Reconnection

by A Fistful of Apples

Rating: mature
Tags: Spike, Tragedy, Princess Celestia, Main 6, Gore, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Sad
Length: 39593

Following their brutal murders, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity get a second chance.

Following their brutal murders, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity get a second chance. Unknown to each of them, their murderer has gotten a second chance as well.

The unofficial sequel to one of the original FiM Grimdark stories, "The Severing of Friendship." If you haven't read that you won't know what's going on. Link to said story:

http://www.fimfiction.net/story/977/The-Severing

Published 2012-09-11 12:14:01 UTC
Last updated 2012-09-11 12:14:01 UTC

Prologue

Rainbow Dash

She was no longer falling, no longer spinning uncontrollably. There was no pain either. Rainbow Dash suddenly realised her eyes were closed, and opened them eagerly to see what sort of miracle had occurred to keep her alive. But what she saw wasn't comforting.

Everything was a light blue with white mist pillowing around, making it difficult to see far away. Rainbow Dash stood up and looked down at her hooves. She felt like she was standing on something, and it looked like she was standing on something, but there wasn't anything there. She was floating on nothingness.

Of course, Rainbow Dash thought to herself. She hadn't survived by some miracle. She was dead.

"And this must be some place ponies go to when they die," she said out loud to herself. She tried not to feel sad about it, after all, it hadn't been a long, painful death. Still, she'd never got to join the Wonderbolts. More importantly she never got to live, and do things like make more friends, or go on dates, or get married, or have foals who would grow up and get on her nerves and bug her every day for stupid things.

She sighed. No use worrying about that now. Taking a few tentative steps forward, she called out.

"Hello? Is anyone there?"

No response.

A few more calls as she continued to move forward. Again, no response.

"Well, this is pretty lame," she said, now irritated. She started to tap her hoof on the ground impatiently.

"Hey!" came another voice. Rainbow Dash leapt up in surprise as she turned in the direction of the voice. What came forward was another shock, but here in this boring land of mist, what wasn't?

"Sorry to keep you waiting, I wanted to see how you'd react," said the pony. She looked exactly like Rainbow Dash herself, and nothing like her at all. It was an almost imperceptible offness that prevented the feeling that Rainbow Dash was looking in a mirror.

"You know, to everything." Whatever it was that looked like her grinned.

Rainbow Dash felt offended that somepony had the audacity to look like her. She ran up to the imposter and tried to look threatening. The whatever-it-was didn't fall for it.

"Hey now, don't get your feathers in a ruffle, everything's fine...sort of."

Rainbow Dash wasn't about to let this imposter take control of the conversation.

"No, you tell me who, or what, you are, and you tell me now!" She stamped a front hoof for emphasis.

"Oh yeah, sure!" she said, sounding not all intimidated. "I'm Loyalty," she said, standing straighter and opening her wings. Rainbow Dash had to admit the imposter looked pretty cool, but that was only because she looked a lot like Rainbow Dash herself. "You know, the Element of Harmony? And you're the one who currently embodies me, and that's why I look like you."

"Huh," said Rainbow Dash, lamely. "Well, okay, whatever. I'm dead right? What now? Are you here to take me to some amazing place of eternal happiness or what?"

Loyalty chuckled nervously. "Ehhhh - no. There's not much more I can say really, because I mostly only know what you do. The one thing I know I'm supposed to be explaining now is something really important, and I hope we have enough time. I probably shouldn't have waited around so - "

"Well then get on with it!" Rainbow Dash interrupted. "I don't want to stand here forever!"

"Oh yeah, sorry. Well, this wouldn't be happening if you weren't murdered. So first thing I gotta tell you is that you didn't die from an accident, despite what you feel."

"What?! That's ridiculous."

"Hey now, that's just the way it is. I don't have a lot of time to explain it, and I don't think you'd understand anyway. Just trust me, you were murdered."

Rainbow Dash suppressed the urge to feel insulted as she said, "Okay, what else then?"

"Well, due to complicated reasons I don't have time to explain to you, you'll be going back to life, and you can pick the time from when you and I first joined, to your death. I don't think going back too close to your death is a good idea though, just so - "

"I'm not stupid! Sheesh!"

"I know you're not. I'm sorry, I was just saying. Anyway, time's really getting short, hurry and pick a time to go back."
Rainbow Dash tried to ignore the confusion and frustration that she felt as she thought about it. If she really was murdered, she couldn't just go back a bit before the storm and let somepony else try to save Ponyville. For one, she wouldn't feel right doing that, and for two, she'd die some other way. She'd need as much time as possible to find the killer.

"Okay, put me back the day after that whole Nightmare Moon thing. That's give me quite a bit of time to figure out who would want to kill me."

"If you say so," said Loyalty. "One last thing, you won't remember this conversation."

"Wait, wha-"

Applejack

Applerush's head suddenly cleared. She blinked. She was no longer looking up at Twilight Sparkle. She was no longer laying down. Confused, and disoriented, Applerush took a glance around her. It was nothing like anything she'd ever seen before. Everywhere was all a light, soft orange colour with bits of white swirls everywhere, almost like fog.

Suddenly it hit her. Her foal! Where was her child?

She looked at herself, and after confirming that was not carrying, began to look around in a panic.

"Help!" she yelled, and took off running. "Anypony out there, I need help!"

"Hello," came a voice from somewhere in front of her. Applerush gasped in shock as some of the white mist started to move together, until it took a form unnervingly similar to how Applerush looked like several years go. Despite the resemblance, Applerush had no doubt that this thing wasn't a pony.

Applerush felt her ears flatten. "Wh-who are you?"

"I'm Honesty," said the not-pony. "And you're the pony who currently embodies me. What's your name?"

Applerush paused a moment to let that sink in. "Well, I'm Applerush."

"Well Applerush, there's no easy way to say this so I'm just going to have to come out and say it. You're dead."

"I'm...oh." She thought about it. Of course, that was it. Twilight hadn't been able to help her after all. But what about her foal?! Applerush felt herself tense up. "If I'm dead, and I'm here, but my foal isn't here, does that mean he, or she, survived?"

Honesty suddenly looked said. "I'm sorry, I don't know if your foal is alive or not. You're here because someone tried to take me from you, and killed you in the process."

Applerush couldn't believe her ears. "Say that again."

"This is what happens to ponies who are bonded to an Element of Harmony are killed for their element. I'm afraid you're here because a very specific event has happened to you, an event your foal didn't share."

"But, but," Applerush could feel tears form in her eyes. "Who would do such a thing?!"

"I don't know, Applerush. I'm sorry. I don't know very much about what happens in the world. I just sit inside the pony who holds me and I feel what they feel, and I influence them and they influence me. I don't experience their life though, so I couldn't give you any ideas who did this."

Applerush thought back, trying to remember. Twilight was helping her stay alive. Whoever killed her would have had to be more powerful than Twilight. She shook her head. It didn't really matter now.

"There is something else, Applerush."

Applerush lifted her head, slowly, uninterested in what Honesty had to say.

"Simply put, us elements can't be properly taken. Because somebody tried, my magic is going to do whatever it can to keep us together. In this case, you're going to be able to go back to life. Anytime between when you became my holder, and your death, you can go back to and relive your life."

Applerush's eyes widened. After all this bad news, she hadn't expected anything even remotely hopeful to be said.

"Anytime at all, between those two times?" asked Applerush, just to make sure.

"Anytime at all, darling."

Applerush was about to shout out a time, when she remembered she'd been murdered. She couldn't just go back to whenever made her happiest, she had to make sure she wouldn't fall into the same situation again. And that meant she needed enough time to find out who killed her.

Suddenly a new thought erupted in the forefront of her mind.

"If I go back to before I became pregnant, will I get pregnant again at the right time? If I make sure to marry the same colt and, you know, everything? What will happen to my child?"

Honesty shook her head. "Again I don't know. It could be that you won't be killed again, and everything will work out and you'll get pregnant, and have your child and everything will be fine. But maybe not. I don't know." Honestly looked down sadly. "I hate to say this, but you don't have an unlimited amount of time to think this over. If you don't choose soon, you'll be put back to the exact moment when you first got me."

"What?! I don't have time? What's the rush?"

"It takes a lot of energy to keep you here. I said you're dead, but you're not. Not really. I'm keeping you here with my magic. But I can't do it forever." Honesty's pace quickened. "Time is very short, there's one last thing I need to tell you before you decide. You will not remember being here, or having this conversation with me. But it'll influence your decision making, and I'll remember it. And remember, I influence you too. Keep that in mind."

Applerush was about to yell out in anger, but clamped up when she remembered the time limit. Think, think Applerush, she told herself. Did she want to risk not having a child at all, if it meant surviving? No, her foal was the most important thing to her. Applerush tried to open her mouth to speak, but before she could, Honesty said, "I'm very sorry sugarcube, but time's up."

Pinkie Pie

Pinkie Pie screamed. A loud terrible scream. Pinkie Pie stopped. Her eyes were open, and the scenery had changed. She was no longer staring at Sugarcube Corner. Instead she was looking at light pink emptiness. Swirls of white mist pillowed like loose cotton candy around her, making it hard to see.

Pinkie looked around, feeling herself calm down as she did so. She turned around to look the other way, and as she did found herself face to face with what looked like another pony. Another pony who looked a lot like her as a young mare. Except it wasn't a little pony. Not a pony at all.

"Hi there!" said the thing. "I'm Laughter, your element of harmony! And what's your name?"

Pinkie Pie would have given an equally happy greeting if not for the situation. She didn't feel like being happy.
"I'm Pinkie Pie."

The thing that claimed to be her element smiled.

"Well, Pinkie Pie, now that we got those introductions out of the way, I've got something super important to tell you!"

Pinkie Pie felt herself smile involuntarily. "What's that?"

Pinkie's smile fell as Laughter explained the situation to her. Being killed for her element, her ability to go back and live her life again so they wouldn't get separated, everything.

"But what about my children? Will they still be born if I go back too far?"

"I don't know Pinkie. Maybe? If you're worried, you can just make sure to go back after their birth so you can love them lots all over again!"

Pinkie Pie wasn't amused. Not at all.

"I can't do that. I know who killed me, I know she killed others for their elements! I have to save them, I can't let them die just for me!" Pinkie Pie couldn't help it, she was tearing up now. She loved her little fillies, but it just wouldn't be fair for her to have her children, but Applejack to die and lose hers, and Rainbow Dash to never even get the chance to have any.

"Wait, did you say you know who did this? Well then, this should be easy peasy for you! And them, you know, you could help them!"

Pinkie Pie sniffled as she looked up, thinking hard.

"You mean because the same thing happened to them? You mean they'll be back too?"

"Yep! You'll all be together. You'll just have to hope you all picked around the same time to go back to. If not, some of you will be waiting for each other."

That was okay, Pinkie thought to herself. If she went back to early, she could wait. It was way way better than going back too late, before she could help her friends.

"Alright," said Pinkie, wiping away her tears. Can I go back to -"

"Wait!" said Laughter. "I almost forgot to tell you! It's super duper important, and I almost forgot! How bad of me!"
Pinkie tilted her head in confusion.

"You won't remember any of this happening. When you go back, it'll be like you died and just showed up back in your body in the past! Okay, now you can pick!" She looked really eager to hear Pinkie's answer, but once again, Pinkie Pie felt less that amused. Thinking on it, Pinkie had never had such a long stretch of unhappiness.

"Then what's the point of this!" shouted Pinkie. "There are lots of important things that I just learned!"

"Don't worry Pinkie," said Laughter, looking as if nothing was wrong. "You won't remember this like a happy memory, but you'll remember this like a half-forgotten dream! It'll be okay, I'll remember it too, and I'll do my best to help out! So, when do you want to go, you still got some time to decide!" She was practically jumping in anticipation.

Pinkie Pie didn't need any more time. Her decision was the same.

"Put me in my bed, the night after we threw that party for Luna. I'll be alone then, and it'll be early in my life. I'll be able to help everypony."

"Sure thing, Pinkie Pie!"

Rarity

Rarity felt herself standing. She wasn't in that position before, and felt herself buckle as she balanced herself. The first thing she noticed, even before her surroundings, was the lack of pain. Her last moments were wracked with such unimaginable pain Rarity had forgotten what it was like to not hurt. She looked herself over. She looked fine. Positively youthful in fact. As if she was decades younger.

Looking around, it didn't take long for her to understand. White everywhere. Mist. She was dead. Twilight had been right, she died without a chance to warn anypony. She felt herself seeth in anger. She hoped so much that Fluttershy wouldn't come to the same fate as the rest of them had.

"Now now, anger is so unbecoming of you."

Straight ahead, what looked like a young mare came walking through the mists, towards her. As she got closer, Rarity noticed that this mare looked a lot like Rarity herself. A very young Rarity, back when things had been okay and Twilight hadn't started murdering her friends. And yet, it didn't look anything like her at all. Not even like a Pony. It was all very strange.

"My name is Generosity," said the thing that looked like her. "I'm your Element of Harmony." She nodded her head politely in introduction. "And what might your name be?"

"Rarity," she heard herself say, but she didn't feel herself say it. She was too stunned.

"What a beautiful name. But down to business. I suppose you'd like to know what this place is, and why you're here?"
Rarity shook her head slowly. "I'm dead. Twilight Sparkle killed me for my el- for you."

"Oh you know the name of the person who did this! That is wonderful news! And of course you are correct, you were killed by this Twilight Sparkle because she wanted to take me." Generosity gave a short high-pitched laugh. "Joke's on her though, we cannot be taken like that."

"What do you mean?" asked Rarity. "I'm dead aren't I?"

Generosity's smile fell. She looked like she was searching for the proper words, like a mother might talk to an ignorant child.
"Well, yes and no. You died, but you're not all the way dead yet. I'm keeping you alive you see, here, in this place. And I'm going to put you in your body, back when you were alive." Her smile returned. "Anytime you wish darling, you can go back and live from that moment on and try to prevent this from happening again."

Rarity felt herself grin. "Then I wish to go back to the day Twilight Sparkle showed up at my boutique. I'll just kill her right then and there, before she has a chance to do us any harm!"

Generosity looked shocked. "Now that's not very ladylike!"

Rarity didn't care. She felt herself fill up with anger at what Twilight Sparkle had done to her, had done to them all.

"Don't you know what she did! If you're my element, and you were in me, didn't suffer through it too?! She deserves to die! She deserves more than just death! A quick stab in the back as soon as we meet is more merciful than any of the things she did to us!"

Generosity looked down and hoofed at the ground nervously.

"I'm sorry darling, I didn't experience those things. I just know what emotions you were going through during your life, not the causes of them. I also can't take you back then."

Rarity was about to yell some more but Generosity held up her hoof so she could continue.

"I apologise, I wasn't quite clear. I can take you back anytime between when you got me, and when you died. And I must also mention that you won't quite remember being here. You'll have to take that into account when you decide a good time to go back." She sighed. "I also can't keep you here forever, you have to choose quickly. You may resume yelling, if you wish."

But Rarity felt all yelled out. Even if she got another chance, it seemed like there were too many obstacles in her path. She couldn't use this time to devise a plan and then carry it out later, and she had to make sure to go back to a time when she could gather herself, alone, so she wouldn't seem suddenly strange or out of character. A realisation.

"The others, Twilight tried to take their elements too. Did this happen to them? Will I meet them back there, or do we all have to struggle separately?"

Generosity put her hoof to her chin in thought. "I'm pretty sure you will all be together. Just not at the same times. Unless of course you all choose the same time."

Rarity thought as quickly as she could. She felt herself pacing back and forth as she did so, but didn't give it more than a moment's notice. She stopped.

"The night after the Grand Galloping Gala, the year Twilight Sparkle came to Ponyville. We all went to our own houses and I didn't see Twilight for a while after that. I remember it very clearly. I even remember what I was wearing! I never wore that outfit again, I would recognise it and know when and where I was."

"Sounds marvellous," said Generosity. "You ready to go now? No more questions?"

"No more questions. I'm ready" said Rarity. She hoped she didn't choose to go too early.

Twilight Sparkle

Twilight Sparkle was crying. All those years of work and preparation were gone. She had failed. Her eyes were closed in fear as she waited for the fatal buck that was to end her life. Moments passed. It didn't come. She opened her eyes.

Light purple and white mist everywhere. She looked down, astonished to find herself standing. She almost fell over in shock. What was going on?

"Hello," came a voice. Twilight Sparkle watched in confusion as some of the white mist pillowed into a more pony-like form. It looked like her. Like she did many decades ago, when she was a young mare. But it didn't look anything like her. Twilight felt very uncomfortable. For the first time in a very long time, she had absolutely no idea what was happening.

"My name is Magic," the thing said. "I am your element of Harmony. And you are dead."

Twilight looked down at her hooves. Yes, of course that was it. Fluttershy had killed her, and she hadn't felt a thing. But wait.

Twilight looked back up at the thing that said it was her element, and shouted.

"Wait a minute! I started with magic, but I should have all of them! All of them except for kindness, anyway."

"Oh dear," said Magic. "You can't take other pony's elements. Well, not that easily anyway."

Twilight felt herself sting with intense frustration and confusion. If that was true, what had she been doing all her life? All that planning, all that work, all those pony's deaths. For nothing?

"Tell me, what is your name?"

"Twilight Sparkle."

"Well Twilight, am I correct in my assumption that you have been trying to take other pony's elements your whole life?"
Twilight nodded.

"And you've been doing it by using the element's antithesis, and then killing them?"

Another nod. Magic sighed.

"That's a very terrible thing, Twilight. It'll certainly make you more powerful, but that's not how you get more elements. Elements cannot be actively taken. They must be led."

Twilight's ears perked up, despite her continued confusion. "But all the books said -"

"I don't know what any books said, but I do know he we work. I know, best of all the elements. You cannot take another's element. Especially while using that elements antithesis. Doing so instead triggers the event you find yourself in now."

Twilight's head was roiling from the information. An entire lifetime of gathered knowledge was apparently so monumentally flawed as to have been useless. However, in death she was getting some truth it seemed.

"Explain what you mean."

"You're here now because somebody tried to take your element the same way you tried to take other's. I don't know the details so I can't explain further than this; you and I are connected, and I cannot be taken from you because I will prevent it. The only way for you to lose me, for any holder of an element to lose their element, is for them to stop embodying it. For example, if you stopped being a paragon of magic, I would leave you and find someone else more suited to hold me."

"So I could have taken their elements, if only I had been more like what those elements wanted in a holder?"

Magic nodded. "And so long as their holders somehow changed personalities and values so drastically as to make the elements want to leave them. It's not easy. In fact, I'd call it impossible. "

Suddenly, Magic sneered at Twilight. "But this is all unimportant. You of all ponies don't need to know any of this. What is important for right now is that as a consequence as somebody attempting to sever us, we will be kept together through time travel."

"I don't understand," said Twilight.

"You will pick a time between when you became my holder, and your death, and I'll put you back there. You and your memories you had at your death will be flung back to any time you think best in order to prevent our separation."

"I...okay. And what if I want to go back to try to take elements again?"

Another sigh. Twilight was reminded of those times when Celestia was especially annoyed at her.

"You will not quite remember this event happening. It'll be like a dream, one that will influence your actions. If you tried to take them again, you'd find yourself compelled to take a different approach than what you did before. Which is good, because that approach was wrong. I however, think it'd be best for you to give up the idea. There are other ways to gain power. But that's not up to me. Now, quickly, when do you want to go back to?"

Twilight thought about it.

"The night Celestia assigned me the task of collecting the elements."

"Very well then."

Chapter 2

Applejack

"I mean it sis, you go and rest up," said Big Macintosh. "I can handle everything around here for a while." His voice was soft but Applejack could hear the finality in his voice. Well, she wasn't a little girl anymore. Looked at a certain way, she was almost twice his age.

"Now you look here big brother," she began, locking eyes with him. "I don't need you to be coddling me just because you think I'm crazy. I ain't crazy! What I need you to do is just let me get back to my life! Now there's work that needs to be done on this here farm, and I aim to do my share!"

Big Mac sighed. "First, I didn't say I thought you were crazy. Second...." He looked at the cart that was strapped to her.

"Applebuck season ain't for another couple weeks."

"Huh?" Applejack looked around. The apples sure did look ready to be bucked. But then again.... "How was I supposed to know that? I forgot, it's been a long time, you don't understand!" She could hear desperation in her voice. Tears threatened to form again if she didn't calm down. Swallowing hard, she tried to force herself to stay calm.

"I didn't mean nothing by it A.J. I just think you need a little time to sort things out."

"Because I'm crazy." Applejack let her ears fall.

"I don't think you're crazy. I'm not sure I believe what happened is what you said happened, but I don't think you're crazy."
Applejack glared, before unstrapping the applecart from her body. She let it fall to the side.

"Well that's the same thing innit?"

"Nope." Big Mac moved to pick the applecart back up and set it properly to the side. "If I thought you were crazy, I'd send you to a doctor. But as it is, I just think you should take some time for yourself. If what you said happened to you did happen to you, you need all the time you can get. And if you're just stressed and had a bad, vivid dream or somethin', you'll still need time. Either way, I can handle the farm by myself for a while."

Applejack couldn't do anything but nod. Maybe when she was actually a younger mare she would have argued some more. But Big Mac was right. She didn't even have a good grasp on what was happening on the farm anymore. She needed time to, if nothing else, "catch up", for lack of a better phrase.

Silently, Applejack walked away. She didn't really want to, but maybe it would be best to find a quiet spot in Ponyville and just sit by herself. She took her time though, avoiding the path in an effort to waste more time and be alone, even if it wasn't what was best for her. She could downright feel herself falling further into depression as she walked slowly into town by herself.

As soon as Applejack got into town, she immediately regretted her decision to go. As if by magic, there was Pinkie Pie, bouncing along straight towards her.

Applejack was just too down now to fight it anymore though, and continued in the same direction she had been going.

"Applejack!" yelled Pinkie as she closed in. Applejack just looked passed her.

