilight asks as she slows her scurrying. “We need to let them know what happened to Spike.” “Applejack and Fluttershy are in the Cutie Map room; they haven’t been waiting long, though I admit that I do not relish having to relive last night.” “And Rainbow Dash?” “Probably practicing with the Wonderbolts right now. The distraction should prove beneficial; she took Pinkie’s … demise … worst of all.” Twilight nods in agreement. “Then there’s no more time to lose. Come on.” She quickly trots out the door, with Rarity following closely behind. Navigating the myriad of hallways and staircases, the twosome make their way to the Cutie Map room; upon their entrance, Applejack and Fluttershy turn from a personal conversation to face them. “I’m so sorry for keeping you waiting,” Twilight states. “Please … how is Rainbow Dash doing?” “Not great, Twi. We found her lyin’ face-down in the branches of a tall tree, sobbin’ her eyes out. We did the best we could to console the poor thing; ain’t that right, Fluttershy?” Fluttershy nods in silent agreement, and Applejack continues her description. “The truth is, this hurt all of us. Ah mean, she ‘n I were family … there’s no getting’ over losin’ a loved one. Never gets easier, and ya never get completely over it; Ah can tell you that much first-hoof.” “Is she still in the tree, then?” Rarity inquires. “She didn’t wanna move for a long time … but after all of us exchanged our own favorite Pinkie Pie stories, she eventually started to come around.” Applejack chuckles. “Did Ah ever tell y’all ‘bout our Hearthswarming spent with the Pie family?” The solemn stares from the others causes Applejack to reconsider her question. “Shoot, Ah … Ah guess Ah forgot that we’ll need to inform them ‘bout Pinkie. Sorry, all.” She then bows her head in shame. “No, don’t go beating yourself up over this,” Rarity states. “We all have wonderful memories of the past, and perhaps Rainbow Dash is right when she says it’s better to celebrate the life rather than mourn the death. More than anypony else, she would be the first to say you can’t spell ‘funeral’ with ‘F-U-N’.” Rarity’s comment elicits a small laugh from the group. “I remember when Pinkie Pie cloned herself, and we had to get all the Pinkies to watch paint dry to figure out which one was the real Pinkie,” Fluttershy recollects. “Oh … I wonder if there are any clones of Pinkie still around. I mean, I know it wouldn’t be exactly the same, but … never mind,” she meekly concludes. “I remember when I first came to Ponyville,” Twilight remembers, “and this crazy pink earth pony decides to just throw that stranger a party.” She smiles at the thought, then sighs. “I’m sure we’ll eventually have more parties … even if we can’t imagine doing so now.” Determined not to bring up any more stories related to the Pie family, Applejack attempts another anecdote: “Remember when Rainbow Dash an’ me got caught up in racing each other during the runnin’ of the leaves? Ah can still remember Pinkie Pie hoverin’ over all of us in that balloon, announcin’ all the action with Spike.” The mention of Spike’s name causes Twilight and Rarity to frown, tears forming in their eyes anew. “Ho boy, what’d I say now?” Seeing the twosome have a difficult time regaining their composure causes fresh concerns for Applejack. “Twi’? Rare? Is there somethin’ else that Fluttershy an’ me need to know?” Twilight sniffs and wipes the tears from her eyes. “I’m sorry, I really am … we all got so caught up in the moment, that I forgot.” “Forgot what?” Fluttershy innocently asks. Twilight takes a deep breath, then resolutely addresses the matter at hoof: “Not long after the two of you left, Dragonlord Ember paid us a visit. She led us to a cavern not far from here, where we found …” fresh tears begin to form in Twilight’s eyes. “… where we found …” “No,” Applejack pleads. “Please don’t tell us what Ah think you’re … it can’t be …” “Spike is DEAD!” Rarity blurts out before crumpling to the floor. The news catches Applejack and Fluttershy hard, and neither is able to hold in tears as the two embrace each other in a hug of solidarity. “What … what happened to the little fella?” Applejack asks through numerous throat-chokes and a haze of tears. “We don’t know,” Twilight responds, mentally pushing through the fresh feeling of regret. “All we do know is that the dragon who resides in that cavern found Spike lying atop his hoard of gems. Dragons being what they are, he attacked Spike, and … I can’t really say more; I’m sorry.” “Where is Spike now?” Fluttershy asks. “Is his body still in that cavern?” “No,” Twilight responds with a sigh. “Rarity and I were able to bring his body back. I’ve converted one of my basement labs to a ‘cold room’; his body lies next to Pinkie Pie’s, until such time comes that we can prepare … two funerals.” Applejack ponders the new revelation for a minute. “Twilight,” she asks, “Ah don’t mean to sound selfish or anything, but I hafta ask this: is there reason to think these deaths are related?” Fluttershy turns to Applejack, fear in her eyes. “You mean … somepony out there wants to … kill us?” “Look,” Twilight tries to reassure, “I think right now is too soon to make any wild speculations.” Her thoughts turn to the ‘sin’ words found at each scene. You need to warn the others, Twilight. We don’t know if there’s anything to those words! Right, so it’s just COINCIDENCE that a splotch of whipped cream spelled out ‘gluttony’? I know it’s not coincidence, but maybe Pinkie Pie put that word there herself. Maybe it was one final message to the world. You don’t really believe that! “I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO BELIEVE, OK???” Twilight turns to the others; her outburst is met with strange looks from each of the other three. After a long pause, Applejack strolls over to Twilight and puts a foreleg around her friend’s shoulder. “Look Twi. We’ve all been through Tartarus these last couple days, especially you. None of us know what’s goin’ on, but we’ll figure it out, together. Like we always do.” Tears of sadness give way to tears of relief, as Twilight fully embraces Applejack. Rarity, herself finally re-composed, walks over to the group along with Fluttershy, and the foursome lock forehooves in a hug that feels like an eternity … … “Sorry, did I come at a bad time?” The foursome quickly break off their embrace and turn to face the leader of the Wonderbolts. “Spitfire!” Twilight calls out. “I’m sorry, none of us heard you come in.” “My apologies; I let myself in,” Spitfire remarks. “I heard through the grapevine about Pinkie Pie; I speak for all the Wonderbolts when I express my deepest sympathy about her untimely demise.” “We are very grateful for your kind words,” Twilight responds, “but is that why you flew all the way over here?” “More or less; I really wanted to check in on Rainbow Dash, figuring she would be mourning with the rest of you.” Twilight, Rarity, Applejack, and Fluttershy turn to each other, exchanging quizzical looks. Twilight turns back to Spitfire. “She’s not with us. We thought she was with you.” “Yeah, she’d be all about usin’ work and such to clear her mind,” Applejack adds. “Well, she didn’t come around for training today. I’ll give her another day or two, but she’s gotta report back by the end of the week. Give my regards when you see her.” Spitfire gives the group one final look, turns around and flies off. Rarity turns to Applejack. “You said she started to come around, after you were all sharing stories and such. What happened next?” Applejack shrugs. “Not much. She said she wanted to just go home and get some rest. Said she’d ‘get her head right’ in the morning. I just thought that meant she’d be reportin’ back to Wonderbolts Camp first thing.” “Well, it was a long day for all of us,” Fluttershy admits. “And, well, we all know how she can sometimes get a bit lazy.” Fluttershy’s final word triggers a sense of dread in both Twilight and Rarity. Applejack quickly notices the look of horror on their faces. “You two look like the early worms catchin’ a flock o’ birds. What’s wrong?” Mumbling to herself, Twilight suddenly casts a spell that hits both Applejack and Rarity flush, knocking both of them back a few steps. “What in tarnation was THAT for?” Applejack calls out. “Preparations,” Twilight curtly responds. “Now everypony close your eyes!” Not willing to argue, the remaining three do as told. Moments later, a loud *POP* resonates throughout the room as the foursome disappear. Applejack hesitantly opens her eyes and looks down at the ground … the white, puffy ground that somehow continues to hold her weight. Looking back up, she immediately recognizes the residence of her friend Rainbow Dash. “So that was—” “The same spell I cast on you back during the Young Fliers’ competition, yes,” Twilight abruptly acknowledges as she turns to the front door and starts banging on it with her hoof. “RAINBOW DASH, IT’S US. PLEASE COME TO THE DOOR!” Seconds pass like hours as the ponies wait for a response that never comes. She attempts to push the door open, but finds it locked tight. “OK everypony: Plan B. Close your eyes again.” The others again follow instructions; one *POP* later, the four find themselves in the main foyer of their friend’s house. Twilight wastes no time rushing to the bedroom, with the others quickly following from behind. Upon stampeding through the bedroom doorway, the four come across their friend, curled up in bed and completely serene, her head lying comfortably upon a cumulus pillow. Twilight exhales in relief at the sight. “Sorry everypony, I honestly thought something horrible happened to Rainbow Dash.” She turns to Rainbow Dash and begins nudging her body. “Rainbow Dash, wake up; there’s additional news we need to share with you.” Sensing no reaction, Twilight give Rainbow a harder nudge … causing a small cylindrical container to dislodge from the latter’s clutches and roll off the bed. Rarity’s horn glows as the container hovers to her eye level; moments later, she lets out a gasp as her horn’s aura disappears and the container falls back to the floor. Twilight looks up at Rarity; upon seeing her face, she turns back to Rainbow and begins shaking the pony vigorously. “Wake up, Rainbow Dash … WAKE UP, DAMMIT! DON’T DO THIS TO US!!!” Fluttershy turns away and leaves the room, tears once again welling in her eyes. Applejack closes her eyes and hangs her head down. “Damn,” she silently says to herself. “Why, Rainbow?” The shaking quickly gives way to Twilight clopping her forehooves together and slamming down on Rainbow’s chest, in an effort to somehow force life back into the pegasus. An aura soon restrains her from causing any more physical harm to the body, as Rarity pulls Twilight back. “That’s enough, Twilight,” Rarity insists. “There’s nothing we can do now. I’m sorry.” “NO!!! THIS CAN’T BE HAPPENING AGAIN!!! IT’S NOT FAIR!!! WHY IS THIS HAPPENING???” Applejack walks up behind Twilight and augments Rarity’s magical restraint by putting her forelegs around Twilight’s body. “You gotta calm down, Twi. It’s gonna be all right.” Twilight breaks from Applejack’s grasp as Rarity eases off her restraining. She turns to face AJ and eyes daggers at her. “LIAR!” Applejack turns away, attempting to maintain a cool demeanor. “Yeah … I ain’t never been much of a good liar. But there’s nothin’ we can do now. You see that, right?” For one more time too many, Twilight feels her anger wither away, with pain and sorrow filling the void. “What is happening to all our friends?” she pleads to nopony in particular. “If anything, it’s mah fault, Twilight. Ah thought she was getting’ past Pinkie’s … unfortunate end. Ah guess she had me ‘n Fluttershy fooled. Ah just wished Ah coulda seen the signs sooner.” Twilight shakes her head in disbelief. “It’s not your fault, Applejack,” she quietly says. “It’s my fault. I should have seen this coming, but didn’t want to believe it.” “Now how can you say somethin’ like that?” Applejack asks with a slight undertone of resentment. Out of the corner of her eye, she notices Rarity staring at a section of the wall. “Rare, what’cha fixatin’ on?” Rarity ignores Applejack’s query and stares at the wall. Applejack walks over to get a look, and notices a word chiseled into the concrete: SLOTH “Now what the heck is that word doin’ etched in Rainbow’s wall? Ah know she liked to ‘chillax’ a lot, but I didn’t think she’d be usin’ it as a mornin’ mantra or somethin’.” Rarity sighs. “ ‘Sloth’ is a sin,” she points out. “Just like ‘gluttony’ and ‘greed’ … just like how we found those words at the other scenes.” “The other scenes? You mean …” A fire ignites within Applejack; she turns to Twilight and tackles her to the ground. Standing over Twilight, she barks accusations at the hapless alicorn. “YOU KNEW … YOU KNEW ABOUT ALL OF THIS, AND YOU LEFT THE REST OF US IN THE DARK, DIDN’T YOU???” Twilight simply nods, bawling uncontrollably as Applejack continues her verbal assault. “SO ANYPONY COULDA BEEN NEXT! FLUTTERSHY COULD BE DEAD RIGHT NOW, INSTEAD OF RAINBOW DASH! OR MAYBE RARITY!” “Actually,” Rarity corrects, “I, too, knew about those words at the scenes.” “YOU … YOU KNEW TOO???” Applejack releases her grip on Twilight and confronts Rarity muzzle-to-muzzle. “Ah thought we could all count on each other! Guess the notion of ‘loyalty’ died with Rainbow Dash, didn’t it!” “Please, Applejack, we honestly didn’t know there was this strong a connection,” Rarity pleads. “We both thought it possible that Pinkie Pie and Spike were leaving final messages behind. It was a perfectly rational explanation.” “And look where your fancy thinkin’ got us! Now get us all outta here, Twilight Sparkle!” Lying upon her back, Twilight nods and closes her eyes. Another *POP* later, the threesome find themselves back in the Cutie Map room. Twilight rolls over and gets back on her hooves, still stinging from Applejack’s assertions but otherwise regaining her rationality. “Waitaminute,” Rarity says, “what about Fluttershy? We can’t leave her in Rainbow Dash’s house alone … not like this.” “You all can go ahead and teleport yourselves back and do whatever you think you all need to do!” Applejack turns and heads for the hallway. “Wait, Applejack,” Twilight calls out. “Where are you going?” “Ah’m goin’ back home to be with family that Ah can trust … before Ah let loose mah own sin and beat y’all to death with all the wrath Ah gots inside me! And as for you two, you can both go to Tartarus for all Ah care!” Applejack reaches the entryway and quickly departs. Rarity turns to Twilight. “So what do we do now?” “First, we go back.” Twilight closes her eyes yet again and *POP*s back with Rarity to Rainbow Dash’s bedroom. After so many teleportations, Rarity feels the need to prop up against a wall. “I’m sorry, Twilight, but I haven’t been teleported so many times in such a short span.” Paying little heed, Twilight races out of the bedroom … and is relieved to see Fluttershy lying down on a couch, breathing heavily as she processes the most recent turn of events. “Fluttershy,” she says quietly, “how are you holding up.” “Not very well,” she timidly replies. “Believe me, I never meant to keep you or Applejack in the dark. From now on, I’ll be open with any new information that comes to us. Do you trust me?” Fluttershy nods, causing a brief glimpse of a smile to form on Twilight’s face. “I want to go home now,” Fluttershy admits. “Can I go home now?” “Honestly? I don’t even know if it’s safe for any of us to be separated from the others.” “Well … I really want to be back with my animal friends. And I’m sure you’re exhausted from all your teleporting. I’m … I’m sure I can make it back OK. I’ll just be extra-careful.” Fluttershy’s response catches Twilight off-guard. “Wow … you really have come a long way from when I first met you. You’re really somepony special.” “Thanks,” Fluttershy quietly responds. “But what about Rainbow Dash? We can’t just leave her here, can we?” “I’ll take care of her. You just get yourself home safely … and if you can, maybe you can reach out to Applejack. She’s still very bitter about things now.” “I’ll do my best,” Fluttershy promises. She gets to her feet, spreads her wings, and flies off towards Ponyville. Twilight trots back to the bedroom, where she finds Rarity examining the wall. “Anything else?” “Sadly, no.” Rarity turns to face Twilight. “So what do we do now?” “ ‘Now’, we transport Rainbow Dash’s body to the ‘cold room’ with the others. Tonight, I will start examining their bodies.” Rarity gulps and turns her nose up in disgust. “I know, Rarity, believe me … but if there’s any clue to be found, maybe their deaths won’t be in vain. There’s still four sins left … and four of us. Whoever is doing this cannot be allowed to complete this twisted legacy.” “What do you need of me, then?” “I need you to spend some time with your sister. She’s going to need a lot of consoling … and Scootaloo too, once she learns about this. Apple Bloom as well, but it’s probably best for us to steer clear of the Apple family, at least until the morning.” “But her life is in danger!” “All our lives are in danger,” Twilight retorts, “but at least nopony’s gonna sneak up on us any more. Forewarned is forearmed.” Rarity sighs and nods in agreement. “You ready for one last teleport tonight.” “As ready I can be, under the circumstances.” One final *POP* sends Twilight, Rarity, and the body of Rainbow Dash back to the Cutie Map room. “You going to be OK to get back to the boutique.” “Don’t worry about me, Twilight. You just do what you can, and I’ll meet with you in the morning. Rarity and Twilight exchange one final hug. Rarity takes one final look at Rainbow Dash, shakes her head in disgust at the events over the past two days, and trots off.
WednesdayA loud rapping at her front door rouses Rarity from her sleep. Not like I can get much sleep anyway, she thinks to herself as she trots down the stairs to the main showroom area. “Hold your hooves,” she calls out as the rapping continues. Glancing out the window, she questions why anypony would be up at such an ungodly hour. She opens the door, and … “I love you, Rarity!” Spike blurts out as he quickly runs up and embraces her in a tight hug. “WHA? …” Rarity breaks free and takes several steps back, her mind racing. “Spike, what are you DOING here???” “I’m here for you,” he gallantly answers. “I can’t believe I had to die before I could get myself to say it, but I’m saying it now:” he drops to one knee and stretches an arm out. “Rarity, please be with me for the rest of our time together!” “Awww, so sweet!” Pinkie Pie states as she bounds through the doorway into the shop, ebullient and effervescent as ever. “Hey, who’s up for an afterlife party!!!” “Pinkie Pie???” Rarity stammers for a continuation. “But how … I mean … you’re both dead!” “So are you, now!” A voice from behind causes Rarity to spin around and come face-to-face with Rainbow Dash. “What? Me, dead?” “Well you can’t be that surprised to learn that,” Spike deadpans. “Yeah,” Pinkie continues, “I mean, whoever’s killing us is really super-stealthy and sharp. And did you see the pose I got put in? I mean, that murderer really knows my weaknesses, amiright?” “No …” Rarity shakes her head in disbelief. “I can’t be dead. I’m just sleeping in my room.” “You mean like I was?” Rainbow Dash points out. “And I was in the clouds; your place is much more accessible. Admit it: security in Ponyville isn’t exactly top-of-the-line.” “Ooh, ooh, what do you think her ‘sin’ was, huh?” Pinkie asks as she continues bouncing around the room. “I say ‘pride’. I mean, you are one proud fashionista!” “Please be ‘lust’, please be ‘lust’,” Spike pleads to himself repeatedly. “Now look here, all of you,” Rarity announces to the threesome. “I’m not dead … I, I can’t be dead … can I?” “Nopony’s ever ready for when it’s truly ‘their time’,” Rainbow says, “but once your number’s up, it’s up.” “Besides,” Pinkie adds, “it’s not like we’re in any pain or suffering.” “Yeah,” Rainbow adds. “The afterlife is awesome!” Rarity looks from one to the other, unsure what to make of things. “So it’s true? … I was the next victim?” “ ‘Fraid so,” Spike says. “But at least now we can be together again.” Rarity paces around the showroom several times before letting out a sigh. “So this is how it ends. It’s weird; it feels no different than when I was alive. It’s actually … not so bad, I suppose.” “Woohoo!” Pinkie cheerfully exclaims. “Now who’s up for a party?” “Really, Pinkie Pie, is that all you can think about? We’re all dead now, and you can’t stop celebrating!” Rarity shakes her head, but cannot suppress a chuckle. “That’s the spirit,” Rainbow adds. “At least I can spend my time here with all of you … and I know I should be, quite literally, eternally grateful for that.” Rarity looks down and closes her eyes. “But still, I’m going to miss Twilight and the others … and especially my little sister, Sweetie Belle.” “You don’t have to miss me.” Rarity turns to the stairs, horrified to see Sweetie Belle trot down towards them. “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!” … “Rarity … Rarity, are you OK?” Rarity’s eyes flicker open; the faint glow of a worn-down candle sheds little light to her room. Turning to her side, she makes out the features of Sweetie Belle standing over her, a look of concern in her eyes. “Sweetie Belle,” she quietly states with a tired smile, “you’re alive … we’re alive.” “Well, yeah. You woke me up with a loud scream; is everything all right?” Rarity thinks back to the previous night. To breaking the news to her sister that Rainbow Dash was killed in her sleep. To holding her sister as the two wept over the loss of so many loved ones in such a short and sudden period. “No.” For much of the trek through Ponyville proper on the way to Sweet Apple Acres, Rarity and Sweetie Belle walk in icy silence. As they reach the outskirts of the town, the younger unicorn starts asking questions, each a tiny barb into Rarity’s psyche. “Will you and Applejack still be friends after this?” “I don’t know,” Rarity glumly replies, never turning her head as she speaks. “Can Apple Bloom and I still be friends after this?” “I don’t know,” Rarity repeats. “Do you think Scootaloo knows about Rainbow Dash?” “I don’t know.” “Rarity … is Equestria just a bad place? “…” Rarity stops in her tracks, shakes her head and turns to face her sister. “I’m sorry, I truly am. These last couple days have been the roughest stretch that any pony has even had to endure. But know this: Applejack and I will be friends after all this, you and your Crusader friends will remain loyal to each other long after this ordeal passes, and Equestria is a wonderful place.” “But what about Scootaloo?” Rarity muses for a moment. “I’m sure she’ll find out soon enough, though I’m sure she might already be aware. And I am well aware how close those two were … this will not be an easy time for her. But with your help … with Apple Bloom’s help … she will get through all this.” Rarity gives her sister a quick embrace, then resumes her trip towards the farm. . . . Passing through the gated entranceway, Rarity inspects the tree-studded area. “I always underestimate the sheer size of the Apple family’s farm. Sweetie Belle, do you see Applejack anywhere?” Sweetie Belle scans the forested pasture. “I don’t see her either.” “Well, she might be indoors. Let’s go and …” Out of the corner of her eye, Rarity spots an orange lump lying on the ground, fallen apples all around. “No,” she quietly comments as she gallops towards the still figure, her sister giving chase. Darting past one tree after another, she quickly comes upon the lifeless figure of her farmer friend, lying on her side with bruises on her upper hindlegs. “APPLEJACK, NOOOO!!!” “Who, what now? …” Jostled awake, Applejack quickly scampers onto her feet and turns to Rarity. “Oh, it’s you!.” Rarity swarms Applejack in a tight embrace, fighting back fresh tears. “You startled me!”. “OK now,” Applejack starts as she pulls away from Rarity and lets out a yawn. “Didn’t me to frighten you; it’s just been a long morning is all.” “Applejack!” a voice calls out. The threesome turn to see Apple Bloom come into view. “Everything alright?” “Apple Bloom!” Sweetie Belle exclaims as the two fillies share a hug. “How have you been holding up?” “Hasn’t been easy. Big Mac and Granny Smith’ve been at a cultivation conference in Baltimare the past several days, so it’s just been me ‘n mah sister here … and that was before all the …” Apple Bloom closes her eyes and turns away. “Yeah … have you seen Scootaloo? I’m worried about how she’s holding up.” “She’s in the barn … tryin’ to fly.” Sweetie Belle gives Apple Bloom a quizzical look. “She’s been with me ‘n Applejack over the weekend. When she found out about Rainbow Dash, she …” “I’m sure she wept a lot last night,” Sweetie Belle comments. “Rainbow Dash was basically her big sister.” “Actually, no,” Apple Bloom corrects. “She just said nothin’ … no tears, no commiseratin’ … she just went into the barn and been practicin’ tryin’ to fly ever since. Been doin’ it since last night. No words, no breaks, just … all around the barn, flappin’ her wings.” “Any success?” “No … but she refuses to stop. Maybe seein’ you will get her to at least take a break.” “Lead the way.” The two fillies scamper back to the barn, leaving Rarity and Applejack alone to discuss matters. “So,” Rarity begins, “are you OK? I didn’t expect to come over and find you … lying on the ground, like …” “It’s just exhaustion,” Applejack tiredly responds. “Despite all that’s happened the last couple days, life still moves on, an’ the farmin’ ain’t gonna take care of itself. Ah fell behind a bit ‘n ah’m tryin’ to make up for lost productivity.” She bucks a tree behind her as a few apples fall to the ground. “Slow goin’ today, Ah guess,” she muses to herself out loud as she stifles a yawn. “Are you sure I can’t be of any assistance?” “Ah’m getting’ mah second wind,” Applejack insists. “And honestly … Ah need this time for distraction purposes. Fer focusin’ and whatnot.” “Very well.” Rarity sighs briefly before continuing. “Applejack, about last night …” “Yeah, Ah’m sorry ‘bout how all that went down.” Applejack’s apology catches Rarity off-guard. “Ah know you ‘n Twilight’re doin’ the best you can under these circumstances, ‘n Ah shouldn’t be so quick to snap at mah friends.” “Wow … you have me at a loss.” “What’d you lose, now?” “Nonono,” Rarity quickly corrects, “I mean we should be apologizing to you. You were right that we should not be keeping anything from our friends during our investigations … and I can assure you that we won’t leave you in the dark anymore.” “Ah appreciate that.” Applejack bucks the same tree a second time, causing another small batch of apples to fall. “So Ah’m wonderin’,” she continues, “do you think both Pinkie Pie an’ Rainbow Dash could’ve just … you know … done in themselves? That maybe this ain’t somepony comin’ after us?” “I wish that were the case, Applejack.” The twosome look to the sky as Twilight flies over to their location, Fluttershy following behind, and comes to rest. “Glad I found you two … alive and well.” “Glad to see the two of you,” Applejack replies. “You been together all mornin’?” “I swung by Fluttershy’s cottage first; this was too important not to fill everypony in.” “OK then,” Applejack replies, “so what’d you find out?” “I took a closer look at Pinkie’s and Rainbow’s bodies.” Twilight’s comments cause the others to wince. “It wasn’t … a pleasant experience, I admit. But I had to see if there was anything out of the ordinary … and there was.” “What did you find?” Rarity asks. “A pinprick, right next to the cutie mark. Each of them had one. A thin trail of blood leading from the hole … someone injected some sort of poison into each of them. That was both their causes of death.” Applejack closes her eyes. “So someone is targetin’ us.” She opens her eyes and sees Twilight give a small nod. “But who? And why?” “Well, who have been Equestria’s greatest threats?” Twilight asks. “Well,” Fluttershy starts apprehensively, “there was that mean King Sombra when the Crystal Empire returned … but he didn’t survive that, right?” The others nod in agreement. “And Tirek is still in Tartarus,” Applejack adds. “He ain’t no threat to anypony.” “Chrysalis is still out there, somewhere,” Rarity muses, “but getting close to us with needles? This really doesn’t sound like her.” “And anyway,” Applejack continues, “whoever’s been doin’ this was able to creep up on Pinkie Pie … how come her ‘Pinkie sense’ didn’t alert her to any danger?” “You don’t think it’s somepony we know, do you?” Fluttershy asks. “Well there has to be someone we’re missing,” Twilight finally concludes. “Someone who knows us. Someone harboring a big grudge against us.” “I’m sorry Twilight,” Rarity responds, “but we’re not the type of ponies to accumulate enemies. I really can’t think of anyone.” “Ah can, but … Ah mean, it just don’t seem like it really could be.” “I’ll take any theory you got, Applejack,” Twilight insists. “What’s on your mind.” “Well … there is one pony who really hated us. And Ah mean despised us with all her heart. An’ Ah could see her gettin’ revenge in a fashion like this … but …” “But what?” Twilight asks. “But … she’s reformed now … an’ she looks up to you now, so Ah don’t think …” Twilight quickly realizes who Applejack is alluding to. “You’re … you’re referring to Starlight Glimmer, aren’t