Rarity's Generosity

by Incredible_E

Rating: teen
Tags: Cutie Mark Crusaders, Rarity, Tragedy, Violence, Death, Sad, Main 6, Drama, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 12958

Rarity performs the ultimate form of generosity. What will it cost?

The peace is disturbed by an enormous beast, throwing Ponyville into despair. The Mane 6 take it upon themselves to return Ponyville to its prior state. Soon comes a point where generosity's greatest form must be performed. Is this form of generosity worth the cost to those who it is meant for?

Popular Page
5/25/2022

Published 2022-05-10 21:20:00 UTC
Last updated 2022-06-07 17:58:36 UTC

1 - Broken Peace

It is a cool and temperate day in Ponyville. Clouds are few and rain is not scheduled for another few days. Mane Street is as normal as always with ponies living their lives. Lyra and Bon Bon are sitting at the Ponyville Cafe, drinking their oat smoothies while they talk together, as usual. Market ponies are selling various products at their stands, as usual. Others are enjoying the day at Ponyville Park, walking about enjoying the scenic views, as usual. All are happy and all is in perfect order. The only unusual occurrence is the upcoming Helping Hooves Music Festival.

While Ponyville remains at peace, Rarity is at home designing, as she normally does on an uneventful day such as this. At first appearance, the room she is working in would be considered messy. To the fashion designer, it is organized chaos, a room filled with inspiration and plans for new dress lines.

Rarity sews the last piece of fabric onto an outstanding gown. “Ah! Magnificent! Exactly what this collection needs: some flare!” she turns to read the time on a clock mounted above the door.

”Just in time to meet Applejack at the spa!” Rarity prances in place excitedly. She has been looking forward to today after a week of hard work.

Rarity leaves the boutique, making her way to the Ponyville Day Spa. She takes in the gorgeous day and waves to a few ponies as she trots by. In a short time, she arrives and waits for a staff pony.

Aloe Blossom welcomes Rarity, ”Ello Rarity! Here for your usual with Appleyack?” she said with her exotic accent.

”Yes, of course. I would never miss it!” Rarity is anxious to begin relaxing.

”You have never missed a day Rarity," Aloe smiles briefly before telling Rarity unfortunate news. ”I am afraid Appleyack is not here yet.”

Rarity sighs aloud. ”Wow, I’m shocked,” she sarcastically states, rolling her eyes.

Aloe offers Rarity an early start. ”Do you want to start now? Maybe Appleyack will be here soon.”

”No, no. I will wait. I simply won’t start without her. I worked hard to get her to join me.”

Aloe nods and walks to another client. Rarity finds a seat and patiently waits for Applejack.

Shortly after, the doors swing open. Rarity looks up with searching eyes, hoping it is Applejack. Not to her surprise, it was not Applejack. It would be a miracle if Applejack were to arrive so soon after being late.

Rarity greets the new pony while smiling as best she can, given the situation. ”Hello, Derpy.”

”Hiya Rarity,” Derpy happily smiles and waves.

More time passes until the doors finally reveal Applejack.

Rarity jumps up from her seat. ”There you are! What took you so long this time?”

Applejack, out of breath, ”I am mighty sorry Rarity. I had to patch some holes in the chicken wire, along with every other chore I have around the farm.”

”Well, you are here now! Let’s finally unwind together with our usual hooficure, massage, and steam.”

”I could use all of that right about now,” Applejack sighs calmly.

Rarity and Applejack get their hooves done, massaged, and are now sitting in the steam room. They remain in peace, talking about the past week while the steam settles them. It would have been a perfect session if it was not for the distracting noises outside. A deep, almost roar-like sound makes it into the steam room.

”Did you hear that, Applejack?” Rarity asks.

Applejack thinks of what could be making that noise. ”Maybe it was a pipe,” she guesses.

”If it is, I hope it does not break on us,” Rarity jokes.

They begin to feel a rumble, the room shakes with growing intensity. The door of the steam room is quickly slammed open. Immediately shattering the once peaceful moment.

”Appleyack! Rarity! You must get out of here!” Aloe frantically shouts.

”What’s goin’ on?” Applejack asks.

”No time! You will see.”

They group outside with other ponies whose afternoon was also just rudely interrupted. Scared ponies run away from something just out of view. Rarity and Applejack walk further into the street, dodging ponies going the opposite way. They became lightheaded as the problem comes to light, not believing current events.

In a surge of adrenaline, Applejack goes to assist others in escaping the chaos. Rarity turns and scans the group outside the spa for a pegasus. The first pegasus she sees will be her choice since there was no time to waste.

Rarity spots a pegasus and gives them a task. ”Derpy! I need you to fly to Twilight and tell her that an Ursa Major is attacking Ponyville!”

”On it,” says Derpy, as she salutes. She spreads her wings and flies to Twilight’s castle on the other side of town.

Twilight is in her library reading a book, as usual, as her day remains at peace. She sits in her red comfy chair for fictional reads which is next to her hard crystal chair of studying. A lamp illuminates the pages of the fiction story she is reading while she sits Lyra-style on her comfy chair. She is relaxing a few days after she and Fluttershy return from solving a friendship problem with the Hooffields and McColts. Hours of peace go by as she continues to sink more into the story of her book.

It’s so calm and peaceful, she thought to herself while pausing in between chapters.

This day couldn’t get any better, she continued to think subconsciously. Twilight was able to read a few more paragraphs before hearing a strange noise outside.

Bbbbrrrrrrrrrrr…

Twilight looks up from her book, contemplating what the noise could be. She looks around with a face of slight confusion while her book continues to levitate with her magical magenta aura. She dismisses the constant noise by assuming a bug is flying around her. The noise continues to pierce through the air, shattering the quiet peace she was once in. Attempts at returning to her reading were unsuccessful as a result of the ever-looming frequency.

rrrrrrRRRRRRRRRR…

The noise is getting louder and louder at an increasing pace. The noise went from a small buzz to a louder rumble. She puts down the book and gets up from her red comfy chair to finally look around. She looks upward and sees a shadowy figure through the center circular window of her library. The shadow cast onto the window from the sunlight is getting larger. The noise's volume reaches new amplitudes while the figure grows larger. Something is coming!

RRRRRRRRRRRRRR…

The shadowy figure that is cast upon the window, which depicts the Tree of Harmony, becomes life-sized. The noise is the loudest it has been, sounding like a plane falling from the sky.

RRRRRRR–CRASH

The piercing noise becomes amplified, almost doubled, the instant the figure crashes through the Tree of Harmony window. The once shadowy figure reveals itself as it attempts to land on the floor with stability. Twilight is slightly shocked about this occurrence but finds it quite believable. The figure lands but blunders to the ground as the landing was a little too rough.

Twilight is surprised at the new visitor. “Derpy?” she exclaims in curiosity but now understands the window crashing.

“Are you alright?” Twilight asks while Derpy recollects herself after her rough landing.

Twilight offers a hoof to help Derpy up. Derpy accepts the help and stands back on her hooves.

“Is something the matter? We do have doors you know,” Twilight says, poking a joke into an otherwise agitated situation.

Derpy responds, “Heheh, well I don’t have time for doors right now,” she says in her usual soft and quirky voice.

Derpy shakes herself off to remove small glass shards still on her coat, but one shard remains. She curiously looks at it as it sits on her shoulder and takes it out. Derpy jumps all of the sudden, letting out a quick yelp.

“Ouch!” Derpy cries. A little blood comes out with the shard. She looks curiously at it as she puts her hoof over the cut. Twilight looks puzzled as well.

“Huh. I’ve gone through many windows. Never have I got cut like this,” she says wondering why this is the first time she has bled. Twilight is also witnessing blood outside of the body for the first time.

“Why have you come so urgently?” asks Twilight, still curious why Derpy had to make an entrance through her window. Allowing the external environment and the sun to enter the once serene library room.

Derpy stares emptily at Twilight as she fails to recall why she even came. This continues for a moment. Twilight looks around during the inelegant moment. Glancing mostly at the glass shards that riddle the room.

“Oh yeah! I almost forgot heheh,” Derpy finally stated, breaking the silence. “Ponyville is in trouble.”

As the last part of “trouble” left Derpy’s mouth, Twilight became much more paranoid.

Twilight responds with frantic haste, “What do you mean in trouble?” she gets closer to Derpy’s face waiting for an answer.