"Applejack I've been looking everywhere for you!" Pinkie took in a huge breath before continuing, and Applejack braced herself for a bout of long inane rambling. "First I went to Sweet Apple Acres but all I found was Big Macintosh and he told me you'd left and he wasn't sure where you were, so I checked your room and your barn and to the place where you foaled, but you weren't there either, and -"

Applejack's world shattered.

"What did you just said Pinkie Pie?"

The look on her face must have been exactly what Pinkie Pie wanted because she became even more excited.

"Oh Applerush, I'm so happy! I soooooo hoped you'd remember! I was really disappointed when Rainbow Dash didn't remember anything, so I set off to look for you! First I went to Sweet Apple Acres, but all I found was -"

"Pinkie Pie!" shouted Applejack. "What are you talking about? How do you know - did Big Macintosh tell you?"

Pinkie Pie thought for a moment. "Big Macintosh? No silly, he just told me he didn't know where you went."

"Then how did you -"

"Shh, Applerush, I've got a lot to tell you!" She suddenly looked very serious. "It's very important. Follow me."

Applejack was in a total state of surprise, and just nodded dumbly as she followed Pinkie Pie all the way back to her house and into her room. Pinkie closed the door behind them, locked it, and then went over to the window and shut the blinds.
Pinkie Pie sat herself across from Applejack, and motioned for her to sit down too. Applejack did so, intensely curious of what Pinkie Pie had to say. She certainly seemed to know about Applejack's situation. Applejack hoped that, somehow, Pinkie Pie knew what was going on.

Rainbow Dash

Rainbow Dash walked down the road, frustration etched on her face. She didn't know what was wrong, but something was really bugging her.

After waking up from her nap, rather than feel relaxed and cheerful like normal, she just felt tense. She tried to go on with the day, but as time passed, she just couldn't shake the feeling that she was wasting her time doing things like practicing flying, or moving the clouds away.

Which was another thing. She could have sworn when she woke up that morning it was supposed to be a clear sky. It was planned, that was one of the major reasons the terrible weather and all those tornadoes she remembered were such a drag. Not to mention the lives. But now that there were no tornadoes, not in the Everfree Fields or Ponyville, Rainbow Dash assumed she could go about her job to keep the sky clear without a problem. But the rest of the Pegasus Ponies kept stopping her and giving her strange looks, and then tried to convince her that today was supposed to be partly cloudy.

After they had undone all her work, she relented, but not before shouting at the other Pegasus Ponies for being completely crazy.

Now, she just didn't know what to do. Finally, she found a nice tree where nopony was around, and went up to lie down in its branches, where no one could see her.

It was just so frustrating! She couldn't even think of anything to do. Practicing her sweet moves seemed out of the question.

They just made her feel antsy. They never made her antsy before. And apparently there was no more weather jobs to do.

Maybe some time with friends would make her feel better.

Rainbow Dash looked down at her hooves. It was then that she realised, she wasn't wearing her magic horseshoes anymore! Where had they gone? Rainbow Dash mentally shrugged. She could always get Twilight to make her a new pair. It was then she had an idea.

Leaving the tree Rainbow Dash made her way towards Twilight Sparkle's place. Maybe she could spend the day with Twilight? That pony was always in need of some company.

Setting herself down at the front door of the library, Rainbow Dash knocked. She waited. Nopony opened the door, and she didn't hear anything from the other side. She knocked again. Again, no response and no noise. Gritting her teeth, she kicked the door, hard, and winced when a sharp pain went through her leg.

Stubbing her hoof just made her angrier. Teeth clenched, Rainbow Dash took to the sky, again with nothing to do and a sense of forgetting something very important.

Pinkie Pie

Pinkie Pie took a deep breath before saying everything important she could think of as fast as possible. She was happy that Applerush never interrupted her story, which started around the time of her death, and continued all the way to Pinkie Pie's invitation to Twilight Sparkle's tea party. Which was when the story got a little hairy.

Pinkie Pie felt herself tense as she recalled, events that, to her, only happened a day ago. She tried to put up a happy front as she went through Twilight's story about taking the elements, about killing Rainbow Dash, and being the cause for Applerush's death, and her plans to kill the rest of them for their elements. By the end, Pinkie Pie could feel tears falling down her cheeks, though she couldn't remember where they came from.

Applerush wasn't taking it any better. Pinkie sniffled and wiped the tears away from her own face before moving over and nuzzling up against Applerush. Pinkie continued even though Applerush stood still. It was like trying to comfort a statue. But Pinkie understood. It was a horrible thing that had happened, and Applerush needed as much comfort as Pinkie could bring herself to give.

"You mean that Twilight...she told you she killed me?" said Applerush. "She said she did? And that she killed my - my f-foal?"
Streams of tears began to fall from Applerush's eyes, and Pinkie gave one last comforting squeeze before sitting back and nodding solemnly.

"I'm sorry Applerush, but that's what she said. And I'm certain she was telling the truth. Sugarcube Corner exploded, and I died."

"Stop calling me that," said Applerush in a low whisper.

"But that was your name!" Pinkie tilted her head in confusion.

"That was my name!" shouted Applerush. "I'm not married now! Me and Peanut ain't even met yet! 'Til' death do us part' remember?! Well, I'm dead so I'm just Applejack again."

Pinkie was surprised to find herself at a loss for words. There was just no way to make this situation any more cheerful.
Minutes ticked by in silence, as Applejack and Pinkie Pie sat together. Finally, Applejack lifted her head, and spoke, a sudden determined look in her eye.

"You know Pinkie, I told Big Macintosh about what happened to me." Suddenly she stood up. "I say we head over there together, you confirm my story and we tell him about Twilight. And we three go over to Twilight's place, break down her door, and kick that mare's head in!"

Applejack didn't wait for Pinkie to reply as she unlocked the door and ran out. Pinkie ran after her yelling, "wait!"

Applejack didn't listen. As they exited the house Pinkie noticed it was dark out. She wasn't as fast as Applejack, not even when actually running, she hoped she could keep up and stop Applejack from doing anything too hasty.

Twilight Sparkle

Twilight opened her eyes. Her head darted around, looking for any sign of Fluttershy or Spike. But she wasn't in her old castle anymore. She was back in her small, cramped library in Ponyville. She recognised it immediately. She looked down in front of her, and there sat something she hadn't seen in decades. Because she hadn't needed to see it. They were notes she had worked out to herself. Notes and plans on how best to do something which had already been finished and done with for a long, long time now.

A couple of seconds and Twilight understood. It was unexpected, but when such powerful magics were involved sometimes unexpected things happened. She had died, and here she was again, back in Ponyville, decades younger. She smiled to herself, reading her notes again for nostalgia's sake. She would get another chance. She wouldn't mess it up this time.
This time, Fluttershy would be dealt with first, and as soon as possible.

Twilight ignored the niggling feelings in the back of her mind that told her something was wrong as she thought about another problem.

Spike. He was probably sleeping in his bed right now. She could kill him right this moment, and get rid of the body. There were dozens of spells she could use for it, and nopony would ever know what happened. That would take care of a major source of her downfall.

But no, it might get ponies suspicious if he suddenly went missing. Mere suspicion is what started Spike on his path to help defeat her, after all.

Twilight magically levitated a nearby quill and inked it. Grabbing a piece of paper, she paused for a moment.
She could request another meeting, and see Celestia again as soon as possible. She could then explain everything. Maybe she could get some help.

Twilight thought of that for all of two seconds before shaking her head. No, this was a situation she should keep to herself, at least for now.

But there was still something that needed writing. Spike had to go, and she could ask of Princess Celestia to make it happen. She could assign Spike to somepony else.

I don't know what the Princess is thinking Spike, but she's adamant, she imagined herself saying. She says I no longer need your services and you could be more useful elsewhere. This could be a good thing for you, and you know, we can still keep in touch.

Of course, they wouldn't.

That would solve the Spike problem neatly. Now, if only she could solve the Fluttershy problem just as neatly.

Applejack

"I can't believe I'm hearing this," yelled Big Mac. Applejack had rarely ever heard him raise his voice. "My own baby sister, talkin' about killing somepony!"

Applejack stomped her foot down. "Haven't you been listening? I ain't crazy, this is really happening and we need your help!"

Big Mac shook his head. "No way no how, I'm not going to help your murder a poor little mare just because you two had some bad dreams."

Applejack could feel herself begin to tear up. "Don't you trust me big brother? I ain't lying to you I-"

"I know you're not lying!" he shouted. Applejack felt her heart break again. She had never, ever heard Big Mac take that tone of voice. Not ever. She stared at him for a moment, Pinkie Pie standing to the side, looking at both of them in turn, eyes also wet.

Big Mac sighed. "I believe you. But this is an awful big thing you want me to help with. Killing someone? I just don't think I could do it. Why can't we just tell the police or somethin'?"

Applejack went over and nuzzled against her brother. She'd felt awful ever since she'd 'gone back' and she was feeling worse by the second.

"Nopony would believe us," she whispered, head still nuzzled under her brother's chin. "This has to be taken care of ourselves, before anyone gets hurt."

"We could...." Pinkie Pie spoke up. "Wait a while? We still have about a year before Rainbow Dash is supposed to be killed. Maybe we can think of something?"

"Or maybe we can wait for an opportunity to get Twilight arrested for something else!" said Applejack, standing up straight.

"We just need Twilight gone! Maybe we could frame her for something? We can wait quietly until opportunity strikes! You know, just like she did with us!"

Pinkie Pie jumped in excitement.

"Oh that'll be fun, it'll be like we're in a comic book!"

Applejack looked her brother in the eyes.

"Is that okay? Could you help us with that?"

There was a pause before Big Mac said, "That sounds okay to me."

Applejack tried to smile convincingly.

After their discussion, Applejack and Big Mac walked Pinkie back to her house. Together, her and Big Mac then returned to the farm, then to their rooms, and then Applejack laid down in her bed.

Now that she was alone, she allowed the hatred and anger to appear on her face. A simple frame job wasn't enough. Applejack wanted Twilight Sparkle dead. That was the only way to be sure it wouldn't happen again. And that was the only way Twilight would get what she deserved.

As she fell asleep, Applejack smiled at all the possible "accidents" that Twilight could have while in prison.

Chapter 3

Pinkie Pie

Pinkie Pie woke up the next morning, head bursting with so many things that needed to be done, she didn't know where to begin. The previous night they had settled on a basic strategy; get Twilight out of the picture through some kind of frame-up. But then she went home and there was still so much to think about.

Being from the future her and Applejack had a good idea of what was going to happen as time went on. They should already be planning, coming up with ideas, anything to keep Rainbow Dash from dying! With that in mind, Pinkie Pie quickly made her way to Sugarcube Corner, where she told the Cakes she was too sick to work that day. She didn't like lying, but it had to be done. She tried to be as realistic as possible as she threw herself on the floor pretending to be ill, but it was hard to not have fun with it. In the end though, she got out of work that day, reminding the Cake's that there was nothing worse than a sick pony in a bake shop.

With the her job out of the way, at least in the meantime, Pinkie Pie hopped herself over to Sweet Apple Acres.

Once there, it wasn't too hard to find both Big Macintosh and Applejack, who were out doing who knew what with the apple trees. As soon as she got close Big Mac sighed.

"A.J., I thought we were just gonna sit tight for a while."

Applejack glanced back and forth between Pinkie Pie and her brother. "I didn't call Pinkie Pie here," she said finally.
Pinkie Pie took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry I just thought we needed to talk more because there's so much we still need to talk about, like when would be a good time to get Twilight, because you know we can talk about that because we know the future and also we should really talk about - "

Suddenly she gasped, because something really important just occurred to her.

"What about Fluttershy and Rarity!"

Applejack gave her a confused look before her eyes widened in understanding.

"You think they could be here too?" Pinkie Pie nodded. "But what about Rainbow Dash, you said she didn't remember nothing. And...you know, maybe they made it out okay?" She said that last bit in little more than a whisper.

"We should still check!" said Pinkie Pie. "And the sooner the better!" Pinkie Pie tried to put on her most convincing face.

"Just one more day of this, then we can lay low! Just one itty bitty day?" She looked to both Applejack and Big Mac in turn. Applejack looked really conflicted. Big Mac rolled his eyes, but then sobered as he caught sight of his sister's face.

Finally Applejack said, "okay, one more day. But that's it. As much as I'd love to, my brother's right when he says we can't put our lives completely on hold for this."

Pinkie Pie jumped in the air in excitement.

"Great, we can split up! Who do you want to check up on, Fluttershy, or Rarity?"

Rainbow Dash

It was morning, and Rainbow Dash felt like attacking someone. Anyone, it didn't matter. But her she'd just about had it.

The morning started off frustratingly confusing. Looking at what weather was scheduled up for the day she couldn't help but notice the date was wrong. The calendar was almost two years old and the day and month completely wrong too. Thinking it was just some sort of lame prank, Rainbow Dash pointed it out. But just like the day before she just got a bunch of strange looks, and ponies telling her, no, she was wrong, and was she feeling alright, and she'd been acting strange lately.

The worst thing was that some part of her couldn't help but think they were right. Something was wrong. She'd been feeling it ever since her miraculous survival. And she couldn't figure out what it was.

The other ponies had just picked up on it, and Rainbow Dash was just being resentful. She knew she shouldn't feel so frustrated, but she couldn't help it.

So she took the day off. She didn't want to, but deep down she knew it was for the best. The other ponies all looked relieved which only served to make her more annoyed.

So here she was, flying aimlessly, morning sun glowing in the sky being obstructed by clouds she wasn't helping to move.
She groaned in annoyance. She really needed to get over whatever was bugging her.

Looking down she saw a familiar form walking slowly along. Remembering that she had nothing to do and her attempts to be by herself the previous day hadn't gone well, she landed.

"Heya Spike!" she said, trying her best to sound normal. "You're up early."

Spike looked up and Rainbow Dash noticed he was frowning deeply.

"Hey Rainbow Dash," he said, sounding not at all happy. "I'm sorry, but I'm kind of not in the mood right now."

Rainbow Dash finally had somebody she knew here to be with, she wasn't about to let him go that easily.

"That makes two of us," she said, following along as Spike began to walk forward. "But I really need some company right now. And if you're sad, maybe you could use some too?"

Spike sighed as he lowered his head. "I guess."

They walked in silence for a while before Rainbow Dash asked, "What's got you so down?"

Spike didn't look back up as he said, "Princess Celestia's transferring me. I'm not going to be Twilight's assistant anymore. I'm leaving Ponyville."

Rainbow Dash shouted, "What?!" She felt her wings open involuntarily. "Why would the princess go and do a thing like that?"

"She says Twilight doesn't need me anymore, and that there are other ponies who do. So I'm being sent back to Canterlot to help some other pony I've never met before. A chariot's coming tomorrow to take me back. Twilight said we'd keep in touch but...I don't know, something about the way she said it makes me think she doesn't mean it. I thought we were good friends, you know? But...I don't know. I think I was wrong."

"If you want, Spike, I'll keep in touch with you," said Rainbow Dash without thinking. "I've never had a pen-friend before."

Spike raised his head at that. "Really?" he said, sounding a bit confused. "But we barely know each other."

Rainbow Dash thought about it then. Her and Spike had never really hung out, but she didn't think they were that distant. And if Spike felt that they were, and he was leaving, then she definitely keep in touch.

"Maybe you're right Spike, but that's all the more reason for us to stay in contact!" said, relaying her thoughts to the dragon.

"Aw gee Rainbow Dash," said Spike. Rainbow Dash felt herself smile a bit at the light blush that formed on the dragons cheeks. "That's nice to hear. Okay then, I'll make sure to write you after I leave."

Suddenly Rainbow Dash had an idea.

"I'd hate to leave you just know Spike, but I gotta go do something! But don't worry, I'll see you again before tomorrow!"
And with that she took to the sky, flying towards Sugarcube Corner, feelings of frustration and anger only barely bothering her. Being with a friend seemed to be helping, and an opportunity to be with even more friends had shown itself. There was no way she was going to waste it.

Rainbow Dash dropped down in front of Sugarcube Corner. She went through the open door.

"Hi there Mr. And Mrs. Cake. Pinkie Pie around?"

Mrs. Cake dropped the whisk she was holding so she could say, "Pinkie Pie took the day off today. She said she hasn't been feeling well, and there's nothing worse than a sick pony in a bake shop." She said that last bit as if she was quoting someone, rolling her eyes as she did so.

Rainbow Dash thought about it for a moment. As far as she knew, Pinkie Pie had never asked for a day off work. But hey, there was a first time for everything.

As Rainbow Dash turned around, something caught her eye. A calendar was hanging on the wall by the front door. She could feel her chest knot as she saw the date and year. There was no way the Cake's would be pulling the same "prank" on her. And unless Pinkie Pie was getting way more into things than she normally did, the calendar couldn't be blamed on her either.

"Uh, Mrs. Cake," said Rainbow Dash, glancing back. "Is that calendar right?" She pointed a hoof at the offending item.
Mrs. Cake dropped the whisk again, and squinted in the direction of the calendar. "Yes, yes that's right. Why? Is it an important day for you?"

Rainbow Dash couldn't understand what was going on, but now she knew there really was something to worry about.
"No," Rainbow Dash heard herself say. "Nothing important."

Twilight Sparkle

Spike still hadn't come back yet. Twilight Sparkle was annoyed.

The longer he stayed out the more she was going to have to work to console him, and the more annoying it was going to be to make him believe that she did care for him and that everything was going to be okay. She scoffed to herself at the idea. It'd been so long since she had to pretend to be inviting and friendly to the others, she really didn't want to have to start doing it again. But alas, this was just the hoof she was dealt.

What was going to be even worse was establishing a quick and fast method of communication between herself and Princess Celestia now that Spike would be leaving. Truth be told, she was certain she could do it. But it'd take some time, and then she might have to explain to Celestia how she suddenly was so very advanced in magic.

Twilight shook her head. It was a problem, but not insurmountable.

In the meantime Twilight put her thoughts back to work on solving the Fluttershy problem. She knew Fluttershy had to be first this time around. But how best to do it without anypony knowing something was up?

Suddenly, it clicked. Twilight was astonished at how fast the answer came to her. Quickly, she began writing down a short list of things she'd need, written magically so nopony else would be able to see it.

Finishing that up she began to look around for a certain book before remembering she probably didn't even have it yet. Suddenly, her eyes found her old reference guide to the Elements of Harmony, a book she hadn't opened in a very long time. Why would she, she had memorised everything in it a long time ago, and there were better guides out there. She sighed.

Better guides she didn't have any more.

It was then that she felt a very strange urge to give this old, out-dated book another look-see. It was a silly feeling, she'd read it cover to cover, and knew everything it had to say by heart. Still....

She sighed and opened the book, starting at the beginning. She would just read the whole thing again. It wasn't like there was anything else to do until Spike was gone forever.

Pinkie Pie

Pinkie Pie bounced into Rarity's boutique without so much as a knock. It was okay, because Rarity watched her do it and hadn't said anything before Pinkie entered.

"I know we're friends dear, but you could have knocked first," said Rarity as Pinkie moved closer. She sat down in front of her table, looking at some designs full of measurements and numbers Pinkie couldn't understand because she wasn't a fashion designer. The drawings looked pretty though, and she supposed that was the point. But this wasn't the time for that.

"Hey Rarity, I wanted to ask you something!" said Pinkie Pie!

Rarity looked up from her designs, but then looked right back down again and she said absent-mindedly "Yes, what is it Pinkie Pie?"

Pinkie took a deep breath and exhaled. "You don't remember dying and then coming back to relive your life do you?" she said very quickly.

Rarity stopped what she was doing. Slowly, she raised her head and looked into Pinkie's eyes. Finally, she began to laugh. It wasn't a huge laugh, but it was the laugh of genuine amusement.

"Oh my dear," she began, "that was quite a funny question! You sure do say the strangest things sometimes." She smiled awkwardly. "I mean no disrespect of course!" She put her arm on Pinkie's shoulder.

Pinkie Pie stepped back, ready to leave.

"Well, that's all I wanted to know Rarity, I'll see you later!" Pinkie Pie bounced back out of the boutique, thinking about how easy that turned out to be.

As she trotted along to Waffles Honey's breakfast house, a familiar form dropped down from the sky and landed a few feet in front of her.

"I've been looking everywhere for you Pinks!" said Rainbow Dash, walking towards her. "Listen, I got to talk to you."
Pinkie's curiosity was peaked, and she allowed herself to get sidetracked, but only for a moment.

"Sure, what's going on Rainbow Dash?"

Rainbow Dash leaned in really close. "I need your help to throw a going-away party for Spike. It needs to be tonight."

Pinkie Pie was confused. "Why do you want to throw a going-away party for Spike? Where's he going?"

Rainbow Dash took a step back. It looked like she wanted the party to be a secret, but whatever she was about to say wasn't.

"Spike's been reassigned to somepony else. He's not going to be Twilight's assistant anymore. He's going to be leaving Ponyville."

Pinkie Pie was about to shout out "sure," but what Rainbow Dash said caught up to her. Spike had been...reassigned? That had never happened before. When Spike left, it was because he became a big dragon that needed to go find his own place in life, not because he was a little baby dragon getting moved to some other pony.

Still, if he was leaving, he needed a party. Pinkie Pie would just have to bring it up with Applejack and Big Macintosh later.
"Sure Rainbow Dash," she said. "I'll help, but I gotta do some stuff first! Meet me at Sugarcube Corner - "

"We can't go there, the Cake's think you're sick!" said Rainbow Dash, nudged Pinkie Pie playfully in the shoulder. "Honestly Pinkie Pie, I didn't think you were one to skip out on work!"

Pinkie chuckled nervously. "Well, how about your place?"

"You can't fly Pinks. And neither can Spike, and the party's for him. Why don't we just tell Twilight and -"

"NO!" shouted Pinkie Pie before she could help it. A few ponies who were walking by stopped to look at her, but only for a moment. Soon they went back to whatever it was they were doing. Pinkie chuckled again. "I mean, well, no!" She stomped her front hoof, wanting to show Rainbow Dash that she was serious. "Rainbow, we're friends right?" she said seriously.

"Uh, yeah?"

"And we've been friends for years right? You trust me right?"

Rainbow Dash nodded.

