Resparked

Chapters

Chapter 3: Twilight's Legacy
Chapter 1: The last Spark
Chapter 2: The new Pony
Chapter 4: Towards the Sun
Chapter 5: Deeper in the Forest
Chapter 6: The Banished
Chapter 7: Doubts at the End
Chapter 8: Border Crossing
Chapter 9: Lost Friends
Chapter 10: The Gate of Eternity
Chapter 11: A Dash of Loyalty
Chapter 12: Paradise awaits
Chapter 13: Councillor Cheiron
Chapter 14: One last Request
Chapter 15: Acceptance

Chapter 3: Twilight's Legacy

The friends couldn't believe their eyes. Trixie, who described herself as all-powerful, was the new resident of the library. They no longer understood the world. This unicorn hadn't been seen for ages.

“Well, well, well! The great, all-powerful Trixie could have guessed she would meet you again," she laughed. Even with these words, the blue unicorn became unsympathetic.

Fluttershy looked confused. “Uhm... You know us?”

"She’s been in Ponyville once, showin' off her cheap magic tricks,” Applejack replied with a hint of annoyance in her voice.

Trixie walked towards them and started to explain, “About that. Everypony knows my tales were just made-up stories. That's why I took a break from showbiz. Now I'm focusing on my studies to become the most powerful and magnificent magician there ever was!”

Rainbow Dash and Spike couldn't help giggling. Trixie looked at them angrily. “Mark my words! I've picked up a thing or two in Canterlot. If it weren't for that Ursa Major incident, I'd be onto my second level by now.” Trixie glanced around. “And where's your other friend? That oh so talented unicorn?”

The other ponies fell silent, as their expressions turned dark.

“So you're not aware?” Applejack's voice grew heavy as she gazed at Trixie.

“What am I supposed to know?”

“Well, the Ursa Major in Canterlot! Everypony knows about it…” As Trixie continued to stare questioningly, Applejack decided to break the news, “Twilight Sparkle defeated the Ursa Major!”

“With a single shot to the head!” Pinkie Pie added proudly. Trixie's expression was priceless. Applejack had anticipated that dumbfounded look, and it delighted her to see Trixie looking utterly clueless.

And we’re the witnesses of her heroic deed! She stood up in the name of Princess Celestia, fer her friends an' fer all o' Equestria! She made a mighty sacrifice! Yes, she died as a hero! Thanks to her, Canterlot still exists!”

Applejack fought back a tear, but the effect on her friends was much greater. Trixie raised her eyebrows. “So, she's..." Suddenly she turned, gritting her teeth. “That annoying mare!”

“Heh! Seems like somepony got ahead of you!” Rainbow Dash chuckled, a mischievous glint in her eye as she faced her.

“Yes, but unfortunately she's dead,” Trixie hissed back. Rainbow Dash gave her a piercing look and the unicorn continued to speak in the same tone. “What's the point of having fame if you can't bask in it because you're buried six hooves under? This is just perfect for me! That means my time to shine has come!”

Rainbow Dash seized her by the neck and pinned her against the bookshelf.

“Rainbow! Knock it off!” shouted Applejack, but she wasn't listening.

“Don't you dare talk about my friend like that!” Rainbow yelled.

“Enough!” Applejack shouted a little louder, but that's when the fight started.

Trixie unleashed a forceful magic wave, knocking Rainbow Dash off balance. Before Rainbow could recover, she lunged forward, ready to retaliate. As things started to escalate, Applejack intervened. “Cut it out, both of ya!!!” Her voice boomed, surprising the others.

Rainbow Dash's nostrils flared, her eyes burning with a level of hatred they had never seen before. “You got Twilight's blood on your hooves! Bringing that Ursa Major into town was your doing!”

“That's absurd!” said Trixie indignantly, “I've been looking for ways to stop him! Why should I have a reason to endanger Canterlot just to get a pony out of the way?”

Tension hung heavy in the air, casting a pall over the group. Without a word, Applejack guided Rainbow Dash out of the library, her expression grave. The others trailed behind, their gazes alternating between Trixie and their departing friends, a mix of emotions swirling within them.

Outside, Rainbow was on the verge of a mental breakdown. “That phony hag!” she wailed.

“Hehey! Calm down, sugar cube! How about I treat ya to an apple cider? I reckon that'll perk ya right up!” Rainbow Dash grinned briefly. Applejack knew just how to lift her friends' spirits.