“A big purple bear,” Derpy says with the guilt of delivering bad news. She looks downward as it was said as if she were at fault. Twilight’s pupils become constricted with horror as she realizes Derpy had just mentioned an Ursa Major.

“I–It was purple? Big as well?” Twilight says, hoping Derpy messed something up when describing what was attacking Ponyville. Trying to get a conclusion other than an Ursa Major.

Derpy nods her head slowly, still looking downward, not favoring the delivery of such solemn news. Twilight moves next to Derpy and puts her front right leg over Derpy’s shoulders. POOF. They teleport out of the castle library and into the Ponyville hospital.

POOF. They teleport into the lobby of the hospital to be stunned by the activity. Although it was expected because of the sudden attack. In a hurry, Twilight teleports out without saying a word. Derpy looks at the nurse pony over the counter and smiles.

POOF. Twilight teleports to the commotion to find ponies sprinting away, some ponies aching, and hospital ponies hard at work. Some brave unicorns who can shoot their lasers at the bear remain at the scene to assist. Twilight sees that Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie are already there and slightly ahead of her. The sound of Twilight teleporting reaches the ears of her friends up ahead. They look back as Twilight approaches them.

“Girls!” Twilight shouts out.

The three trot towards Twilight to meet in the middle of their original positions.

Applejack is the first to talk, “Thank Celestia you’re here Twilight. This beast came outta nowhere.”

Rarity follows, “Oh, it’s just awful! Applejack and I were relaxing at the spa with a steam. Suddenly this--this beast attacked the building next to us. Now the spa is destroyed!” - she puts her hoof over her forehead - “This is the worst! Possible! Thing!”

“Do you know where Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy are?” Twilight asks, so they can be stronger against the Ursa Major together.

Pinkie Pie answers, “Rainbow came by and left to get Fluttershy right before you appeared.”

Twilight responds, “Good, Fluttershy may know what to do since this is a creature. Hopefully, she can deal with this Ursa Major as she did with the dragon. For now, we must keep it away from the rest of Ponyville,” she nods with assertiveness to the others. The others nod back in confirmation.

They turn to face the Ursa Major with a pose of strength. Their manes and tails flow in the moving breeze. Their faces take the appearance of determination and bravery. While on the inside, they are a bit nervous about how they will accomplish their goal. One step at a time, they thought. They are ready to take on the beast terrorizing Ponyville.

2 - Leading Away

Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Twilight begin to engage the beast with the goal of keeping it away from the rest of Ponyville. The moment is tense as the Ursa Major wastes no time in destroying nearby buildings. A few brave unicorns remain to help repel the beast. As Rarity and Applejack make their way toward the Ursa Major, Pinkie Pie turns around and hops in the opposite direction of the Ursa Major.

Twilight notices and turns around while the others run ahead.

“Pinkie? Where are you going?” Twilight asks hurriedly.

“To fight the bear, silly!” Pinkie says while hopping towards Sugar Cube Corner. Twilight must get to the Ursa Major with the others so she just acknowledges that Pinkie might have a plan.

Twilight quickly turns around and gallops to Rarity.

”Do you know how to make a laser with your magic, Rarity?” Twilight asks, wanting to make sure Rarity is able to help.

”I don’t. You think you can teach it to me?” Rarity replies, eager to learn.

Twilight smiles and demonstrates how to conjure up a laser pulse. After a few tries, Rarity can now create her own.

They both fire at the Ursa Major, along with the other unicorns, to shift its attention to them instead of the building it is demolishing. They are as effective as they could be to an Ursa Major, which practically only serves as an annoyance to the beast. The Ursa Major roars loudly, enough so that the ground shakes under everypony's hooves. It swipes at the colorful arrangement of lights that point at its fur coat.

While Twilight was teaching Rarity, Applejack was accomplishing efforts of her own. Applejack is risking it by being close to the beast, kicking as hard as possible. She must dodge numerous swipes from the beast.

As all the remaining unicorns in the area attempt to fight off the Ursa Major, Twilight attempts to teleport the Ursa Major somewhere outside Ponyville. Each attempt is met with empty results and only wears Twilight out more. An idea comes to Twilight to levitate the beast away. She could move an Ursa Minor and a full water silo. Though this is not a Minor at all, so she would need the help of the other remaining unicorns.

"Every unicorn!" she shouts, "Stop firing your lasers and try levitating it! Put everything you got into it!"

Applejack backs away from the beast. The unicorns hear her and stop firing and immediately do a levitation spell. They are all standing strong, struggling to lift the beast from the ground. Twilight's horn is bustling with her colorful aura. Other's horns are sparking as well, Rarity is giving it her all. The weight of the Ursa Major forces the hooves of the unicorns to sink into the dirt, leaving an imprint as its weight is felt through the magic. Sweat drips down the sides of their faces as their strength is draining. After a moment the Ursa Major notices and turns to swipe at the unicorns once more. They quickly halt their levitating spell and produce a shield to block the incoming swipe from the Ursa Major. The transparent shield lets out a deep thud as it was hit by that beast's paw. The idea had failed since they could only get the Ursa Major to barely notice they were trying at all. Finally, as the pace of the battle intensifies, Rainbow Dash arrives with Fluttershy.

"Come on Fluttershy you have to at least try!" Rainbow Dash demands lightly towards Fluttershy. It has taken those two so long to arrive because Fluttershy has been hesitant to come. Although instead of freezing up and all-out refusing, Fluttershy has come somewhat voluntarily. The confidence must be from when she convinced a large dragon to leave the Ponyville area a little over a year ago.

"Oh goodness..." - Fluttershy stares at the rampaging beast - "How will it even listen to me? How will I get to it?"

"Blah blah blah. Those are details for later," responds Rainbow Dash, "Do you think you can find out what is wrong?"

"I'll try..." Fluttershy responds nervously.

Rainbow Dash flies up and goes to distract the beast as much as she can. She is like an annoying bug compared to the Ursa Major.

Fluttershy slowly and cautiously approaches the Ursa Major. Twilight sees that Fluttershy is finally here and maneuvers around the beast to be next to her. Just in case the Ursa Major tries anything hostile. Since Twilight went to Fluttershy, Rarity joins the group of unicorns so she is more protected.

"Uhh... Ursa Major sir... Why are you attacking Ponyville?" Fluttershy says in her soft voice. However, she amplifies it to make her voice more audible for the Ursa Major to hear properly.

The Ursa Major pauses in its hostilities for just a quick moment and glances at Fluttershy. As quickly as it looked, it looked away and resumed dismantling an adjacent building.

Fluttershy turns to Twilight. "He won't listen Twilight. I don't think he cares about us that much. I will try again though."

Fluttershy takes in the moment around her. Some ponies hurt in the distance, Ponyville being destroyed, it all gets to her a little bit. She becomes upset enough to be pushed out of her normal passivity.

"Ursa. Major. Sir!" Fluttershy shouts in a commanding voice. A rare thing to witness from Fluttershy.

"Can you please stop and listen to us?" The unicorns stop firing as Fluttershy begins speaking. The Ursa Major pauses again and looks at her. Fluttershy begins to flap her wings and ascends to get closer to the Ursa Major's face, but not too close. Fluttershy is still very nervous, even despite her recent boost of confidence.

"You must stop assaulting Ponyville and hurting us all! Tell us what your problem is and we will try our best to help!"

Fluttershy continues to fly a ways above the ground. The Ursa Major remains silent and looks as if it does not hear Fluttershy. When it actually did hear every bit. Though, in an instant, it snaps back into an aggressive state and swings its paw toward Fluttershy.

Bump

Rainbow Dash, who is flying idly while Fluttershy was speaking to the Ursa Major, sees the incoming paw. With the quickest reaction time, Rainbow Dash swoops in and catches Fluttershy before the paw could meet her in its striking path. Rainbow Dash sets Fluttershy down and lands next to Twilight. The Ursa Major begins to move more inward into town.

"Twilight, we need to get it out of Ponyville now!" Rainbow Dash says with extreme agitation.

Twilight quickly strategizes to see if there is anything else they can do to remove the Ursa Major from Ponyville. I could... No... That won't work. Maybe I could teleport it out! This Ursa Major is smaller than others, but a group of unicorns could not even get it off the ground. Teleporting it by myself will also be nearly impossible. I doubt the other unicorns know the teleportation spell. It is not as easy to learn as the laser spell. So I could not possibly teach them how to teleport a living thing flawlessly in the time we have... Ugh, why does this have to be so difficult... she ended her thoughts with an audible grunt of dissatisfaction.

