Because She Loved Us: The True Story of Seven Mares

As the sun was being lowered by Twilight, with a flash of pink light, Starlight appeared on the streets of Cloudsdale. Every pegasus quickly backed away from her or pretended they hadn't seen her. She silently ignored them and focused on her goal: Rainbow Dash. Check on Rainbow Dash. She looked around her not here. Slowly she began trotting down the street, pegasi going out of their way to avoid her. It was no secret, unlike Twilight with her motherly benevolence, Starlight was known for her fatherly disposition. In fact, Twilight was well known for sending Starlight out to provide discipline or instruction. Completely lost in thought, Starlight failed to notice a tiny pegasus filly playing ball in the street. Without any warning the filly flew smack dab into her, causing her to stumble.

At that moment all activity within eyesight ceased. Pegasi didn't move or even breathe as Starlight slowly stood back up and trotted over to where the injured filly lay nursing her wing and sobbing. The same thought ran through every pegasi's mind as they raced to shield the eyes of any fillies nearby. How will she execute the unfortunate mare-to-be?

The red-crusted steel reaper's scythe upon her back glinted in the bright sunlight as Starlight stared at the young mare. Reaching out she gently picked up and to every pegasi's surprise, began cradling her whispering softly. "There, there. It's alright sweetie, let's get your wing patched up."

As the little filly gazed into her eyes and smiled, Starlight saw her daughter, Rainbow Dash and thought back to the event that occured just yesterday and how it changed her outlook on life forever.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN RAINBOW IS MISSING?!"

The words echoed throughout the chamber as Starlight stared at the unfortunate form of Spitfire and her underlings the Wonderbolts. Cowering with her hooves over her eyes, Spitfire stammered. "Sh-she didn't c-c-come back t-to Clouds-d-d-dale last ni-ni-night ma'am."

Starlight's eyes blazed in anger. Her voice had no mercy in it. "Last night I contacted you. I believe I asked you to find and make sure Rainbow Dash was fine until Twilight arrived. Did I not?"

Spitfire's breathing had rapidly increased as her eyes dilated in fear. The power of the one before her was intimidating. "Y-yes ma-ma'am."

Starlight's horn glowed as her scythe was drawn from her back. She raised it high and as one of the colts lost all control of his lower body, Starlight stopped the blade a hairs breath from Spitfire's neck. The colt then passed out in the contents of his own mess. Starlight didn't hesitate, she once more swung her scythe letting the colt take a permanent nap. Spitfire's eyes began to tear up as she observed the entrails of her once valued teamate covered the reaper's scythe. "I would have thought you would know better than to show cowardice in MY prescence. Spitfire, make sure this doesn't happen again while I am talking, or I will proudly place your head on a plaque on my damned mantle with the other trophies. Am I clear?"

Spitfire stayed still as beads of sweat crossed her brow. Starlight was infamous for her nightmarish abilities. The fact that Twilight was behind her every decision, made arguing or retaliating pointless. "Ma'am y-yes ma'am."

Starlight turned to face her, completely calm as if nothing had happened. Her voice was cold, with no room for debate. "I shall give you one last chance, I want you to gather my friends; Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Fluttershy. You have exactly ten minutes to bring them here or I will personally, in front of your families, gut each and every one of you before I dismember them as well. Got it?"

At once Spitfire raised her eyes to meet Starlight's gaze. Starlight's amethyst eyes stared back, piercing her very soul. She gulped. "Y-yes ma'am right away! L-let's go team!"

Starlight watched as they prepared for take off before swinging her scythe directly in front of a nearby servant pony. "clean this mess up. I want it done before Twilight steps hoof into this room, or you'll be this morning's entertainment."
With a look of fear at the corpse of their teammate, Spitfire and the Wonderbolts flew off at speeds that would make even Rainbow Dash jealous, knowing what awaited them should they fail.

A few minutes later, while the Wonderbolts lay gasping for breath, Starlight issued the command for her friends to find Rainbow Dash. Once they had left, she began pacing the floor with anxiety. Spitfire raised her head as her eyes became blurry from exhaustion and watched Starlight speak to herself. "Please Dash, please come home safe."

Spitfire, like the rest of her comrades then passed out. It was hours later, that Starlight sat on a stool, staring at the shredded remains of her friend. Rainbow Dash was dead, the tears fell down onto the corpse. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, Starlight got to work. Using her magic she recovered what organs were still intact, placing them in a small bin, careful not to damage them. From within the brain of her lost friend, she withdrew all the memories she could, before discarding it.

Twilight trotted up behind her and spoke just one word. "Ready?"

Starlight nodded and said, "Twilight I..."