you?” Applejack nods in silence. “That’s impossible!” Twilight responds angrily. “I know she was upset at us, but that was years ago … and even if she harbored bad feelings, she wouldn’t resort to straight-up killing us in our sleep!” “Well to be fair,” Rarity admits, “Her actions did nearly cause an apocalyptic future … that’s how you described it to us, anyway.” “There’s NO WAY Starlight could be responsible for our friends’ deaths,” Twilight states, stomping her hoof in emphasis as she turns to Fluttershy. “You agree with me, right?” “Oh … I couldn’t see anypony doing these awful things to our friends.” “Besides,” Twilight continues as she turns to face the others, “Starlight and Trixie has been in Fillydelphia the past several days giving stage performances.” “Starlight does know how to teleport,” Applejack points out. “Starlight is not going around killing our friends. END OF DISCUSSION!” Twilight’s outburst causes the others to back away slowly, as Twilight takes several breaths. “I’m … I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to …” “We’re all a bit on edge,” Rarity states. “It wouldn’t be natural if you weren’t a bit more … assertive.” “Look … Starlight is due to return this afternoon. I’ll fill her in on … everything that’s happened. Maybe she’ll have some fresh thoughts. In the meantime, watch for any suspicious behavior. It’s terrible enough that we’ve lost three dear friends … I don’t want to lose any more any time soon.” “You take care of yerself too, Twi,” Applejack replies as Twilight spreads her wings and flies off. “I have to finish taking care of my animal friends,” Fluttershy tells the others. “After that, I think I’ll just lock myself in and wait for one of you to come by. I hope that’s OK.” “All things considered, sounds like a smart idea,” Rarity replies. “You take care of yourself. I still have … arrangements to make. It won’t be a pleasant day for any of us, I guess.” “Ah’ll tend to the fillies if ya need me to,” Applejack offers. “That would be generous of you. Well … I’ll see you all later.” The threesome embrace each other one last time before Fluttershy flies off and Rarity trots off, leaving Applejack to resume her apple-bucking responsibilities. For all that Starlight had done in her sordid past, hearing Twilight describe the macabre scenes she and Rarity had come across left her dumbfounded, shocked, saddened, and confused. She walks around the cutie map room, muttering to herself as she processes the loss of several recent friends. “… and you’re certain that it’s somepony that we know,” she finally says to Twilight. “I highly doubt some random stranger would carry out these killings,” Twilight responds. “Anyway, only someone Pinkie Pie trusted would have kept her ‘Pinkie sense’ from kicking in.” “Are you sure about that? I mean, to Pinkie Pie, everypony was a close friend. And as for Rainbow Dash, she did have a tendency to sleep soundly.” “Well stranger or not, someone is out to get us … and I hate to say this, but that could mean you’re a target too.” Starlight winces at the thought, but quickly shakes the feeling off. “We’ll catch this killer. I promise you that. It’s only a matter of … time …” Twilight notices a grin on her protégé’s face. “What’s on your mind?” “Twilight, that’s it! We just go back in time!” Twilight ponders Starlight’s idea. “I did find one spell that let me go back in time … but it only lasted for a couple minutes. I don’t know if we could convince Pinkie Pie that somepony was going to kill her in only a couple minutes … she might think the whole thing was a lame joke.” “What about something more powerful?” “More powerful? You mean … you mean that spell you put on me and Spike?” “Exactly … but use it for good this time! You said Pinkie Pie was found on Monday morning; all we need to do is go back in time a couple days, and we’ll catch this killer before he or she can do any harm.” The thought of literally undoing all the events that had recently occurred raises Twilight’s hopes. “But can you replicate that spell? That was some seriously complicated work the last time, and I thought you destroyed the scroll.” “It was challenging,” Starlight admits, “but with both of us working together, I’m sure we can recreate that spell in less than a day’s time. What do you say?” “Follow me to the main library,” Twilight cheerily replies, the thought of once again reuniting with all her loved ones buoying her spirits. As Scootaloo continues to run circles around the barn, her wings constantly in motion, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle observe in acceptable of their friend’s determination. “How long do you think she can keep this up?” Sweetie Belle asks. “Ah’m surprised she’s still goin’. Ain’t no use in stoppin’ her ‘til she stops herself.” The two turn their attention back to their pegasus friend, who continues to race around desperately flapping her wings. She stumbles after one particular turn, tripping over her forehooves and somersaulting several times before crashing into a wall. The others quickly race up to her. “Scootaloo!” Apple Bloom cries out. “You OK?” Lying upon her back staring up at her friends’ eyes, tears well up in her own. She turns to her side and sobs uncontrollably. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle look at each in silence, then turn back to observe their friend. “It’s not fair!” Scootaloo yells out through her tears. “She was the best sister anyone could have, and now she’s gone …” Her friends attempt to give her a hug, but she quickly shakes them off and rolls onto her hooves, sadness giving way to anger in her tone. “All the time she put in with me, all the support, all the practice …” She glances at each of her wings in despisal. “For what? I can’t even honor her legacy. It should’ve been me, not her. She was the most special pegasus ever, and I’m still nothing.” She takes several steps away from the others, buries her head in her forelegs, and lies back down on the ground. “You’re not nothing,” Apple Bloom angrily scolds. “Everything we’ve done since we met, everypony we’ve helped … that ain’t nothing!” Sweetie Belle gently nudges Apple Bloom away. “Let he be for now.” Sighing, Apple Bloom strolls to the barn door; opening it, she is surprised to hear crickets chirping as she eyes a clear moonlit sky. “How long have we been in here?” Sweetie Belle joins her friend at the entrance. “We must have lost track of time … why didn’t Applejack call us for dinner?” Apple Bloom turns to Sweetie Belle, a look of terror quickly forming on her face. “What, something I …” her friend’s fears soon dawn on the unicorn. “No, she couldn’t have …” Apple Bloom sprints out into the blackness of the tree-filled farmland. Sweetie Belle’s horn illuminates as she gives chase. Scootaloo raises her head and watches the two dart out; she gets to her hooves and follows, her mind now refocused on her friends. “APPLEJACK!” her sister repeatedly calls out as she weaves her way past one tree after another, her visibility hampered by the darkness. In her haste, she stumbles over a pair of loose apples on the ground and stumbles into an apple pile, strewing fruit all around a clearing. Sweetie Belle catches up to her fallen friend, her horn shedding light on a prone figure on the ground. She walks over to the figure and gasps: Applejack lay motionless on the ground, a trickle of dried blood leading from a tiny hole located just below her cutie mark. Apple Bloom gets up from the apple pile and turns to see her sister lie still on the ground. She cries out in anguish and quickly hugs her sister’s body. Scootaloo reaches the others, but Sweetie Belle blocks her from getting closer and nudges her away from scene. As she turns away, the light from her horn shines upon a group of smashed apples aligned in a way to spell out a word: PRIDE Sweetie Belle turns back to Apple Bloom; she and Scootaloo look on in silence as their friend remains attached to her sister.
ThursdayTwilight observes the never-ending barren wasteland in front of and all around her. A slow, steady breeze bites at her exterior, but she remains unaffected by the bitter chill. She sighs and lowers her head. “This is not a particularly welcoming place, Twilight Sparkle.” Twilight raises her head and comes face-to-face with Princess Luna. Rather than bow in respect, she simply lowers her head and closes her eyes once again. “Where are we?” Luna asks. “Years ago, I was trapped by a spell of Starlight Glimmer’s, forcing me to witness one bad future after another. This place was the final such future.” Luna looks all around, seeing nothing and no one all around as Twilight continues. “I had witnessed wars, invasions, devastation of all kinds. I had thought this place was the worst possible outcome for ponykind … and right now, I would willingly spend all eternity here, if it would undo the last three days I and my friends have had to endure.” “So then it is true …” Luna’s terse comment causes Twilight to again raise her head and make eye contact. “Two nights ago, I saw strange images from a number of dreams emanating from Ponyville, many of which revolved around Pinkie Pie. And last night, I heard a scream of anguish … I believe it was Rarity, but she had woken before I had a chance to intervene. I have grave fears about what has actually happened over these past few days, but I need you to fill in the details.” Luna again looks around the area. “The setting you have chosen does seem appropriate.” Twilight takes a deep breath and exhales. “Someone is murdering the Elements of Harmony … someone is murdering my friends.” “ ‘Friends’? As in, more than one?” “First Pinkie Pie, then Spike. Then last night we found Rainbow Dash, killed in her sleep. And just tonight, my work was interrupted by Apple Bloom and her friends … they had