Twilight unexpectedly asks Rainbow Dash for any ideas on how to proceed. "I can't think of anything that would work. Do you have any ideas, Rainbow Dash?"

Upon remembering that Pinkie has been gone a while, Twilight adds, "Where is Pinkie anyways?"

No immediate response is given from Rainbow Dash. However, a strange noise can be heard in the background. A loud and low frequency plagues the air. The occasional squeak of machinery and gears that need to be oiled echoes throughout Ponyville.

Oh no, not another strange noise, Twilight says to herself. What is it this time?

She turns her head to face Rainbow Dash who is flying low to the ground in between Twilight and Fluttershy. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy are turned around looking at something behind Twilight. Their facial expressions are full of shock with their mouths open in awe. Their eyes are locked onto something. At another glance to the right, the group of unicorns has paused to gaze upon the mysterious spectacle. Could they be looking at what is producing the strange new noise?

"What in Equestria is that?" Rarity says pointing her hoof in the direction where the others are looking. This ultimately influences Twilight to finally turn around.

Twilight is now witnessing what the others have been staring at for the last few seconds. The bizarre squeaking and grinding noises are no longer a mystery, as Twilight gazes at the source of it. The only question that remains would be how it even got there and how it is happening. The roof of Sugar Cube Corner is being split into two, both pieces slowly rotating to each different side. The low tone is now identified as gears of machinery, moving the roof out of the way for something new that was now emerging from the open space. A light blue object is now protruding from the opening roof. There are two ponies next to the large object, but they are unidentifiable at this distance. The object they are standing next to looks as blue as Pinkie's party canon...

Somepony inexplicably pulls a megaphone out of her hair and shouts into it. "Hey, guys! I told you I would help! Get ready for my Mega Party Cannon!TM, patent pending."

As comedically timed as ever, Pinkie Pie is back in the fight against the Ursa Major. In all this time, Pinkie Pie has been preparing to fight the Ursa Major, just as she had promised when she was hopping away in the opposite direction.

The Mega Party CannonTM snapped into action as more mechanical noises resonate throughout the abandoned streets of Ponyville. click-click-click-click goes the M.P.C., as it mechanically rotates towards the Ursa Major. As the M.P.C. points at the beast, Pinkie Pie stops rotating one wheel and goes to another. Now its latitude is being altered to allow better chances at a precise hit. Although Pinkie Pie is not alone, there's no way she could do mathematical physics, albeit, within such a small time frame. Somepony else is not visible to the girls on the road, nor was Pinkie until she spoke. They could only see Sugar Cube Corner separating itself and the large cannon. The super fun colossal blue mortar eventually points towards the Ursa Major.

"Heads up!" Pinkie shouts into the megaphone once again, then puts it back in her mane.

Fluttershy becomes nervous after the warning was yelled out. Rainbow Dash looks around curiously.

"Uhhh, heads up for what?" Rainbow Dash says, not seeing anything.

Twilight pieces it together and shouts, "The cannon! Pinkie is about to fire it! Everypony run around the Major to get behind it!" She points in the direction with her hoof. Most everypony gallops south, down the road, in order to get out of the way of any blast. Rainbow Dash stays to distract the beast as best she can until the last second. Some unicorns have called it quits, fearing a more aggressive monster.

BOOM. As the Mega Party CanonTM is fired the ground shakes, windows rattle, and doors vibrate ajar. A large spherical projectile speeds towards the Ursa Major. The sound the colorful ball leaves behind gets louder and louder as it nears its target. Thud! The ball explodes upon impact, leaving behind loose colorful confetti that is now raining down. The beast regains its balance after being jolted out of place by the confetti ball and turns to face the nearby ponies. It lets out a huge rawr filled with irritation at them all and begins to walk to them.

"Run south! Now is our chance to get it out of Ponyville!" Twilight announces loudly. Her voice filled with seriousness, but also some satisfaction as they now have the opportunity to lead it away.

The rest of the civilian unicorns put their tail between their legs and run off once the bear begins to charge them. It is just the six of them and the Ursa Major now. Pinkie Pie has joined the girls while running south, towards Ghastly Gorge. It was their only option to get the beast out of town. Running west would be going deeper into the heart of Ponyville. Going East would be unwise as it leads to the Everfree Forest. North was not an option since they would have to first run under the raging Ursa Major and then run through town some more. South was the last available choice.

Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie trot faster than they ever have before while Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy fly overhead. The Ursa Major grunts and roars as it attempts to get to the ponies ahead. The beast is much faster than them, but Twilight has a trick she can use. Twilight uses her magic to keep the Ursa Major from catching up to them by using a slow-down spell to decrease its speed. The Ursa Major is still quite fast but is no longer able to reach them if the girls keep up their current pace.

As they travel to Ghastly Gorge, Fluttershy thinks about the Ursa Major. What could have upset him enough to terrorize Ponyville? Fluttershy contemplates while she flies alongside Rainbow Dash. Wondering why the Ursa Major could be acting this way. It is unlike an Ursa creature to attack unless it has been provoked in some way. Maybe somepony did this intentionally? Did something unnatural happen? Oh, I do hope I can find out what went wrong so I can help the poor thing.

The tense silence is broken when Rarity’s curiosity gets to her. "How did you do that whole mega cannon stunt?" Rarity asks Pinkie Pie as they gallop south.

"I had Doctor Whooves help me out. I had the idea, and he had the brains to do it! He gave me the exact amount of wheel turns I needed to do," Pinkie Pie says smiling about the whole thing.

After a while, they finally make it to Ghastly Gorge, where the forest and ravine nearly touch. The vegetation is at its thickest since the spring has been rejuvenating the forest since winter was wrapped up. The sound of running water echoes around the large empty ravine, even when the water is a few hundred hoof steps below the cliffside. However, the water is a little lower than it usually is. Another unusual thing to contradict how the day otherwise started.

Twilight calls out to stop running and huddle close together as the Ursa Major approaches. As the bear gets closer, Twilight teleports herself and the others to the other side of the ravine. As they immediately get to the other side, Twilight uses an invisibility spell on them all to hide from the Ursa Major's sight. They stand there and observe the Ursa Major, believing that this will cause it to lose interest and calm down. Ponyville is far away, so Twilight hopes the Ursa Major will simply go back to its cave and end this hectic day.

Rarity whispers to the group, ”I do hope this works. I am ready for this to be over with.”

”Me too, I don’t want anything else to get hurt,” Fluttershy softly adds.

The Ursa Major looks around for the ponies that disappeared. It walks around, sniffs the air, and knocks down a few large trees with ease. It seems it is only getting more agitated instead of calming down. Eventually, the Ursa Major stops searching for them and turns its head to the north. It lets out another ground-shaking roar while it gets on its hind legs. It pounds the ground with its front legs as it returns to all fours. Unfortunately, the Ursa Major does not continue down the ravine's edge. Instead, it turns around and begins to walk in the opposite direction from which it came: back to Ponyville.

3 - The Smack-Down

Oh no no, no! The group simultaneously thinks to themselves while witnessing the Ursa Major moving back towards Ponyville.

”Why is it so determined to destroy Ponyville? What happened to make it think we did anything?” Rainbow Dash asks.

Twilight responds, ”I don’t know, but it needs to stay here. It is not realistic that we can wear it down alone. I need to get help, more reinforcements.”

”The unicorns from Ponyville simply won't come back after being scared off the first time,” Rarity adds.

Twilight comes up with a plan. ”Canterlot! I'll teleport to Canterlot and ask Celestia if we can assemble a team to exhaust the Ursa Major faster. First things first, we need to stop and distract it ourselves. I know you will all do a great job keeping the Ursa Major distracted. Do whatever it takes to keep it here. Rainbow, Applejack, Rarity, you should focus on the beast."

Rainbow Dash salutes, "Yes ma'am!"

"Will do," Applejack agrees.

"Absolutely!" Rarity says elegantly.

"Fluttershy, you should try and find out what could have possibly made the Ursa Major act this way."

"Mhm!" Fluttershy nods softly.

"Pinkie," Twilight pauses for dramatic effect. "You do you," she winks at Pinkie Pie. "Okie dokie lokie!" Pinkie concurs.