"Then please please please trust me now! Try not to hang around Twilight. She's a really bad pony and she doesn't want anything good for us! Please, just trust me on this!"

Pinkie frowned as she looked into Rainbow Dash's eyes, hoping against hope that she would believe her and be wary of Twilight.

"But Pinkie, Twilight's our fri-"

"She is not our friend," said Pinkie, slowly. She tried to wipe her eyes, they had gotten watery somehow. "She's only pretending." A few more seconds passed. "Please, trust me on this."

Finally, Rainbow Dash just nodded dumbly. "Okay Pinkie Pie, if you say so. But Spike still needs a party, and we still need a place to have it."

Pinkie finished drying her eyes. She looked up, smiling, and said, "How about Sweet Apple Acres? They have all that space, we can have it outside, under the stars and everything."

"That sounds like a great idea Pinkie!"

Pinkie Pie smiled wide, happy the conversation had finally gotten back to something that wasn't terribly sad.

"Okay, I'll meet you at your house in about an hour and a half! I still have some things I need to do!"

Rainbow Dash nodded as she took to the skies. Pinkie Pie watched her fly off for a while before finally returning on her way to the Breakfast House.

Applejack

Applejack hoofed at the ground nervously. Which was a mighty strange thing to be doing in front of Fluttershy of all ponies.

"How...how you doing there, Fluttershy?" she said finally. Fluttershy seemed to notice something was up and tried to hide under her own wing, before thinking better of it.

"Hi...Applejack. Is something wrong?" She spoke with the same slow and shy rhythm she always did. Applejack wondered if the wording she used was an invite to plunge right in and explain things or not. Of course, she decided not to.

"I was just wondering Fluttershy," Applejack began, "how you've been holding up...these past few days?"

Fluttershy took a while before replying. "I've been just fine, Applejack."

"No..." she paused tried to think of a way to bring this up without really bringing it up. "No bad dreams or nothing? No...thoughts on the future at all? Everything just fine and dandy on your end?" She hoped that would be enough.
Fluttershy just looked even more awkward than normal.

"I don't know what you mean...is there something I should know? Is something bad going to happen?"

Applejack decided that was enough.

"Now don't you worry darling, nothing's gonna happen. I was just wondering about you is all."

Applejack didn't want to linger any longer and ran off without saying goodbye. She thought to herself she was being a little rude, but really, hers was a difficult situation to be in.

Applejack didn't stop until she made it to the Breakfast House, where Pinkie Pie and her had agreed to meet. It was always crowded here, nobody would overhear them talking.

Applejack sat down with a glass of apple juice and waited. And waited. And waited some more. She was on her fourth glass before Pinkie Pie finally came crashing in.

Sitting down, across from Applejack, Pinkie Pie said, "I've found out something important."

Applejack forced herself to not bring up the lateness of Pinkie's arrival before saying, "is it about Rarity?"

Pinkie Pie shook her head.

"No, it's about Spike! He's being reassigned!"

"What does that mean?"

"It means he's leaving Ponyville! Rainbow Dash told me when I was on my way here, she wants us to throw a party for him. Also, we're having the party at Sweet Apple Acres, I hope you don't mind."

Applejack didn't really care about no parties.

"I don't, but why is this important? Wait."

The gears in Applejack's mind began to turn, and suddenly she realised; this hadn't happened before. Spike was still with Twilight when she died, and if Pinkie was right, wasn't supposed to leave for a long time after Applejack's death.

Which made Applejack really wonder what could have caused this. She sighed, annoyed that things were getting more complicated. Really, all she wanted to do was kill Twilight and be done with it. But events just weren't rolling that way.

"So, what are we going to do about it? Besides throw a party. And what about that party anyway? I don't want...her, anywhere near my farm unless it's to hang."

Pinkie Pie giggled.

"See I already thought of that, we'll just not invite her, and if she comes and asks us why she wasn't invited we'll say we did invite her, the invitation just must have gotten lost in the mail!"

"Seems good enough to me. I'll talk to Big Macintosh about the party, I'm sure he won't mind either. Granny Smith for sure won't care."

"Great! I gotta go tell Rainbow Dash then. I'm supposed to meet her at her house soon. After we get all the supplies we need we'll come by with Spike as quick as a really quick thing!"

Rainbow Dash

Rainbow Dash's head was a whirl of thoughts and worries for the hour she was alone waiting for Pinkie Pie.

She now knew for sure her strange feelings were actually well founded. She just didn't know exactly what was going on, but she was sure something was going on. First was the date. There was no denying it, she was in the past. Something told her though she wouldn't have to worry about running into another Rainbow Dash anywhere like in comics or stories. She was probably in her own old body.

And the why came at her as quick and painful as lighting. No miracle happened. Well, not a preferable miracle. She had died out there, in those tornadoes. Those tornadoes that were probably still whirling around in the future. And somehow, here she was. But really, how did that happen.

She just didn't know.

And now there were other things to worry about. She was really in the past, but things weren't happening like they should. Pinkie never lied to get out of work, and Spike was never reassigned.

And what about Twilight? Pinkie Pie had looked deadly serious when she said Twilight was not their friend.

Putting it all together and Rainbow Dash just couldn't make any sense out of it at all. She was still missing something, she knew it. And she would have to find out what it was. She looked around just to make extra sure she was alone in her house before nodding to herself, and deciding what she would have to do. She'd have to go out and start keeping an eye on Pinkie Pie and Twilight Sparkle. Pinkie Pie because she was acting oddly, and Twilight because Pinkie had said so, and it wasn't like Rainbow Dash had any other options.

Really, it felt very strange to decide you had to start spying on your friends.

Twilight Sparkle

Night had fallen and Spike still wasn't back yet. At this point, Twilight was beyond caring.

She had just finished her impromptu read-through of her old book. And for some reason, it all sounded like utter garbage to her now. Something was wrong.

It wasn't just the book. As magical facts and knowledge flew through her mind, the entire process she'd been taught to sever elements just seemed so stupid. And she didn't know why. All the books agreed, the conclusions were undeniable.

And yet, a there was a niggle, the same sort of niggle that started her to read that stupid book again. She would have to think hard about it.

Maybe they were wrong. Maybe nopony with her magical knowledge and insight had come forward before, to do the thing she needed to do.

But of course that was silly. Her process had worked. She had gotten more powerful with each severing, and her power had caused her to be flung back in time for another chance. But no, that wasn't right.

Twilight yelled in frustration, throwing her book across the room.

She was once again glad that Spike would be gone by tomorrow. Something was wrong, and she needed time to herself to work it out.

Chapter 4

Pinkie Pie

Pinkie Pie yawned. She was very tired. Spike's party had lasted much longer than even she thought it would. But Spike deserved it. He'd been right about Twilight after all.

It was strange she had forgotten, but as soon as she actually saw Spike again she remembered. He had warned her about Twilight. And she had brushed him off, thinking he was just taking a joke too far. Shuddering, Pinkie hoped Rainbow Dash wouldn't do the same thing.

But Pinkie didn't want to worry about the past. Or was it the future? Well, whatever it was she wasn't going to worry about it.

There were other things to worry about right now, like how to take back her old job at Sugarcube Corner without the Cake's thinking she was strange. And how to make it up to the Cake's for not missing a day of work.

As she arrived, the Cake's simply said their normal hello's and told her what needed baking or mixing or displaying. Normal work stuff. Neither of them said anything about the day before, and Pinkie tried to work super duper extra hard even though they hadn't chastised her. She even left all the goodies alone, instead of eating half of them like she normally did. For some reason, it was easier to hold back than she remembered it being.

"Pinkie!" said Mr. Cake suddenly. Pinkie Pie was currently mixing cake batter and was slightly annoyed at being interrupted, wanting to finish and get started on a new batch of cookies soon. She looked up.

"Why are you crying?" he asked. "Is something wrong?"

Pinkie dropped what she was doing and lifted a hoof to rub against her cheek. Sure enough, there were tears. She was crying and she hadn't even noticed.

Quickly, Pinkie rubbed the tears away. She didn't say anything as she went back to mixing. As she mixed however, she saw drops of water fall into the batter. Pinkie stopped what she was doing to rub the tears away again. She didn't know why this was happening.

"Pinkie if you need another day off -" began Mr. Cake but he was cut off with an emphatic "No!" from Pinkie Pie.

"I can't take another day off Mr. Cake, I need to make up for yesterday!"

Pinkie didn't wait for a reply before going back to work. Only a few moments passed however before she could feel her crying intensify. She looked around. Now she understood.

Awkwardly, Mr. Cake stepped forward and patted Pinkie on the shoulder. He was trying to comfort her, but there was nothing he could do to help. Sugercube Corner, her place of work for years, the place she used to send her foals when she needed somebody else to look after them, had also been the last thing she saw before dying. And the place where her kids and Mr. And Mrs. Cake had died. Suddenly, she didn't want to be here anymore. She couldn't put it off anymore with thoughts of planning or throwing herself at her work. She just wanted to be alone and cry.

Applejack

Getting back into the swing of things hadn't been as hard as Applejack thought it'd be. She supposed it was really all because of Big Macintosh's help. He'd told her again what needed to be done around the farm, reminded her that some things hadn't happened yet and covered for her when she was confused about some random event from "a few weeks back" was being mentioned that she'd forgotten.

Really, she was surprised at how good she felt, considering everything that had happened. She no longer cried herself to sleep every night, or broke down in the middle of moving apples to the barn. Not to say she didn't still feel sad whenever she thought about dying and her foal she never got to meet and never got a chance to live. No, she thought to herself. Thinking about that was just asking for a relapse.

"Hey A.J.," said Big Macintosh, pulling a cartful of apples with him. You feeling alright to go into town and do some selling?"

Applejack shrugged. "If that's what needs to be done big brother, then I sure as shootin' gonna do it."

Big Mac's eyes looked at the ground beneath Applejack's feet before going back up to meet her eyes.

"You want me to come with you? It's no problem if you still need -"

"No just hold on right there Big Macintosh, you can quit your fussing! I'm alright." She paused. "Well, as alright as I'm going to be for a while anyway. I appreciate your concern but I'm okay enough to do something so simple as selling apples."

"If you're sure A.J."

She was.

Getting everything together was easy. It was like all those months of taking time off due to pregnancy hadn't happened. She'd been doing this sort of things for years after all, it was all second nature.

Once she was into town, she did her best to attract customers and sell her product. Judging by the number of ponies who came in to buy apples, both regular customers and some ponies who were only passing by, she was doing a good job.

And then something unexpected happened. Something that really, Applejack should have seen coming. She shouldn't have agreed to come and stand here for hours while just any local pony could walk by. Because walking towards her right now was a pony Applejack didn't want to see again, for fear of breaking down into tears again. Walking towards her right now was Peanut Rush. All young and happy, having never met her before in his life.

Applejack wanted to run, applecart and money be damned. Anything to get out of there.

Applejack steeled herself. She'd done enough running. For once she was going to confront a ghost of her future head on.
She stood perfectly still as the brown colt came up to the cart and inspected some of her apples. Finally, picking out six of them, he asked her, "How much?"

Applejack looked down and had to think.

"Uh, just take them. Free of charge." She tried to smile but worried it was coming out as more of a grimace.

Her worries were unfounded as he smiled brightly back at her. Applejack's heart broke in her chest.

"Well thanks! That's quite nice of you to offer, but I couldn't possibly agree to that!" He dropped a couple of coins in front of her, took his apples and turned around.

"Say," yelled Applejack before she could stop herself. He turned back around to face her. She tried to smile again. "You look familiar," she began. "Do you play Hoofball by any chance?"

He looked at her oddly for a moment.

"No, can't say that I do. I've never been into sports much."

Applejack's mind turned blank. That was impossible. Peanut said something but for some reason Applejack couldn't hear it.

Peanut had always been a big Hoofball player, even before they had met. And this was most assuredly Peanut Rush. Applejack could never in a million years confuse him with somepony else.

Peanut looked at her strangely and then turned back to leave. Applejack could only watch, still as a statue as he left. It was just another thing that was happening differently than she and Pinkie Pie remembered it. She would have to tell Pinkie and Big Mac as soon as possible. But in the meantime, she had apples to sell.

Applejack didn't attract many customers for the rest of the day. Probably something to do with her complete silence. But silence was better than another breakdown.

Rainbow Dash

Rainbow Dash was spending her week doing something she never in a million years thought she would do.

Every day she's get up as early as possible to finish her weather work as quickly as she could. The other Pegasus ponies had finally stopped making side glances at here and talking behind her back. Obviously they thought she was just tired before and had finally gotten the rest she needed to act normally. Even so, Rainbow Dash was happy they were leaving her alone again.

After she was done with her weather tasks, Rainbow Dash would forego practicing aerial tricks, napping, or hanging out with friends, to instead spy on either Pinkie Pie or Twilight. Rainbow Dash had decided to alternate days. One day she'd spend all day watching Pinkie, and all night Twilight. The next, the reverse. It got boring every now and then, but something told her she wasn't wasting her time.

So far, Rainbow Dash had learned the following.

Something bad had happened to Pinkie Pie. It was clear when the morning after Spike's going away party she had just collapsed into tears. Rainbow Dash had never seen Pinkie do anything like it before, and it took all her strength to keep from flying in and trying to comfort the poor pony. Pinkie stayed home the next few days at the Cake's insistence, and she continued to do a lot of crying. And writing. Rainbow Dash had never taken Pinkie Pie for a writer, but she'd never spied on her constantly either. She hadn't yet managed to get a look at what Pinkie Pie was writing, but it was only a matter of time.

Twilight also liked to write. It seemed that pony did nothing else. She wasn't even reading and taking notes, she just wrote all the time, filling up notebook after notebook, and drew large complicated diagrams on the sometimes visible chalkboard that was in the library. Rainbow Dash couldn't make heads or tails of what Twilight was working on, but whatever it was it looked really complicated.

This particular evening however, Twilight was not writing. Instead, she looked like she was packing all her work away to take it somewhere. Her eyes darted to the window and Rainbow Dash flashed out of sight. So far, nopony had ever given the slightest indication that they knew she was watching. She hoped she was fast enough to keep that up.

As soon as she thought it was safe, Rainbow Dash looked into the window again. Twilight was wearing her saddlebags, which were obviously full of notebooks and papers and whatever. And suddenly, a bright flash. Rainbow Dash blinked.

Twilight was gone.

Rainbow Dash grumbled to herself that Twilight had teleported away to who knows where and wasn't there to spy on anymore.

Collecting her thoughts, she decided that since there was no more Twilight she'd have to watch Pinkie again.

Pinkie finally, wasn't spending her night crying or writing. Instead, she just seemed to lay by herself on her bed. Rainbow Dash thought then she must be wasting her time, and decided for the first time since she began spying to cut the night short and head home.

At her house, Rainbow Dash found a letter addressed to her. Opening it up, her face brightened slightly as she saw it was from Spike. They really were going to keep in touch. Setting herself on her bed, Rainbow Dash began to read.

Twilight Sparkle

"Your Majesty," said Twilight Sparkle, bowing.

Princess Celestia didn't look happy, but did look curious. That was something at least.

"Twilight Sparkle, my most faithful student, why did you need to see me again so soon?"

Twilight unstrapped her bags and let them fall to the floor, but she didn't open them quite yet.

"I've been doing a lot of research lately, and I think I've stumbled across something very important."

"Go on," said the Princess.

Twilight didn't know how to begin, but her theory had become irrefutable despite its complete unorthodoxy. She would just have to begin at the beginning. Well, as much of the beginning that she wanted Celestia to know.

"Your Majesty," she began. "After you gave me the task of gathering all the elements, I of course did as much research as I could into how this was done, even after you explained it to me. But something felt wrong about the whole thing."

"Are you saying you have moral objections to completing this very important task?"

Twilight maintained her composure. "That's not what I mean. Believe me when I say I have absolutely no reservations whatsoever about this task. Some things just have to be done. This is one of them."

"Then what's the problem exactly?"

"The problem is I do not believe the method you, and various other sources, describe actually severs elements."

Now it was time to open her bags. She dug through the notebooks and found a large diagram she had made just for this occasion, to help show she hadn't gone completely crazy. She unfolded it and laid it out on the ground facing the princess. Celestia looked over the diagram, the interest on her face visibly increasing.

"If I am correct," resumed Twilight, "what is done through this method is a transferring of life force and magical power from one pony to another. Holders of elements have their magical power augmented greatly by virtue of holding the elements, hence apotheosis is truly possible through this method."

"Why does this augmentation occur?" Celestia sounded less curious now, and more as if she were trying to decide if Twilight should be struck down or not.

Twilight dug through her bags again looking for a specific notebook. After finding it, she dropped it next to the diagram.
"My notes and proofs on that subject are in there, but it's my theory that without such augmentation, a pony would die from holding an element. After much study, I've come to the conclusion the elements themselves are partially alive, or at least somehow aware of things, and so want to make sure their hosts can actually hold them."

"Do you have any notes on that subject?"

Twilight nodded, but just pointed back to her bag.

"There's more. Given all this and considering my task was to sever the elements, I've come to the conclusion that if I am to complete this task, I will have to find the way to properly do it. A way that isn't what you've described to me. That is, unless gaining the elements is not the important part, and apotheosis is. What should I do, your majesty?"

She was ready to continue on either which way Celestia chose. The princess looked at her, hard, but then her eyes fell back to the diagram. She then magically levitated her notebook and began to look through it. Twilight was patient as the princess read, and inside Twilight was both amused and prideful at the princess, who's eyes were widening in shock more and more as she read.

Finally she slammed the notebook shut and let it fall to the ground. Twilight suddenly became fearful, but tried not to let it show. Celestia could be mean when she was angry.

"Are you sure about those power estimates?"

"Which ones?" asked Twilight Sparkle.

"You suggest that a successful severing of all the elements would produce an increase in magical power around ten times that of using the, ahem, established method."

"Yes, your majesty. It wouldn't be for each one however, the final power increase is due to a synergistic affect from having all the elements. Just having four or five would not be enough for apotheosis."

The princess nodded. "Yes, I read that too. Still, you ask if your task is to sever the elements, or to gain apotheosis. The answer is both. Preferably, you should have the elements. But if you cannot figure out a way to get them, don't waste your time on it. It will take a long, long time to reach your goal even with the established methods. I suggest if you do not have a plan to properly take the elements in a year, you abandon the idea and go with the orthodox opinions on the subject."

Twilight nodded. "Of course, your majesty."

Rarity

Rarity felt herself fall. It hurt, but it was absolutely nothing compared to the pain she had become familiar with in the past few days. She thought she would go absolutely insane from it.

She opened her eyes, and gasped. She got up immediately and looked at herself. She was standing in front of her mirror, here in her boutique in Ponyville. And she was young! As young and beautiful as she had ever remembered herself being. She looked around. Various costumes and outfits were being shown off, as if the place had never been left alone for all those years.

Rarity didn't need to think on it. Somehow, she knew without a doubt what happened. She had died of those burns, without telling Fluttershy of Twilight's plans, and somehow she was back here in her old body. She always had an eye for detail, and taking one look around the place told her that she had gone far into the past, and if she knew Twilight yet, it hadn't known her for very long.

Twilight. At the very thought of that pony, Rarity quivered in Rage. She looked outside a window. It was night. She would end this right now.

She ran out of her boutique, and didn't stop to close the door behind her. As she arrived at Twilight's house, she saw the lights were indeed on. Somebody did live here, and nobody had ever lived here but Twilight.

She was just about to kick down the door when she stopped.

She could feel the adrenaline leaving her system. She began to think more clearly, and an inescapable fact made itself known. If Twilight was awake now, and Rarity attempted to kill her, Rarity would fail. Twilight had always been better at magic, even stupid young Twilight from all those years ago could beat her. She would have to come up with something else, something to take Twilight by surprise. She would have to find a way to get around Twilight's magical ability. A wicked grin split Rarity's face.

And while she was at it, she'd come up with some absolutely marvellous torture methods. Rarity knew she was the paragon of generosity. So when it came time to get rid of Twilight, she wouldn't hold back on showing the foal every ounce of pain Rarity herself had ever felt. And then some.

Rarity silently turned back around, and made her way back to her boutique. She stopped for a moment as she heard some rustling in Twilight's tree, but as there was no further sound, she continue back on her way.

Chapter 5

Applejack

It was Applebuck season. The one after Twilight had arrived. And this time things were different in more ways than one.

Most importantly, Applejack remembered that Big Mac had hurt himself shortly before this year's Applebuck season. Applejack had made sure to tell him what to watch out for, and he had avoided the injury this time. Applejack couldn't remember if it was this year when she was supposed to win that Prized Pony of Ponyville award or not. If it was, then that was different too, as she had not been informed of winning anything recently.

Applejack did remember that before, she had done a lot of helping out other ponies. But this time, the only ones that had asked her for help were Pinkie Pie, as a pretext for more planning, and Fluttershy for that silly bunny census. It had been a long time, but Applejack was sure she had tried to help more ponies than that before.

Either way, with Big Mac uninjured, Applejack was able to help harvest all the apples in time and help Fluttershy with her bunny census without causing any problems due to her stubbornness.

But those two things weren't that important. What was important was the time spent alone with Pinkie Pie at Sugarcube Corner. It was the first time in over two weeks that Pinkie and Applejack had a chance to talk without anypony overhearing.
"Don't worry Mrs. Cake!" said Pinkie Pie as the cakes made their way out. "Me and Applejack will make everything great!"

Mrs. Cake smiled. "Alright then, see you later girls!"

As soon as the door shut behind them Pinkie's face went from happy to serious. She didn't say anything as she opened up some recipe book and leafed through it. Applejack followed her lead and began to work.

"It's difficult, Applejack," said Pinkie suddenly, after she poured some flower into a bowl. She paused for a moment to look at Applejack. Her eyes had a certain look to them. Applejack knew that look. She saw it in herself whenever she looked in a mirror. Pinkie didn't have that look before.

"What is?" said Applejack, keen with interest. They continued to work through the conversation.

"Going back to...normal."

Applejack sighed. "I know. You looked to be having an easier time of it than me though. I see looks can be misleading."
Pinkie shook her head.

