Reconnection

Author’s Note:

This was spawned from a discussion with Phoe, in the comments section of Equestria Daily. She had the idea that Rainbow Dash should have pushed more insistently for Twilight to not be killed. And so I thought I’d go ahead and write out what I think would have happened if she had done that. What follows is probably not what Phoe had in mind, but hey, it’ll probably make some people happy.
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"Now, on to business," said Rarity. She had turned to face them all as she levitated a ball-peen hammer into the air. "I wouldn't dream of intentionally taking away any of your righteous retribution, but it seems that only Rainbow Dash and myself are fit for this task."

“What are you talking about," said Rainbow Dash. "You're not thinking what I think you're thinking, are you?"

Rarity let the hammer fall. It contacted the ground with a light clink and took a small chip out of the concrete floor.

"Come again?" said Rarity. Applejack saw something in Rarity's eyes. She couldn't tell right off what it was, only that she didn't like it. It made it look like something was wrong with Rarity.

"I mean, we can't kill her," said Rainbow Dash. Applejack's head turned to her direction too fast, and she cringed at the pain in her muscles. Rarity's mouth hung open in shock, and even Pinkie Pie's eyes were half open, looking in Rainbow's direction.

Rarity closed her mouth and gave a very chilling smile.

"My dear, it must be difficult to understand from your perspective, after all, you died many years earlier than the rest of us. I understand that. But you simply must see that she is a danger to us all so long as she is alive."

Rainbow Dash looked concerned. "But she doesn't have a horn. What can she do to us now?"

"Who knows," said Pinkie Pie, lifting her head up for a moment. "She didn't need a horn to kill me." Pinkie's head went right back down.

"Nor I," said Rarity. She sighed, rubbing the side of her head with her hoof. "This point is non-negotiable. I personally will not stand idle while Twilight still lives."

Rainbow Dash looked at Twilight. Applejack couldn't guess what the pony was thinking, but she did see the acceptance on her face.

Rainbow Dash almost relented. But she took one look at the situation, and it hit her. Flashes of all these ponies, how they used to be in her memories, happy and idealistic, ponies who would have never thought of doing such a horrible thing, let alone to somepony who had been their friend. Rainbow Dash stamped her hoof, determination etched on her face.

"No," she said.

"What do you mean 'no?'" asked Rarity. "No, is not an option. Twilight has to die."

"No she doesn't. She doesn't have a horn, we can take her on without her magic."

"Horns grow back you know," said Rarity through clenched teeth. She took a step towards Dash, but Dash didn't take a step back.

"Then we'll keep it filed down. But we can't kill her. We're supposed to be good ponies, it'd be wrong to kill her. I... I won't let you do it."

"I won't let you stop me," said Rarity. The previously floating hammer began to float once more, kept aloft with Rarity's magic. Rainbow Dash began to wonder if she had made the right decision.

"You can't... kill her," said Pinkie Pie. Her eyes were open again, her head up. She looked worried. "Dash hasn't done anything."

Rarity didn't glance in Pinkie's direction. "I'm not going to kill her. Just... disable her is all. Twilight must be taken care of, and no manner of keeping her alive will be sufficient."

"But Rarity...." said Dash. She was looking at the ground. She thought about her feelings, and gaining a sudden surge of strength, she lifted her head and looked Rarity in the eyes. What she saw was disconcerting, but she continued to keep her gaze locked.

"No, you can't do this," she began. "Just look at what it's done to you already! You're nothing like the Rarity I remember, and I think it's because you've been doing nothing but thinking about killing Twilight! It's not good for a pony to get swallowed up in such dark thoughts. And if just thinking about it so much has changed you, just think what would happen if you actually went through with it?"

"That's stupid," said Rarity. "I'm not going to speak to you about this any longer." She began to advance again, her hammer floating ominously next to her.

"Rarity, please," said Pinkie Pie. "Don't hurt Rainbow Dash... she's our friend... it's not worth it."

"But if I don't get rid of Rainbow Dash I can't get rid of Twilight!" screamed Rarity. She threw her hammer into the wall, knocking down assorted items from the shelves. "Fine!" she said, her eyes filled with hot tears. "I hope you're happy!"

She ran up the stairs and out of her own basement, leaving Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and a still-bound Twilight alone. Rainbow Dash took a few deep breaths, trying to figure out what to do now.

First, she decided, she'd help Applejack and Pinkie Pie back to their homes. Rainbow Dash could take Pinkie back by herself, but Rainbow needed help with Applejack, and so, after Pinkie was dropped off, got the assistance of Big Mac. Together, they took Applejack back to Sweet Apple Acres.