Twilight raises her hoof toward the group. Rarity is the first to join in, then everypony else enthusiastically follows along for an epic hoof bump.

Twilight disengages the cloak bubble and teleports them all just behind the speed-walking Ursa Major. Quickly, Rarity and Twilight fire a combined laser pulse to get the Major's attention. It works since the beast quits going north, screeching to a halt. It turns around and faces the six ponies that stand before the large cosmic purple bear.

"Alright, Twilight, we got this from here. Go get the royal guards," Rainbow Dash says, ready to continue forward with the plan.

Twilight responds, "I will be back as fast as I can," POOF! Twilight teleports away to Canterlot.

In the meantime, Fluttershy has gone a little bit into the forest to talk to the woodland creatures. She is trying to see if any rumors have spread about why the Ursa Major could be upset. So far, no luck. The woodland creatures she has spoken to have no gossip to tell.

"Well, could you spread the word to everycreature to be on the lookout for a reason why the Ursa Major could be upset?" Fluttershy says to a bird that recently said it had no idea about the Ursa Major. "Please include where I am, so if anycreature does know, they can come and tell me. The quicker the better, I do not want this fight to go on any longer than it has to..." The bird chirps as if it is happy to help, then flies off. It chirps as it flies, doing as Fluttershy kindly asked of it. Fluttershy gets closer to the scene, but still back far enough as to still get news if any creature comes to her. She is also waiting nearby in case the Ursa Major is all of a sudden ready to communicate what the problem is.

Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie are busy distracting the beast while Twilight is away. Rainbow Dash flies around it, landing a kick here and there, not only to distract it from moving to Ponyville, but from the other three below. Applejack rear kicks it harder than she kicks apple trees during the harvest season. Rarity continues to fire at the ruffian with a constant pulse.

Pinkie Pie keeps fishing around in her mane for something. Mmm-no, she says to herself in her head as she pulls out an item she was not looking for. The bouncy ball rolls away as it became a rejected item. No, not that, a rocking chair lands on the ground behind her. Oh, come on! That is a snack for later, she lays the tray of cupcakes next to her. Tired of blindly searching for her item, she takes the front of her mane and sticks her face in it.

Rarity, who is next to her, and Rainbow Dash, who can see this while flying around the beast, glance at Pinkie Pie. They both sigh and roll their eyes as Pinkie is being Pinkie.

As Rainbow Dash glances away for a split second, the Ursa Major sees its chance. It swings its enormous paw to knock Rainbow Dash out of the sky. As the swing gets closer, she notices and braces for impact. Snap! The paw freezes in place right in front of Rainbow.

"Well, don't just fly there! Move!" Applejack says impatiently with a mouth full of rope. Applejack had noticed the Ursa Major's move when Rainbow Dash let down her guard, so she pulled out her lasso and roped the Major mid-swipe.

"Thanks, AJ," Rainbow Dash responds while flying out of danger. She is grateful and also a little ashamed, realizing she let her guard down in the first place.

Applejack's hold on the Ursa Major's leg does not last long once the Major notices it has been stopped. The Major tugs up on the rope, forcing Applejack to let go. She is standing on excess rope that was not needed to lasso the attacking beast. The unused line grabs her hind leg as the Ursa Major continues to raise its paw. Applejack is now caught by it and dangles above the ground at unsafe heights.

The rope's strength begins to fail, buckling with Applejack on the other end. Rainbow Dash is too busy with the beast, her distraction keeping Pinkie Pie and Rarity safe. Rarity is on the other side and does not see what is happening. Pinkie Pie is blinded by stuffing her face in her mane, leaving her oblivious.

Applejack refuses to call for help, determined to fix things independently. She tries to sit up and untie herself but keeps getting swung around. Getting nauseated, and against her will, Applejack finally surrenders her pride and shouts for help. "Somepony help me down from this here rope!"

"I can't!" Rainbow Dash excuses herself. "The only reason this bear hasn't swiped at you yet is because of my distractions!"

The rope begins to tear, time is running out on its durability. Snap! The twine breaks and sends Applejack into a brutal fall back to the ground far beneath her.

Gravity takes hold of Applejack as she accelerates to the earth. "I got you!" Fluttershy says quickly, as she swoops in to catch Applejack.

They both crash land, unearthing once dormant dirt behind them as they slow down. Fluttershy is not used to holding anything more than a few rabbits, so holding an entire pony was simply too much for her.

Rainbow Dash observes the area. Applejack and Fluttershy are dusting themselves off after a crash-landing rescue. Pinkie Pie is lost in her mane with a mountain of random objects behind her. Rarity is on the other side helping Rainbow Dash keep the Major at bay. This isn't going to work, thinks Rainbow Dash. She decides they need a new plan. We need something big to hap--WOAH! She dodges another close one from the Ursa Major. Suddenly, Rainbow Dash perks up and her eyes widen with the formation of a brilliant idea.

"Guys!" she shouts, about to announce her new vision. "We need to knock this bear out cold if we are going to really win this thing. So--

Fluttershy interjects, hoping for an alternative. "Oh. Uh. Do we have to... ?"

"Yes!" Rainbow Dash squeaks in response. "I'm going to take this bear out with a sonic rainboom," she says confidently while dodging another swipe from the Major.

"You reckon that's safe with all of us bein' this close 'n all?" Applejack asks with concern.

"Oh pfff, of course it's safe! Rarity can make a magical shield thingy to block the wind."

"I can certainly do that if that's the plan," Rarity says confidently.

"Alright everypony, get behind Rarity. It's about to get a little drafty over here."

Rainbow Dash zooms away with a faint rainbow trail following her into the horizon. The rest of the girls walk to Rarity for protection against the incoming sonic rainboom. Since the Ursa Major is no longer being distracted, the remaining four back up, leaving space between them. It still moves towards them, seeing that the annoying rainbow pony flew away. Rainbow Dash seems to be taking her sweet time, anxiety takes over the girls.

The anxious feeling did not last long, quickly being replaced with courage as a blue speck became visible in the distance. Rarity produces a magical teal shield and braces to block severe winds.

vvvrrrrroooooooooOOOOOO--BOOMMMmmmm

Rainbow Dash times it perfectly and produces a sonic rainboom right next to the Ursa Major. She zooms by, only appearing as a streak of blue followed by a near-solid colored rainbow. Rarity blocks the hurricane-like winds that appeared immediately after Rainbow Dash passed, as well as items from Pinkie's mountain of mane objects. It is hard for Rarity to keep the shield up, the winds are strong, and it shows as she puts all her might into it. She audibly grunts as the sheer power of it shows no mercy. She and the shield are being pushed backward by the windy force, leaving four lines of dirt in the ground from Rarity’s hooves.

The Ursa Major sways to each side and attempts to restabilize but collapses to the ground instead. The girls lose their own balance for a moment as the ground rumbles from the Major's fall.

Rainbow Dash loops around and lands next to Rarity. They high-hoof for a job well done.

Fluttershy goes to the beast and sits, petting its head. Applejack trots to the Major's legs and lassoes them together with a nice tight knot.

Leaning on the bonded paws, Applejack celebrates. "Yeehaw! We did it! But uhh... now what do we do with it?"

"Now we wait for Twilight and the royal guards of course. They should not be too much longer," Rarity says to Applejack, ready for this battle to end so she can relax once again.

Fluttershy questions tying up the Ursa Major. "Is that really necessary Applejack?"

"That's like asking if apples grow on trees, of course it is sugar cube. This thing could wake up and cause a ruckus again."

Suddenly, the Major's eyes open and look at Fluttershy. "Oh! Hello mister."

The Major tries to move its legs the moment consciousness returns. It finds itself tied up and begins to change attitudes. The calm awakening bear becomes frantic and panics. Fluttershy's calm words of consolation are drowned out by its roar of distress. Rarity uses her magic to pull Applejack away from the paws she was just leaning on. Fluttershy remains near its head to try and calm it down. The rope gives up and frees the Ursa Major from bondage.

"Ah hah! I finally found it!" Pinkie Pie exclaims excitedly as she sets her party cannon down. "Fluttershy! Get out of there!" she says while looking up at the beast.

Fluttershy does not see that the lasso has broken, meaning the Major can strike once again. Pinkie hastily gallops to Fluttershy while rolling the party cannon. A paw is coming towards them. Rainbow Dash cannot do anything about it, Applejack is out of rope, and Rarity is still using her magic.