"It just took a while to catch up to me, that's all." She put some muffins in the oven and closed the lid before turning back to Applejack. "When I first figured out what was going on, it was all rush rush rush! You know? Got to save everypony, got to plan, got to find out if anyone else came back too. Then I had to help Rainbow Dash throw a party for Spike. But after that." She paused again, looking sadder than Applejack had ever seen her. "It's just been hard."

Applejack nodded and put a hoof reassuringly on Pinkie's shoulder.

"For me, it sometimes helps to know that there are ponies out there who understand. Big Mac's been an awful big help with the emotional support once he stopped thinking I was crazy." She smiled to herself. He kept saying he never thought she was crazy. It had almost become a sort of joke between them. "And there was you. You know if you ever need to talk, I'm here for you."

Pinkie nodded. They worked in silence for a few minutes.

Applejack decided there wouldn't be a "good" time to bring up another potential problem, but it needed to be brought up anyway.

"Pinkie, I found out something...strange, about a week or so back."

"What's that?"

"I ran into Peanut Rush."

Pinkie's eyes widened. "Oh, that must have been awkward! But hey, you got another chance with him don't you?"

Applejack shook her head. "I don't think I do Pinkie. It was Peanut Rush all right. But it wasn't the same Peanut Rush. He was different. I just don't know what to think of it. What could it mean?"

"Not everything has been happening the same," said Pinkie. "There was no stampede. You remember? You saved the town and got that award."

"So that was supposed to happen this year!" Applejack didn't know if she should think anything of it or not before. Now it looked like it was something to think about.

"There are a lot of things that are happening different this time around." Pinkie looked unusually thoughtful for a moment.

"Did you notice, we never got tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala? In fact, I don't even know if Twilight got tickets to them. And so Rarity never went crazy trying to design all those dresses for us."

"It's hard to remember that far back," Applejack admitted. "It's been a while, hard to remember exactly when things happened."

Pinkie looked sad. "I know we're all a lot less closer now than before. I haven't seen or heard from anypony but you since Spike's party. It's just been hard, I haven't gone out to see any of them. But they haven't come to see me either." She sighed.

Applejack took the opportunity to give her friend a friendly nuzzle.

"Don't worry Pinkie, they'll be plenty of time for friendship once Twilight is taken care of."

"Well duh," said Pinkie, her happiness returning. "But still, it's odd. Especially about Peanut. I guess us doing different things might change things around a bit, but I can't imagine us doing anything that would make Peanut Rush different. But I can't think of anything that we did different that could make Spike go away either."

Applejack shook her head.

"It's all really confusing."

Rainbow Dash

But really, don't worry about it Spike , I'm sure Jewel Flowers will warm up to you eventually!

Rainbow Dash looked up from her letter, thinking about if there was anything else she could write about. It'd been hard coming up with things to talk about when you didn't want people to know what you did all day. Suddenly, a thought occurred to her.

Hey Spike, one last thing. Do you know anything about making magic lightning-repelling horseshoes? I used to have a pair but, silly me, looks like I lost them! I could really use another pair. I'd ask Twilight but -

Rainbow Dash tried to think of an excuse. Shrugging to herself, she continued to write.

- but she's been really busy lately and I don't want to bother her. Hey, maybe this will be something that you and Jewel Flowers can work on!

She signed her name, satisfied that she'd said enough to be interesting, before putting the letter in an envelope and readying it for delivery.

After she finished dropping it off at the post office she was ready for another boring, confusing day of spying.

Actually, things hadn't been so boring lately. About a week back, Rarity had shown up at Twilight's in the middle of the night. She had run up to the door, and looked like she was going to kick it down before suddenly stopping. After standing still for a few minutes, Rainbow Dash saw Rarity make a very scary looking smile before running off again. It was so shocking Rainbow Dash lost her balance for a moment and almost fell out of the tree. But Rarity seemed to have not suspected anything.

That single incident put Rarity on the list of people Rainbow Dash would be looking at as often as possible.

Rarity too was working on something. And like Twilight, Rainbow Dash didn't have a clue what it was. But that was because Rarity wasn't writing anything down. Instead, over the past week she had been receiving a bunch of packages through the mail. That by itself wasn't too interesting. Rarity probably got the most mail of anypony in Ponyville. What was strange was that with these packages, she never removed whatever was in them from their boxes. Instead she just opened them, looked inside, and stuffed them into a closet.

That alone wouldn't have clued Dash in on anything, but Rarity was also mumbling to herself a lot. Again, not too strange, but she was mumbling to herself even when she wasn't obviously working on anything. It was clear to Dash that she was working on something in her head, and that they probably had something to do with those packages. One day she'd break into the house and see what Rarity was hiding. Just like she still planned to break into Pinkie Pie's house.

It was just kind of scary. Breaking and entering into your friend's house was a bit much, even for Rainbow Dash. But it had to be done. Rainbow Dash was just waiting for the perfect opportunity to do it without there being the slightest chance of being caught. Such an opportunity had just not shown up yet.

Rainbow Dash sighed at the thought. Still, things weren't as boring as watching Pinkie cry and write all day.

Twilight Sparkle

Twilight Sparkle lifted her head from her notebook. Weeks of work had finally paid off. She was finished. At least finished with coming up with something to try. If her plan didn't work she'd have to do a lot more thinking.

Twilight's first conclusion was that a proper severing of the elements would be impossible. Turns out, Elements choose their hosts, and it was just an unfathomably difficult task to make them all choose Twilight herself.

But Twilight wasn't going to be denied, and once she had concluded that leading the elements towards her by being virtuous was out, she set to work on a new plan.

Binding spells were difficult, advanced magic that had limited applications. Rarely would somepony need to bind a soul to anything of any sort, at least outside of punishment or some half-thought-out attempt at immortality. Nevertheless Twilight had come to the conclusion that this mostly useless sort of magic could be part of the answer she was looking for.

First, she would need the pony holding an element to act against their element. Not a little thing, but a big enough thing that the element's attachment to that pony would be momentarily weakened. With the connection weakened, Twilight would rip the element away and bind it to herself. If she was fast enough, and the spell tuned properly, the element would be forced to stay inside her even without her having to exhibit the element's nature. And nopony knew enough magic to break the binding spell, besides Princess Celestia of course. Twilight smiled to herself, proud to have come up with such a clever solution.

Fluttershy would be the first. If Twilight could successfully sever the Element of Kindness from the girl, then that was wonderful. If not and something went wrong, well, Twilight wasn't about to be sympathetic towards Fluttershy of all ponies. And besides, Twilight was still angry at Fluttershy for winning their little battle. All in all, Fluttershy was a good choice for a first test.

Now Twilight just needed to craft a situation in which Fluttershy could show some cruelty. It didn't have to be too much, just enough for her element to wobble a bit. Twilight tossed her notebook aside, and began to think. No sense in writing down this plan.

Rarity

Rarity woke up screaming. Again. It was her screams that work her. Screaming in your sleep made sleeping difficult. She stopped as soon as she realised where she was. Her old boutique.

It was this place, she was sure of it. As the weeks had passed she had grown to hate her boutique. At first she thought it nice to be back, doing very easy commission work again, a whole other career ahead of her once Twilight was taken care of, her friends free to have full lives ahead of them...and the old boutique being furnished and stocked as it was made her nostalgic for better days. She was an idiot.

There was no happiness here. She could just see it happening again, that old storeroom catching fire, herself catching fire...the pain that went with it, the trip to the hospital, the looks of disgust as the nurse ponies came in to try and help her, and Twilight coming by to do nothing but gloat.

She was probably having nightmares about it. She couldn't actually remember her dreams anymore. It was probably a good thing.

Rarity sighed, and got out of bed. She didn't know what time it was, nor did she really care. There was no way she was going to get back to sleep, so she might as well get an early start on her work.

She hoped she wouldn't have to deal with this much longer. Her plan to get rid of Twilight had been finished for a while. There were only a few more things she was waiting for in the mail. Then she could get to work.

And once Twilight was gone, she'd sell this old place and build a new boutique, one completely different in design so she wouldn't be reminded of her death all the time. The only thing left to do was to decide if she should stay in Ponyville or not.

Pinkie Pie

Pinkie Pie was on her day off. So, naturally, she went to "help" Applejack on the farm. It had turned into a regular occurrence ever since Applebuck season had ended. Whenever Pinkie had a day off, she'd head on over to Sweet Apple Acres so her, Applejack and Big Mac could talk. That's all it still was though. Talk. The day was halfway over and for the first time Pinkie was beginning to feel genuinely frustrated.

"Maybe...." said Big Mac slowly, eyes looking up in thought. Talking about how Peanut was different had become Applejack's favourite topic. Pinkie didn't want to be insensitive, but didn't they have more important things to talk about?

"Maybe this isn't exactly the same place from your past?" said Big Mac. "Maybe it's not you making changes, but this world is just not exactly the same?"

"Maybe," said Applejack, reluctantly.

"Oh, that's it!" Pinkie said, unable to contain it any longer. She had had enough. "It's been months and we still haven't done anything." She stamped her hoof down for emphasis. "Shouldn't we be talking about a plan to get rid of Twilight or something? That evil pony could be plotting this very second!"

Pinkie Pie was breathing heavily. The other two ponies just stared.

Finally, Big Mac spoke. "Do you have any suggestions Pinkie Pie?"

Pinkie deflated. She didn't have any ideas, but that was the point of talking about it.

"Trust me sugarcube," said Applejack. "If there was opportunity brewin' I'd be the first to call you and we'd consider any possibility of getting rid of...her. There just hasn't been any obvious openings is all. We still have a long time before...Rainbow Dash, you know."

"But Applejack," said Pinkie. "Look at all the stuff that's been happening differently! For all we know Twilight will start earlier than she did before!"

Applejack's eyes widened. Big Mac looked concerned.

"I never thought of that," said Applejack. She looked to her brother, who stared back at her. Then she looked back at Pinkie Pie. "We'll talk about this later." She looked back at Big Mac. "Can I have a word with you in private Big Mac?"

Big Mac looked confused, but nodded and Pinkie watched as they walked away some distance before talking. Pinkie Pie couldn't hear what they were saying, but she could still see them clearly. What looked like normal conversation soon turned to what looked like arguing. Pinkie Pie watched them as the arguing got more and more heated. Finally Applejack walked away towards the house and Pinkie was left watching Big Mac walk back over.

Finally, he reached her. "I think you better go for the day," he said. Pinkie's ears fell. She had no idea what was going on anymore, but she felt it was all her fault.

"Oh," said Pinkie. "Okay then. Tell Applejack I'm sorry if I said anything to upset her."

"It's not your fault Pinkie Pie," He said. He tried to smile, but Pinkie knew it was forced.

Chapter 6

Applejack

Applejack stopped once she was sure Pinkie Pie was out of earshot. Pinkie was still visible in the distance, but it was quite a ways off and there was hardly any chance of Applejack and Big Mac being overheard.

"What is it A.J.?" asked Big Mac.

Applejack sighed to herself in frustration. She doubted this would end well, but darnit, it needed to be done.

"What Pinkie just said convinced me," she began. "We can't just wait around for an opportunity to frame Twilight. She needs to be dealt with soon." She forced a hint of finality into that last word, hoping to show her big brother how important this was.

"What are you suggesting?" Big Mac was glaring at her. He surely knew what Applejack was suggesting, and he clearly didn't like it.

"I'm suggesting the same thing I suggested when I first told you this had to be dealt with. Twilight needs to die. What with all these changes happening things are becoming more unpredictable, and the predictability was the only reason I said I'd go along with that frame-up business anyway. Now that that's gone, Twilight is a danger to have around, and I'm not going to risk my family, my friends, or myself anymore."

Her voice had gotten louder the longer she spoke. Once she was done, she briefly wondered if she was overheard. She glanced around briefly but it still seemed nopony but Pinkie Pie was anywhere near them.

"I will not allow that, little sis." The normally soft-spoken pony was getting closer, probably trying to use his size to help his point. It wasn't going to work. "I can't sit around and allow my little sister to murder somepony. It just ain't right."

"First of all, I ain't much of a 'little' sister to you! I must be some ten years older than you are, so don't be thinking you know more than me just because you're firstborn!" She pressed her face right up against his, staring him down. Big Mac however, wasn't budging. "And second, it ain't murder, it's self defence! Even bigger than that, it's justice!"

"But -"

"No buts!," said Applejack. "There's nothing you can do to change my mind. If you don't want to help me, fine! Just don't get in my way!"

And with that, she turned around and made for her room, leaving her brother alone.

As soon as she was in her room she collapsed in her bed, suddenly exhausted. She didn't like arguing, really arguing, and especially arguing with family. It made her feel they couldn't understand her.

For the first time since she told Big Mac what happened, and found out Pinkie Pie was in the same situation, she felt completely and utterly alone. But she didn't cry. She'd grown tired of crying.

Sometime later, there was a knock on her door. She closed her eyes tightly in frustration, before saying a quick, "come in."
The door opened. It was her brother, looking mighty down.

"I sent Pinkie Pie on her way," he began, his head just barely poking through the door. Applejack didn't tell him to leave.
He stepped inside, closing the door behind him. Applejack rolled on her side facing her window, away from Big Mac. She heard him walk over to her bedside.

"Uh, A.J.?" he asked. Applejack grunted to show she was listening. She could feel his weight shift her bed around, as he sat down next to her. "I'm...I'm sorry." He sounded frustrated too. "I can't say I really understand what you've been through. I know it was terrible, but...." He sighed. "It's just difficult to hear you talk about doing those things. I'm afraid. I'm afraid that it's all just for revenge and you'll find out the hard way that revenge doesn't help nopony. I just want to protect you from that."

Applejack said nothing for a while, thinking. He didn't understand. He couldn't, and it was good he admitted it. What Twilight had done to her, what she had done to Pinkie Pie, to Rainbow Dash, and went on to do with the rest of her friends, was unforgivable. Twilight Sparkle was a danger that needed to be gotten rid of. But still, Applejack couldn't help but feel that maybe her brother had a point.

She rolled on her back and then sat up. She looked at her brother and she felt a tug somewhere in her chest. The amount of concern in his eyes removed all doubt in her mind about his sincerity.

"I can't say revenge wasn't a part of it," she said in almost a whisper. Big Mac said nothing, letting her continue. "I can't even think about Twilight anymore without thinking about the amount of trust I put into her, believing she'd keep me and my foal alive, and how she never planned to do either. You have no idea the feeling of hatred that thought brings me. Sometimes I want to just drop everything, run over, and kick her to death myself, and 'justice' or 'self-defence' doesn't enter into my thoughts at all."

Sometime during her speech she had almost forgotten Big Mac was even there. She chuckled lightly to herself.

"You know, I never planned to accept that frame-up idea anyway. I just agreed to make you happy, so you'd help me. I thought we could frame her and then somewhere in prison she would have some sort of 'accident' and I wouldn't have to worry about it anymore. But that's the thing. So long as Twilight is alive, I'll have to worry. Even if vengeance is a part of it, self-defence really is there too, and that's the important part.

"You're right, vengeance is no good. But I've already been hurt plenty because of Twilight, if I have to get hurt a little more so we can all be safe, then so be it. It has to be done."

She laid back down. Big Mac looked down at her, saying nothing. Her eyes were unfocused. She couldn't bear to take a good look at her brother, to see his face and what he must be thinking. She was worried about what he thought.

"I wish it didn't have to be this way," was all he said before getting back to his feet. Applejack watched him move to the door. He turned and looked inter her eyes. "If you need any help, anything at all, I'm here for you."

Applejack watched as he left the room and closed the door behind him.

Twilight Sparkle

Twilight kept herself hidden as she set loose her snake. She hated snakes. They still creeped her out a bit, but she had long outgrown her phobia. Even this one, she took care not to touch.

Even though she knew it only had one thing on its mind, and that wasn't Twilight. She had caught this snake the night before. It was annoying, trying to find the right kind. It had to be a decent size, and it had to be hungry. With enough searching though, she found this one. It wasn't perfect, but it was acceptable.

Slowly the snake slithered over to where Fluttershy was fussing over her old favourite bunny friend Angel. She remembered, Fluttershy had been so upset when he had died of old age. Hopefully, it'd be enough.

The spells Twilight has put on the snake caused it to totally ignore Fluttershy as she began to talk to it. It probably didn't even hear her.

"Angel bunny, maybe you should move away?" said Fluttershy as the Snake ignored her. She had said that, but she obviously wasn't expecting anything to happen. Twilight smiled. Angel just looked annoyed, probably at the pony's presumption that he could be eaten.

A small spark of magic left Twilight's horn, and the snake sped into action.

Twilight could barely see it move as it passed Fluttershy, opened its mouth, and clamped down on Angel. Fluttershy screamed.

"Oh no, no, no, no!" shrieked Fluttershy. Twilight could see her visibly restraining herself from attacking the snake. Even in this situation Fluttershy's first instinct was to not hurt an animal.

Now, Twilight focused her magic on keeping Angel alive and struggling for as long as possible. With the spells she put on that snake, it didn't matter how much anypony helped Angel, he wouldn't be getting out of this.

"Please stop, that's my friend, you can't eat him!"

The snake ignored her.

Finally Fluttershy began to do something besides yell, as she tried to pry open the snake's mouth. After several attempts, she began to hit it.

"Stop it, stop it, stop it!"

She had clearly lost herself. Flutterhy thrashed at the snake wildly, tears running down her face, but still it would not stop.
A final spark from Twilight's horn and a loud snap could be heard. Fluttershy screamed again.

Twilight watched the snake finally form its mouth completely around the now dead angel. Fluttershy just slumped down to the ground.

Twilight began to worry.

Suddenly, Fluttershy's eyes hardened. Twilight's ears perked up in interest. Here was her moment.

Fluttershy stood up, tears still streaming down her face, eyes glaring as she picked up a medium sized rock, and slammed it against the snake. She wasted no time in turning around and bucking the snake. It was dead, but she kept kicking it anyway.

Twilight closed her eyes in concentration. Here was her moment. She began tugging at the Element. She could feel it there. It wouldn't budge. Twilight kept pulling, but slowly, delicately. She couldn't mess this up.

Finally, it happened. She could feel the element wobble, and as soon as it did she pulled it free. Quickly, she cast her binding spell. She had spent days working on it, making sure it was perfect and would do what it needed to do.

It was done. She didn't feel any different. She opened her eyes.

Fluttershy was laying next to the thoroughly dead snake, crying, cradling Angel's corpse. She must have extracted it from the body. Twilight grimaced at the sight.

Her work done, she left the now Element-less Fluttershy to her mourning. Twilight had more important things to do than pretend to care. She'd return later for further analysis of her process.

Pinkie Pie

"Thanks for coming Pinkie," said Applejack. Big Mac had led her into the spooky dark cellar where Applejack put some of her apples.

"I was afraid of discussing this out in the open. Even though it's night and nopony should be around, you never can be too careful with this sort of thing."

"What do you mean, Applejack?" asked Pinkie. "Why am I here in this dark cellar? I can't see you." A light turned on, and Pinkie had no problem seeing Applejack now. Pinkie could see there weren't any apples in the cellar. Big Mac walked to Pinkie's side.

"This cellar was just built, it hasn't been used yet, and nopony outside the immediate family should know about it," said Big Mac.

"Pinkie, I've decided on a different strategy," said Applejack. She had a hard look on her face. Pinkie looked at Big Mac. He too looked very serious. Pinkie frowned.

"I convinced Big Macintosh that we should forget the frame job idea. We're gonna kill Twilight, and I want it done by the end of the week, damn the consequences."

Pinkie thought about it for a moment, before deciding this was a great idea, and smiled.

"Alright, how?!" she said. "You can't go wrong with kicking her to death! Or maybe we could tie her down and cut her up? Oh! I know, we could - "

"Pinkie," said Big Mac. His voice sounded deeper than usual. "I'm gonna tell you what I told A.J.. If this needs to be done, you need to make sure it's done for the right reasons. Revenge is a bad reason."

"Well I know that, silly," said Pinkie Pie. "I was just bouncing around ideas! It's always fun to come up with ideas! It's not about revenge."

Deep in her mind Pinkie knew that that was a lie.

Big Mac grunted to show that he heard her.

"Big Mac and I already came up with something, Pinkie," said Applejack. "We just wanted to know what you thought."

"Oh, can I guess?" A pause. Pinkie stopped smiling after a moment. "Well, I guess I shouldn't. What's your plan?"

Applejack took a deep breath.

"At the end of the week, Big Mac and I are sending Granny Smith and Apple Bloom away for the weekend." Applejack spoke fast, with a detached voice, as if she wasn't really the one speaking. Pinkie's ears perked up in interest. "Tomorrow, I'm gonna go invite you and Twilight to have dinner and spend the night at the farm for a slumber party. Gonna say that it's because we haven't seen each other in a while and I want to spend time with her." Applejack visibly grimaced. "Big Mac and I will feed Twilight a bunch of heavy stuff, stuff that'll get her sleepy you see? Big Mac's friends with one of the nurse ponies over at the urgent care centre, he's going to convince her to give him something that'll make sure Twilight won't wake up, no matter how much she's thrown around. When Twilight falls asleep, we're gonna inject her with that. And then the three of us are just gonna dig up a plot, and bury her. She'll die while unconscious, and nopony will know where she went. It'll be like she just disappeared one day."

It wasn't quite the way Pinkie would have liked Twilight to go, but it was good enough she supposed. It did have one thing going for it though.

She smiled again. "That sounds great Applejack! After that's done, we can have a real slumber party!"

Applejack didn't look excited.

"Whatever Pinkie," she said, sighing and rolling her eyes.

Rainbow Dash

"Oh dear," said Fluttershy, as Pinkie Pie dropped a full cup of tea. "Really you don't...." She took another deep breath. "Have to do this. They said I'd be fine...I just need rest." Her sentences were constantly broken up by deep breaths, making her even harder to hear than she normally was.

"Don't worry Fluttershy, you'll be taken care of."

Pinkie glanced awkwardly at Twilight.