discovered Applejack’s body in her field.” Luna attempts to embrace Twilight, but backs away upon receiving no movement or emotion in return. “I’m drained,” Twilight coldly states. “I have no more tears in me left to cry for my friends. All I have is numbness now … numbness to the senseless deaths of everyone I care for. And the worst part is, I know there’s still three murders to come, and I don’t know if I can stop them.” Luna takes several paces around the area, processing the information Twilight has given her. “Have you no indication as to who is behind all this?” “None,” Twilight responds. “Applejack suggested that Starlight wasn’t actually reformed, but … I just can’t believe that.” “Starlight … the same pony who caused this reality, correct?” “She’s trying to help me recreate the time-travel spell that led me here in the first place.” Twilight muses for a moment. “Right now my head is probably face-down in a book; once I wake up, me and Starlight will continue our work.” Luna frowns. “Don’t be so quick to wake up; your mind needs to be recharged. And I am concerned about this ‘time-travel’ spell you wish to recreate … the side effects could prove more harmful than you realize.” “Seriously!?” Twilight instinctively snaps, before realizing who she is addressing. “I’m sorry, Princess Luna,” she says in a non-threatening tone. “No need to be,” Luna replies. “It’s just that … for everything that’s happened these last three days, I just can’t imagine anything Starlight and I could do that would make things worse.” “Well … there’s this,” Luna says as she again inspects their surroundings. Twilight follows Luna’s gaze into the nothingness around them. “I have to try,” she states with total resolve. “I understand … but tread carefully, for all of Equestria’s sake.” Luna turns away. “My sister will be visiting you today; we are at your service in this time of need. I must go now; I wish to inform Rarity and Fluttershy of our plans before morning comes.” Luna’s horn glows as a rift forms near their surroundings. She begins to walk towards the rift. “Wait!” Luna turns back to Twilight. “What is it?” “What about the Elements themselves? What’s to become of them?” “My sister knows more about the Elements than I, so you will be better served addressing that question to her tomorrow … but I know that the Elements have been around for many centuries, long before you and your friends became their bearers. They will remain, long after all this has passed. But for now, concern yourself with the present. And again, I am sorry for everything you’ve been through.” Twilight runs up and embraces Luna, who holds her for just a little while longer. Upon reaching her sister’s boutique, Sweetie Belle notices the ‘Closed’ sign hanging from the inside. Her horn glows as the door quietly swings open; she steps through as the door closes just as gently. She looks around the main area; a place that would often see numerous potential customers sampling the wares is now eerily deserted. Unfinished designs lay set out among various maneiquins, a few now spotting a cobweb or two. “Rarity?” she calls out half-heartedly, unsure what to make of the scene. She reaches the staircase and walks up to Rarity’s private room. Nudging the door open, she sees her sister sprawled out over the bed, her eyes closed and her forelegs hanging over its edges. She starts to take a step, but retracts her hoof upon seeing broken glass shards lying near the dented frame of a magnifying glass. “Rarity?” she innocently asks again. Her sister responds with a low moan. “Are you OK, sis?” Rarity opens her eyes and sees her sister standing in front of her. She takes a breath and sighs. “It’s not often that one gets real-life news from one’s dreams.” Sweetie Belle gives her sister a puzzled look as the latter continues: “Luna came to me last night. She told me about Twilight’s and Starlight’s idea … and she told me about Applejack.” A realization hits Rarity, who suddenly gets to her hooves and leaps out of bed to embrace her sister. “Heavens, I didn’t even consider what you went through. I can’t imagine how you felt after last night.” “Well, I still have you. Actually …” Scootaloo looks down at the ground. “… Apple Bloom and Scootaloo reminded me as much this morning.” The two exchange glances, Rarity now appearing surprised as her sister picks her head up and continues: “I feel terrible for both of them, but I can’t help but sense a bit of envy from the others, since they each lost someone so close and I haven’t.” Sweetie Belle turns away. “At least, not yet.” “Oh, dear Sweetie Belle … we can’t live the rest of our lives in fear or dread. We have to move on, and …” She looks around the room. “Well, I should probably listen to my own words more often.” “What’s with the broken glass?” Sweetie Belle asks. “Well, I couldn’t get back to sleep after Luna’s appearance and news. I tried reading to ease my mind, but as I was reading and reflecting … well, it’s obvious that I’m no Shadow Spade, the little good I’ve done so far with our own plight. I guess I let my frustrations get the best of me; I threw my magnifying glass against the wall and my book into the corner. After that, I really don’t remember much.” Rarity sighs; her horn illuminates as a broom and dustpan hover over to the floor and sweep up the glass shards and broken frame. “Last night’s news may have been the hardest yet for me to take. I know it’s odd, considering how little Applejack and I had in common, but among all my friends, I felt closest to her.” “So how do you move on, after losing everypony that’s close to you?” Rarity muses for a moment. “You remember who you still have. I still have Twilight and Fluttershy … and I still have you.” She forces a weak smile as the rest of the debris is cleaned up. Starlight snaps her head out of an open spellbook as she wakes up with a start. Blinking, she glances at a clock. Four-fifteen??? Realizing how long she had been unconscious, she leaps out of her chair and lands on her hooves … … right in front of Princess Celestia. Instinctively, she kneels, bows her head and closes her eyes. Moments later, she raises her head and opens her eyes; the scowl on Celestia’s face fills her with concern. “I apologize, Princess Celestia; I wasn’t expecting to see you here …” As she speaks, she notices Celestia’s horn radiate as a piece of parchment hovers over to her. The parchment is rotated to face Starlight, who quickly recognizes the ‘no equals’ symbol she had posted as a reminder of her past. Underneath the symbol are unfamiliar words, “THEY DID THIS. ALWAYS REMEMBER”. Starlight opens and closes her mouth in an effort to explain the message, with no sound emanating from her. The parchment flutters to the floor as smaller objects are levitated in front of her … a set of syringes, one of which contains a small portion of liquid and whose needle is stained in red. Starlight inspects the syringes, then looks back to Celestia’s face; her expression unchanged from before. “I … I don’t understand,” Starlight starts to plead. The syringes drop to the floor as she feels her own body being enveloped by a spherical aura. She sees through the wall of the bubble that now encases her that Celestia is leading her out of her room. She begins to pound on the interior of the wall, to no avail. Celestia silently trots through the hallways, Starlight’s confinement in tow, until she reaches the main library. Starlight notices two security pegasi awaiting their entrance, likewise showing no emotion; she also notices the empty shelves of books lining the walls; the majority of tomes now residing in a large pile in the center of the room. “I don’t understand,” Starlight again cries out, her voice unable to penetrate the bubble. She sees Celestia give a nod to the guards, who start to move tomes off the pile. Quickly, they uncover a purple wing. “NO!” Starlight screams as more books are moved, soon revealing the crumpled body of her mentor. She bangs on the bubble with no effect. “WHO DID THIS???” she cries out, nopony hearing her pleas. Her bubble hovers to a corner of the room, where pages had been torn out of a particular tome and shredded to bits. The shards had been arranged to spell out a word: LUST Starlight gasps, sorrow quickly turning to fear. “I DIDN’T DO THIS! I’M INNOCENT!” she screams; no attention is given. The bubble pulsates as it quickly shrinks around her. She feels the surface of the bubble pierce through her body as her head begins to throb. She crashes to the floor in a heap, the guards rush to her and tie her up. She tries to explain, but is unable to utter any sound; she concentrate on trying to use a spell, but is unable to cast anything. Bound in place, she can only observe as Celestia turns to face her. “The silence and magical inhibition spells are for our security,” she states coldly, no inflection in her voice. “I will take no further action against you today, but what I have found here disturbs me in a way I have never felt in all my centuries of life. You will be taken to Canterlot, and you will be questioned … and if you have done what I believe you have done …” Celestia turns away in disgust as she gives orders to the guards. “Take her away … and let nopony know what you have seen. I need time to determine how to break this news to the populace … and I need time, for myself.” The guards solemnly and silently escort Starlight away from the scene. The cobwebs had been swept away. Unfinished designs had been moved off the showroom floor. The dilapidated state of the boutique was now a not-so-distant memory. Having toiled over what felt like several hours, Rarity plops down on a couch, taking deep breaths as her sister inspects the work done in the main area. “Goodness, I let things go quickly,” she admits out loud before sighing. “Life refuses