Pop, goes the party cannon, releasing multi-colored confetti at the beast's face. The confetti fazes the bear for a split second, enough time for Pinkie Pie to push Fluttershy out of harm's way. The paw is only delayed for a moment. The strike resumes right after the party cannon's attack. It smacks Pinkie and flings her into the tree line nearby, a tree suddenly halts her trajectory.

"Pinkie! No! Oh my Celestia are you okay?" she flies to Pinkie to care for her. Fluttershy finds Pinkie to be knocked out. The Major fully recollects itself and stands up.

Rainbow Dash becomes infuriated that the sonic rainboom only worked for such an insignificant amount of time. Now additionally with Pinkie Pie being hurt, she has had enough.

"That. Is. It! Twilight will be here soon with help, but not soon enough to stop me from making you regret hurting Pinkie!” Rainbow Dash shouts towards the beast, full of rage.

She speeds away and loops around to fly at the Ursa Major with maximum speed. Soon after, the beast is surrounded by rainbows looping all around it. A small rainbow tornado forms around the Major. The tornado would be more effective at making the bear dizzy if it were not standing on all four legs.

Applejack gets an idea to help Rainbow Dash daze the beast.

"Rarity, could you kindly take the rope over there and tie it into one long piece? I am going to get this beast on its hind legs."

"Certainly darling. No pony else is getting hurt if I can help it!" Rarity bravely claims, glancing over at Pinkie, who has thankfully regained consciousness.

Rarity's teal aura takes over the broken pieces of the rope that once held the Major's legs tight together. She ties the twine together to make one long strand. As the last knot is tightened, Rarity hovers it over to Applejack.

”Thank you kindly Rarity.”

”Of course, Applejack.”

Applejack approaches the Major with the new twine. She swings her head and body around as if it were an elegant dance. Even with the slight limp Applejack got since dangling mid-air after her own lasso grabbed her leg, she pushes past the pain to do the job. The rope follows along until Applejack quickly jolts her body and head to the side. It violently whips at the front legs of the beast. Applejack repeats this a few times, then Rarity joins in by lasering the other leg. As the pain gets to the overwhelmed Ursa Major, it begins to stand on its hind legs.

Now that Rarity and Applejack has given the opportunity, Rainbow Dash tightens the tornado and increases her angular speed to the maximum. The Ursa Major is getting tired and dizzy, finally, the day may be over soon.

A critter approaches Fluttershy, still tending to Pinkie Pie on the tree line. The same bird she spoke to before has returned with news for Fluttershy. It tells her the reason for the Ursa Major’s outrage was because its cave home had collapsed. The beast thought the ponies did it to finally remove the Major from the area after the first incident.

The Ursa Major knows it is now being bested. With frustration and one last bit of concentration, it focuses on Rainbow Dash’s path. The Major observes how long it takes for Rainbow Dash to pass one time. Anticipating where and when Rainbow Dash will be, with all its remaining might, the beast flings its front paw with what remaining strength it can muster.

SLAP! A direct hit on Rainbow Dash.

Once flying around the Ursa Major, she is launched into the air, tangent from where she was hit. A heavy swinging paw making contact with an immensely fast pegasus is not a good combination for the smaller of the pair. Her enormous horizontal speed is almost immediately halted, physically, this should be a lethal incident. As Rainbow Dash was struck, her wings broke, her front legs shattered, and knocked out harder than Pinkie Pie.

Rainbow Dash’s predestined trajectory is unfavorable as it leads into the ravine, almost dry of water. Rarity goes into a full gallop after Rainbow Dash.

4 - The Gift

Fluttershy witnesses the Ursa Major hitting Rainbow Dash out of the sky. It was enough that the bear hit Pinkie Pie, but now another friend? Rainbow Dash? Fluttershy has had enough. Fed up, annoyed, and in a fit of controlled rage, Fluttershy temporarily leaves Pinkie safely at the tree line, flying to the face of the beast.

”Mister! Ursa! Major!” she begins with her heart pounding. The fatigued Major looks at Fluttershy.

”How dare you hurt my friends! Ponyville as well? What makes you think you can do such a thing? You have had problems with Ponyville already, I know that. That does not mean you get to terrorize us more because you think we did something!"

Now that Fluttershy has the Ursa Major’s full attention, she continues with less rage and more empathy.

”I know what happened to your home, the roof collapsed. I'm so sorry that happened, I really am. But you can not assume it was the fault of Ponyville! You had no reason to think so! Just because you are big, doesn’t mean you have the right to throw such a childish fit. Do you understand?” Fluttershy lets it sink in. The Ursa Major slightly bows its head in shame. "It wasn’t very nice to ignore me when I asked what was wrong in Ponyville either," she adds.

”Can we stop this senseless fight now Mister Major? I promise Ponyville had nothing to do with your home collapsing. That was the roof of your cave giving in after all your time living there," Fluttershy gives the Ursa Major a smile. ”I promise I will try and clean your cave. I am sure I won’t be alone either, my friends would help you with me.”

The Ursa Major nods, its face full of shame and sorrow. Embarrassed that it let such a baseless assumption take over its emotions and turn into a blind rage.

At the same time, Fluttershy began scolding the Ursa Major, Rarity gallops for Rainbow Dash. She eyes the crippled Rainbow Dash, now descending after reaching the highest amplitude of her path. A promise was made, that she would not let anypony get hurt after Pinkie Pie. A promise she expects to keep. With the fear of not making it to Rainbow Dash in time, Rarity gallops faster, more than ever before. She greatly reduces the distance between Rainbow Dash and herself.

The cliffside slightly crumbles from the new weight of a pony standing on its edge. Rarity hastily analyzes the conditions of the moment. Rainbow Dash will be far into the ravine from where I am. I must be as close to her as possible, I am taking no chances! she looks down into the canyon. I could... push her into the water for a safe landing. No no, that won't do. She simply can not swim right now, she would drown! Hmmm, oh! I could st--No, no, that won't do either.

Time is running out for Rarity to decide what to do. Rainbow Dash is accelerating, her speed growing while plummeting towards the ravine. Any magic used on Rainbow Dash now would have unfavorable physical results at this speed. Earlier in Ponyville, the weight of the bear during the levitation spell exhausted them, sinking their hooves into the ground. Then Rarity being pushed back by her shield blocking the sonic rainboom’s winds, leaving streaks in the dirt. Rarity gets an idea, one that may just work.

Rarity looks back for a moment, smiling at the girls, busy not getting hurt by the beast. Water collects in Rarity’s eyes, then falls down her cheek as she blinks. Rarity holds the blink, quickly recalling all the good times shared with them. She subconsciously speaks to herself.

Goodbye Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie, Twilight, and Rainbow Dash, the bestest friends I could have never even imagined having by my side. Goodbye, my dear Spikey-Wikey. Goodbye my precious Sweetie Belle, the best sister I could have possibly wished for. Rarity opens her eyes and turns back around. She takes a deep breath. Knowing what will come next for her.

Wiping the tears, Rarity focuses on Rainbow Dash while altering her stance, making herself as stable as possible. Rarity activates her horn not a moment too soon. The teal aura of a levitation spell surrounds Rainbow Dash. Instantly, Rarity feels the free-falling forces of Rainbow Dash, her hooves sink into the dirt. ”I’ve got you, darling. Now is not your time to leave us," Rarity bravely says under her breath. As the last few seconds of saving Rainbow Dash are ending, with every bit of her magical strength, pulls her head backward.

Rainbow Dash’s trajectory changes, jolted from the mouth of the ravine and softly transferred onto the grass of the adjacent cliffside. Rarity’s trajectory changes simultaneously, having been stationary, she is pulled off the edge of the cliff. Trading places with Rainbow Dash.

Rarity slides off the side of the cliff as Rainbow Dash disappears from her view. I did it! she thinks to herself, seeing that Rainbow Dash is no longer falling. She begins to fall, with fear gripping her heart at first. Not long after, she replaces that fear with somber happiness. The cold upward wind flows through her mane. Rarity is flying high in satisfaction in saving a friend’s life, even as she falls deeper into the depths. Descending into the gorge, she closes her eyes and smiles. Her life flashes before her eyes, showing that she has lived a good and generous life. "I did it," Rarity says aloud, feeling happy that Rainbow Dash’s life is saved. Keeping the promise that nopony else would get hurt on her own account. Rarity greets the ground below.