The two ponies reclined in the meadow near Sweet Apple Acres, sipping on apple cider. Rainbow Dash stared blankly ahead, lost in thought.

“Trixie sure wasn't nice, no doubt about that!” Applejack remarked, breaking the silence. Rainbow Dash merely grumbled in response and she continued, “But yer outburst back there... That ain't like ya at all! I've never seen ya so riled up before!”

She grumbled again, but seemed to reckon with the point. They sat there quiet-like for a spell, gazing over the sprawling apple orchard, jointly run by Applejack’s family.

Rainbow Dash broke the silence, her gaze fixed on the drifting clouds above, “Do you know how much we owe to Twilight? She was the one who brought us together. I mean, we knew each other before, but we weren't really close friends. As she moved in here, we became an amazing team!”

Applejack nodded, her mind drifting back to all those wild adventures they'd shared. Memories of adventures flooded her thoughts, each one tinged with a touch of sadness. She realized, with a pang in her heart, that she hadn't even had the chance to properly thank Twilight for all this.

After the brief scuffle, Trixie needed to comb her hair again. She cursed Twilight and her friends inwardly as she used her magic to remove some splinters and heal small wounds. Then she left the bathroom to look around the library. There was much to do, but above all, Trixie yearned to uncover one thing: How had Twilight managed to defeat a fully grown male Ursa Major with a single shot?

Despite her disdain for reading books, Trixie begrudgingly acknowledged the necessity of delving into more advanced studies. With a resigned sigh, she made her way to the study area to commence her homework. When she arrived, she was eyed curiously by an owl perched on the back of her chair. “Who are you?”

"Hoo?" the owl cooed, signaling that she was asking the same thing.

“Well, you! Trixie doesn’t have time for this silliness!”

“Hoo?” made the owl again.

“Come on! Go! Shoo! I've got work to do!” Trixie approached the desk, and the owl reluctantly made space for her. On the desk lay a small book bearing Twilight's handwriting, labeled “Notes.” Trixie had never laid eyes on the book before. As she perused its contents, a chuckle escaped her lips. “By the stars, that unicorn was a total oddball!”

The next morning, Rainbow Dash opened her eyes, finding them still moist from the night before. Twilight had visited her again, silently observing from the corner of the bedroom. Rainbow Dash shook her head. Anger simmered within her at Trixie's callous remarks about Twilight. Today, she wanted to steer clear of that pony.

Rainbow Dash rose from her bed, perplexed by the recurring visits of her departed friend. Was there a hidden message? A lingering sentiment Twilight couldn't express in her final moments? As she pondered, Rainbow decided to get up and make her way to the bathroom. But before she could take another step, the ground beneath her feet gave way, and she tumbled through the floor. “What the…?!”

She fell through her living room and further. Her house was mostly made of clouds. Only pegasi could walk on them. Earth ponies and unicorns would simply fall through them, as was the case with Rainbow Dash now. She flapped her wings desperately, but the air just wouldn't carry her. She tumbled out of her house screaming, not a single cloud would stop her fall.

"That's impossible! What's going on?" she screamed in confusion.

A sturdy branch briefly halted her descent before it snapped. Rainbow Dash plummeted to the ground like a lead weight, her face meeting the dirt upon impact. Gritting her teeth, she swiftly rose to her hooves, her wings flapping frantically in a futile attempt to regain altitude. Yet, it seemed as though an unseen force held her to the earth below. With each effort to ascend, she found herself drawn back down. She fell on her face, again and again.

After the twentieth attempt, she gave up. Her wings hung limp and sad, as if they no longer wanted to belong to her body. But it was even worse.

“I can't feel them anymore!” Her gasps grew louder, a hot wave of panic surging through her veins. “I can't feel my wings anymore!”

She lay there with a dirty, sweaty face and simply couldn't comprehend the situation. Fallen from the sky, like a chick from the nest. As the wind blew through her mane, she decided to scream for help.

The cries for help were heard by three foals. “Do you hear that too, Applebloom?” asked Rarity's sister, Sweetie Belle, as she was about to enter the Cutie Mark Crusaders Clubhouse.

Applejack's sister leaned against the railing. “Looks like someone's in serious trouble! What do ya think, Scootaloo?”

The third member of the group listened carefully and became worried. “I don't know! But I think it sounds like Rainbow Dash.”

The other two looked at each other. Knowing Rainbow Dash, had rarely needed help.