Then it was just Twilight and Rainbow Dash. Rainbow removed the bit that was preventing Twilight from speaking. Then she undid the bindings that kept Twilight strapped to the table. As Twilight got up, their eyes locked. Rainbow Dash stared for a moment, wondering if she'd done the right thing, or if Twilight was going to attack as soon as her hooves were stable on the ground. She stumbled getting off the table, but when she had steadied herself, she didn't move. They just looked at each other, and Rainbow Dash opened her mouth to speak.

"I didn't do it for you," she said. "It was the right thing to do."

Twilight didn't say anything as Rainbow Dash left.

The next several days were a mess. Applejack and Pinkie Pie's recoveries were slow going, and Rainbow Dash did everything she could to help. Rarity hadn't been seen since she stormed out of her basement, and Rainbow Dash also spent time trying to find her. And Rainbow also had to keep track of Twilight, to make sure she didn't disappear to allow her horn to grow back.

Then it happened. About a week after Rainbow let Twilight go, she awoke in the middle of the night to find Twilight had somehow not only made it up to her cloud home, but found a way to walk on the cloud floor. Rainbow Dash barely had time to blink before Twilight lunged forward, and Rainbow Dash felt the sharp pin-prick of a needle enter her flesh before her eyes closed and the darkness claimed her.

Waking up again, she found herself locked in a cage, in some sort of dungeon. Twilight was there, her horn somehow regrown. Rainbow Dash knew it was too soon for that. Only magic could have regrown that horn so quickly. Looking around the dark, musty old room, Rainbow Dash saw all her other friends locked in cages similar to her own, each with varying amounts of fear, hatred, and anger on their face, all except for Fluttershy who seemed to still be asleep. When Rainbow Dash caught sight of Rarity, her heart almost leaped out of her chest. Rarity was staring right at her. Not at Twilight, or any of the other ponies. But her, Rainbow Dash. Her eyes were cold, and hate-filled, and Rainbow Dash suddenly felt she deserved to be hated.

"I-I'm sorry," she said, trying to hold back tears. She didn't think this could have happened, at least not with so little warning. How could this be? Who could have helped Twilight regrow her horn so quickly? There was no way Twilight did this by herself.

"Don't apologise," said Twilight. "You did the right thing... for me. And as a reward, I'm going to kill you first."

"But you said you didn't need to kill us this time!" shouted Applejack. Twilight smiled. It was a terrible smile, thought Rainbow Dash had seen such an expression before. On Rarity.

"I wasn't going to kill you," said Twilight. "But now, since things have gotten so out of hoof, I'm just going to go back to the good ol' severing method I did last time, for each of you. Even the ones whose elements I've already taken. It'll be quick and easy, and since things have been so messed up for me, I don't think the subtle approach is possible anymore. So here we are."

Twilight advanced onto Rainbow Dash. Rainbow turned around, and kicked at the gate of her cage. It rattled and shook, but did not break. She kicked again, and again, but it would not break.

"Don't bother," said Twilight. "I sealed the cages magically. You're not getting out."

Rainbow Dash stopped kicking.

"How did you do this?" said Pinkie Pie suddenly. "Who's helping you?"

"Why would I tell you that?" said Twilight. "I know you're all going to get another chance after this. Giving you any knowledge about me or my plans will just make it easier for you to win next time. And I'm not going to make things even harder for... myself."

She took another step towards Rainbow Dash. Rainbow glared at Twilight, unafraid.

"For you Rainbow Dash, all I have to do is kill you right now. I've already betrayed you so thoroughly, your death now by my hoofs will give me what I need." Twilight smirked.

"Then get it over with," said Dash. She closed her eyes, and heard a loud cracking sound. She didn't even feel the bolt strike her back, burning through her flesh and stopping her heart.

Back in the blue mists, Rainbow Dash waited for her element to show up again. It didn't take long.

"Let me give you a piece of advice," said Loyalty, emerging from the fog. "You know, for next time." Rainbow Dash remained silent. She knew she messed up. She messed up bad. She didn't want to think about that now. She just wanted to get her chance to try again, so she could fix it. Hopefully her friends would forgive her. She hoped, very, very, very much her friends would forgive her for her mistake.

But Loyalty didn't seem to care about Rainbow Dash's feelings at the moment, as she continued to speak.

"Sometimes we have to do the wrong thing for the greater good, you know?"

Rainbow Dash didn't pay much attention to that. She didn't want to think about how much she messed up.

"So, when to this time?"

"I'll remember everything right?" she said finally.

Loyalty nodded. "Except for being here."

"Then just send me to the very beginning. As early as you can."

"Cool," said Loyalty. "You'll get it this time."