Because She Loved Us: The True Story of Seven Mares

Looking at the others, AJ barked. "Fifteen minutes, girls! Grab your gear let's go, time's a tickin'!"

Hours had passed as later Applejack grim faced pushed open the door to the Apple Family home. She bit her lip as she saw her little sister, her big brother and her granny at the table. As they greeted her tears filled her eyes. Taking a deep breath she remembered the conversation from earlier before they had parted ways for the night.

"Girls it's time for them to go. Rainbow, Rarity, Applejack...Starlight is still working on a stabilizing formula but time has run out once more. You know what you've got to do."

Taking her hat from her head in one hoof Applejack lowered her eyes to the ground. After a moment, she sighed and raised her head forcing a smile. "Welp, that's just how the apple fell isn't it Twi? Maybe next time y'all have the serum ready."

"Applejack I..."

"Twi it's fine. It has to be done...right?"

Applejack sat calmly holding the cup of spiked cider in her hooves as she shakenly took a sip. Around her the red stained floor and walls dripped with a new crimson hue. She didn't look up, or around. Tears poured down her muzzle as she slowly sipped her drink. Her hooves were wet with crimson and her fur speckled with the dark red hue as well. "After all..."

She whispered in the silence of the destroyed room, the corpses of those she held dear littering the floor, smashed and brutalized. "It had to be done, forgive me."

Up in Cloudsdale, in her home sat Rainbow Dash cradling the still form of her adopted sister, Scootaloo. Tears slowly fell onto the muzzle of the lifeless pegasus. Rainbow looked into her still open eyes and removed the cord from around her neck. "I'm sorry little buddy, next time I promise. Next time I'll be able to save you."

Whispering these words, Rainbow slowly reached up a hoof and gingerly closed the eyes of her sister. "Until next time, little buddy."

Meanwhile in the back room of Rarity's Boutique, a small candlelight illuminated a sad sight in its glow. Rarity sat with a needle and thread as she slowly began stitching up the shredded body of her little sister Sweetie Bell. She sat there, talking to the corpse as she slowly sewed up the wounds she herself had inflicted. "Don't worry, Dah-ling...Soon there will be no need for this. You see, Starlight is working on a formula to stabilize you and the others. Rest assured though, I won't let you rot like some piece of trash. Soon you'll be a beautiful doll."

Her tears betrayed the smile she had forced upon her face. She hated this. Her own sister! Next time will be different! I swear it. For the next few hours, she hummed to herself as her once amazing sister, whom she would do anything for, was transformed into a lifesized pony doll. When she was done, she gently hugged the doll and gingerly set her at the receptionist desk, before turning out the lights and going to bed. "Goodnight Sweetiebell."

During that time, Twilight had snuck into Canterlot Castle. She now stood before Celestia's bedroom door. She couldn't bring herself to sneak into the chambers of the sleeping princess. She held her in far higher respect than that. She raised a hoof and knocked on the heavy gold door with a silver sun embossed upon it. The reply was swift and warm. "Come in my faithful student."

Slowly pushing open the door, Twilight gazed upon the form of the alicorn she respected more than anypony. She had been here before. It never got easier. "Princess Celestia, I...need to tell you something."

It wouldn't work. It never did, but she couldn't just take Celestia's life without giving her the love and respect she deserved. After all, if it wasn't for her own stupidity, Celestia wouldn't have to perish on this night. Celestia's soft voice reached her ears. "What is it Twilight? Come here my student sit by me and tell me what has you worried?"

No, it wouldn't work but for just a few minutes, Twilight could be by her side once more. Those were the thoughts of Twilight Sparkle as she stepped into the room to once again right what she did.

"I did something horrible. In the process you, Luna and everypony in the kingdom paid the price. You won't believe me, but you are not Celestia..."

For the next ten minutes Celestia sat there silently listening as Twilight poured her heart out. "...And that is why you have to die."

Celestia spoke softly. "Oh Twilight you have quite the imagination as always...but what do you mean I have to die?"

Suddenly her eyes narrowed as Twilight showed her the knife she had hidden. "I'm sorry I..Please understand.

Celestia roared in anger. How dare Twilight betray her! "GUARDS!"

"Damn it Twilight!"

A blur seemed to come from the nearby window sill. The next moment a gash appeared in the Solar Princess's neck. It spurted everywhere as Celestia fell to the ground, gasping and choking on the gushing red liquid. Standing in front of her wings spread, RainbowDash closed her eyes and said softly. "I'm sorry Princess"

With that she plunged the sword in her hooves deep into the heart of the white alicorn. The sound of hoofsteps could be heard coming close as Twilight gasped."Rainbow how did..?"

The cyan pegasus looked at Twilight as the tears welled in her eyes. "No time! Twilight meet you at the rendezvous point!"

With that she launched herself at mach ten from the window and sped away. Looking at the body of Celestia, Twilight gave her a gentle kiss before she too left via the window.

The heavy hoofsteps slowly changed becoming more muffled sounding, almost like pads and a soft voice was heard saying. "Come on now, my cute little bunnies, follow mama Fluttershy, I bet you are very hungry aren't you?"

As Twilight hovered outside, she watched Fluttershy slowly trot out the gates of the castle followed by thirty or so bunnies in guard armor. Well, that worked. Better thank Starlight when able Fluttershy meanwhile whistled a happy tune as she lured the once proud pony guards of Canterlot towards the Everfree.

Twilight recalled the conversation with Starlight during a break by an oasis while on their trek home.

"Twilight, she isn't a killer."

"Tell me Starlight, what would you have me do, then?"

"Why not let her be herself?"

"Come again?"

"Her kindness, her affinity with animals. Let me speak with her and I promise you she will be more amazing to observe than Applejack back to back with Rarity in a fight."

Well, got to admit. Twilight smiled and gave a small laugh. She wasn't wrong. With these thoughts in mind Twilight flew towards and landed in her Crystalline Castle, the rendevous point. Turning her head to the sound of hooves as she landed, Twilight saw Starlight. Wearing her goggles and carrying a syringe, Starlight grinned. "I got it."

Twilight seemed a little worried. A storm had been building up in the skies above Ponyville. "Starlight"

She looked around as she spoke, as if searching for somepony. "Have you seen her?"

Starlight frowned. "Twilight did you hear me -"

"Starlight!"

The lightning flashed as the crash of thunder signalled the massive storm's coming. "Where is Rainbow Dash?!"