Rainbow Dash was on the verge to cry again, when she felt the trampling of small hooves on the ground. She turned her head and saw the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

“Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo! Thank Celestia! Please get Applejack or someone else quick! Something's wrong with me!”

With Fluttershy's help, the Cutie Mark Crussaders took the distressed pegasus to the nearest hospital.

After the check-up, the doctor, a brown unicorn, strode into the waiting room where Rainbow Dash anxiously sat with her friend. With a wide grin, the doctor brandished the x-rays triumphantly. “Both wings are in tip-top shape!”

Fluttershy sat up. “Well, you see, Rainbow! Everything's fine!”

“Nothing’s fine, Fluttershy!” she complained. “They are numb, I can’t fly and the worst thing is, I can no longer touch a cloud anymore! My life is ruined!” She threw herself onto an armchair.

The doctor took another close look at her wings. “That's quite strange! Perhaps you should see a specialist doctor for pegasi, but there are plenty of other options!”

“Umm... What exactly?” asked Fluttershy quietly.

“Magic! Then it probably won't be so bad, because it'll go away!”, the doctor said.

Rainbow Dash's eyes widened in shock, then narrowed into angry slits. Suddenly, the fury surged within her once more.

“She'll pay for this!!!” she roared, bolting towards the exit. Fluttershy and the doctor watched her in bewilderment.

“I hope she's not planning what I think she is!” he muttered and left the waiting room.

Rainbow Dash rushed to the library. With a thunderous crash, she burst through the door, her voice echoing in the empty room, “Trixie! You've crossed the line this time!!!”

The unicorn had a notebook with her when she was caught off guard by the raging pegasus. Rainbow Dash stormed towards her like a furious bull. Trixie quickly flipped through the notes until she - poof! - disappeared and reappeared half a meter away. Rainbow Dash missed her and fell, but the notebook lay right in front of her nose.

“But that's...” She picked it up. “...Twilight's notebook!”

She scorned at Trixie, who was slumped over in exhaustion. The spell had been too much for her.

“What did you do with that? Stop imitating my friend! You're nothing like her and you'll never be as good!” Rainbow Dash scolded, stomping towards her. “And before I crumple you up like a hoof cloth, undo the spell you cast on me! Now!”

“What... spell?” asked Trixie, her face beaded with sweat.

“Don't play innocent!” Rainbow Dash roared. Trixie met her gaze, seemingly clueless, and the longer Rainbow stared, the more her anger dissipated. Eventually, the pegasus mare collapsed to the ground, overcome with tears. “I miss Twilight!”

“You’re such a mood! Best to take it easy in a situation like this!” Trixie advised.

“Oh, just shut up! You have no idea!” Rainbow whimpered and clutched the book.

“That Twilight sure made a mess of you!” Trixie giggled, turning to the shelves where Owloysius was sleeping. “She's got some interesting stuff written down! Check out her latest pages.”

Rainbow Dash eyed Trixie suspiciously before opening the notebook. The date was marked as one day before the attack on Canterlot. Among all the strange pentagrams, runes, and formulas, she spotted a note in the margin: Souls.

“I don't get it!” replied Rainbow Dash.

“Only a unicorn could understand that! Twilight had been working on a new spell, a very complicated one to be precise. Unfortunately, I don't understand much either. I was going to give it to Celestia in hope she would have an answer.”

Rainbow Dash stared at the runes while Trixie continued, “I can't stand Twilight, you have to understand that! But you're her friend! Do you know anything about that?”

Rainbow Dash closed the book. “Even if I knew something, I'd never tell you, Trixie! You're the last pony I'd trust with anything!”

“That's what I thought! You have to know, I'm Celestia's new student! It's important that she knows about this, but I see. You know nothing and I know nothing, so the book is useless to both of us, you can keep it and cuddle it like a teddy bear!”

Rainbow Dash fell silent, but then those dreams came back to her. “Wait...!”

She told Trixie about last night's experience and the loss of her pegasus abilities. Trixie became curious and looked at her wings. “Total loss of abilities, you say? You must be insanely powerful to accomplish something like that.”

“But what is it then? Flying is my life!” Rainbow complained with a tight throat.

Trixie pondered for a moment, a rare sight for Rainbow Dash. Finally, the unicorn lifted her head and closed her eyes. “Let me try something!”

Suddenly, the room spun around Rainbow, morphing into a scene etched in her memory: The fight against the Ursa Major. Wild, pain-wracked screams echoed from somewhere as a biting wind whipped against her face. She found herself perched on a shattered house, helplessly watching as Twilight was crushed by the massive bear. A sharp pain shot through her back, the screams growing louder and more agonizing until a swift slap to her face jolted her back to reality.