"Pinkie Pie's right Fluttershy," said Twilight, not noticing. "We're your friends, and as such we're here to help in any way we can." She set a plate full of celery down on Fluttershy's bedside. The poor pony was having trouble looking at carrots, ever since Angel died.

Pinkie Pie laughed slowly. It almost sounded fake.

"You sure you should be here Twilight?" said Pinkie. "You don't have anything better to do? Rainbow Dash and I can take care of things here, I mean. I know you've been busy lately."

"Nonsense," said Twilight. "What could possibly be more important than helping Fluttershy? Besides, I haven't seen you girls in a long time." She paused for a moment. "Actually, shouldn't you be watching Sugarcube Corner? Aren't the Cake's away today?"

Pinkie waved a hoof dismissively. "Yeah, but the place can stay closed for one day. You said it yourself, Fluttershy's important."

"I really wish you didn't talk as if I wasn't here," said Fluttershy.

Pinkie said something in reply, but Rainbow Dash wasn't paying attention. Pinkie obviously wasn't home. She was here. And the Cake's weren't at Sugarcube Corner. And Pinkie lived on top of Sugarcube Corner. That means nopony was around Pinkie's house at all. Not Pinkie, not the Cake's, and because the shop was closed, there wouldn't be ponies hanging around outside eating.

It was the moment she had been waiting for.

"Well I uh, I think you two have things covered around here," she said, interrupting what sounded like an argument between Twilight and Pinkie. "But I just remembered, I have something really important to get to."

Rainbow Dash didn't wait for a reply as she rushed out of the house.

"I hope you feel better soon Fluttershy!" she called out just as she flew out the door.

It was rude of her, but she'd been waiting months for an opportunity like today.

Quick as...well, not lightning, she arrived at Pinkie's house, paused for a moment to make sure nopony was watching from the ground, and forced open Pinkie's bedroom window. She entered the room and shut the window behind her.

Her eyes darted around, looking for the book Pinkie had been writing in. It wasn't anywhere out in the open, and she never did get to see where Pinkie put it when not using it.

Her eyes drifted to the nightstand. She opened the drawer. Not there. She looked through the closet. Not there either. She looked under the bed, left and checked the bathroom, even looked in the bathtub. It wasn't anywhere. Rainbow Dash tapped her chin with her hoof, thinking.

Rushing back to the bedroom she looked under the mattress.

It was there.

Rainbow Dash picked it up, and looked at it. Rainbow Dash was suddenly reminded of what she was about to do. This was certainly Pinkie's diary. In here were Pinkie's most private, most personal thoughts. Was she really going to look through them?

Yes.

Rainbow Dash opened the book, and was immediately confused. Flipping through it, there weren't any entries. It looked to be just one long ramble. Rainbow Dash flipped to the middle, and scanned the contents.

"...I had never been so scared at that point, rushing Twinkie to the new hospital. But I couldn't afford to show it, Twinkie needed me to appear calm. When I got her there...."

Rainbow Dash didn't have a clue who Twinkie was, so she flipped back about one fourth of the way through.

"He was nice, but I shouldn't have been so silly in thinking it would be anything more than a fling."

Rainbow Dash groaned to herself. Maybe she had it wrong, and this wasn't a diary, but a story, some sort of novel Pinkie was working on. But why when she was writing did she spend most of her time crying?

Rainbow Dash continued to scan through it. It was about Pinkie Pie, no doubt about it. But she was older in here. Meeting colts, having kids, raising them... there were three of them, by three different stallions! Heck, they were three different kinds of ponies! Rainbow Dash didn't understand why Pinkie would write herself doing these things.

Rainbow Dash heard a door outside open. Pinkie must have been back. Rainbow Dash dropped the book in a panic.

Quickly, she picked it back up and stuffed it under the mattress, before shoving the window open and flying out.

She had forgotten to close it again. But it was too late now, if she went back to close it she'd be caught.

Instead, she just went back home, wondering what all that stuff she read was about.

Rarity

Rarity opened her package.

It was small, unmarked, and poorly done. She briefly wondered how it got to her. There was no way it went through the proper channels. It was, after all, not strictly legal for her to have this.

Inside was an unmarked bottle of Nimetazepam. Rarity didn't know all the pharmacological specifics, but she did know that if Twilight took a few of these, she'd be in no state to struggle while Rarity strapped her down.

She had everything now.

With a sadistic glee she rushed down to the basement, where her other packages were. She had moved them from her closet when the first table came. Excitedly, she began to "unpack."

By themselves, these things were perfectly innocent.

A sturdy, long, hard wood table. Some limb restraints. A bridle. Sewing needles (no way would she use her own for this!), a set of chef's knives, a cheese grater, pepper spray, a claw hammer and some nails, and most importantly, a bone saw....

Even if somebody had been watching, and she had unpacked them upstairs as they came, they probably wouldn't have understood what she was planning.

Soon everything was in its proper place, and all that needed to be done now was the removal of the empty boxes all the stuff had come in.

Once that was done, Rarity returned to her basement and turned off the light, and shut the door. Tomorrow was the end of the week. Tomorrow, she would have Twilight here, and she could have her revenge.

Twilight Sparkle

"You're majesty," said Twilight.

"Twilight Sparkle, my most faithful student," said Princess Celestia. "You don't appear to have grown since last time I saw you. Nor does your aura appear to be much more powerful. There's hardly a difference."

She seemed more amused than anything.

"Yes, your majesty. However, I have succeeded in severing the Element of Kindness. I did predict there wouldn't be a substantial power increase until I acquired them all."

"Indeed you did. So your process was a success then? No unintended consequences? No unforeseen problems?"

Twilight stood tall. "There was something," she began. "The shock of having the element torn from her caused Fluttershy to enter a state of severe exhaustion. Her body was greatly stressed from it. However, she did recuperate. It is of note that she no longer has any extra life force or magical power within her, which means I've modified my previous theory about holder augmentation."

"Could you give me a brief synopsis?"

Twilight didn't miss a beat. "My previous theory was that it was a simple increase in these two things. I now believe it's more of a restructuring. There is indeed extra power there, but only for additional 'materials' as it were, in order to make major modifications to a pony's soul. When I ripped the element of Kindness from its owner, the modifications were ripped with them and destroyed, causing the physical collapse, and the loss of additional magical power. I'm still not quite sure why the orthodox severing method transfers these modifications intact, but I'm working on understand that."

She pulled several notebooks from her bag.

"I have here a complete analysis of what happened, as well as revised versions of some of my theories in wake of the new data, so you can have a full explanation."

Princess Celestia didn't bother to look at them. She looked concerned.

"I've been meaning to ask you Twilight, about all this."

"Do you not understand?" she asked. She regretted the words as soon as they left her mouth.

Celestia's face contorted in anger.

"Do not presume yourself capable of understanding things beyond my grasp!" she said. Her suddenly changed, back to normal. Nice even, a face of motherly concern. "I'm simply astonished that you, a young mare who should still have much studying ahead of her, has managed to not only succeed in getting an element so soon, but has devised an entirely new method to do so, all based on completely new, yet sound theories that would put my greatest scholars to shame."

Twilight blushed at the compliment.

"To be honest your majesty," she began. She knew this was coming. She had rehearsed this. It was convenient that she could tell the partial truth, instead of needing to lie. "I'm unsure about it myself. When I was doing preliminary research, it all seemed so obviously wrong, for reasons I couldn't explain. I just began researching under the admittedly odd assumption that everypony else had been wrong. I don't know what made me think that, but that's all there was to it."

There was a very long pause.

"I see," said Princess Celestia. "Well, I hope to see more progress in these matters."

Twilight bowed.

"Of course your majesty."

Rainbow Dash

Finally, it was the end of the week.

Rainbow Dash opened her package with interest. It was from Spike, so she knew it must be her new magic horseshoes.
Digging through the packing peanuts, she found them. Looking them over, feeling them in her hooves, she could tell they weren't quite as good as the ones she used to have. Or would have, in the future.

A letter was attached to one of them. She opened it.

It was just another letter from Spike. Apparently he had decided to send his letter with the package, instead of separately. Rainbow Dash began reading.

He was making new friends, Jewel Flowers was treating him a bit nicer, yadda yadda yadda. Nothing too spectacular.

Until the end. When he started talking about the horseshoes.

...I'm pretty sure they'll fit you, but if they don't you can send them back and we can try again. I know they aren't pretty but they should work just like any other pair. No matter how bad the lightning is, it'll never strike you. That's a promise.
Rainbow Dash stopped reading, her mind buzzing with thoughts. If these were just as good as her old ones, and they repelled all lightning, then how did she get hit in the future?

A thought occurred to Rainbow Dash. She didn't want to believe it, but it was so strong she couldn't ignore it. It was so strong, she almost felt it should have occurred to her much earlier.

That lightning wasn't natural. Spike said the horseshoes would protect against lightning, but that didn't mean it'd protect against those magic lightning bolts unicorns could throw around. Which means she hadn't just died. She had been murdered.

The realisation made Dash want to hit something, but she knew that wouldn't help the situation right now.
Only unicorn ponies could throw lightning around, and as far as she knew, the only unicorn pony who had been around when she died was -

Twilight.

It made sense. Everything made sense now. Pinkie's statement about Twilight not being her friend, Pinkie's diary, Twilight's plans, Pinkie's nervousness around Twilight.... Twilight had killed her, and Pinkie knew. Rainbow Dash had been watching Twilight work on her plans for murder all over again, and Pinkie...

Pinkie...she was in the same situation as Rainbow Dash herself! That was the only explanation for her diary. Then there was the weird conversation they had had when Rainbow Dash had first come back. And the comment that Twilight was not their friend.

She had to leave, now. She wasn't going to let herself die again.

Chapter 7

Applejack

Applejack knocked on Twilight's door. She waited a moment. She heard hoofsteps on the other side, and soon Applejack was for the first time since her death, face-to-face with her murderer.

Applejack's heart constricted as she fought to remain pleasant. It would all be over soon.

"Hey Applejack!" said Twilight brightly. "Haven't seen you in a while. Come for a visit?"

Applejack forced herself to smile.

"Actually, I came to invite you to a sleepover I'm having. Like you said, we haven't seen each other in a while, so I figured it'd be fun." She hoped she sounded natural. It was hard to think straight with those eyes looking at her. She could remember those eyes. She was looking right into them as she died. And her foal...no. She couldn't think about that now.

Twilight didn't seem to notice anything as she said, "hmm," and looked thoughtful. "Well, that does sound like fun, and I've never been on a sleepover."

Applejack remembered that was the case. Twilight's first sleepover was supposed to be with her and Rarity. Applejack didn't even know if that date had passed or not.

"Well then how about it? It'll be fun!" Applejack felt like she was overdoing the enthusiasm, but again Twilight didn't seem to notice.

"Okay then, sure!" said Twilight. "Give me some time to get some stuff ready and I'll be at Sweet Apple Acres soon."

Applejack nodded stiffly, before giving a plastic smile and saying, "see you then."

Rarity

Rarity opened the box of cupcakes, trying her best to sound inviting.

"I made these for you," said Rarity. "I thought we could, you know, hang out today? Doesn't that sound like a marvellous idea? We've seen so little of each other recently, I felt we needed to have a little time for us. We are after all, the best of friends." She set the cupcakes down on a end table.

Rarity almost snarled out that word, but she managed to keep herself in check. Twilight just looked concerned.

"I'm sorry Rarity," she began. "But I already made plans with Applejack. She invited me to a sleepover!" Rarity looked confused. "I would have thought you'd be invited too and I'd see you there. Did Applejack not invite you?"

Rarity's smile cracked. "Apple...jack? A sleepover?" A pause. "Why no my dear, I wasn't told of this." She was feeling desperate. "Are you sure you'd rather be with Applejack today? Wouldn't you rather spend the day with me?"

Twilight looked genuinely sorry, and for a moment Rarity wondered if this really was the same Twilight who had killed her and her friends. Of course that thought was quickly dashed upon imaginary rocks, the same imaginary rocks Rarity wished Twilight's head would dash upon.

"I'm sorry Rarity, but I made plans with A.J. first, I can't just leave her like that."

Rarity tried not to panic. Her plan was unravelling and it hadn't even begun yet! Quickly, she tried to spin a new plan from the tattered remains of the old one.

"Alright then my dear," she said. "But at least take a cupcake. Trust me, they're to die for."

Twilight glanced back down at the box of cupcakes before smiling again.

"They do look delicious," she said before picking one up and eating it. She at the entire thing in one bite, like Pinkie Pie always did.

Rarity could tell she didn't think it tasted good. Well, it probably didn't, with all those drugs in there.

Still, Twilight forced a smile and said, "Yes...good."

Rarity smiled genuinely this time. "Maybe I'll stop by after a while and see Applejack too? I'd hate to miss out on what sounds like a lovely get-together."

Twilight forced down the last of the cupcake.

"Yes," she said, chuckling. "That sounds like a great idea. If you wait a while, I'll tell Applejack you're coming. I'm sure she wouldn't mind."

No, thought Rarity. She wouldn't.

"It's settled then," said Rarity. "I'll go back home and pack some things, and I'll meet you there."

Rainbow Dash

Rainbow Dash was flying too fast to stop, and crashed through Pinkie's roof. Disoriented and aching, she shook her head and quickly got up and searched the house for Pinkie. The roof could wait, and so could the ache in her hoof that told her she'd be really sore in the morning.

If she was lucky enough to live that long of course.

Searching through the house, Rainbow Dash saw no sign of Pinkie Pie. Flying back out through the hole in the ceiling, she dropped down to the ground once outside, and ran into Sugarcube Corner.

Inside was Mr. and Mrs. Cake, working as usually. They looked up at her as soon as she rushed in. She didn't see Pinkie, but that didn't mean Pinkie wasn't there.

"Rainbow Dash, what's wrong?" said Mrs. Cake suddenly. "You look like you've just run a marathon."

"No time for that Mrs. Cake," said Rainbow Dash. "Is Pinkie around? I need to talk to her."

Mrs. Cake shook her head.

"No, I'm afraid she's not. She asked us for the day off today, and we let her take it. The poor girl hasn't been feeling her best lately." She looked genuinely sad.

"Yeah...." said Rainbow Dash without thinking. "Thanks anyway Mr. and Mrs. Cake."

She ran outside, and kept running. She had no idea where to look now, and while she could cover more ground in the air, she thought she might miss Pinkie if she did.

"Oooph!" said Rainbow Dash, as she ran into somepony, causing them both to fall hard into the ground. She really needed to stop crashing.

Looking up she saw Rarity, who was already picking herself up.

"Can't stay and chat Rainbow Dash, I'm in quite the hurry!"

She darted off before Rainbow Dash could reply. Quickly, she got up and started running again. It was a good thing Pinkie Pie knew everypony in Ponyville, because that meant everypony knew her. Still, nopony knew where Pinkie Pie was. Nopony had seen her all morning.

She began to think. She really needed a destination, wandering aimlessly wasn't working. She needed to avoid Twilight, she didn't know where Pinkie Pie was, Rarity had left somewhere, Fluttershy was still sick...that left Applejack. Maybe she could explain things to Applejack! If Applejack believed her, maybe they could do something to stop Twilight.

With no need to stay on the ground, Rainbow Dash took off as fast as she could. It wouldn't take too long to get to Sweet Apple Acres.

Twilight Sparkle

Twilight, having finished gathering everything she needed for a sleepover, wasted no time, and simply teleported herself to just outside Sweet Apple Acres. She did consider walking, but decided there really wasn't a point. Nopony would care if they saw her, and did she really want to walk through Ponyville and see more ponies than she already had to?

Not really.

She almost decided she didn't want to go at all. Applejack was obviously planning something suspicious. She was a nervous wreck when she invited Twilight to the sleepover, although she tried to hide it. Perhaps she was planning a surprise party.
If it was anypony but Applejack, Twilight probably wouldn't have agreed to go. But Applejack had something other ponies didn't. The Element of Honesty. Twilight didn't need Applejack to tell a huge lie to take the element from her, and ponies lied all the time. Hanging around at a sleepover would provide the perfect opportunity for Applejack to lie about something. Truth or Dare was practically made for it.

In a flash of light, Twilight had arrived at Sweet Apple Acres. Nopony was outside, so she just walked over to the barn and knocked.

Instantly the door swung open, and Applejack was standing there, looking nervous.

There was definitely something going on. Twilight quickly focused on Applejack's element, ready to pull it away from Applejack when the opportunity arose. She didn't expect it to happen so soon.

"Howdy Twilight," said Applejack. "I sure am glad to see you."

A wobble. Already. Twilight was so surprised she didn't even try to pull the element away.

Twilight acted natural as she replied with, "I'm glad to see you too!" She stepped inside and Applejack closed the door behind her. "Oh, Pinkie's here too?"

Twilight noticed Pinkie Pie standing behind a couch, as if she was trying to hide. Come to think of it, Pinkie had been acting strangely as well. Unfortunately she didn't come with a built in magic lie detector. Something was going on, something serious, if Applejack was lying about being happy to see Twilight. Luckily, Applejack's element could be used to figure it out.
"Sure is," said Applejack, as Twilight walked past and turned to face her, Pinkie to Twilight's back. "I hope I didn't make it sound like this was just you and me."

"About that," said Twilight. "I told Rarity about the sleepover and she said she might stop by later. You don't mind do you?"

Applejack put on an obviously forced smile as she said, "No, of course not! I don't mind at all."

A lie.

"That's good to hear," said Twilight, unable to prevent the smirk on her face. "Tell me Applejack, what were you planning for us today?"

Applejack was sweating. Twilight mentally congratulated herself on so easily pushing Applejack into becoming a nervous wreck. If only she knew why it was so easy.

"Well, uh, I uh...."

Twilight looked happy, inviting even. Go on, tell me what you're planning, she thought to herself.

"I was uh, thinking," continued Applejack. Her stammering was getting annoying. "That maybe, well, we'd just hang around the farm for now."

No lies yet.

"And then we'd eat some supper."

Okay.

"And then we'll...see what happens after that."

Twilight wanted to groan. There was no lie there, because Applejack hadn't offered any real information!

"As long as it's fun," said Twilight.

Applejack looked nervously at Pinkie Pie.

"Don't you worry none Twilight, we'll have heaps of fun together." She said it slowly, uncertainly. And she was lying.
This time, Twilight pulled. She lowered her head down so Pinkie couldn't see the spark from her horn. Maybe it was from so much wobbling in such a short span of time, but Applejack's element was a lot easier to take than Fluttershy's. There was hardly any concentration needed at all.

Without warning, Applejack wavered in place, and then fell over. Her eyes were open but just barely.

"Applejack!" shouted Pinkie Pie. Twilight quickly bound the element of Honesty to herself before seeing Pinkie Pie zoom past and kneel besides Applejack. She was crying.

"What did you do to her?!" she shouted. Twilight could hear hoofsteps coming from somewhere upstairs. They got closer.
She turned around and saw Big Mac come down and stop dead in his tracks as he saw his sister collapsed on the floor.

"She did something!" shouted Pinkie.

Then it clicked.

Twilight wasn't a stupid pony. But these ponies obviously were, or at least Pinkie Pie was. Pinkie Pie's overblown reactions to this, combined with Applejack's constant lying led to one, obvious, horrible conclusion.

They knew. Somehow, they knew, and Applejack had invited Twilight over because they planned to stop her.
Twilight thought all of this in only an instant, and in that instant Big Mac focused his eyes at here and prepared to charge.
He didn't take two steps before Twilight conjured a weak bolt of lightning, striking him in the shoulder and knocking him back into the wall. He collapsed with a heavy thud. He picked his head up, slowly, looked at her, but then fell conscious.

"Oh no, oh no," said Pinkie, who was now cradling Applejack. "Not again!"

Again?

This time, Twilight did feel stupid. She began to laugh. She continued, hard and loud. It was just so silly!
All this time she'd been working under the assumption that she'd been the only one to come back. She assumed the elements had something to do with it. It just seemed obvious. But she thought it was her having the Element of Magic, and all that power gained from killing the other holders. Somehow she didn't pause to consider that it was only the Element of Magic, and if that was the case, every other Element holder she killed would have been put in the same position as her. Strange, considering all the other intuitive logic leaps she'd been making since she'd gotten back.

She finally stopped laughing, and looked down at Pinkie Pie. She drew closer, and watched Pinkie's eyes fill with horror.
This was too easy.

She felt for Pinkie's element, and pulled. Taking it was almost as easy as taking Applejack's.

Pinkie Pie

Pinkie Pie suddenly felt faint, as if all the energy had been drained from her body. She was lucky to already be on the ground, or else she would have fallen over.

"Pinkie," said Applejack in a low whisper. She looked into Applejack's eyes.

"Pinkie, run."

Pinkie Pie didn't feel like she could run. Maybe she could walk, slowly. But that wouldn't help, she was already as good as dead again.

"It's too late for you two," said Twilight. She sounded cheerful, and it only served to make Pinkie feel even more horrified. It was like all the happiness inside her was gone forever. It was like she was watching her foals die all over again.

"Why...why can't you just leave us alone," said Applejack. Pinkie Pie slumped down next to her, feeling too tired and scared to continue comforting the pony.

Twilight laughed again.

"To be honest I was going to do just that this time. I didn't need to kill you."

Pinkie opened her mouth to speak but was cut off.

"I needed to kill you last time," she said, getting closer. Pinkie didn't bother to try and get away. "This time I did some research and found another way. You all could have had a nice quiet life, once I took your elements, but no, you had to try and stop me didn't you?"

Her eyelids were half-closed now. She looked suddenly sleepy.

"Tell me," she began, speaking slowly. It was like she wasn't interested anymore. "What exactly where you two planning?"

"Does it matter?" said Pinkie, closing her eyes. She didn't want to look at Twilight anymore. She moved a little, snuggling closer to Applejack. At least this time she'd die next to a friend.

"No I...I guess it doesn't and...and what is wrong with me?"

There was a moment of silence. Then a thud. Pinkie opened her eyes.

Twilight had collapsed. Pinkie blinked, too shocked to do anything.

"I don't know what happened," said Applejack slowly. "But it looked like maybe we caught a break." She took a deep breath.