to take a break, no matter how much one needs it.” “Do you feel like opening the store now?” Sweetie Belle asks. “It’s probably much too late to do so,” Rarity replies. “Anyway, I can’t forget about my duties to my friends … as much as I would like to do so.” Sweetie Belle glances at a clock. “Is your clock running a bit fast?” Rarity’s head perks up. “No, why do you ask?” “Your clock says it’s eight, but it’s still broad daylight outside.” Rarity snaps to her feet and looks out the window. She sees a number of ponies looking to the sky with inquisitive expressions. “That is odd, why wouldn’t Princess Celestia …” She stops mid-sentence as a number of unpleasant thoughts enter her mind. “Sweetie Belle, wait here; do not leave the boutique. I need to check in on somepony.” She quickly bolts out the door, heading for Twilight’s castle. There’s no WAY any harm could have come to the princess … could there? Maybe that time spell Twilight and Starlight were working on … did they freeze time in error? But then, wouldn’t I be frozen in time too? But if not that, then what? … Minutes later, Rarity arrives at the castle. Her horn lights up as the door opens. “Twilight?” she calls out as she enters. “Starlight? Anypony here?” Hearing no response, she cautiously walks through the main foyer. She notices the door to the main library open and trots towards it. As she gets to the entranceway, she lets out a gasp and instinctively drops to the ground in deference to Princess Celestia; the latter turns her head, eyes Rarity, and slowly gets to her hooves. Celestia then turns to face her penitent subject … “I bid you not to bow … I am unworthy,” she says. Rarity looks up and sees Celestia’s watery eyes. “I don’t under—” she starts before the horrifying realization falls on her. “… no, you needn’t say anything,” she states in a cold, monotone voice. “Where … where is she?” Celestia indicates the pile of tomes, now only partially covering Twilight’s broken body. Rarity treads carefully towards the pile and nudges away a number of books. She eyes Twilight’s cutie mark, finding a tell-tale pinprick in the vicinity. “Which sin was indicated,” she asks. “Lust,” Celestia responds. Rarity shakes her head. “That doesn’t make any sense,” she states. “But I suppose it matters not; there’s only two sins left, and only Fluttershy and myself remaining.” “I’ve had Starlight Glimmer taken into custody,” Celestia notes, causing Rarity to turn to her. “Starlight?” “We found a set of syringes next to her, along with evidence of motive … I’m afraid Twilight put her faith in the wrong pony.” “But … that cannot be,” Rarity says as she shakes her head. “Starlight was assisting Twilight to recreate a time spell, to undo everything that’s been done over these past several days.” “All in an attempt to get close enough to Twilight to administer the poison,” Celestia counters. “We will have a trial, to be sure … but if found guilty, I need not tell you the consequences.” Rarity looks down, unable to speak. “I cannot even begin to know how you must be feeling,” Celestia starts, “but heed my advice: take at least a little solace that this is over … you and Fluttershy no longer need to fear such a fate as your friends have fallen victim to. Go to Fluttershy … more than anypony, she will need your assistance in this time of need.” Rarity nods. “I need to prepare a speech for Equestria, to try to explain why their newest alicorn princess is now dead. It will be the toughest speech I’ve ever had to create; I do not know when it will be ready, but I ask you not to speak of today’s deeds before then. Tell Fluttershy … and your sister and her friends, as they should be informed as such … but no other.” “I will,” Rarity says. “Then as a final request, I ask that you leave me in peace … for a little while longer.” Rarity nods and slowly backs away, closing the door to the library as she departs. Dinner at Fluttershy’s cottage is a subdued affair. Seated around a table, the host would look from Rarity to the three Crusaders, each of whom would glance at the others as they supped on simple fare. “So … is it really over then?” Sweetie Belle asks the group. “If it’s true what Celestia believes with regard to Starlight, then yes, I suppose so,” Rarity responds. “Too late,” Apple Bloom mutters; Scootaloo nods in agreement while matching the former’s scowl. Fluttershy opens her mouth to speak but cannot think of an appropriate follow-up, leaving Rarity to turn to the foals and address them. “I won’t pretend to know how you both must feel, but know that everypony who died was family to me and Fluttershy as well. What we lost over these past several days cannot be made up over the course of a lifetime … yet we have no choice but to carry on, if for no other reason than to honor their legacy.” Apple Bloom pushes her plate away. “Ah ain’t hungry,” she says as she leaps off her chair and slinks away, with Scootaloo following her lead. “Wait for me,” Sweetie Belle pleads as she rushes off to join the others, leaving the two mature ponies alone. “I don’t know what to do about Sweetie Belle,” Rarity admits to Fluttershy. “It feels like Apple Bloom and Scootaloo are bonding over the loss of their sisters, and they’re leaving my sister behind because I’m still here.” “I’m sure they’ll come around in time,” Fluttershy replies. “Would it help if I watched over all of them overnight?” “Actually, it would … after all this, now I have to think how to honor the memory of all our fallen friends. To tell the truth, I don’t know where to begin.” Fluttershy thinks for a moment. “If you need inspiration, perhaps we could experience an event that tied the others together.” Rarity tilts her head. “You have something in mind?” “Well … there’s a plateau that overlooks the tree-lined path for that ‘running of the leaves’ event. Remember that one time Rainbow Dash and Applejack competed in that race, and Twilight ended up finishing ahead of both of them? And Pinkie Pie and Spike announced the whole thing?” “That was years ago, Fluttershy … and neither of us were even there.” “Exactly … maybe taking in the scenery, putting ourselves where all of them were … maybe something there will give you that ‘a-ha’ moment.” Rarity turns the suggestion over several times. “I don’t know if there’s much there … but I don’t have anything better in mind.” “What if I brought a picnic and we had the foals with us? I’m sure they would like a bit of normalcy, wouldn’t they.” Rarity’s thoughts turn to her sister. “That would be nice … I really shouldn’t be surprised by your kindness,” she says with a chuckle. “All right … I’ll meet you on the plateau at around what, maybe eleven?” “That would be perfect,” Fluttershy replies. “Now go home … I’ll take care of the others.” “Thank you again,” Rarity says as she rises from the table. “I suspect the two of us will be closer than ever after all this.”
FridayConfliction ate at Rarity’s psyche with each step she took. Gazing at the area around her, she was struck by the combination of natural beauty and isolation. A grassland-topped plateau stretched far in all directions, with no signs of activity to remind her of civilization. Nopony has been here in a long time, she thought to herself as she proceeded to the edge. The juxtaposition of her environment fit well with her frame of mind. Still saddened at the loss of all her friends, she could not help but feel some solace in the thought that the fate the befell the others would not be hers or Fluttershy’s. Perhaps this picnic would be a stepping stone on the road to normalcy. . . . . Upon reaching the plateau’s edge, Rarity gazes at the scenery below. Majestic trees line a wide dirt path that clearly had been trod upon many times, but with no signs of recent activity showing. Looking down, she could see the rocky cliff upon which she currently resided. Turning to each side, she eyes a figure to her left, sitting on a blanket while observing the scenery herself. Glad to see a familiar face, she heads off to meet up with her friend. As she gets close enough to initiate conversation, Rarity inspects the spread. A tablecloth lay on the ground nearby, with a tea kettle resting in its center and a cup-and-saucer set laid out at the near end. Off to the side rests a white square-shaped box tied up with an ornate purple bow. She glances back up at Fluttershy, noting the teacup in her hoof. “Fluttershy, it’s good to see you,” Rarity starts. Fluttershy pays no heed, continuing to look over the cliff as she sips her tea. Rarity then takes another look around the area. “I daresay the views from up here are breathtaking. How long before the next ‘Running of the Leaves’?” No response. “So, uh … what’s in the box?” she asks sweetly. Again, no response from her friend. Rarity looks around the area as another thought comes to mind. “Where are Sweetie Belle and the others? I thought they were joining us for this?” Fluttershy takes another sip of tea, oblivious to her friend’s queries. A look of concern comes over Rarity’s face. “Fluttershy, dear, is everything all right?” The pegasus responds as she continues to observe the scenery. “I admire you, Rarity.” Rarity cocks her head. “I beg your pardon?” “You and all the others … you all make it look so easy to get others to come to you. Most of the time, when I have tea parties or picnics, they’re with my animal friends.” Rarity stumbles for a response to the non-sequitor. “Yes, well … that’s all well and good. We all have our ‘things’, of course.” “They never judge, you know,” Fluttershy continues. “They just appreciate what you do for them and join in your feelings of happiness. They’ve always been a calming influence for me.” “Of course, dearie. Look, I don’t wish to be forward, but I must ask again; where are the CMCs?” Fluttershy continues her train of thought. “You