“Sorry! I had to do it!” huffed Trixie. Apparently, she had seen and felt the same thing when Rainbow had plunged into her memories.

"What was that?" gasped Rainbow Dash.

Trixie wiped the sweat from her forehead and cleared her throat. “Whatever it was! I think it’s a severe trauma!”

“That doesn't explain why I dream about Twilight and lost my abilities. What am I supposed to do? By all the clouds, what am I supposed to do?” Rainbow Dash paced back and forth. She was at a loss, she had to find an answer to all this. The notebook in her hooves could be a final clue.

In the lofty towers of Canterlot Palace, Princess Celestia surveyed the city below. The majestic capital was now encircled by towering scaffolds, bustling with the activity of ongoing repairs. The clamor of machinery shattered the city's usual tranquility, causing many ponies to hesitate before venturing outside, still deeply shaken by recent tumultuous events. Celestia herself bore the weight of sorrow. The Ursa Major's attack and the tragic loss of her most cherished student had struck her to the core. Though she maintained a façade of steadfastness, her shoulders felt heavy with grief. The focus shifted to Trixie, a far less talented but obstinate unicorn who persistently shirked her responsibilities.

The princess returned to her living room and read through her sister's letter again. Celestia had sent her on a field trip to study the behavior of the Changelings, but the situation had changed.

“So, this is what has come upon us,” Celestia thought aloud. Luna had sent the letter with haste. She had been deeply shocked when she had heard about Twilight and her tower.

Suddenly a servant came in. Trixie asked to speak to her. What did she want this time?

When Celestia received them in the throne room, she was surprised to see Rainbow Dash in attendance. Trixie regarded the audience with the princess as a solemn affair. Unlike the rapport she had shared with Twilight, there existed no friendship between her and Celestia. What one shouted into the woods, echoed back. Celestia treated Trixie with the same cool authority.

“What news do you bring, my student?” she inquired, a hint of irritation in her voice.

Trixie recounted Rainbow Dash's troubles. When she mentioned Twilight, the princess grew attentive. Rising from her throne, she approached the pegasus.

“I understand the ordeal you must be enduring. Perhaps Twilight has left something behind that could help us. Follow me! Trixie, you will remain here!” commanded Celestia.

Trixie grumbled softly to herself as Rainbow Dash followed the princess.

Celestia led Rainbow Dash into a darkened room. The ceiling was a large dome with an artificial starry sky. In the center of the circular room was a round table with several star charts and a control panel.

“This is Luna's favorite place!” Celestia said before Rainbow Dash could ask anything. “We call it the planetarium! Twilight also visited it when she was studying in Canterlot.”

Rainbow Dash found the place very mystical. Twilight had a feeling for such things and often talked about the stars. Rainbow Dash was bored by such topics and had often waved them off. Now she regretted that she had never listened to her.

“Cheer up, Rainbow! It's a nice, quiet place, and helps to think,” Celestia said kindly.

Rainbow Dash slumped into the chair; her gaze heavy as she faced Celestia. “I... I couldn't bear it!”

Her voice quivered with emotion. “I was right there, but I couldn't save her. All I could do was watch... watch her slip away.”

Rainbow's hooves pressed against the table and turned white with tension. Her voice cracked with sorrow; the weight of her grief palpable in the air. “But I tried! I tried my best! I was there with her till the end! She... she wasn't alone!”

Celestia must have adjusted something on the control panel, because the planetarium's sky began to move. “I’m sure Twilight was very happy about that!” she said.

“But now she's supposed to have left something behind that I don't understand! I often dream about her, what's wrong with me? I'm completely crazy and not even my friends can help me.”

As Celestia gazed up at the stars, she seemed to seek an answer from the artificial firmament. "Pass me the book, please,” she requested.

Rainbow complied, watching anxiously as Celestia pored over each page of Twilight's notes. The princess's expressions ranged from thoughtful to amused, occasionally punctuated by a smile or a nod of approval. As dawn approached, Celestia finally spoke, her voice carrying a mix of intrigue and revelation. “This is quite fascinating indeed. It seems that Twilight's soul fragmented in her final moments, with one part becoming intertwined with you. The loss of your abilities may be an unforeseen consequence of this connection.”

Rainbow Dash opened her mouth in horror. “But why did she do that?”