As her horn glowed Twilight's voice was harsh from her anguish but her words were of love. "Shut up! It wasn't your fault, once this is fixed, let us never speak of it again."

A body appeared upon the operating table, it was the same cyan shade of Rainbow, the tiny mane and tail also resembled her many colors. Starlight's horn began glowing as well. Her magic surrounded the body of the foal pegasus and slowly the eyes flickered opened. Reaching down she lifted the tiny pegasus to her torso whispering softly. "Good morning sweetie."

As she placed a baby bottle into the mouth of the baby, Twilight and Applejack headed towards her chambers, presumably to alleviate stress. Starlight's ears perked up as she heard a sound behind her. Turning around she spotted Spitfire staring at the ground scuffing a hoof. Starlight growled at her. "Is there something you need , Captain?"
Spitfire took a deep breath and spoke looking Starlight in the eyes. "I...I'm sorry ma'am I know being here is against the rules but I-"

Starlight's horn began to glow as she pulled her scythe from her back. "You what? What made you think coming here was in any possible way the right choice, to stay on my good side?"

Spitfire stood her ground and as Starlight swung the scythe she shouted. "I NEEDED TO MAKE SURE RAINBOW WAS ALRIGHT!"

The scythe stopped a mere hairsbreadth from the mares neck, causing her to shiver. Starlight stared at her in surprise. Withdrawing the scythe after a moment of thought, she spoke to Spitfire, her tone soft. "Tell me what is Rainbow to you."

Spitfire's nervous eye twitching told Starlight the answer as she responded. "She is a great Wonderbolt, proud to fly alongside -"

"Cut the crap."

Starlight glared at Spitfire. "You and I both know that isn't why you are here, now I will ask just once more. What is Rainbow Dash to you?"

Spitfire looked down and scuffed a hoof and mumbled. Starlight raised an eyebrow. "What was that?"

Glancing up, Spitfire looked Starlight in the eyes and spoke, her tone conveying her embarrassment. "We lived together. We were-"

Starlight laughed. "That's enough, tell me though, suppose she was reborn as a foal once more. Would you still have those feelings for her?"

Spitfire seemed to ponder that for a moment before responding. "No, I wouldn't"

Starlight's face conveyed her disappointment. "I see. Then please lea-"

The interrupting exclamation from Spitfire that came next however, made Starlight smile. "I would love her more."

Starlight looked at her bemused. "Into fillies are we?"

Spitfire turned bright red and began sputtering. "I-It isn't like that! The reason we live together isn't like that at all! She reminds me of my daughter."

As soon as she said the word daughter, Starlight watched the tears build in Spitfire's eyes. As her horn glowed, a nice handkerchief floated over to Spitfire. "You have a daughter?"

Taking the fabric gratefully and dabbing her eyes, Spitfire corrected her. "Had. I had a daughter, ma'am."

Starlight's tone grew soft and though still commanding, was almost kind. "Tell me what happened to her."

Spitfire stood there and began her story as Starlight gently rocked the baby pegasus in her hooves as it continued sucking on the baby bottle happily. "She was just like me, a real spitfire of a mare, pardon the pun. A true Wonderbolt before we were decommissioned to be an aerial acrobatics team. A great flyer and a brash attitude. Nothing could or would stop her once she made up her mind."

Starlight gingerly nuzzled the tiny pegasus to comfort it as it began crying after throwing it's bottle to the floor, empty. "She sure sounds like she was your girl alright, so what happened?"

Spitfire's face grew grim, and she spoke in a rather dark tone. "What happened is war doesn't care how wonderful or sweet a pony is. How well behaved, how wild, or even how proud of a pony her mother is. War simply doesn't give a flying feather what's fair in life. War decided her fate one day -"

Just then a loud crying from Starlight's hooves interrupted Spitfire's words. Glancing at the small cyan blue pegasus in surprise, having just noticed it, Spitfire asked. "Oh that's a cutie, where did you get her?"

Starlight laughed and horn glowing placed a pacifier into the baby's mouth. "How did you know it was a her?"

Spitfire smiled. "The wings are smaller than they would be on a colt."

Starlight nodded thoughtfully. Holding out the (now) quiet babe, Starlight grinned. "Spitfire meet Rainbow Dash."

Spitfire smiled warmly. "Oh hello there Rainbow- Wait a minute! What did you say ma'am?"

Spitfire stared at the tiny baby sucking away on a pacifier watching her. Starlight spoke again. "I said meet my new daughter, Rainbow Dash."

Spitfire was truly non-plussed. "I-but-you-how?"

Starlight's face took on a grim expression. Her next words foretold of certain doom in a very no nonsense tone. "If I answer your question, you will not leave this room alive, so let me ask you something. Do you really want to know?"
As she watched, the scythe slowly began to rise off Starlight's back, Spitfire nervously gulped and pointed at the baby Dash as she said in a near hysterical tone. "Your daughter is really adorable. Can I hold her?"