know who else I’ve enjoyed tea with? Discord.” Hearing that name causes a small shiver to run down Rarity’s back. “Fluttershy, dear, we all felt bad for what happened to—” “He did all that for me, you know. Tried to be more normal, because everypony told him that’s what I’d want. Visiting him in his own dimension for the first time, I saw firsthoof everything he did to make me feel more at home … I watched him vanish before my very eyes, and there wasn’t a thing I could do to stop it.” Rarity looks down in silence as her friend continues. “Oh, I tried things … a few mirrors here, some cushions and bookcases there … thinking that would create enough chaos to bring him back.” She chuckles as she takes another sip. “All for nothing, though. His last look to me, Rarity … in his eyes, I could see true sadness. He didn’t want to go … not like that.” “Well, again, we were all truly sorry for your having to experience that.” Fluttershy turns to Rarity as she maintains her calm voice. “He helped save Equestria. With no magic. He and Starlight and the others; he was as much a part of that as anyone … and there was so much more that he did for us. Secrets that he confided in me as he vanished. And when he went away, we did nothing for him. No remembrance. No honoring. No funeral. Nothing but … relief, from everypony else.” “Well ‘relief’ is a bit strong, is it not?” Rarity responds. “And anyway, you can’t entirely blame us for our behavior; he wasn’t particularly nice to any of us. Except for you, of course.” “There was good in him,” Fluttershy replies as she sets her cup down. “But I suppose it was easier for everypony to just focus on the bad parts. But who among us doesn’t have ‘bad parts’, Rarity? Which of us is truly without sin?” “Surely we all have parts of us that …” Rarity stops as a cold possibility enters her mind. “Fluttershy … exactly what are you saying?” “We all have our sins … even the bearers of the Element of Friendship,” Fluttershy continues, her voice becoming slightly louder. “I mean, take Pinkie Pie … how many cakes and pies did she ruin by taking large bites out of them, with no regard to the ponies around her? And not just in our company; she would devour pastries made for Princess Celestia, right in front of her no less. And there was no limit to her appetite. Pinkie was clearly associated with gluttony … but I guess you were never going to bring that up at her funeral, would you?” “Fluttershy? …” “And what about Rainbow Dash? Her idea of an ‘activity’ is taking a nap. Half the time we’d find her dozing away on some cloud somewhere. But we don’t consider her laziness when we remember her, do we? Or Applejack, and her insistence on doing everything her way … always prideful of her work and stature, always forced to accept help from others. And Twilight’s overwhelming thirst for knowledge, her infatuation for everything associated with the written word. And even Spike, with his obsession towards gems. That he would shake his own friends down for those sparkling rocks … I mean, no one is truly without sin … not even the bearers of the Elements.” “Fluttershy, please,” Rarity pleads through watery eyes. “Tell me this wasn’t all …” “It’s a lesson that all of Equestria needs to learn,” Fluttershy concludes with a dreamy smile. “Nopony is without sin … and our examples will live on in history, for countless generations.” “You … you killed our friends???” Rarity shouts out in anguish. “How could you??? … For Celestia’s sake, you’re the element of kindness!” “Oh but I was very kind. No pain, no suffering, no torment. Just a little pinprick for the poison to take effect … I learned a lot while spending time with Zecora these past few weeks. The passages I came across in some of her books … it’s surprising how many natural toxins exist that we’re oblivious to.” “So … when my sister and I found Pinkie Pie …” “An appropriate pose for an appropriate sin,” Fluttershy continues. “She didn’t suffer … no one suffered, though I did not expect that green dragon to ruin what I had planned for Spike; you were supposed to find him simply resting atop that hoard. But the others? All found as they lived … the lazy one, the one too stubborn to stop working, the one obsessed with knowledge. And soon, all will see those sordid sides of them.” Holding back any further signs of emotions, Rarity shakes the tears from her eyes and calmly addresses the pegasus. “Fluttershy, dearie, you’re not … you’re not well. Let me take you to Canterlot; we can clear Starlight of any wrongdoing, and there are some wonderful hospitals that cater to those who are not well in a fashion such as this.” Fluttershy quietly responds: “Oh, but we can’t go; we have to join the others. You see, I’ve always admired how you and Twilight … all the others, really … how you’re all able to face the world with no fears or anxiety. I wish I could have been more like that. So you see … envy is my sin. And that’s why I need you, Rarity.” Rarity blinks. “You need me?” “I need you to strike me down … I need you, Rarity, to embrace wrath one last time … and then all will be complete.” “You associate me with wrath?” the unicorn asks incredulously. “You can’t tell me you haven’t felt anger before,” Fluttershy calmly notes. “Anger yes, but not wrath … I am not a murderer, Fluttershy!” “But now is a perfect time to let go. Consider it, Rarity … I’m the one who took all our friends’ lives. I’m the one who deserves no less than the full force of white-hot rage and revenge. Let loose, Rarity.” Rarity eyes her friend one last time, then closes her eyes. “I won’t do it, Fluttershy. This twisted game ends now. I need you to come with me … and if you refuse, I will have to send for others. But I won’t kill you.” “Yes,” Fluttershy says with a frown. “I thought you would react that way. That’s why I had to take one final step.” Rarity opens her eyes as Fluttershy tilts her head towards the box. Fluttershy then closes her eyes in anticipation. “What’s in the box, Fluttershy?” Rarity asks with a hint of anxiety. The pegasus responds with a single word: “Incentive.” “Wha … what do you mean by that?” Rarity asks with greater urgency. “What’s in the box???” Fluttershy says nothing, remaining motionless in place. Rarity springs to the box, her horn lighting up as the bow is loosened and falls to the ground. The lid is flung from the top as the unicorn peers in … and recoils in horror at the sight of her sister curled up within, a sliver of dried blood running down her hindquarter. “NO … HOW COULD YOU … SHE WAS …” Rarity paces around the area in circles, her mind clouded by visions of herself and her sister in past times. She turns one final time to the motionless, emotionless Fluttershy, her own blue eyes giving way to blood-red dots. She lowers her head, screams and charges straight at her former friend. Her horn pierces the pegasus’s neck, spraying crimson onto her face and mane as the momentum carries the two of them off the cliff. They follow a parabolic path through the air before crashing down upon the ground below, the two separating as Rarity’s neck snaps in two, her bones shattering upon impact. The two lie motionless, separated by mere meters, each staining the green grass with pools of their own blood. For an hour, the sun and clouds pass overhead, the gentle breeze unable to disturb the scene. From atop the plateau, the box begins to stir …
The End of the WeakDaylight pours through an open window, catching Apple Bloom’s closed eyes. She shakes her head, mumbles to herself, and throws off the covers. As her mind begins to start itself up, it occurs to her that it’s well-past the early morning. She turns to Scootaloo and gasps. “Scootaloo, wake up!” she urgently insists as she shakes the young pegasus awake. “Hmmrmm … wha? … what is it,” Scootaloo groggily asks. “Your flank!” Scootaloo tilts her neck to see a scarred-over pinprick aside her cutie mark, snapping her consciousness into overdrive. She rises with a start and turns to her friend. “Your flank!” she calls out, causing Apple Bloom to notice her own injury. “We’ve been shot!” Apple Bloom concludes, before a curiosity dawns on her. “But … we’re still alive.” Scootaloo processes the comment. “Whoever did this didn’t want us dead like our sisters,” she concludes. “They just wanted us out cold.” “But that means …” Apple Bloom races out of the guest room, tearing through the cottage to find signs of its owner. “Fluttershy!” she calls out several times to no avail. She runs out the door to inspect the exterior, continuing to call Fluttershy’s name out in the hopes of a response. She soon returns to the front door and an awaiting Scootaloo. “She’s gone,” Apple Bloom dejectedly admits. “So is Sweetie Belle,” Scootaloo adds, a serious look on her face. The mention of her friend’s name causes Apple Bloom to squirm slightly. “Sweetie Belle probably ran back to be with her sister … but Ah feel pretty bad about distancing ourselves from her the past couple days.” “It’s worse than that,” Scootaloo responds. “Take a look.” The pegasus beckons the earth pony to follow her into Fluttershy’s bedroom. She indicates a basket near the foot of the bed, which Apple Bloom peers into. She notices a number of syringes, some of which were tinged with blood. A tingling sensation begins to come over her. “What if Fluttershy wasn’t a victim?” Scootaloo asks. “What if she …” “Fluttershy was talking about having a picnic last night, remember?” Apple Bloom urgently asks; Scootaloo nods. “She mentioned something about the ‘Running of the Leaves’ … we watched part of that race, when AJ and Rainbow Dash competed. Remember where we were?” “Yeah, on that flat hill overlooking the path,” Scootaloo answers. “She said she wanted to take us and meet Rarity there … we gotta go!” The two turn tail and race out the cottage. Her eyes