Pinkie forced herself to get up, even though it was the last thing she wanted to do. Except for dying of course.

There was a frantic knock on the door, and Pinkie almost fell down in shock.

A moment later, the door swung open and Rainbow Dash burst inside.

"Pinkie, there you are!" she began. "I've been looking all over for you and - what in the world is going on!?"

Her eyes darted between Applejack, Big Mac, and Twilight, before locking on to Pinkie.

"What's wrong with them? What happened? What's going on, I don't understand!"

"I'll try to explain things," said Pinkie. "But first I'm going to lie back down." She did just that. She tried to bring herself to giggle, to smile, to do something, but she just couldn't feel it in her anymore.

She could see Applejack try to get up, but all she managed was to roll over and look at Rainbow Dash.

"Twilight...did something to us...I thought she was gonna kill us but then she just fell over....."

"Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh...."

Rainbow Dash was panicking.

"What in heaven's name has happened!" said another pony.

Now Rarity was here. Her saddlebags were full to bursting with who knows what, probably for the sleepover she thought she was coming for. Pinkie would have laughed at how funny things were turning out, except she didn't feel like laughing.

"No, don't bother to explain just now, we have to hurry!" said Rarity. She put her hoof to Rainbow's mouth, and Rainbow turned silent.

"Rainbow Dash, since you look like the only one currently not on the floor, could you please be a dear and fly Twilight over to my house?"

She opened her saddlebags and pulled out a large cloth bag, and a key.

"Her comfort isn't a priority, just wrap her up in this and throw her in my basement. Now you do know where the entrance to my basement is, do you not?"

Rainbow Dash's mouth was hanging wide open as she shook her head slowly. Rarity sighed.

"Very well, just leave her anywhere in the house and I'll attend to it when I get there."

Rarity walked over to Big Mac and began looking him over.

Her horn began to glow, and slowly Big Mac floated above Rarity's head.

"Don't...drop him," said Applejack.

Rarity looked to be concentrating.

"Now don't you worry, I have everything under control...I'll just lay him down here."

She was straining to move the big pony, but she managed to lay him softly on the couch.

"Rainbow Dash do as I say!"

Rainbow Dash had been standing around doing nothing, but at Rarity's command her eyes snapped into focus.

"That's better," said Rarity as she watched Rainbow Dash follow her directions.

"Are you poor dears alright? Should I send somepony to help later?"

"We're...coming...too," said Applejack, finally standing up. Rainbow Dash finished tying Twilight up and took the make-shift bag in her mouth, before flying out the door. "Right Pinkie?"

Pinkie desperately wanted to know what was happening, and nodded. It was a struggle to stand up. Her legs felt like they would give way under her at any moment, but she was determined to follow Applejack's example and go with Rarity.

Suddenly Pinkie felt much lighter. She looked down and saw she and Applejack were glowing with Rarity's magic.

"I can't carry you both all the way, but I can help," she said. "Let's get going."

Rarity

It was fairly difficult to prop up both Applejack and Pinkie Pie all the way to her home in Ponyville. But the situation clearly called for it. Something terrible had happened already. It was a good thing she had wasted no time in planning out her revenge. Who knows what would have happened if she wasn't ready today?

Ignoring the odd looks as they walked through town, they finally arrived at her boutique. Rainbow Dash was already there, and had done just as Rarity asked.

Rarity took her key.

"Follow me please," she said. She waited for Rainbow Dash to pick up Twilight before walking them to her basement door. Taking the key in her mouth, she unlocked the door, and gestured for them to go in.

Shutting the door behind them, Rarity turned on the lights.

There was a collective gasp, and a thud as Rainbow dropped Twilight.

"What is this!?" shouted Rainbow Dash.

Rarity grinned.

"It's marvellous isn't it?"

Of course, her basement was fully equipped now. Everything was set up for Twilight, everything neat and orderly and in its place. It was just like a professional torture chamber! It even had the dark and dusky look they did in the books, because it was a basement. Rarity supposed that's why it did. Weren't most fictional torture chambers underground? Well, that didn't matter.

What mattered was it was time.

"Open the bag," said Rarity. Rainbow hesitated, but complied. As soon as the knot was undone, Rarity used her magic to lift Twilight up, and place her on the table. Rarity then strapped the purple pony in, tightening the restraints as much as they would go.

"Aren't you going to tell us what this is!?" said Rainbow Dash.

Rarity looked at her.

"Do you really think this is the time?" she asked seriously. "Any moment now Twilight could wake up and use her magic."

She levitated a bone saw off the wall. "We should take care of that before anything else, wouldn't you agree?"

Rainbow Dash's eyes widened. Rarity looked at Applejack and Pinkie Pie. In turn, they nodded. Rarity got to work.

It was tough going, sawing a unicorn horn off. They were strong, and tough. But not invincible. With enough effort, they'd break just like anything else.

Once she was three fourth's of the way through, Rarity took Twilight's horn in her mouth and snapped it off. She spit it out in disgust.

"Now can you tell us what all this is?"

"You set up a torture chamber," said Applejack. Rarity turned to look at her.

Whatever Twilight had done to Pinkie and Applejack, it looked like it was getting worse. Applejack's speech was getting slower, and she was taking deeper breaths. Rarity's anger flared. She hoped they weren't going to die.

"Yes, yes I did. And if you knew what Twilight had done, you wouldn't have a problem with it."

"We know what Twilight's done," said Pinkie. "But...how do you know?"

"Wait," said Rainbow Dash. "Twilight killed all of you? I thought it was just me and Pinkie!"

"But Rarity, I went to talk to you months ago, you never said you remembered dying and coming back to relive your life!" said Pinkie Pie. "And Rainbow Dash, you were the first pony I asked and you didn't look like you remembered either...."

Rarity thought about it. She didn't remember Pinkie Pie coming over and asking that. She didn't remember even seeing Pinkie Pie ever since she returned to the past.

"Pinkie, you were the first pony I saw when I came back," said Rainbow Dash. "And when I came back, I didn't know what was going on. I just thought a miracle had happened. I was in a storm, falling to my death, and bam, it was a nice day outside and everything was alright again. I didn't figure out it was the past until days later, and I didn't realise Twilight had killed me until this morning."

"Oh," said Pinkie. "What about you Rarity?"

"I think I know," said Applejack. She was sweating, her chest rising and falling quickly now. "When I came back, we had only just defeated Nightmare Moon. We were in the castle, and I was disoriented, and all of y'all were there. Nopony was acting different, even though I sure was. But the next day I see Pinkie, and she's calling me Applerush. I think...I think we came back at different times."

"Yes," said Rarity. "That explains why I don't remember you asking me anything like that Pinkie Pie. You must have asked before I arrived."

"What about Fluttershy?" asked Rainbow Dash. "Did any of you talk to Fluttershy?"

"I did," said Applejack. She set herself down on the hard stone. Rarity took the piece of cloth Twilight was wrapped up in and folded a few times before setting it on the ground. She indicated for Applejack to lie there. Applejack nodded her head, and rolled over onto the make-shift mat.

Settling down, Applejack continued. "I talked to Fluttershy and Pinkie talked to you, Rarity. Fluttershy didn't know nothing."
Pinkie Pie gasped. "She survived!" she said. She was smiling, and it was the first time Rarity had seen Pinkie smile since this whole mess started.

"That's why Twilight's here, and why Fluttershy isn't! Twilight didn't kill Fluttershy, Fluttershy killed-" She stopped, and frowned again.

They were silent for a moment.

"It's a good thing Pinkie," said Rarity. "If Fluttershy didn't kill Twilight, Twilight would have killed her. I had hoped Fluttershy would stop Twilight, and now we know she did."

Rarity turned to face Twilight, who was still unconscious. "Now it's our turn to stop Twilight. We must kill her before she kills us again!"

Applejack had fallen unconscious. Luckily she was already on the floor. Pinkie wasn't looking too good herself. Rarity looked around for something soft for Pinkie, but there wasn't anything

"It's okay Rarity," said Pinkie, she slowly stumbled over to where Applejack was. "I'm sure Applejack won't...mind." She collapsed onto Applejack, and Rainbow Dash rushed over. She moved Pinkie and Applejack so they were leaning on each other.

"I guess it's up to us, Rainbow Dash."

"For what," came the voice of Twilight.

Rainbow Dash

Rainbow Dash's head jerked up at the sound of Twilight's voice.

The unicorn was awake, looking a bit groggy, but awake. She took a moment to feebly pull at her restraints, before giving up.

"I see," she said. "Well it's not that easy to stop a powerful unicorn like myself, even if I seem to be having a hard time concentrating...." She closed her eyes, a focused look on her face. Rainbow Dash looked down at the two ponies next to her. Applejack seemed to be coming around again, but Pinkie looked to be falling asleep.

"Come on, it's okay," said Rainbow Dash, her heart racing. "Don't die on me you two, you just can't."

Pinkie's head perked up at the sound of Rainbow Dash's voice. She looked at Dash, her eyes wet, eyelids half closed.

"Don't worry Rainbow...." she said, slow and soft. "We're not going to die...but...I'm just going to rest for a while."

Rainbow Dash watched Pinkie close her own eyes, and put her head down. Her breathing was shallow, but steady.

Applejack didn't look nearly so good. She was sweating, but when Rainbow Dash moved to the other side next to Applejack, she felt cold.

Dash glanced back up, only to see Twilight still concentrating. Rarity hadn't moved or said a word, she only stood there, grinning. To be honest, Rainbow Dash found it a bit creepy.

"You haven't noticed yet, have you?" asked Rarity. "Did you really think I would let you wake up if you could just magic yourself out of this predicament?"

Twilight opened her eyes again and looked around, nervously. Finally, she looked up at her own forehead, and her face contorted into a horrible mixture of anger and sorrow.

"No," she said. She wasn't yelling, and it wasn't loud. She sounded as if all her dreams had shattered right before her eyes, and there was nothing she could do about it. And she knew it. Rainbow Dash definitely knew that feeling. Come to think of it, she didn't exactly know why she could relate.

Rarity laughed. "Oh yes. There's nothing you can do. You're just like I was, back then. Now you're the one trapped, the one whose life is over, and whose dreams are gone, and I'm the one who gets to gloat about it!"

"You don't know anything about real dreams!" shouted Twilight. "I had real dedication, I spent my entire natural life towards a single defining purpose, something that would change the world! What did you do Rarity? Make dresses? Even if I never cooked your books, after a century nopony would remember you!"

"You have no idea how much work I've put into getting your stupid elements!"

She closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, her face was a mask of calm.

"But it doesn't matter. You've cut off my horn and you're going to kill me. I'll be fine."

Rarity looked livid. She started yelling, but really Rainbow Dash wasn't interested in listening to them anymore. Twilight was taken care of, she admitted it herself. The two ponies beside her were more important. She wasn't going to let them die now.
Rainbow Dash didn't know what to do though. Pinkie looked like she was okay, but Applejack looked to be in serious condition. She was shuffling around, dazed, looking scared, like she didn't know what was going on around her anymore. Rainbow Dash put her hooves around Applejack, trying to get her to lie still. She rubbed her back, hoping it would calm her down.

"Shh, Applejack," said Rainbow Dash softly. "Everything's okay. You're okay."

Applejack's fidgeting had stopped, but now she was shivering. Rainbow Dash continued to rub her back slowly.

Applejack suddenly looked up.

"Rainbow Dash?" she said. Her green eyes met Rainbow's. Rainbow Dash nodded.

"Yeah, I'm here."

"I don't feel too good," said Applejack. She looked around. It looked like she was coming back to herself. "Is Twilight taken care of?"

Rainbow nodded again. "For now. Don't worry about it."

Applejack's ears fell.

"The last time I felt like this," she began, "I was about to die. Am I going to die again?"

Rainbow Dash couldn't help but hug her friend.

"You're not going to die, not if I have anything to do with it."

But Rainbow Dash couldn't do anything more, and she knew it. She felt totally helpless. She could feel the tears well up.

"You can't die," she said. She got closer.

Applejack

"I need you," continued Rainbow Dash. "We all need you. We can't all be together if you're not there."

Applejack tried to smile at the silliness of that statement, but she couldn't tell if she managed it or not. She could hear Rainbow Dash clearly, but the sounds of Rarity and Twilight yelling sounded like they were both far away and underwater.
She felt cold and sick. It was a strange, terrible feeling, like wanting to vomit but wanting nothing more than to not vomit at the same time.

Her muscles felt like they weren't all there, almost like they were made of a soft spongy material that wasn't attached to her body. She stopped trying to move them, and she found herself feeling a bit bitter when she did.

Applejack struggled to keep her eyes open. The world around her was fuzzy, and she strained to bring it all back into focus. Even Rainbow Dash's nice, pretty words were starting to drown into darkness. She let her eyes close.

With horror, Applejack once again remembered the last time she let the darkness claim her. She wasn't going to let it happen again.

With great effort she forced her eyes back open, the world was still blurry, but she put all her energy into bringing it back into focus. She could feel her heart rate increase, and her body started to ache.

But slowly, Rainbow Dash's voice became clearer.

"...and when I get married of course you'll be my mare of honour. It'll be so awesome, you'll see."

Applejack had no idea what led Rainbow Dash's speech to weddings, but she smiled anyway.

"A bit early to be talking about that, ain't it?" said Applejack. The words hurt her throat, but she didn't mind.

There was a pause as Dash looked at her. Applejack stared at Rainbow Dash as the voice of Rarity and Twilight finally began to make sense.

"Applejack, I thought you were going to...." whispered Rainbow Dash. Her eyes had tears in them.

"I told you," said Pinkie Pie, who's eyes were still closed. She was smiling. Applejack had completely forgotten she was even there. "I told you we weren't going to die."

"Still," said Rainbow Dash, wiping away her tears. "You had me worried there A.J."

"That's it," said Rarity. Applejack perked her head up to see what was going on. "I'm not listening to another word."

She was fiddling with something around Twilight's head. When Rarity took a step back, Applejack could see a bridle around the purple unicorn's face, one with a large bit. Twilight was struggling, trying to say something, but the bit prevented her from getting anything out.

Applejack briefly wondered why Rarity chose something like that to gag Twilight, but didn't dwell on it for long.

"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.

"Alright," said Rainbow Dash. "But why do you have all this stuff? I hoped it was for something else, but now it's obvious. Do you really think Twilight needs to be tortured? Isn't killing enough for you?"

Rarity glared. "I don't know," she said, malice dripping from her voice. Applejack couldn't remember her ever speaking that way back in her old life. "Why don't we ask around?"

She looked at Pinkie, who was resting again with her eyes closed.

"Pinkie Pie!"

"Ahuh?" said Pinkie softly, not bothering to move at all this time. "I'm listening."

"Twilight caused that explosion at Sugarcube Corner. You died in it. Your foals, the Cake's, and several other ponies who just happened to be near the store that day died in that explosion. Doesn't Twilight deserve more than a merciful death for that?

"Applejack! You trusted Twilight to help you. Instead she killed you and your foal. She never even had a chance to live."

Applejack felt her heart constrict. Her eyes teared up again and she suddenly had to choke back a sob. She thought she was done crying. Apparently she was wrong.

She hadn't known her foal was a girl. Thinking about that one detail made her think about all the other things she missed out on, the things that did happen, and the things that could have happened if Twilight hadn't been an evil murderer.

But the way Rarity brought it up just made her angry. She found out her foal was a girl because Rarity wanted fodder to justify her revenge. Deep, deep down, Applejack wanted revenge too, but she now completely understood Big Mac's point. Still, it was hard to accept. She gritted her teeth and tried to force the tears to stop.

"And as for me," continued Rarity. "None of you would know, as I was the last to die. Twilight took everything I had from me." Somewhere in her speech she had begun to speak in barely more than a whisper. "And she set fire to my boutique. With me still in it."

Applejack winced at the thought. Burning to death was not at the top of the list of ways she wanted to die. At least she had just sort of fallen asleep.

"You may think I died in that fire," she continued. Applejack felt her eye close, not wanting to think about what was undoubtedly about to come next.

"But I didn't. It took me days to die of my burns." Suddenly she got that look in her eye again, that look that told Applejack something might be wrong with this pony. "She has to suffer!" she shouted. "She has to, don't you understand!?"

"I don't care what you do," said Pinkie Pie suddenly. "I just want to go home and sleep. Can't you take me home?"

"I'll take you home Pinkie Pie," said Rainbow Dash, standing up. "This is over, we don't need to be here anymore." She looked Applejack in the eye. "Right Applejack?"

Applejack thought about it for a moment. Did she want to stay and watch or something? She didn't feel like she could, even if she wanted to. She was so tired, and her body hurt so much. She nodded her head at Rainbow Dash. She didn't want to be here anymore.

"Rarity can do what she thinks is best," said Applejack finally. She tried to stand, but her body started to get that far-away feeling again, so she stopped.

"I'll come back with Big Mac for you," said Rainbow Dash, putting Pinkie Pie on her back. "You're in too bad of shape for me to take you by myself."

Applejack nodded.

As the two ponies left, it was just Rarity and Applejack, along with the still bound and gagged Twilight. She had stopped struggling completely now. She seemed to have finally just accepted her situation.

"I'm real tired Rarity," said Applejack. "But I want you to know what my big brother told me, when I was thinking thoughts like yours."

Rarity seemed to be listening, so Applejack pressed on. "What you're wanting isn't good. I don't want you to find out the hard way that revenge don't help nopony."

Feeling like it was safe to do so now, Applejack let herself fall asleep.

Pinkie Pie

Pinkie Pie groggily opened her eyes. She felt loads better now. In fact, she felt like a brand new pony!

She bounced up out of the bed but stopped, realising this wasn't her house. Where was she? Then she remembered.
Halfway to her house Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash decided that it'd be best for her to stay at Applejack's. There was nopony there but Big Mac, and it would save Rainbow Dash a few trips.

"Glad to see you got all your energy back," said Applejack. Pinkie looked behind her. She hadn't even noticed a second bed in the room. "I do too, but Big Mac insists I do some more restin' up. I tried to argue, but he put his hoof down. And honestly, I suppose I don't mind." She gave a sad sort of smile, that made Pinkie feel sad too.

The door opened.

"Pinkie Pie, what are you doing out of bed?" asked Rainbow Dash, walking in. She was really dirty. Pinkie patted the Pegasus a few times and watched the dust poof off her coat. Rainbow Dash coughed.

"Yeah, I just finished helping Big Mac dig a hole...you know. For Twilight." She rubbed the back of her head, obviously nervous. Pinkie felt herself frown for a moment.

"Did Rarity...." began Applejack, but Rainbow Dash shrugged.

"I saw her bring the body, but it was in a closed box. I don't know if she did or not, and Rarity isn't saying one way or another. She just said it doesn't matter, and we shouldn't worry about it."

Applejack looked away. "I hope she made the right decision."

Big Mac trotted into the room suddenly, also covered in dirt. He took one look at Pinkie and said, "Are you sure you should be out of bed?"

Pinkie hadn't felt so good in a long long time, but she saw the concern on the stallion's face, and decided that just this once, she'd contain her excitement and lay down. Big Mac smiled and Applejack chuckled as she got back into bed.

"But tomorrow, we should have a party."

Big Mac frowned again. "I don't know, that doesn't sound very -"

"I don't mean to celebrate Twilight's...well, you know," said Pinkie. "I just think it's the perfect time to celebrate our second chance together! We can all get together and start fresh."

Big Mac's smile returned. "So long as your heart's in the right place."

Epilogue

Twilight

"Back again," said Magic. She looked terribly amused. Twilight hated it. "And so soon!"

"You didn't tell me I'd be seeing the others," said Twilight. "Why didn't you tell me? I could have succeeded!"

Magic narrowed her eyes. "Frankly, I don't want to help you. You should be thankful I'm so talkative. I should never have told you as much about us elements as I did, but sometimes I can't help myself."

Her face changed demeanour suddenly.

"However," she began. "I can't help but be impressed. For the first time since my creation, I got to actually speak with some of the other elements. Oh, they were none too happy with you!"

Twilight looked around. She hadn't thought about her successful severings.

"I take it they all went back to their original hosts after I died?" said Twilight.

"You were killed, the binding spell no longer had anything to bind to." She sighed. "You're so clever Twilight, why don't you try not stealing elements next time?"

Twilight thought about it. She'd failed twice now. But here she had another chance to do it right. And this time nothing would get in her way.

"No, I don't think so," said Twilight. "And I think I'll go back to the same time I did last time. No reason to go any earlier I guess."

"If you say so," said Magic. "Better luck this time."

Rarity

"And you say you haven't heard anything? Anything at all?" said Princess Celestia. The royal guards by her side looked at Rarity, hard.

Rarity shook her head. "I don't know why you think I'd know anymore than any other pony," she began. "But I simply have no idea where Twilight could have gotten off to."

Rarity was very proud of herself. Lying to the princess was no easy feat, but she seemed to be doing a good job. She hoped the others had been just as good.

It took a little over a weak before everypony began to notice Twilight was missing. And another week before news got back to Princess Celestia. It was strange, Rarity thought, that the Princess herself was taking such an active role in finding out what happened. But then, Twilight had been the Princess's prized student.

Princess Celestia sighed. She nodded to her guards in turn, who nodded before leaving the boutique. Rarity suddenly felt afraid.

As soon as the two male ponies had left, Princess Celestia turned and glared at Rarity. Rarity swallowed hard.

"I must admit, you're a pretty good liar. Had it not already been clear what has happened, I might actually believe you. But your friends, they're not good liars. And your aura...it's twice as strong as your friend's as well."

Rarity's ears folded back in fear. This was it, she was going to pay for what happened.

Celestia laughed coldly.

"Don't worry, it does me no good to do anything to you and your friends. Twilight had her job, and she failed. There's nothing I can do about it now, so you are all off the hook. I haven't heard any rumours floating around about what she was doing, so obviously you are keeping your mouths shut. And as long as they stay that way, everything will be fine for you.

"So that just leaves me wondering where Twilight's body is. That's all I'm here for. Just tell me, and you can go back to your lives."