“She was in agony. When a pony nears its physical end, its living, breathing spirit escapes and embarks on a long journey to paradise. It is not easy to kill a unicorn, they are extremely tough and there are ways to keep them alive a little longer. Twilight knew that and wanted to spend her last moments with you.”

As the sun slowly ascended in the sky, Celestia's mane caught the morning light, shimmering with ethereal brilliance. Rainbow's ears perked up as a stirring sensation tugged at her heart.

“Are there any spells that can bring somepony back?” Rainbow asked hopefully.

Celestia closed her eyes and turned her head to the side as the light shone across the faces of both ponies. “There is something! But no one in history has ever done it! A ritual that can give ponies who have died too soon a second chance,” the princess replied.

“Wow, that sounds awesome!” Rainbow Dash's eyes widened, resembling melons in size. Celestia smiled warmly as her mane danced in the golden sunlight streaming through the planetarium.

Chapter 1: The last Spark

Author's Note

This story was written in German in 2012. My very first MLP fanfiction, and now I've decided to translate it, to learn a little more English. At that time Twilight was still a unicorn, so this story is set in a timeline between season 2 and 3. I hope you like it and leave a comment for your feedback.

Chapter 1: The last Spark

Loud sirens blared across Canterlot that stormy night. The rumbling thunderstorm and thunderous cloudburst mingled with the panicked cries of fleeing citizens. A giant monster loomed over the capital of Equestria. Its black paws crushed every tower and house. It had glowing red eyes and fur as dark as night, crackling with bright magical lightning.

Commander Whiteknife, a light grey unicorn in scarlet armor, galloped towards the chaos with two comrades. His shots had no effect on the monster, and he couldn't think of anything better than simple incendiary spells.

“This is the end,” cried one of his subordinates, desperation in every word as they reached the heart of the dusty marketplace. “We are powerless against it! This darkness... It's overwhelming!”

“I have never seen an Ursa Major of this size,” said Whiteknife's Sergeant, Shetland.

The commander remained stoic. He snorted the dust from his nostrils with bitterness. “I hope the princess is safe!”

“Do you mean Princess Celestia or Luna?” the lowest ranking soldier asked, a little confused.

Whiteknife rolled his eyes. “Good, grief! You’re a bit slow, aren’t ya? Obviously, I’m talking about Princess Celestia! Princess Luna's off on some field trip, remember? If she were here, she'd handle that creature without breaking a sweat.”

The bear attacked Luna's tower, which had been built to celebrate her return from exile. For Whiteknife, it was ironic that a creature of the night was destroying it.

“Commander! Who are those ponies?” Shedland suddenly asked. Not far from the marketplace, three mares appeared.

Whiteknife recognized their shimmering necklaces. One of them wore a crown with a purple star. “By grandfather's horn! These are the Elements of Harmony!”

Twilight Sparkle knew her hometown well. Every cobblestone was part of her childhood. It hurt to see everything in ruins. Canterlot was once beautiful, but this attack had stripped away some of its dignity. Twilight couldn't do much to stop it, but she was ready to punish the enemy. She turned to her friends. "Fluttershy! You know what to do!"

"Um... Are you sure he'll even listen to me?" whimpered Fluttershy in her frightened squeaky voice.

“Don't worry,” said Twilight. “You've had worse beasts under control! Maybe you won't quell his anger. But he will listen to you until we can use the elements together. Hopefully, the others can evacuate the citizens in time.”

Fluttershy sighed and looked to the wet ground. “I don’t know. Couldn't we just rebuild Canterlot somewhere else?”

“How the hay should that supposed to work?” Applejack shouted in disbelief.

Twilight begged pleadingly, “Pull yourself together, Fluttershy! Canterlot needs your skills! Please, take off already!”

Finally, the timid pony summoned all her courage and flew into the cold, rainy night, while the other soldiers watched eagerly as she disappeared into the darkness. As Fluttershy was halfway to eye level with the Ursa Major, she cleared her throat. “Uhm… Mr. Major? Mr. Major? – Celestia dammit!!! Would you listen to me???”

The bear felt her louder words as a small breeze in its ears. It turned around and reared up in front of the small pegasus. The size of the creature was intimidating. Even the soldiers' knees started trembling.

Applejack shouted frightened, “Holy horse apples, that thing is humongous!”

Fluttershy gulped and made a wry smile. Then she waved sheepishly at the big bear. “He-Hello. I just wanted to say I don't think it's right how you're destroying our beautiful city! I mean, just look at Luna's tower! What do you think she would say when she comes back?”