As the battle becomes prolonged, the day grows more gruesome by the second. A final offense finally arrives, a glimmer of the hope of winning the day. Twilight returns from Canterlot with thirty unicorns and ten pegasi from the Royal Barracks. They immediately go to rush the bear, the pegasi planning to blow strong winds at it and the unicorns planning to push it over and trap it with a spell.

The Ursa Major flinches as Twilight and the royal guards appear, but Fluttershy calms him.

Fluttershy shouts at the reinforcements who came too late to be useful. ”Stop! Everything is already solved, we are at an understanding,” she says pridefully at her work. Fluttershy says the Major can leave now if he returns to the cave and starts fixing it until they can come and help.

Twilight is thankful it is finally over but disappointed that she was too late to be of any help. The royal guards spread out and secure the area.

Looking around, Twilight sees that Pinkie Pie is sitting near the tree line, injured. Twilight rushes over to see Pinkie Pie.

”Pinkie! Are you okay? What happened? I am so sorry, I didn’t think I took that long," Twilight says worriedly.

”I’m okay Twilight. You didn’t take that long, it just seems a lot can happen in a short time."

”I’ll go get the nurse ponies for you and everypony else.”

Twilight teleports to the lobby of the Ponyville Hospital. It is busy after the attack, but not as strained as it was when they left Ponyville with the Ursa Major. She tells a nurse pony about the fight at Ghastly Gorge. The nurse pony wastes no time, summoning a whole team of doctors and supplies. As they teleport back, the nurse ponies go to Pinkie Pie and look around to see if anypony else needs their care.

A shout in the distance is heard coming from Applejack. ”Somepony! Quick! Rainbow Dash needs help!"

Twilight and nurse ponies rush to Applejack and a still unconscious Rainbow Dash, laying in a small pool of her own blood, leaked from her wounds.

Twilight gasps sharply at the scene. ”Rainbow Dash!...” She has a hard time taking in what has happened while in Canterlot. ”What happened Applejack?” asks Twilight, disturbed.

”The Major smacked Rainbow when she was goin’ full speed, making a tornado around it,” – She takes off her hat – ”I horrible sight to see… and hear.”

Twilight, now extremely worried about the events that took place during her absence, makes sure nothing else is wrong. Already concerned, Twilight becomes paranoid about what she is not seeing.

”Where is Rarity?”

5 - Victory, Defeated

”I’m… not sure where Rarity is Twilight. I saw her go runnin’ off after Rainbow Dash. I don’t remember anything after that,” Applejack responds, thinking where she could have gone. ”I’ll go look’n for her. I’ll be right back.”

Applejack separates from the group, walking farther south along the gorge’s edge. ”Rarity! Where are ya?” she would occasionally shout out, hoping to get a response. Never does Applejack receive one. Eventually, the path to go down into the ravine presents itself to Applejack.

”Well, I know for a fact that Rarity ain’t goin’ in these woods. So perhaps she went into the gorge. Not sure why though, it’s worth a try.”

Applejack steps onto the rock path, slopping downward on the walls of the ravine. It acts as a road for traveler ponies who desire to go further south. Applejack has walked this road before to sell apple pies to the marsh folk to the southeast.

A separation in the path presents itself to Applejack. One path keeps going along the ravine, the other descends lower. She takes the route to the bottom of the ravine. Upon arriving, she decides to go north, to return to where the group was, but inside the gorge.

Moments pass as Applejack walks along the shallow stream of the ravine. The ambient sound of echoing water keeps her entertained. That is until a white lump becomes visible to her.

Applejack shouts, ”Rarity? Rarity! There you are. Why did you come all the way done here?” she continues to walk closer.

With no response given, Applejack continues to talk. ”Uhh-Rarity? Are you really takin’ a beauty sleep right this moment? Eh, I suppose you deserve it, we all do after a day like this.”

The theme of getting no response from Rarity is becoming rather concerning. Applejack just puts it off as Rarity being in a deep sleep. Applejack walks at the same casual pace toward Rarity.

Eventually, as Applejack gets closer, red is now visible. At a distance, she squints at the new, out-of-place color. ”What in tarnation?” Applejack says to herself, never before seeing what will now be seen.

Curiosity takes over Applejack, she is unsettled at the sight of the red color and utter lack of responses from Rarity. Her normal walking pace quickens into a trot, then a gallop. Applejack gets close enough to see what has happened. The galloping quickly screeches to a halt, and her heart shatters.

Applejack shouts in horror, ”Rarity...?” now hoping desperately for a response.

”Rarity…” she repeats, but with more reminiscence.

Applejack sits next to Rarity, laying on the ground, wondering what happened. Applejack looks at her, Rarity had died with a smile.

Applejack gets up and leans over Rarity to give her a big hug.

After a moment, Applejack gets back up, not caring that blood is on her now. She takes off her hat and puts it on Rarity’s head and over her shut eyes.

”There ya go sugar cube. Some fashion for ya.”

Applejack fixes how Rarity is positioned, moving a leg, tilting her body some. Instead of the once ghastly sight, Rarity now looks like she is just catching some beauty sleep with Applejack's hat covering the sun from her face.

A sad smile is let out as Applejack must now depart and go back to tell the others.

As she smiles sorrowfully, a tear rolls down her face. ”Goodbye, Rarity... Thank you for everythin’.”

Applejack gallops away, baring the curse of this knowledge, tears streaming down her face. While traveling up the sloped path back to ground level, a blood trail is left behind from her hooves. Applejack dreads the moment when the news must be told.

After what feels like an eternity to Applejack, the group enters her sight. A dysphoric mood takes over her.

The Ursa Major had left, looking for a new cave and waiting for the help Fluttershy promised. Nurse ponies tend to Pinkie Pie, she is mostly fine, only a head injury and some bruises. Most of the medical attention is on Rainbow Dash, applying bandages, putting on temporary casts, and stopping the bleeding. Fluttershy and Twilight sit near the ruined Rainbow Dash, hoping she will be okay. Although, the medics have not said anything about her state of being. Only adding to their dread of assuming the worst, possible, thing.

Applejack faces the ground, but just low enough where she can still look up and see what is ahead. While looking down, she is reminded of discovering Rarity, the blood darkening her hooves. Every step taken, a hoof step closer to Twilight and the others, takes mental effort. Getting closer to what currently gives Applejack the most dread.

Applejack sees Twilight and Fluttershy perk up as they notice her approaching. I bet they’re expecting good news, she states to herself. I know for a fact that they are not expecting what I’ve seen.

The two walk to Applejack and stop in shocking confusion. They both gasp aloud, putting a hoof over their mouth. Blood, something Twilight and Fluttershy have already seen and know all too well from Rainbow Dash’s condition.

Fluttershy asks, despite seeing what is in front of her. ”Where is Rarity?”

Applejack just sits, head down, and hat-less. She shakes her head as tears fall to the ground.

Instead of talking, Twilight sits as well, having pieced it together.

Fluttershy asks again, not because she does not know, but out of ignorance. She does not want to believe what reality is giving. ”Where is Rarity, Applejack?”

Applejack finally musters the strength to say, ”She’s… gone, Fluttershy.”

Twilight now asks, ”Where is she?”

Applejack swings up her head and shouts at Twilight, hurting. ”I’ve done told you!”

Twilight reiterates, ”No… Where is she?”

Applejack slowly raises her hoof to point at the cliff’s edge. Where four streaks of unearthed dirt can be seen.

Twilight gets up and walks to the scene. She walks past the nurses tending to Rainbow Dash and makes it to the edge. Starring at the hoof prints and streak in the dirt, she puts together that Rarity was pushed or tugged. Then it hits her, she knows how it all happened. Twilight hesitantly looks over the edge and jumps back, shutting her eyes. Shortly after, her eyes open and move to stare at the four streaks left behind. Twilight puts her hoof over the prints left in the dirt. She bows her head and closes her eyes.

The medics put Rainbow Dash on a stretcher after making sure everything is secure. They are ready to immediately return to the hospital. Twilight walks to them and mentions Rarity, mournfully pointing to the edge. The medic ponies look down and bow their heads in respect. They look back at Twilight, and nod once.