Rarity looked away. She couldn't bear to look at the Princess anymore. Everything she had ever been told about the beloved benevolent Princess Celestia was a lie, and it was just too much to deal with right now.

"She was buried at Sweet Apple Acres...somewhere in the orchard, I don't know exactly where."

Celestia snorted. "I figured as much." The Princess raised herself to her full height, standing tall. Rarity felt her knees bend in submissiveness. She couldn't help it.

A bright flash of light, and suddenly Rarity was standing in the middle of the apple orchard in Sweet Apple Acres. It was a secluded spot, and even though it was still daylight, there was nopony else in sight.

"You will do your best to take me where Twilight is buried," said the Princess. Rarity nodded silently.

She was frantic. She really wasn't paying much attention when Big Mac had led her to the hole. She just followed the stallion, and dumped the box when she got to the hole. She didn't even stick around to bury it.

Nevertheless, even when not paying attention, Rarity's eye for detail never failed. She could feel little inklings of where the plot might be, based on bits of foliage in distinctive soil formations that she had subconsciously taken note of. All through the searching she could feel Celestia's gaze on her, as if it was boring through her body.

Finally, Rarity found walked over a piece of ground that felt more loose than the soil around it. It looked like it could be it, and she pointed with a hoof that this was the location.

She hoped she was right.

Celestia nodded, and without a word she teleported Rarity back to her boutique.

Rarity slumped down on the ground, glad to finally be away from the princess. For the first time since Twilight's death, she felt incredibly vulnerable. If she was wrong, Celestia would surely do something awful to her.

The rest of the day was spent doing nothing but hoping Celestia wouldn't show up again.

The next morning, Rarity relaxed. If the Princess hadn't shown up by now, she probably found what she wanted.
Now, Rarity could finally get back to her life.

The first thing to do was to move out of the boutique. She still couldn't stand the place. She didn't even want it to continue to exist, and so had to get rid of the building before selling the land. Which meant she needed a place to stay.

Luckily, Applejack had a lot of spare room, and allowed her to stay without asking any questions. The days on the farm were quiet, and Rarity spent most of her time making modest dresses. Strangely, she found it far easier now to make things magically than she used to. She could create an entire outfit with just a quick thought and some fabric. She really didn't know what to make of it, but in the end, it wasn't important.

The nights were even better than the days. Rarity didn't wake herself up anymore, and she was glad that moving out of the boutique turned out to be the right decision.

As soon as her boutique was demolished she sold the empty plot of land, and bought a nice cottage just outside of Ponyville, near Applejack's farm.

Really, she decided, she didn't need to move to Canterlot and design dresses. She had already fulfilled that dream, even if Twilight took the end result from her.

This life...it would be like an early retirement. A very, very early retirement.

Pinkie Pie

Pinkie Pie said goodbye to the stallion, neglecting to let him in for "coffee." She closed the door behind her.

She took a glance at the clock and saw the date had run long. She was going to be late if she didn't leave soon.

Pinkie ran over to her coffee table and grabbed a few bits of candy out of her candy bowl, before heading back outside.

Over the years, Pinkie and her friends had put a lot of effort into not drifting apart. It had happened before. It wasn't happening again.

And today, Pinkie had dinner plans with Rarity. It was easy to find time to hang out with Rarity. She was very good at making dresses magically, and she could fill her orders quickly enough that she was usually free to do something fun. And she seemed to always enjoy the company.

Making her way across Ponyville to Rarity's house, Pinkie thought about how little things had changed. There were still some strange differences that nopony could trace the origins of, but for the most part things were just as they were before. They had had the same old adventures. Just without Twilight.

Pinkie finally arrived at Rarity's. Her house was so different from her old boutique. For one, it was designed like a normal house. For two, it was a lot more plain than her old boutique was. Very simple, but still elegant, Pinkie supposed. Not a lot of fancy decorations, but everything was kept neat and tidy.

Pinkie didn't bother to knock, instead just letting herself in.

Inside she found Rarity sewing some fabric together on one of her mannequins. It looked like she had just started a new dress.

"Whatcha working on?" said Pinkie. Rarity didn't look away from her work as she answered.

"Getting a head start on this order. I don't have to be done for another week, so it's nothing that can't wait."

And wait it did, as Rarity suddenly turned around, setting the needle and thread she was magically holding down on a nearby table next to her cat Opalescence.

"Oh dear," she said suddenly. "Just look at the time! I had no idea it had gotten so late!"

Pinkie only nodded. "Neither did I! But it's alright, it's not like we needed reservations."

"True," said Rarity. "Well, give me a moment to get ready, and we'll be off."

Pinkie smiled and waited patiently for Rarity to "get ready" for nothing more than a simple dinner with a friend. When Rarity was done Pinkie honestly couldn't tell the difference, but she wasn't going to say so.

At the restaurant, they quietly sat down, and placed their orders. They were old, they didn't need to think hard on what they wanted to eat.

"So, Pinkie Pie, how's the new business venture going?"

Pinkie shoved a spoonful of ice cream into her mouth.

"It's going great! I wonder why it didn't happen before. Now I get to party even more!"

Pinkie Pie had been wandering from job to job for years. It was only recently she realised she could be paid to throw parties. Ponies all over always needed a good party, and nobody was a better party pony than Pinkie. They paid good money for her help and advice, and so far she had never had a dissatisfied customer. It felt strange, charging ponies for what she used to do for free, but a pony had to make a living somehow.

"Well, it's not too hard to guess, dear," said Rarity softly. "You used to love working for the Cake's. But we...we all understand why that's changed."

Pinkie's smile faded. She nodded.

"Rainbow Dash is coming to visit in a week isn't she?" said Rarity, changing the subject. Pinkie's smile returned as she took another bite of ice cream.

"You betcha!" said Pinkie. "Spike's coming with her too you know. It'll be great seeing him again."

Rarity chuckled. "Of all of us, I'm surprised it's been Rainbow Dash who's kept in touch with him the most. We exchange our letters of course, but those two could probably fill an entire library with their correspondence."

Pinkie didn't take much notice when Rarity's eyes suddenly got that far away look they got sometimes. Pinkie was sure she got that look too, every now and then. They all had the same problem, after all. Except for Fluttershy.

"Anyway," said Rarity, her eyes shifting back into focus. "Forgive me, I completely forgot to ask. How was your date earlier?"
Pinkie groaned.

"Terrible," she said. "I'm sure he had a good time, but I just want him to get me pregnant so I don't have to see him again. At the same time, he's such a loser and I don't really want to have sex with him!"

Rarity coughed loudly, her ears folding back.

"My, aren't we wonderfully carefree in our comments?" she said. Pinkie rolled her eyes. "Besides, it sounds absolutely dreadful when you say it like that, Pinkie."

"I just want my foals back," said Pinkie Pie.

Rarity nodded. Pinkie had explained her hopes before, there was no reason to explain them again.

"I've been thinking a lot about your, ahem, situation, and I thought of something that might be worth considering."

Pinkie's ears perked up. "What's that?"

"Adoption."

Pinkie set her spoon down. She tried to reply, but her mind went blank.

"What made you think of it?" said Pinkie finally.

"A few days ago Applejack told me she was considering it. She had a lot of complicated reasons, but I was thinking about it and I thought those reasons would apply to you too."

"Like what?" asked Pinkie. She picked up her spoon again, genuinely curious.

"Well you know...it was such a trauma for her to wake up suddenly, years younger and having never even met the father of her foal...If she adopts, and, dear me I hope it doesn't, but if somehow we ended up in the past again, she wouldn't have to feel such a sense of loss. The child's existence wouldn't be determined by her own actions, she could hope he, or she, would be around somewhere even if she makes different choices."

Pinkie inhaled sharply, dropping her spoon again. It clattered as it hit the table, but Pinkie didn't notice. Rarity reached over and took Pinkie's hoof in her own.

"Listen dear," began Rarity. "I know you're really hoping that you can get the same foals again. You've told me many times but...I think you're setting yourself up for a disappointment. What if you finally do have a foal with one of those...gentlemen again, and the foal turns out to obviously not be the one from before? Wouldn't you feel awful? And what about the foal!?"

Pinkie shook her head suddenly in shock.

"Are you saying I wouldn't love my foal even if it wasn't what I was hoping for?!"

Rarity didn't seem taken aback at all. "But that's just it Pinkie! Why are you putting so much of yourself into this when you'd be perfectly happy with different foals? Although I never had children, I understand what it feels like to lose everything. We all do. But we've all tried to move on the best we can. Why can't you do so now?"

Pinkie looked down at the table, then glanced at her hoof, still being held by Rarity's. She looked at her bowl of ice cream as it melted from the warm air.

"I'll think about it."

And she would.

Applejack

"Apple Dash, where's your sister?" asked Applejack. "Now don't tell me she forgot. Again."

"Sorry Ma," said Apple Dash, having just arrived, her wings tightly clamped around her torso in nervousness. "I'm sure she'll be here soon."

Applejack sighed. Apple Pie was always getting caught up in some crazy adventure or another. Applejack remembered having her own fair share of adventures, sometimes the same one more than once, but she didn't think they ever made her miss important family events.

"I hope so," said Applejack. "I was hoping for everyone to be here for my birthday."

"I'm here!" came a voice suddenly. Applejack looked up from where the voice came from and saw the familiar form of Apple Pie in the sky. The pink mare landed roughly, before giving a sheepish grin to her mother. "Sorry I'm late Ma."

"Well that's alright," said Applejack. "Now that everypony's here...."

She looked around. Everybody was there. Applejack felt so happy to see everyone all together for her.

"We can start the party!" said Pinkie Pie, finishing Applejack's sentence. Applejack laughed along with everyone else at Pinkie, a middle aged mare, still getting excited about parties like a school filly. She had outstretched her front hooves and somehow managed to put a party hat on her head (a smaller version of Applejack's own cowboy hat) and set off two party crackers at the same time, confetti exploding out into the field. Applejack had worried that Pinkie, making her hobby her job, might have taken some of the fun out of it for her. But apparently not.

"I have pin the tail on the pony!" shouted Pinkie, after the laughter had died down. She walked to a nearby tree, one of the few in the clearing, and pointed a hoof. "Anypony want to play?" She looked at Rarity. "I know at least one pony does!"
Rarity smiled. It was still her favourite game.

Applejack liked the game a lot herself, but after watching her brother and sister crowd around the game with Rarity and Pinkie, she decided she could wait a bit before playing.

"D'ya want me to get you anything, Ma?" asked Apple Dash. "I see Pinkie Pie's set up an awful lot of food for your party."

"Quit your fussing," said Applejack. "I'm no cripple. Not yet anyway."

"Hey Applejack," said Rainbow Dash, walking up. She was beginning to look visibly pregnant. Catching sight of the kids, she said, "And Apple Dash, haven't seen you in a while!"

Apple Dash rolled her eyes. "Rainbow, I saw you just last week."

"Well, I see your sister so often I hardly see you in comparison!"

"Some of us have work to do on the farm," said Apple Dash. Rainbow Dash laughed.

"You're just like your mom," she said. "Apples, Apples, Apples."

"I'd like to think she's more like her uncle," said Applejack. "I had plenty of fun when I was her age. Sometimes I think I still have more fun than her. Girl needs to learn to lighten up some."

"Oh Ma, now you sound like Apple Pie."

Apple Pie stuck out her tongue at her sister. Applejack didn't scold her. It was all in good fun.

Rainbow Dash peered over Apple Dash's shoulder, her smile turning into something more like a smirk. "I see Spike's found the cupcakes Pinkie made for him. I better go stop him before he eats too many and gets sick again."

Applejack nodded, and Rainbow Dash trotted off towards her husband.

"That's going to be one strange family," said Applejack, smiling to herself.

"I'm gonna get me something to eat," said Apple Pie. Apple Dash looked at her sister walk off to talk to Rainbow Dash and Spike.

"I'm pretty hungry too. Sure you don't want me to bring you anything, Ma?"

"Now didn't I say not to worry? I'll eat when I'm hungry."

Applejack watched her overly responsible daughter help herself to some carrot sticks.

"Having fun A.J.?" asked Big Mac. He had somehow snuck up behind her, and was carrying an apple fritter on his back.

"Sure am!" said Applejack. "I haven't moved from this here spot since the party started. I wonder how much fun I'll have when I actually do something."

Big Mac smiled. "It's just nice to see everyone all together."

He understood her feelings exactly.

"I brought you this here apple fritter," said Big Mac, arching his back.

"Now why does everypony think I can't get food for myself?"

"It's your birthday."

"That's what the presents are for," said Applejack, grinning widely.

Applejack chatted with her brother a bit more before moving on to talk and really get into the party.

There was a time when Applejack thought she'd never feel happy like this again. Even after Twilight was taken care of, and Celestia stopped poking around, Applejack still had a difficult time. But after a while, with the help of her friends, she had been able to return to something like a normal life.

When she adopted Apple Dash and Apple Pie, she was almost back to her old self.

They were so cute when she adopted them. Twins, pegasus ponies who's parents had died in an accident. She didn't know what it was, but she knew as soon as she saw them that she wanted to help.

She named them after her friends. They were easy choices. Apple Dash's coat was blue, Apple Pie's coat was pink, so how could she not name them after her friends with the blue and pink coats? Funny how neither turned out like their namesakes. They were great, and Applejack couldn't imagine how it was possible to love a pony so much.

She wished her siblings would start to settle down soon. Apple Bloom was still young, and she still didn't have her cutie mark. But she wasn't that young anymore, and Applejack didn't want her to end up like Big Mac.

Poor Big Mac. He still had trouble with the mares. He was just too quiet, and when he did speak, it was in a slow drawl. It probably made him look slow. She hoped one day he'd find a mare who could see past that.

Pinkie Pie had decided to stay single. She had also decided to not adopt. Applejack didn't really understand, and Pinkie had never explained, but she had faith Pinkie had a good reason.

Rarity had mellowed considerably over the years. That, Applejack understood. Because Rarity had explained it...eventually.
Rainbow Dash was the biggest surprise. Not because of how she had changed, but because Applejack got to see her grow up at all. It was the biggest and most profound positive change to Applejack's life after dying, outside Apple Dash and Apple Pie of course. Sometimes it had been a little awkward. She had been young, and just didn't have the experience that her other time-travelling friends had. And unlike Fluttershy, nobody knew exactly what pitfalls to avoid with her. It had been an experience, to say the least.

Fluttershy was the hardest. It took a lot of work to keep her in the group because she was the only one who hadn't had the same experience as the rest of them. It had been Rainbow Dash who had one day told her everything, of course doing so without talking to anypony else first. It had been a mess, but Applejack couldn't deny Fluttershy had been easier to be around after that.

Applejack enjoyed her party thoroughly. Having both her kids around really helped keep her mind on having fun and enjoying everybody’s company.

All too soon though, it was time to for the party to end. Applejack said goodbye to everyone, saving Rainbow Dash and Spike for last, thanking them for hosting the party. It was refreshing to have a party somewhere other than Sweet Apple Acres. Sugar Cube Corner was never an option anymore because it always made Pinkie Pie sad.

Back at the farm, Applejack took some time before bed to make herself something to drink. She didn't drink often, but a bit of liquor every now and then never hurt nopony.

She sat down across from Apple Dash, who was laying on the floor reading a book of some kind. She always liked to read a bit before bed.

Applejack's eyes caught sight of an old picture hanging on the wall. It had been taken... must have been ten, maybe twelve years ago.

It was Applejack, Big Mac, Apple Bloom, and Granny Smith, all together, smiling. Applejack looked at herself in that photo. It wasn't obvious, (she had gotten a lot better at fake smiles over the years) but she wasn't really happy in that picture. It had been taken around the year she had died. She would have known then that she wasn't going to ever see baby Rainbow Bloom. And neither would anypony else.

She took a sip of her drink and looked at Apple Dash. Apple Dash looked up at her, as if sensing she was being looked at.

They held eyes for a moment before a look of concern crossed Apple Dash's face.

"Is something wrong ma?"

Applejack blinked, and realised her eyes were moist. She wiped them with her hoof, took another sip of her drink, and then smiled.

"I was just thinking," she said.

"About what?" Apple Dash folded the top corner of her book before closing it and looking up at Applejack.

"About you, and your sister, and...."

Oh, what the hay?

"Did I ever mention you almost had another sister?"

Apple Dash's eyes widened, and she shook her head.

Applejack didn't think she should tell the whole story. But she really wanted somepony to know about Rainbow Bloom, somebody who had a good chance of outliving her.

So she told the story.

Rainbow Dash

Rainbow Dash woke up. Her joints ached, but it was nothing a bit of moving around wouldn't cure. She liked to move around. It was too bad she couldn't move like she used to.

She was old. Her once rainbow-coloured mane and tail was now just various shades of grey. Her coat was still blue, but it was a lot less vibrant than it used to be. Her eyes hadn't changed though. She hadn't lost her wits like some of the other older ponies. Neither had her friends.

Of course, her husband hadn't lost his wits either. How could he have? He was just barely out of his "teen years."

Dragons aged differently than ponies. Everypony knew that, and she knew that when they started dating. She knew that when they got married, when she had a daughter, and she knew that when the first streaks of grey started to show up in her mane.

It didn't stop her from being bitter about it. But like most things, it got better with time. Now she hardly ever begrudged him for being so youthful, and she never picked a fight about it anymore. She was old. It just didn't seem important to wish to be younger anymore.

Besides, she had gotten everything she ever wanted. First of all, she got to live. Even dying hadn't stopped her from living. She had joined the Wonderbolts, had a very successful flying career, dated, married, foaled, and was expecting a grandfoal soon.

She had great friends, and got to be with them as they all went on to live and do all the things they wanted to do, with a few hiccups here and there of course. Being murdered had taken its toll, but it'd been so long now.... For Rainbow Dash, it was like there wasn't a break in continuity. For her friends, their original lives were almost like a dream.

Rainbow Dash was stirred out of her thoughts from a loud rumbling sound. She rolled on to her other side, the soft cloud below her bobbing up and down a bit as she did so. She was facing her husband now.

Spike had woken up. He yawned, a loud sound echoing through the cave they shared.

"Morning," he said. His voice had gotten deep. Rainbow Dash couldn't help but giggle to herself whenever she thought about how he used to sound when he was just a "baby."

"Good morning," she said. She stood up, her joints giving soft pops as she moved. She stretched out her wings, gave a few test flaps, and then slowly made her way off the cloud and down to the ground.

She was lucky. Most Pegasus Ponies her age couldn't fly. But she'd always stayed healthy and in shape.

Spike sat up slowly, smoothing the spikes along his head and back with his giant clawed hand. Rainbow dash headed towards her own little spot of the cave, where she tried to manage her bed-head.

"Rainbow Bloom visiting today?" asked Spike as Rainbow Dash gargled some mouth wash.

She spat. "Yep."

Their daughter had been showing up every week, demanding stories of their lives. Where her name came from, the decision to be artificially inseminated and the process of finding a sperm donor both Dash and Spike liked, their wedding, how Dash joined the Wonderbolts....

Rainbow Dash figured it was just hormones. Mares got weird when they were pregnant.

Not that Rainbow Dash didn't enjoy seeing her daughter more often. Raising a filly had been difficult, and there were times during her teenage years that Rainbow Dash had been... well... not the best of mothers. She was too tough, not understanding enough, over-protective, and it took her years to learn to listen to her daughter. She'd gotten better at it though. All those bad times were long gone.

They had barely started to eat their breakfast when Rainbow Bloom showed up. There wasn't a door to knock on. People just walked in all the time, unless Spike and Rainbow Dash really didn't want company, in which case Rainbow Dash used to pile clouds to block the entrance. She was too old for that now, but it didn't matter because she was also too old to need privacy. Besides, Spike was too big.

"Hi mom, dad," said Rainbow Bloom, nodding to each of her parents. Spike grunted as he chewed on some diamonds from his hoard. Rainbow Dash grinned.

"You sure it's safe to be out? You're looking like you're going to pop any day now."

Rainbow Bloom scoffed. "I don't look that bad."

"You think so? I don't think I ever looked like that when I was pregnant with you."

"Dash..." said Spike. His voice was hard to ignore. "If I remember right, you were worse. And you hated it."

"Because I couldn't fly," she said. "Lucky I retired from the Wonderbolts then."

"Luck had nothing to do with it."

They chatted amicably while Rainbow Dash finished her breakfast. Eating was kind of a chore now. Her stomach couldn't handle some of the heavier stuff she used to like.

As soon as she was done Rainbow Bloom got that glow in her eye that said she wanting to hear a story. Rainbow Dash chuckled to herself, wondering what it would be this time.

"Sooooo," began Rainbow Bloom. She rubbed the back of her green and blue mane before continuing.

"Yeeeees?" said Rainbow Dash, mimicking her daughter's tone. Spike rolled his eyes.

"Could you tell me about how you and dad got together?"

Rainbow Dash looked at Spike. He looked back, and their eyes met. She tried to remember it all, and it occurred to her that this was a story Rainbow Bloom hadn't actually heard before. It had just never come up. For Rainbow Bloom, their relationship always was.

"It's not that interesting," said Rainbow Dash, after thinking about it. "Not as interesting as you'd think anyway."

"It really just sort of happened," said Spike.

"Tell me anyway," said Rainbow Bloom. She sat down in a comfortable position, as if it was already decided that she was getting a story.

Rainbow Dash sighed.

"Fine," she said, before sitting down herself. She opened her mouth to begin the story, but realised there was already a problem. She didn't want to talk about Twilight. None of her friends had so much as mentioned her name out loud ever since she'd... been taken care of.

"Well...we met when...."

Spike, sensing her dilemma, took over.

"You know I was an assistant when I was younger? I was assigned to ponies to help them keep notes, organise their living space, run errands, stuff like that?"

Rainbow Bloom nodded.

"Well your mom and I met when the pony I was assisting moved to Ponyville. That didn't last long though, I was assigned to somepony else after about a week and moved back to Canterlot."

"Then how did anything ever happen?"

It was okay for Rainbow Dash to take over now. "He was sad about leaving, so I offered to keep in touch. In fact, our only correspondence was through letters for like, a looooong time." She widened her forelegs to show how long it was.