Starlight relaxed and the scythe lay back down upon her back. She smiled softly and spoke in a kind voice once more. "Here you go."

Gingerly, she passed the happy little pegasus baby to Spitfire. Taking Rainbow Dash in her hooves, Spitfire slowly began rocking the little foal back and forth. Starlight smiled seeing the little smile on the happily pacifier-sucking Rainbow Dash. "She really likes you, doesn't she?"

Spitfire looked up and saw a sight she never thought she would; tears streaming down Starlight's face. "Please don't cry ma'am."

At once the razor edge of the executioner scythe was pressed against Spitfire's temple, and she heard a very angry Starlight voice. "I AM NOT CRYING!"

Spitfire continued rocking the baby as if nothing happened, afraid of startling the baby pegasus in her hooves. As she did so, she spoke gently, knowing she was treading deadly waters. "Of course you aren't ma'am. I just meant that perhaps being a strong, wonderful and caring commanding officer of the Wonderbolts, such as yourself, you shouldn't need to carry this burden alone. That is what us underlings are for ma'am."

Starlight blinked. She could tell from the tone it wasn't flattery, nor was it to placate her. The words spoken had been said from the heart. Her magic faltered and the scythe fell to the carpet. She was a bit stunned by this. "I- "
Spitfire calmly approached her as the scythe clattered to the floor, still rocking the wide-eyed and rather excited baby Rainbow. "Ma'am if I may be bold, the reason I cower before you, isn't out of fear. I want my wing, those that I train, to know just how much of my respect you have. Please, you don't have to pretend with me; it's only me and you here. Rainbow Dash means a lot to you too, Doesn't she?"

"She is my entire world. Not just her but the others as well. Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie, and Rainbow. I've watched them mature into full-grown mares more times than I can count. I've read them bedtime stories, taught them right from wrong and even helped them conqueror their fears side by side. I've helped fix their wounds. It's all I've done for the past two hundred years. They mean everything to me. They are technically my daughters."

Spitfire didn't speak for a moment. She was aware asking about the strange statement could result in a higher-than-her-paygrade consequence. She was also very curious about the statement itself. However, what mainly caught her attention was the genuine emotion of something she knew far too well; a mother's loss. She then made her decision. The rest didn't matter, Starlight needed her support. "I can't begin to understand the pain you are truly feeling. Perhaps, ma'am I could watch your daughter while you attend other matters the queen requests of you."

Starlight smiled and calmly wrapped her forehoof around Spitfire in a warm and rather intimate hug. "That's a wonderful idea. However, -"

Her grip tightened as her eyes narrowed and she whispered the words that caused Spitfire to flinch from the chill crawling down her spine as she tried to breathe. "If I ever find her missing, hurt, dead, unbathed, unfed, if even one single hair in her mane and tail are ever out of place you will die. I will make you march out in front of every single pegasus in Cloudsdale and broadcast me personally removing your wings, one feather at a time Your screams will echo for years before I then slice off the exposed bones and you end up as a smear on the rocks below as I hurl you off Cloudsdale while Equestria watches...Am I clear, Captain?"

Spitfire gasped and struggled to maintain her balance, holding onto Rainbow with every fiber of her being. "Cr-crys-crystal Ma'am."

Starlight turned away as her tears began to fall in relief. Her voice was harsh once more. "Glad you understand. Captain you are hereby transferred to the position of Rainbow Dash's Nanny. You shall also be handling Drill Sergeant, till a replacement for that spineless colt is found. I expect you to keep her by your side at all times. Effective Immediately."

Spitfire gave a salute as she spoke her genuine gratitude. "Ma'am yes Ma'am. I will not let you down."

Starlight laughed, though her tone was completely serious. "Of course you won't, it would be the last thing you ever did. Dismissed."

Staring down at the young filly as she bandaged her bruised wing, she smiled and patted her head saying. "You remind me of my daughter. Be more careful, she flew too fast once too."

With that, Starlight stood back up and slowly walked over to a nearby bench; the agreed upon meeting place. As she calmly sat upon the bench, she noticed the filly had followed her. Staring at the filly as she amist the stares, sat down next to Starlight, the lilac unicorn spoke to her. "Is there something you wanted from me, sweetie?"

Her tone was patient and almost motherly. For all present, only one thought circulated through the crowd. Is that compassion. How very unlike her.

The little pegasus slowly swung her hooves as she sat there lost in thought for a moment before replying in a tone full of maturity that rather surprised Starlight. "Why didn't you...Why did you help me?"