Twilight talks to the girls, ”Lets go back to Ponyville girls,” she said with defeat taking over the day, even when the battle against the Ursa Major was won.

Derpy flies over the south part of Ponyville, keeping a lookout for the six of them to return. Upon first seeing Twilight, she flies around Ponyville, announcing their arrival.

”They’re here! They’re here! The heroes of the day are back!” Derpy shouts to them all.

Quickly, residents gallop to welcome them back for a wonderful victory over the Ursa Major. Cheering and flower tossing ensues as the four steps onto the street. Ponies crowd around them, patting their shoulder in thanks for saving Ponyville yet again. Nothing but praise and celebration for the returning heroes.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders have been anxiously waiting. Ready to host a special victory party they set up for them. Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom rush to the saviors of Ponyville, ready to hug them.

Apple Bloom goes to Applejack, expecting to rejoice with her, but Applejack continues to walk forward, slowly.

Scootaloo, running next to Apple Bloom, was going to see Rainbow Dash and ask how they won. There is no Rainbow Dash to welcome back.

Sweetie Belle, running next to Scootaloo, expects to jump on her sister’s back and celebrate their win. Though, there is no Rarity to celebrate with.

They all three stop and regroup, curious about this entire thing.

Apple Bloom begins the conversation with the question in all their minds. ”What the world was that all about? Why aren’t they happy they won?”

Apple Bloom looks over at Applejack, still just walking down the road with the others, head down.

With envy, Scootaloo says, ”It’s so cool to be the ones to defeat an Ursa Major! The first to ever do so!”

”I’m a little worried guys,” Sweetie Belle says, having not spotted her sister yet. ”Where are Rainbow Dash and Rarity?”

”Maybe they are cleaning up the mess after their battle,” Guesses Scootaloo, daydreaming about defeating an Ursa Major herself.

Sweetie Belle rebuttals Scootaloo. ”Would Rainbow Dash really clean up after herself? Especially after a fight?”

Scootaloo thinks. ”... No.”

Sweetie Belle glances at Apple Bloom. ”Apple Bloom? What is it?”

”Applejack isn’t wearing her hat, and she had crusty dark stuff on her. I saw it when I went to hug her,” Apple Bloom answers.

Scootaloo supplies Apple Bloom with a plausible conclusion. ”It’s just dried mud. No biggie.”

Two clumps of shadows move past them on the ground. They look up to the shadows in the sky. Their eyes follow two groups of two pegasi, both moving something. One group of pegasi crossed paths with the sun, giving them, and what they were carrying, a holy glow.

”Ooo, what’s that?” Scootaloo wonders, looking at the figures.

Apple Bloom gets an idea, ”Let's follow them! Maybe they know where they are.”

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle nod and begin to gallop behind Apple Bloom.

Looking upwards, Apple Bloom follows the figures. Running through some construction, a few turns through the streets of Ponyville, and a gallop through the park. Then, the two groups split up, left and right.

Apple Bloom makes a plan, ”You two follow the one that went right, I’ll follow the other.”

Scootaloo agrees, ”Copy that.”

”Alright!” says Sweetie Belle.

Apple Bloom follows the pegasi carrying a rectangular object. She runs out of the park, through the western part of town, and past a line of trees. The pegasi descended behind these trees. This place seems unfamiliar to Apple Bloom, she has never been here before. Walking through the small forest on a nice stone path, an opening appears. An open area with stones sticking out of the ground. There is one building in the center of this open space. It is painted white with a green roof and appears well kept. While the ponies are still there, Apple Bloom hides behind a stone. She does not look at them closer, thinking they are natural stones.

A few minutes pass until the pegasi exit the establishment. Upon their departure, Apple Bloom leaves the cover of the stone and heads to the building. The door has the same symbol as the hospital. Slowly, Apple Bloom pushes the door open to reveal the main room. Looking around shows nothing of interest, so she continues farther into the premises. She finds another door next to a counter, it is locked. Walking behind the counter, there is a key ring. Apple Bloom grabs it, the keys rattle together. Every key is tested until the right one unlocks the door.

The room is dark, the only illumination coming from the open door. Apple Bloom enters, her eyes adjusting to the new setting. She walks the perimeter of the room, looking at the tops of tables and counters, trying to find the object the pegasus’ had. A hat catches her eye, the light barely making it visible on the table. Squinting, she picks it up and identifies it as Applejack’s hat.

Apple Bloom looks at it closely, curious as ever. ”Why is her hat here?”

Looking next to the counter, the light from behind reveals the mysterious object. Apple Bloom approaches the wooden box and opens it.

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo follow the pegasi to Ponyville General Hospital. They open the main doors and enter, and the girls follow. Seeing the object behind the pegasi, left unguarded, they approach it. Time is short while the pegasi are busy talking to the nurse pony over the counter. Sweetie Belle lifts the white blanket, with red polka dots scattered unevenly around the cover. As soon as it was lifted, she dropped the sheet and trotted backward. Scootaloo wants to look, but it is too late, a nurse pony pushes it away around the corner.

Scootaloo turns to Sweetie Belle, ”What was it? Supplies?” Scootaloo asks, desperate to know the secret.

Sweetie Belle looks at Scootaloo with a frown. ”It… was Rainbow Dash.”

7 - Stronger Bonds

Eventually, Apple Bloom walks up the stairs and knocks lightly on Sweetie Belle’s door. Since no reply is given, Apple Bloom slowly pushes the door open. She sees Sweetie Belle on her bed, curled up in a ball with the sheet blocking her from the outside world. The white lump sobs, so Apple Bloom jumps on the bed and sits next to Sweetie Belle. She puts her hoof on her and pats gently.

”I know how you feel...” Apple Bloom starts.

Sweetie Belle, curious about what Apple Bloom has to say, removes herself from the safe confines of the bed sheet by poking out her head.

Sweetie Belle responds with a muted voice, ”You do?”

”If anything, I have been through worse,” Apple Bloom quickly adds, ”Not that this is any less important! Just that I understand.”

Sweetie Belle now completely removes herself from the sheet, reentering the world.

Apple Bloom continues, ”I have lost family as well. I’ve been told that mom and dad disappeared shortly after I was born. Applejack and Big Mac got to grow up with them, but I did not. I do not have a single memory being with them.”

Reopening a scar of the past, Apple Bloom begins to tear up. Sweetie Belle reassures Apple Bloom that she is here for her. Just as Apple Bloom is for Sweetie Belle.

”What makes it worse, is no pony knows what happened to them. Or... No pony has decided to tell us. At least you know what happened,” Apple Bloom continued.

”I know that my sister is dead. How is that better?” Sweetie Belle asks with some rash tones.

Apple Bloom answers, ”You have closure. You get to move on when you want to. I can’t. I will be wondering what happened for the rest of my life., she pauses. ”I’m mighty sorry, I thought this would hel—“ she is interrupted by Sweetie Belle, who is now hugging her. Apple Bloom shortly does the same, returning the hug.

”It did help,” Sweetie Belle says. ”Thank you for sharing and making me feel better. You're a good friend.”

Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom continue to talk amongst each other. Apple Bloom talks about stories she knows about Bright Mac, Pear Butter, and her as a baby. Sweetie Belle shares stories from when both she and Rarity were younger.

Hours of nostalgia pass as they exchange pleasant memories. Slowly, they fall asleep together, entering the world of dreams. On this one night, something magical takes place. Having shared such deep personal time together, discussing memories that relate to passed relatives, the dreams of Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom absorb into one dream. Starting off as separate realms, their similarities allow them to merge with ease.

Both see one another, commenting how strange but cool their new setting is.

Standing on what seems to be nothing, the starry void of space surrounds them. Slowly, the cosmic purple sky turns blue, the nothingness below them turns green with the appearance of grass. Now standing in a field, with trees and flowers dotting the landscape, they look up to a hill with a large tree.

Galloping towards the tree, they hear voices. Apple Bloom has only heard these voices in dreams, not remembering from the waking world. Sweetie Belle hears a laugh that is all too familiar to her.

They make it to the top to find three ponies sitting together, enjoying a picnic under the shade. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle stop in their tracks, gasping and nearly breaking down. After looking at each other, they run into the loving presence of passed relatives.

Apple Bloom runs to Bright Mac and Pear Butter, never seeing them in person before, she embraces them.

Sweetie Belle shouts in shocked surprise, ”Rarity?!” she darts over to her, the two passionately hug.

