"I - I'm sorry Rainbow but we had no choice," Twilight said sadly while gazing at her grief-stricken friend.
Rainbow Dash merely ignored her, staring at the newly created stone statue that sat before her. Closing her eyes while trying to hold back tears, her voice cracking "I know. I - I want to go home"
Before anypony could say anything, she pulled the element of loyalty off her neck before flinging it onto the floor. She then quickly took to the skies. Flying she tried to forget about all the events that had led to her banishing her own sister. No matter how hard she tried to block it all out, she could still hear the last words that she told her I hate you. I never want to see you again
Arriving home she stumbled in a drunken walk to her bed before collapsing into bed. holding her pillow close to her chest, she cried. Tears dampening the pillow, eventually she would cry herself to sleep which is plagued with nightmares.
***
Meanwhile, back in Canterlot where the final battle took place, the rest of the mane six were all standing around the statue. Twilight stared at the spot where Rainbow had been. she then picked up the discarded necklace, gazing down at the ruby-red gem she said more to herself "She'll be okay"
They then stood there in silence, nopony knowing what to say or do. However, the silence would be broken by a regal voice laced with sadness and sympathy "I am so sorry this has happened" Princess Celestia had arrived with her sister. Both alicorn rulers were looking worse for wear.
Celestia then noticed that one member was missing "Where is Rainbow Dash?" she asked with concern.
Applejack sighed before explaining "Yah see, Princess, Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo were like sisters. She's... she's taken it very hard"
"I understand, please tell her that I would like to talk to her when she is ready." Looking down at Luna she then added "I know exactly how she feels"
Twilight then asked "What should we do with..." her voice choked with regret "Scootaloo?" she shuddered as if she said something taboo.
"I will have her moved to the Canterlot Gardens, where she can stay with the other statues"
Suddenly Applejack spoke out loud "Oh Celestia, the rest of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. What are we going tah tell them?"
"How are we going to tell them, they'll be devastated!" Rarity exclaimed.
Twilight then replied "We'll have to tell them, they'll figure it out eventually anyway" Both Applejack and Rarity shuddered at the prosperity of having to tell them that their friend had been condemned to an eternity in stone.
Celestia then told the group "Do not worry about it tonight, you should get back home and get some sleep". They reluctantly agreed and Celestia called for a chariot to take them back to Ponyville.
***
After a sleepless night, both Applejack and Rarity had decided that they would speak to the Crusaders together at Twilight's castle. When they arrived at the castle library, they noticed that Rainbow Dash wasn't there. "Applejack asked, "Where's Rainbow Dash?"
Fluttershy replied timidly behind her long mane "I tried to check her house but when I knocked, there was no answer"
"I think it's best, we give her some space," Twilight said.
Suddenly Apple Bloom interrupted the conversation by asking "What's going on? Did you defeat her?" She spat that last part out in anger while caressing a bruise that had formed on her cheek.
Applejack told everypony "She refuses to call Scootaloo by her name"
She sneered "Traitor is her name"
Sweetie Belle gasped, covering her mouth with a hoof "Apple Bloom! You can't say that she's our friend!"
"NO! She's not our friend. friends don't betray their friends. Friends don't hurt their Friends." She shouted.
Applejack had enough "ENOUGH! Apple Bloom, you don't know the full story"
She merely rolled her eyes, which made AJ grit her teeth in anger.
Twilight decided that it was time for her to speak up. “Apple Bloom, Scootaloo was possessed by an evil entity called the corruption.”
Apple Bloom snorted “I don’t care!” She still betrayed us”
Nopony knew how to respond to this so instead Twilight said "To answer your original question, yes we did defeat however we had no choice but to use the elements of harmony against her"
This fact caused Sweetie Belle to gasp in horror "What did you do to her!" she shouted.
Twilight closed her eyes before saying "We turned her to stone"
Sweetie Belle started to tear up "F f for how long?" she stuttered, trying to hold back her sobs.
"We don't know" Twilight muttered , trying to not look at the heartbroken filly.
"Good, she deserves it, I never want to see her again anyway" Apple Bloom declared.
SMACK
"HOW COULD YOU SAY THAT! She's our friend and you've abandoned her despite it not being her fault!" Apple Bloom was stunned as she stood there nursing her stinging cheek, before she could say anything Sweetie Belle turned and ran out of the castle, leaving her sister to keep shouting her name.
***
Rainbow Dash had arrived at the Canterlot throne room where she was surprised to see that there was a table and chairs set up with tea and crumpets positioned on top. "You wanted to see me?" Rainbow asked Princess Celestia.
Celestia smiled at her before answering "Hello Rainbow Dash, I heard that Scootaloo was your sister"
Dash didn't say anything but merely looked towards the floor. Celestia sighed before telling her "I know what you are going through, I had to experience the same thing after I... after I sent Luna to the moon. The nightmares and the feeling of overwhelming guilt."
"It's hard, I can't help but feel that we could have saved her. that we could have done something different. That I could have done something different" she muttered.
"I felt the exact same however there was absolutely nothing we could have done. Trust me both me and even Twilight tried to come up with a different solution"
When she didn't say anything Celestia attempted to lift her spirits "Please Rainbow Dash come and have some tea and crumpets with me. After Luna's banishment, I always found solitude in a good cup of tea."
"With all due respect Princess, I don't really drink tea" She had always thought that tea was a girly drink.
The princess smiled "There is always a first for everything" she insisted.
Reluctantly Rainbow helped herself to a small cup of tea, slowly sipping the warm beverage, she found that a weight had lifted off her shoulders. After drinking the tea she said "Thanks, I really needed this"
"It is no problem. If you ever need anything or you are feeling down me and all of your friends are here for you"
Rainbow nodded before leaving the throne room. After her departure, Princess Luna joined her "What is up sister? I can tell that something is bothering you"
Celestia sighed "I am worried about how this is going to affect them."
"They are strong ponies, Tia"
"Yes but they have never banished, what is practically an innocent filly," Celestia said while she looked over the balcony towards Ponyville.
***
In the Castle Gardens Rainbow Dash sat in front of a certain statue where she stared into the cold eyes, not knowing if she could hear her she whispered "I'm sorry sis, please forgive me"
As she walked away she didn't hear the malicious whisper "Don't worry sister we shall meet again, I assure you of that"
Author's Note
I've decided to do this a bit different and started with sequel first before the prequel.