flickering open, Sweetie Belle wakes up in a daze … and in a box. Sunlight pours in from above as the filly shuffles her body, causing the box to tip over on its side. Sweetie Belle crawls out and looks around the area. “Hello?” she calls out, with no response. “Anypony here?” she calls out again, met with further silence. She becomes aware of an acute, stinging sensation; she turns to inspect her flank and notices a tell-tale pinprick, a thin trail of crimson contrasting her white coat. How did that … A chilling thought crosses her mind as she takes a second look around the area, her eyes resting upon the blanket spread out upon the ground; two cup-and-saucer tea sets had been laid out, but each had been knocked over, spilling tea onto the blanket and into the grass. Her mind races back to the previous night … how she had been shunned by her fellow CMCs, how she asked to sleep with Fluttershy for the night, how she snuggled into bed with the caring pegasus … but how did she end up here, in the middle of nowhere? “Fluttershy? Rarity? Are you here?” More silence. She walks over to the precipice of the plateau, gazing over the trees and pathway down below. Her eyes fall upon the broken bodies of … “NOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!” … For what felt like eternity, Sweetie Belle sat at the edge of the pleateau, gazing down at her sister’s lifeless body. Her mind clouded with images over the past week … of Pinkie Pie, slumped over face-down in a pastry-induced coma, of Applejack, dead from apparent exhaustion, but both of which she knew to be the work of some twisted psychopath. And now that murderer had claimed the lives of the last two Elements of Friendship … the caring pegasus who kept her protected last night, a calming influence in the world of chaos she had now been thrust into … and her sister, who always looked out for her, who always cared for nopony moreso than her … Through tears, she wrestled for an explanation. A reason why someone would be so cruel as to do this to her sister and her friends … to leave so many families and friendships forever broken … but nothing came of it all to her. No meaning … no meaning to anything. There was nothing left. Nothing at all. Behind her, she could her a voice … but it was all whitenoise to her. She gets to her feet. She takes a final look down below. Soon, she would be reunited with her sister. She takes a step forward … The two fillies sprinted in silence, side by side and in step, pushing their physical limits. Upon reaching the base of a grass-covered hill leading to the plateau, exhaustion finally gets the better of Scootaloo, who comes to a halt to catch her breath. Apple Bloom slows and turns to her friend, who beckons her to continue. “Go … I’ll catch up … just need … a minute …” the pegasus says between breaths. Apple Bloom nods, turns and races up the hill, a lifetime spent on the farm having built her endurance up to enhanced levels. As she gets closer to the vantage point, the image of a pony comes into focus; someone sits motionless on the edge … a young pony, with a white coat … “Sweetie Belle!” she calls out as she finally slows to a crawl, puffing and panting as fatigue catches up with her. No response. Apple Bloom catches her breath and edges closer to her friend. “Are you all right? Where’s Rarity and Fluttershy? Scootaloo and I found … Sweetie Belle?” As she eyes the unicorn get to her feet and stare down over the edge, she redoubles her efforts to reach her friend, once again sprinting towards her. Don’t do it, please don’t do it, she tells herself as she rushes towards the unicorn, closer … closer … Sweetie Belle takes a step forward. With a final lunge, Apple Bloom leaps and catches her friend’s tail in her teeth. For a split-second, the unicorn begins a descent, before being caught, hanging off the plateau. In an instant, the numbness felt by Sweetie Belle shatters, replaced by raging fear. I DON’T WANNA DIE!!! Apple Bloom keeps her teeth clenched upon her friend’s tail, unwilling to let go for anything … but she struggles to maintain her position. She digs her hooves into the ground, but feels them scraping closer to the edge. Seconds later, the strain proves too much … and she and her friend both tumble over the precipice. After a brief spate, Scootaloo finds a second wind and resumes her sprint up the hill. Though behind, she still sees Apple Bloom and follows in pursuit, unwilling to exert extra energy by shouting out after her. As she nears the peak, she notices Apple Bloom take a pause and slows down herself, curious as to the goings-on in front of her. She hears the earth pony’s call to their friend as she continues her slow ascent. Suddenly, she sees Apple Bloom dart towards the edge; fearing the worst, she picks up the pace and rushes towards her. As she reaches the plateau’s top, she sees Apple Bloom desperately trying to keep something from falling off the edge. Her heart palpitates rapidly as she streaks closer and closer … and she watches Apple Bloom topple off the cliff. Her eyes narrow as she gallops up to the edge and leaps, her tiny wings suddenly racing into overdrive. She focuses on her two friends as she lifts her forelegs in front of her, soaring towards the twosome as all three plummet to the ground. In her streamlined pose, she catches up to her friends and clutches both as she attempts to level off. The ninety-degree drop quickly becomes eighty degrees … sixty … thirty … Moments later, the threesome soar horizontally along the dirt path below … when the combined weight of all them prove too much. The fillies crash along the dirt path, all three bouncing off the ground and somersaulting head-over-hooves numerous times, traversing hundreds of feet before finally coming to a rest. Disoriented, each one gradually gets back on her hooves, groaning in pain from the countless scrapes and bruises among all of them. The threesome turn back to eye the cliff they had fallen from, then turn back to face other, the silence broken only by the occasional cricket. At once, the three come together in a tight embrace, all three saying nothing while openly weeping tears of both sorrow and relief.
The Mourning AfterA steady rain falls upon the landscape, dampening the tracks upon which a train rolls along. Seated in a booth, Sweetie Belle gazes out the window and watches the grey-skied scenery. The melancholy atmosphere helps her reflect on the previous 16 hours. The seeming eternity she embraced her fellow CMCs on that dirt path, having avoided a certain death that she knew she would have caused. Catching a train to Canterlot and meeting with Princess Celestia, explaining to her directly how Starlight Glimmer was innocent of all crimes. The warm embrace Starlight gave her and her friends upon her release, grateful to be free again yet saddened at the loss of everyone who helped her become the pony she now was. She thought about her sister while put up for the night in the same room Rarity had once occupied during a stay in Canterlot … but then, everyone and everything around her would offer some flashback to a happier time. She got little sleep that night; when morning came, she could tell that she was not alone in her feelings or drowsiness and sorrow. Celestia’s morning address to the masses was short and sad; she simply informed the crowd about the tragic loss of the Elements of Harmony, adding that the killer had taken her own life but careful not to specify who that killer was. Soon, Sweetie Belle thought, everypony in Equestria would be aware of the loss of Twilight and the others … including her sister … It was Celestia’s decree that the weather reflect the mood of the land. Appropriate, Sweetie Belle thought as continued gazing out the window. She sighs to herself and turns from the passing scenery back to her fellow CMCs and Starlight. The foursome ride along in silence, their train car reserved by Celestia herself so that they would have privacy during the trip back to Ponyville. “So what was it like, being … put up, like that?” she asks Starlight, unsure if it was too soon to ask such a question. “It’s strange,” Starlight begins as the others turn their head to hear. “My time as Twilight’s student gave me a lot of time to reflect upon all I’d done … enslaving an entire village, nearly destroying the history of Equestria itself … and it occurred to me that I had never really been held accountable for those actions. For a while, I felt like I needed to turn myself in, to be incarcerated for a period … perhaps even banishment. Every time I brought these thoughts to Twilight, she would just assure me that my time was better spent learning friendship than being holed up in isolation. And now … having spent a day in such an isolation, everypony passing by my cell giving me sinister looks, asking themselves how I could do something I was truly not guilty of doing … I know more than ever how right she was.” Starlight turns from Sweetie Belle to Apple Bloom and Scootaloo and back. “I owe all of you my life, just as I owe Twilight and the others for everything they taught me.” Sweetie Belle frowns. “I owe Scootaloo my life,” she responds repentantly. “No, we owe you an apology,” Apple Bloom replies. “We should never had isolated you … it was our fault you got to that point.” “Nopony owes anypony anything,” Starlight states to the others. “Nopony could be in a rational state of mind after going through everything you three have been through. What’s important is you’re still here … you still have each other, and you still have many ponies in your life who care for you. The worst is over; all we can do now is reflect on the past, honor their lives in the present, and carry on towards the future.” The CMCs turn to each other and to Starlight and bow in acceptance as the train rolls on ...