After a while, Sweetie Belle finally asks, ”Why did you do it?”

Rarity slides her hoof down Sweetie Belle’s mane. ”There was simply no way I could just let Rainbow fall down that horrid ravine. I would never be able to peacefully live with myself otherwise.”

”But how did you know Rainbow Dash was alive?” Sweetie Belle asks curiously.

”I didn’t. I believed risking not saving her would be worse. Who would have known if she was alive before if she had continued to fall? I know I would be eating ice cream in emotional fits for days pondering the thought. I know I would blame myself for my inaction if I did nothing,” Rarity responds.

Sweetie Belle hugs Rarity tighter. ”I hope to be just like you. Kind and generous wherever I go, lighting up pony’s days.”

Rarity returns the tighter hug. ”You don’t need to hope darling, you already help many ponies, with all of your friends too.” Rarity pauses and glances at Apple Bloom with her parents. ”I think this has brought you and dear Apple Bloom closer together.”

Sweetie Belle pleads, ”I wish this dream never ends!”

Rarity tilts her head, ”How are you going to generously help everypony if you are dreaming, darling?”

”You’re right…” Sweetie Belle sadly agrees.

Rarity reassures her, ”I will always be with you, my dear sister. Always here” – Rarity points to Sweetie Belle’s head – ”and here.” – and Sweetie Belle’s heart.

”I know you will do a fabulous job,” Rarity adds.

”I love you,” A tear rolls down Sweetie Belle’s face.

”I love you too,” Rarity smiles.

On this clear and starry night, three shining stars dance across the night sky, leaving a beautiful glittery trail behind them for all to see.

6 - Cost of a Gift

Late the next day, Rainbow Dash is still unconscious in the hospital. She has her wings and front legs in a cast, suspended in the air, and bandages all around her, not far from looking like a mummy.

Twilight and Fluttershy are sitting in the room, waiting for her to wake up. They are leaning on each other, sleeping, since they tried to pull an all-nighter.

They wake up to a familiar sound, one not heard in a while. This sound jump-starts their hearts and breaks their sleep. Perking up, they smile with glee.

”Ugh… What happened?” moans Rainbow Dash with a massive headache.

Fluttershy speaks, full of joy, ”Rainbow! Oh my goodness, I am so glad you are awake! Are you feeling okay?” Fluttershy wants to hug Rainbow Dash, but knows she cannot, so she refrains.

Rainbow Dash faintly responds, ”I’ve had better days.”

Rainbow Dash looks around and notices her own condition.

She gasps aloud, ”My wings! My legs! What happened?” Rainbow Dash squeaks to them with concern.

Fluttershy answers, ”The Major smacked you out of the sky, you were knocked unconscious and fell until Rarity saved you from the gorge.”

Rainbow Dash lights up, ”Rarity saved me? Wow, I owe her big time. Where is she?”

Suddenly, Applejack and the CMCs enter the room.

Scootaloo runs at Rainbow Dash and jumps onto the bed. ”You’re okay!”

Rainbow Dash, taking in some of the pain, ”Heheh, yep…”

Scootaloo gives Rainbow Dash a nice hug before returning to the foot of the bed and sits.

”Well, thank the plentiful harvest, you’re awake and recover’n. I couldn’t imagine if we had gone los—“ Applejack interrupts herself and looks at Twilight, communicating if Rainbow Dash knows yet.

Twilight looks back at Applejack as she interrupted herself. She nods that Rainbow Dash does not know yet.

Rainbow Dash becomes curious at their stares at each other and the unfinished sentence from Applejack. ”What’s going on here? “Gone lost” what?”

Twilight nods at Applejack, she returns the nod, more mournfully.
”Look here Rainbow…”, she starts, ”You were a goner out there. That beast smacked you right out of the sky. Rarity went and saved your life.”

”Well yeah, I know tha—“

Applejack plugs Rainbow Dash's mouth shut with her hoof and looks down. After a second, she looks back up at Rainbow Dash with watery eyes.

“Rarity traded her own life for yours. She yanked you out from falling into the ravine with her magic and... she tumbled down from it. You had landed safely on the ground above as she fell onto some land below…” she pauses. “Excuse me,” she clears her throat.

Applejack exits the room, Apple Bloom follows, trying to avoid Sweetie Belle for now.

Rainbow Dash lays there, mouth wide open in shock and disbelief.

She denies it, ”That can’t be true!” she shouts, ”Is this some sick prank? This is worse than the cookie zombie joke! Tell me Rarity is okay, right now!”

Twilight and Fluttershy exchange looks. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo feel they need to leave. They walk out, but Scootaloo double-takes and smiles at Rainbow Dash. No longer plagued with the thought of Rainbow Dash being dead.

Twilight breaks it to Rainbow Dash. ”No… This is no prank. It is very true…”

”No!” Rainbow Dash responds, denying the news. ”I need to see Rarity!”

Rainbow Dash begins to squirm around, trying to get up. Fluttershy jumps up to stop her.

”No, Rainbow Dash, you must stay here and rest.”

Rainbow Dash, unable to get up and beginning to see the reality of it all, breaks down.

In between sobs, Rainbow Dash speaks. ”It’s all my fault…" - sob - "I did the tornado move and that got me hurt" - sob - "making Rarity have to save me.”

Twilight puts a hoof on Rainbow Dash’s shoulder and interjects. ”This is not your fault Rainbow, it was Rarity's decision to make. I doubt she would have let you fall to your death if she knew there was a way to save you. There was, so she took it.”

Rainbow Dash, talking through her sobs, repeats her previous statement. ”How is it not my fault? I did the stupid tornado move that got me hurt and made Rarity have to make that decision.”

”Look Rainbow, I know how you feel. Yesterday, I was doing nothing but beating myself up for being late with the royal guards. If I were quicker, teleporting instead of galloping around the Canterlot grounds, I would have probably made it back before your tornado stunt. Ultimately saving Rarity from having to make the decision, but you know what Rainbow Dash?”

Rainbow Dash sniffles, ”What…”

”That isn’t what happened. The Ursa Major attacked Ponyville, I was late to get help, you did the stunt, and Rarity made a choice. She made the choice, not you or me. Sure, we may have set up the conditions to make her choose, but it was her own decision: to save you, Rainbow Dash.”

Twilight pauses, taking a deep breath. Fluttershy joins them and sits, putting her hoof on Twilight for comfort.

”We can’t dwell on what has happened Rainbow Dash," Twilight continues, "All we can do now is move forward. Instead of crying over the loss, we need to remember the time we spent with her and smile. Rarity lives on in us, in our thoughts and hearts.”

Twilight lays her head down next to Rainbow Dash’s. Rainbow moves her head to touch Twilight’s. They both close their eyes, comforting one another while deeply thinking. Fluttershy joins them, closing her eyes as well.

Sweetie Belle sits in the boutique, awaiting her sister’s return from wherever she is. Suddenly, there is a knock on the door. Could it be Rarity! Is she finally back? she thinks to herself, galloping to the door. Sweetie Belle swings it open to find Apple Bloom, by herself.

Sweetie Belle welcomes her, ”Oh, hi Apple Bloom! What brings you here?”

Apple Bloom looks at Sweetie Belle, hesitantly, she responds, ”I… have something you need to know Sweetie Belle.”

The tone of Apple Bloom’s voice is uncommonly serious, Sweetie Belle gestures to come in.

”What is it?” Sweetie Belle curiously asks.

”It’s about Rarity…” Apple Bloom continues.

”Oh good! You know where she is then,” Sweetie Belle says, anxiously anticipating the answer.

”Yeah… There’s no easy way to put this...” Apple Bloom struggles to get it out.

Sweetie Belle stares at her, waiting for her to continue.

Apple Bloom looks down and finally says it. ”Rarity... isn’t coming back… She’s gone,” she looks at Sweetie Belle, hoping she did not take the news so hard.

Sweetie Belle, worried, ”Gone? Like, she isn’t coming back gone?”

Apple Bloom slowly nods her head. ”I saw her already gone…” Apple Bloom closes her head and shudders as she remembers that moment.

As Apple Bloom opens her eyes, she watches Sweetie Belle run up the stairs to the second floor, in tears.

Apple Bloom remains in there for a moment, sitting in the middle of the boutique, allowing Sweetie Belle to have time to herself.