"There were a lot of letters," said Spike, chuckling.

"Yeah," said Rainbow Dash. It hadn't started off that way. But after a while Spike's letters became something Dash had looked forward to, and she found herself spending more and more time thinking about what she was going to tell him in her next letter. It was like having a diary than actually wrote back. There was even a point where they exchanged letters daily. The mail ponies must have been paid overtime.

"I didn't see Spike again in person until I went to Canterlot to try out for the Wonderbolts. We hung out, I tried out for the Wonderbolts, we hung out some more...."

"Well that's all very interesting," said Rainbow Bloom, bringing a hoof to her mouth and yawning overdramatically. "But how did you fall in love? That's what I want to hear!" She said it like she was a teenage filly reading a sappy romantic novel.

Rainbow Dash thought about it. She looked at Spike again. When did it happen? She couldn't really think of a time when she didn't love him, and then suddenly did. But there was a time....

"You know I hate telling you this," she said. "But you're my daughter so I guess I'll have to suck it up and say it."
Rainbow Bloom smiled like she just won a prize.

"When I was living in Canterlot, Spike and I saw a lot of each other. And when I was given some time off, I'd head back to Ponyville to see all my friends. And I'd take Spike with me. By this time Spike was exchanging letters with all my friends too. He says he didn't get as many letters from them as from me, which is probably true because I'm so awesome, and -"

"Mom," said Rainbow Bloom. "Don't start talking about how awesome you are, you'll never stop."

"Ain't that the truth," said Spike.

Rainbow Dash glared at him.

"Well anyway," she said. "I would always fly him to Ponyville in a carriage. And one time... Spike fell out."

"I was stupid," said Spike. "I kept trying to get Dash to do some tricks with me. I figured, why not? She was a Wonderbolt, and the greatest flyer in all of Equestria! She could do something cool while still carrying me."

"And like an idiot I finally agreed to try it." Rainbow Dash sighed, thinking back to that day. "I thought he was going to die. There was only one other time I had to save a friend from falling."

"When was that?"

Rainbow Dash opened her mouth, but then closed it. That had never happened. Not this time.

"That's not part of the story," said Dash. "Anyway, I wasn't that high, there wasn't a lot of time to build up speed. And I still had that stupid carriage attached to me...." She was lost now, in memory. "I still remember thinking how I had to save him, how I couldn't let him die. How my entire life wouldn't be worth living without him. I had never accelerated so fast as I did then. I don't think I ever did after, either."

"She did catch me though," said Spike. "Obviously."

Rainbow Dash nodded her head slowly. She suddenly realised she was looking past Rainbow Bloom, and focused back on her daughter.

"Well, after I yelled at him and myself for being so stupid, I realised something. That he was very important to me. And that I loved him."

"That's kind of interesting," said Rainbow Bloom.

"But not that interesting," said Spike, repeating his comment from earlier.

Rainbow Dash continued to explain things about their developing relationship, with Spike filling in bits from his perspective.

Their first date, their first kiss, when Spike asked her to marry him.... It took a long time.

"I keep wondering," said Spike. "Why you're asking us all of this?"

Rainbow Bloom didn't seem to need to think about it.

"Because I want my foal to know about his grandparents. You're both wonderful, and I don't want the things you did to be forgotten when I die."

"I'm touched," said Rainbow Dash. She was, but she didn't want to show it. "But you won't have to worry about that. Spike will still be around long after you're gone. He'll remember everything for us."

There was a pause, as Rainbow Bloom let the thought sink in.

"I guess he will," she said.

Everyone

"Are you ready?" asked Spike. Rainbow Dash nodded silently.

"I can't believe you still do things like this."

"It's what we've always done," she said. "Just because we're old doesn't mean we can't still hang out."

"You're not just 'old.'"

Rainbow Dash smiled at his comment. She was lucky to still be alive after so long. They all were.

As Rainbow Dash and Spike left their cave, across the forest and into town, Pinkie Pie was brushing her mane. She didn't have as far to go, and so didn't have to leave quite as early.

Her once vibrant pink hair was all dull and grey now. Her cutie mark still held colour though. Setting down the brush Pinkie Pie took one last look at herself. Satisfied that she was presentable for her friends, she went to the kitchen to pick up her basket of goodies before leaving her house.

Applejack and Rarity nodded to each other as they met. They still lived close to each other, and so decided to make the walk to Fluttershy's cottage together. They both carried saddlebags filled with various items. Despite being so old, Applejack was still as tough as ever. Rarity though, was finally starting to slow down. She had become a slow walker in her old age, her joints aching with every step. But she didn't let it show. Applejack knew though, and didn't go faster than they needed to.
Pinkie Pie arrived first, outside of Fluttershy, who had already set down a large blanket and a few pillows for everybody to sit on. They could handle the bare ground, but old ponies deserved a little extra comfort sometimes.

Rainbow Dash and Spike arrived next. Rainbow Dash hadn't brought anything, but Spike brought a bunch of extra gems to munch on while he kept his wife company.

By the time Applejack and Rarity showed up, the picnic was shaping up nicely.

Applejack and Rarity set down their saddlebags and arranged their contents on to the blanket. Sandwiches, small cakes, bowls of hay, carrots. It was all very simple fair.

"How's your grandson, Rainbow?" asked Applejack, slowly chewing on one of her own sandwiches. Spike was off, looking out towards the sky, his huge frame providing shade for the ponies.

"Last I heard he was denied membership into the Wonderbolts. He should be on his way back home now, actually."

"Why? How could they go and deny him? Kid's just as good as you were at that age."

Rainbow Dash shrugged. "He'll get in. He takes after me, he's not going to let a little thing like rejection ruin his dreams."

Rainbow Dash laughed at the thought of him giving up. No way that would happen.

"I'll have to throw him a party tomorrow," said Pinkie Pie.

"My dear, aren't you a little old for that?" asked Rarity. She was smiling though, and wasn't at all serious about the comment.

"I still have a few more parties left in me," replied Pinkie Pie, grinning.

"I'll help you then," said Rarity, smiling back.

The picnic continued for hours. When they got together they could spend a very long time talking, telling jokes and stories, or just doing nothing at all but enjoying each other's company.

As the sun began to set, everypony began to pack up. Rainbow Dash especially had to get back soon. She suspected her grandson would show up later to talk about his tryout and where it went wrong, and she wanted to make sure he didn't arrive to an empty cave.

They said their goodbyes, made plans to all get together again like this soon, and headed back to their homes. Rainbow Dash did get to see her grandson later, and he did tell her everything about what happened. She had agreed to coach him until he got into the Wonderbolt, and it looked like her job wasn't over yet.

Pinkie and Rarity teamed up to plan a party for him. It wouldn't be a huge thing, just a small welcome home party. Pinkie still loved parties, but even she had to admit they couldn't be as big as they used to be.

Applejack did what she'd always done. She took care of her family and the farm, although what that meant now that she was too old to work was that she helped keep the books, make dinner, and help clean the house, at least when Apple Dash wasn't trying to do it all herself.

Late that night, when they were all tucked in their beds, or in Rainbow Dash's case, asleep on her cloud, the four of them who came from the future so long ago would have a dream.

A dream about that world they each left at separate times. In it, a Fluttershy and Spike very much like the ones they now knew fought against an aged pony, a pony they had done their best to forget about. They saw Twilight's defeat in that other world, and for a moment could feel all that old anger and hatred bubble back to the surface as she lay there, writhing and pathetic, before Fluttershy ended it.

They woke up with a start in the middle of the night. They each knew it wasn't just a dream, although part of them wished it was.

The two worlds were very different from each other now. But some things stayed the same. Rarity was the only one to confirm what they all didn't want to believe, as she stepped outside her house and looked towards Canterlot. She couldn't see it very well at first, but her magic made things clear.

That battle between Celestia and Luna was happening here in this world too, on the same day.

Rarity thought it was kind of strange. Given what she had seen in the dream, she would have thought that without Twilight, Luna would have attacked at a different time.

She knew the next day they could wake up to a new government. Rarity especially had no love for Celestia, and she hoped Luna would emerge triumphant here, this time. But there was no point in worrying about it. She was old, and so were her friends. They couldn't do anything about it, and even under the most optimistic projections they wouldn't live long enough to need to worry about the long term affects of a change in rulership, or an attempted coup. So Rarity turned around and went back to bed.

Whatever the next day brought, politically, she wouldn't worry about it.

It was more important to throw that party. All her friends would be there, after all, and Pinkie wouldn't want to throw a bad party.

Reconnection - AU Supplement, or Rainbow Dash Puts Her Hoof Down

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."

Chapter 1

Applejack

She was floating. She was panicked.

It was loud, and bright. Her eyes were open, but they couldn't see anything but light. And then, a loud drawn out shout of "No!" filled her ears. Her eyes closed involuntarily, and she felt herself move gently by an unseen force. She tried to fight it, but it wouldn't stop.

She could see the light get brighter, even through her closed eyes. Her pulse quickened.

Her head hurt. A loud rumbling, and suddenly Applerush felt herself laying on a hard, cold, stone floor. She heard other voices grumbling around her before she opened her eyes.

She opened her eyes, and was shocked at what she saw.

"Ugh, my head..," said the very much alive Rainbow Dash. Alive. Rainbow Dash was alive and laying right in front of her. Applerush looked around slowly, confused and more than a little afraid.

Her friends were all around her. Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Twilight Sparkle, and -

"Oh, thank goodness!" said Rarity. She was standing next to Fluttershy, looking at her own tail.

Applerush watched numbly as Fluttershy said the same thing she said all those years ago, when together they defeated Nightmare Moon.

Applerush was too dazed and confused to stand up, let alone look down at her necklace which she knew looked just like her cutie mark. When Pinkie Pie bounced over to her squealing, "Look at mine, look at mine!" Applerush could only mumble incoherently as she tried to ask what was going on.

"Applejack, what's wrong?" said Pinkie Pie when she noticed Applerush not looking at her. Again, Applerush failed to speak.
"What's wrong?" said Rainbow Dash suddenly. "Did she hurt herself?"

"Applejack, did you hit your head?" said Twilight Sparkle as she walked towards her.

Applerush swallowed hard. "No...everything's fine."

"Indeed it is," came the familiar voice of Princess Celestia.

She was still on the floor, and so couldn't bow any lower when Twilight ran in for a hug. Slowly picking herself up, she watched in silence as the well remembered scene unfolded.

She'd had enough. Quickly, and without a word, Applerush bolted for the exit. Ignoring the calls of her old name, she continued to run, all the way back to Sweet Apple Acres, never stopping, no matter how winded she was. Only one thought was going through her mind as she ran. Where was her foal?

When she arrived, she ignored her family's confused looks as she ran straight back to where things last made sense. The place she was foaling, where Twilight was helping her have her child.

In the back of her mind, she knew what was to greet her. But she still wasn't ready for it. The area was empty. Nopony was there. Somehow, despite the impossibility, the disbelief, Applerush was just Applejack again. No Peanut. No foal. Half of her life had disappeared completely. It was like it never happened. Applerush - no, Applejack, began to cry.

It was a while before anypony found her. Her brother walked up next to her, all young like he was before.

"Uh, A.J.?" he said. "What's the matter?"

She couldn't say. How could she? Who would believe someone who said that they had lived all this already? It didn't make sense. What could possibly make such an impossible thing happen? A horrible thought forced itself into Applejack's mind, so fast Applejack almost felt somebody else had put it there. She had died.

She let her big brother lead her back to her room as she cried silently. Nopony spoke to her as she walked. They probably didn't know what to say. She gave a small "thanks," to her brother as she entered her room, but then quickly closed the door so he couldn't follow. She wanted to be alone.

Her family didn't bother her much. Every hour or so somepony would knock and she'd make a noise to assure them she was still there, alive and everything. Later, her brother opened the door carrying a cup of warm milk with cinnamon and a baked apple slice floating in it. He set it down next to her. She wasn't crying anymore, but she still didn't feel like talking.
Big Mac sat himself next to her. As she wondered to herself if she wanted him there or not, he spoke.

"Pinkie Pie stopped by. Said there was a party happening in honour of Princess Luna's return. Don't rightly know who that is, but I guess that's what the party's for. I was gonna go, but I think you need me more than some dumb ol' party."
He nuzzled himself against her for a moment. Applejack felt fresh tears begin to form as he settled down next to her.
Quietly, she spoke.

"I've got something to tell you."

Pinkie Pie

Pinkie Pie screamed. Almost instantly, she stopped. It was night. Sugarcube Corner was nowhere in sight. She looked around, fear subsiding.

She was in her room. Her old room, from long ago, when she was just a young mare. A thought occurred to her, shockingly quick. She had died. Twilight hadn't been lying! But...she wasn't dead. Pinkie could feel her heart beat, quick but steady. She could hear the insects chirp outside.

Rolling out of bed, she turned on her light and took a look at herself in the mirror.

She was young. Not an itty bitty thing, but young anyway. She smiled at herself, putting a hoof to her completely pink mane. It'd been a long time since she looked this good.

Pinkie then frowned. She had died, but was alive again. Not just alive, but was alive in a young body. What about her children?

She shook her head and walked out of her room. It was all here, everything as she remembered it, and more. It had been a long time, and she now knew she didn't have any foals anymore. It was hard, but Pinkie managed to fight back her tears.

She loved her little foals so so much, but if she really had somehow gone back in time, there were more important things to do than cry for herself. She could cry later. And she would. But now, she had friends to help. And a big, mean, terrible pony to stop.

She bolted out of her house before remembering it was still the middle of the night. And didn't know what day it was. Or what year. It could be too late to help everypony! Or too early. With a sigh, she walked back in the house. She could get some more answers in the morning. In the meantime, maybe she'd help herself to some crying after all.

Rainbow Dash

She was falling. She would have just let herself fall, if she didn't notice it was a bright and sunny day all of a sudden. There was no rushing wind around her, no sounds of thunder roiling, and the horrible sickening spinning had stopped. She wasn't out of control anymore.

Rainbow Dash flapped her wings hard, still panicked, trying to get back into control. Pure instinct put her right again, and she found herself flying , fully in control of herself. She wasn't going to die!

"Hey Rainbow Dash!" a voice called. Rainbow Dash looked down to see Pinkie Pie running along with her. Confused, and unsure of what else to do, Rainbow Dash landed.

"Um...what's up Pinkie Pie?" Rainbow Dash tried to act natural. Whatever had happened, it sure was confusing. But she wasn't dead, so it was okay.

"Oh it's so good to see you again Rainbow!" said Pinkie Pie as she flinged herself forwards. Rainbow Dash nuzzled back, confused, but happy.

When Pinkie pulled away there were tears in her eyes, but she was smiling brightly.

"It's been a really really long time since I've seen you! How are you, is everything okay? Oh silly me, of course it is! Nothing's happened to you yet!"

Rainbow Dash was taken aback.

"What are you talking about, Pinks? We saw each other just the other day! And what do you mean nothing's happened to me yet? Is somebody planning a prank on me?"

"Oh, Rainbow Dash, you don't remember? I was hoping you would!"

"Remember what?" said Rainbow Dash. "The last thing I remember was - " She stopped. The last thing she remembered was spinning uncontrollably, falling to her death in a terrible storm, hoping her friend Twilight Sparkle was alright. But now she was perfectly fine, standing in front of Pinkie Pie having a totally normal-for-Pinkie-Pie conversation. Suddenly, she had a thought.

"What am I...supposed to remember?"

Pinkie's ears flattened for a moment as she said, "Never mind Rainbow Dash. I just thought - well, never mind. It was good to see you again, but I've got to check up on Appleru- I mean, Applejack now!"

Rainbow Dash watched in confusion as Pinkie Pie turned around and bounced her way towards Sweet Apple Acres.
Shrugging, Rainbow Dash took to the skies again. She was tired, and wanted to find a nice soft cloud and just take a nap. Whatever had happened was over now. She was alive and everything was okay.

As she settled herself high in the sky and closed her eyes, Rainbow Dash had the strangest feeling that everything wasn't okay. It felt like she was forgetting something extremely important, something just at the edge of memory.

She yawned. Whatever it was, maybe it'd come back to her after a nap. She really was very tired.

Reconnection Supplement - Generosity

Author's Note:

You may have noticed that in Chapter 7 of Reconnection, I did not show what Rarity got up to when left alone with Twilight. The following is what might have happened.

Warning: Semi-graphic Violence is in this one.
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Rarity and Twilight were finally alone. Applejack was on her way back home with Rainbow Dash and Big Macintosh, to rest.

Rarity would finally get what she deserved.

She magically levitated the ball-peen hammer which she had dropped earlier, and turned to face Twilight, who still had the large bit in her mouth and couldn't speak. Twilight didn't look like she wanted to say anything. Rarity paused for a moment. She didn't give much thought to it really, but she decided she would not let Twilight say anything.

Quickly, she magically slammed the hammer down hard on Twilight's right hind knee. Following the sound of bone cracking, Twilight merely grunted loudly. Rarity smiled at her, pleased that her captive had enough fight in her to hold back screams. It'd be a lot more fun this way.

She wasted no time in slamming the hammer down again on the other hind knee. She hit it again, and again, each slam of the hammer accompanied by a corresponding crunch as bones splintered into ever smaller fragments.

Still, Twilight had made no attempt to scream, although tears were streaming down her face.

Her eyes filled with malice. She almost looked like she thought she was the victim here. Rarity didn't want to look at them anymore.

She had spent several hours making this room neat and tidy, putting everything she had bought in its proper place. And so she didn't have to look at all when she dropped the bloody hammer on the floor and magically picked up a set of sewing needles and a spool of thread

With a practiced motion she took out the smallest needle and threaded it. She took a deep breath while staring into Twilight's eyes, and grinned.

To Rarity's annoyance Twilight only fidgeted as Rarity sewed her eyelids shut. When finished, Rarity growled to herself before taking all the remaining sewing needles dividing them into groups of two, and jabbing them haphazardly into Twilight's closed eyes.

She left them there.

Still Twilight did not scream.

"What is wrong with you!?" Rarity demanded. "Why can't you scream for me?"

She grabbed a nearby candle she was saving, and magically lit it. She placed it on its side, so that the flame was kissing the side of Twilight's stomach. She could hear the singing of fur, before Twilight squirmed out of the way, knocking the candle over.

"Damn it," said Rarity. She was starting to get frustrated. Good thing she brought lighter fluid.

She didn't want Twilight to burst into flames, no, that could kill her. So she took care to only douse half of Twilight's midsection with the liquid, before picking up the fallen candle and re-lighting it. She placed the candle next to Twilight again, and watched the pony light up like a small, contained bonfire.

It was glorious. Or at least it was, only for a moment.

Rarity saw Twilight's mouth open, but it slammed shut with only a small squeak of pain. Twilight was biting her lip hard enough to draw blood in order to stop herself from screaming. Rarity had had enough. She hadn't even really started, but already this wasn't going like she had planned.

As Twilight's stomach continued to burn, Rarity grabbed her knife.

"Why won't you scream?" she said, before plunging the blade into Twilight's flank. No scream. Not even a gasp. "Why?" she shouted again, and again the knife entered Twilight's flesh. Blood began to pool under the table, making a mess.

"Why can't you just be like a normal pony?!" Her eyes were watering. She was crying. She didn't care. "Why?!"

She started to hack away mindlessly.

"Why couldn't you just be our friend?! Why did you have to do it?! Why can't you be sorry?!"

She let the knife drop as she slumped to the ground. She'd gone overboard. Twilight's intestines were slopping out of a large gash in her stomach, and the flames on the other side had begun to peter out, leaving an island of blackened flesh in its wake.

Twilight had died. She died without giving Rarity any satisfaction at all.

Rarity wondered why she couldn't have let Twilight talk first? Maybe then she would have gotten something out of this.

Instead of the righteous vindication she was hoping for, she just felt sick.

Reconnection Supplement - Acceptance

Author's Note:

You may have noticed that in Chapter 7 of Reconnection, I did not show what Rarity got up to when left alone with Twilight. The following is what might have happened.
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Rarity and Twilight were finally alone. Applejack was on her way back home with Rainbow Dash and Big Macintosh, to rest.
Rarity would finally get what she deserved.

She magically levitated the ball-peen hammer which she had dropped earlier, and turned to face Twilight, who still had the large bit in her mouth and couldn't speak. Twilight didn't look like she wanted to say anything. Rarity paused for a moment. She didn't give much thought to it really, but she decided she would remove the bit and let Twilight speak.

She walked over, expectantly, looking Twilight in the eyes. Twilight didn't meet her gaze, nor did she say anything.

Several moments passed, and Rarity grew annoyed. She was showing this pony a sense of mercy, a chance to get out some last words she hadn't already gotten out in their previous argument. Certainly there was something left unsaid?
Rarity gritted her teeth.

"Don't you have anything to say?" she asked, finally. Twilight turned her head, but kept her eyes looking to the side.

"Like what?" said Twilight, sounding very annoyed, and not at all concerned for her well-being. "Want me to beg? Sorry, that's not going to happen."

"That's disappointing, but not what I was thinking of."

"I don't care," said Twilight, turning her head away again.

Rarity slammed her hammer down on the table in anger, next to Twilight's knee.

"I am giving you the chance to say some final words. Because that's what decent ponies do. Anything you want to say? Come now, there must be something."

Twilight turned her head to face Rarity again, a look of calculation behind her eyes. She suddenly smiled, and Rarity found herself getting even more angry.

"I get it," said Twilight. "This isn't about me. This is about you. It couldn't be about me, what could I say that I didn't already say earlier? No, you want me to apologise to you directly. You want me to say how oh-so sorry I am for ruining your life, and killing your stupid friends. Well, you're not getting that. So just hurry up and kill me already. I have things to be doing."

Rarity's jaw dropped, before clamping down hard in anger. Why couldn't she have just keep Twilight gagged? Now she just wanted Twilight dead, and so lifted the hammer up magically once again, only to slam it down as hard as she possibly could on Twilight's skull.

Rarity blinked as drops of blood splattered on her face. The sickening sound of Twilight's skull caving in should have been music to her ears.

But it just made her sick.