Starlight laughed hollowly. "Is that what pegasi see when they think of me? A grim reaper to all, an emotionless machine?"

The somber nod of the filly told Starlight the answer she already knew. She was well aware of how she was viewed. Both her and Twilight were the creators of life in this world, though while Twilight was praised as Celestia had been, her role was like that of Luna; to linger in the dark and be heralded as the nightmare that walks among them. That was fine with her, unlike Luna, she chose this path willingly. It came in that moment, the memory of why she did this.

"Oh sweet Celestia! Please...bring them back to me!"

Blinking, Starlight found herself on her back with Twilight standing over her, staring her in the eyes. Those normally shining amethyst eyes were blackened from timeless unrest, swollen and puffy from countless tears. Starlight had no clue what was going on, she had only lain down for a nap. Reaching a hoof up she spoke softly as she would a student at the school. "It's alright Twilight, I'm back. There's no need to cry, see? It's me!"

At once she found herself in the stranglehold of an intense hug as Twilight cried out of relief. "Starlight! Oh thank Celestia! Starlight please, don't leave me again!"

Slowly, Starlight pulled out of Twilight's stranglehold. Grabbing her friend, she forced her to look her in the eyes. Her tone was one of absolute authority. "Twilight, tell me what's going on. Let me help-"

Her words died in her throat as she saw the macabre scene behind Twilight. Her eyes went wide, for lying behind her friend lay five bodies. Those of Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy. Looking into the ashamed and hollow eyes of her friend, she whispered gently to her. "Twilight, please. Let me help you. Tell me, everything."

Twenty hours went by as Twilight confessed her heinous crime. How she begged for the chance never to leave her friends with Princess Celestia, the ritual that went out of control, how she discovered all life in Equestria, extinguished. How she had kept the cycle going by harboring the talents and memories she had absorbed from the ritual. Her raising the sun and the moon each day and night and finally how she spent the past thousand and some-ought hundred years trying to bring back every creature. Starlight blinked as she watched Twilight's breakdown. She needs me. I can finally assist her, like she did me. I can help her fix this. When Twilight had finished, Starlight said nothing and gave her the warmest hug she could, allowing the distraught alicorn to sob into her shoulder.

Twilight's eyes darted to the side as she began speaking. "Starlight I-"

Starlight's hoof made a loud sound as she slapped Twilight across the muzzle. "No, Princess! Don't you dare feel ashamed. Look me in the eyes and talk to me, like the regal alicorn you are. Don't you dare cower or whine. Now is the time for action! Do you understand me?"

"But I-"

Another hard slap on the muzzle. "I said look at me Twilight! You messed up. So what? You really think I, the unicorn who ended the literal timeline of existence in Equestria, will judge you? "

Looking into the hollowed eyes of her friend, she gently gave her a kiss upon the muzzle and smiled. "They say behind every proud Stallion is an even prouder mare. Be my Stallion. Show the world what you can do. Let me help you carry this burden, Twilight. Just as you once helped a wayward unicorn let me assist a stunning alicorn in repairing the world. "

"Thank you, Starlight. I-"

Starlight laughed. "Enough mushy stuff, sweetie. We have a long job ahead of us."

The flashback was momentary as Starlight smiled at the filly. Her grin was chilling, her voice dark and hollow. I chose this path. Come what may, I will support her. "My scythe has no need for the soul of an innocent. I will only swing it when necessary. Remember this young one; nothing is as it seems in this world we live."

As the filly stared wide-eyed in fear, a raspy voice could be heard as an orange maned Pegasus in a military uniform approached pushing a baby carriage. "What a day...Oh hello ma'am! Spitfire reporting for debriefing!"

Starlight cast a bemused glance as Spitfire struck a formal salute to her. "At ease, soldier. How was she?"

Spitfire laughed and sat down beside her, completely missing sight of the filly on the other side as she gently pulled out the cyan pegasus babe from the stroller. Slowly, she transferred her into the forehooves of Starlight, who wore a bright smile. "She was an absolute angel. You should've seen it she attempted to chew out a recruit for sloppy wing performance. Threw her bottle at her and even attempted to speak. It was adorable."

Starlight nodded and shot Spitfire a glance, that none of the other pegasi noticed. "Sounds like her, alright. Reminds me of another pegasus, I know, wouldn't you agree, soldier?"

Spitfire blushed and said. "No ma'am, I have no clue who you mean."

Starlight laughed. "Probably just my imagination then."
The filly beside her had overcome her fear and asked out of curiosity as she leaned over to look at the giggling blue pegasus with a tiny rainbow colored mane. "Who is that?"
Starlight spoke warmly and tenderly. "This is my daughter, sweetie. Meet Rainbow Dash."