The bear looked at his work, grumbling, and seemed to show a hint of remorse. Fluttershy continued with a calming voice, “I don't know what's bothering you! But with a little of love and toleran...”

“Fluttershy, Watch out!!!”

Another pegasus pushed her away before a huge paw lashed out at them. A house was torn apart and its fragments fell onto the market square.

Twilight's horn ignited with a brilliant glow. In an instant, a shimmering force field enveloped the entire square, deflecting the incoming debris with a resounding crash. The unicorn shut her eyes tight. As she reopened them, she saw Rainbow Dash whirling around the bear with Fluttershy in her arms.

Eventually, Rarity and Pinkie Pie appeared just in time. “Girls! You made it!” Twilight shouted in relief.

“The last train has just left the station! Canterlot is now clean and clear!” Rarity said with joy.

“This party won't end like this without us!” Pinkie Pie shouted excited.

Twilight felt a bittersweet happiness, like when they faced Nightmare Moon together. But as she looked at her friends, she couldn't shake a feeling of worry. They were heading into danger, and Twilight knew their friendship might face its toughest challenge yet. “Alright, girls! Let's do this! Just like in the good old days!”

The Ursa was busy catching the two pegasi. Rainbow Dash circled the bear twice and pranced around on its head. The bear took a swipe at her, but the pony was far too fast for him. Fluttershy held back and kept trying with talking, unfortunately without success. It was difficult to find a suitable formation for the elements, which worried Twilight and Applejack very much.

“It's nice y’all are here, but RD shouldn't ride this raging bull for too long!” The apple farmer said.

Rainbow Dash executed a daring loop, accompanied by a series of provocative gestures unfit for public display. But before anyone could react, a massive paw hurled her towards the nearest tower with tremendous force, creating a gaping hole into which she vanished. Her friends screamed in horror.

Commander Whiteknife was astounded and looked at his guards. It was clear from the outset that Princess Celestia would send the Elements of Harmony to the front if there were no other options. At this point the commander didn't see the mission quite as darkly as before.

"We should follow them! You never know if we'll be needed!"

Commander Whiteknife was known for his caring and helpfulness, which the soldiers greatly appreciated.

"Yes, sir!" they shouted and ran after him.

Rainbow Dash crawled out of the crater. Red lines of blood flowed under her messy rainbow mane. She spat and wiped the sweat from her forehead, but when she noticed the head wound, fury flashed in her eyes.

“I’m going to kill you!” she snarled and shot out of the hole, heading for the bear's face. Suddenly, a magic spell held her tail. It was Twilight, standing on a broken rooftop with a serious expression.

“Rainbow! Going solo won't help! We should retreat and attack together!”

“But... Fluttershy!” Rainbow Dash shouted, waving her arms.

Twilight looked over. The Ursa Major had started chasing Fluttershy. He swatted at her angrily, like trying to catch a bee.

“Leave it to me!” Twilight said determinedly and teleported away. Rainbow Dash sat down on the roof and watched her friend magically move from one house to another.

“Man! I wish I could do that now!” she muttered.

Fluttershy screamed in panic as she evaded swift strikes. Each new attack drained her strength. Suddenly, a radiant protective bubble enveloped her. Twilight had arrived, using her magic to remain airborne. As she floated beneath the Ursa Major's gaze, Fluttershy gasped in disbelief.

“Twilight?” she breathed.

“I'm sorry for dragging you into this!” The unicorn apologized without looking at her. Then, Twilight was ensnared by the bear's massive paws, squeezing her tightly until she choked.

Twilight!!! Nooo!!!” Fluttershy screamed and struggled frantically in the magic bubble.

The bear's relentless grip tightened around Twilight until her bones cracked. Despite the excruciating pain, she gritted her teeth and focused her mind, channeling her magic through the searing agony. As her horn began to glow with an intense light, Fluttershy's terrified cries faded into the distance.

The Ursa noticed how she was fighting for her life and squeezed even tighter. Twilight let out a strangled scream as her spine snapped. Blood and saliva flowed from her mouth. Her horn grew even brighter and then her mane began to ignite.

The Ursa Major, driven by its instinctual aversion to fire, released its grip on the engulfed pony. At that moment, Twilight was able to release her stored power. She shot a magenta-colored beam into the bear's head. The sky lit up brightly and shortly afterwards there was nothing left of the monster. As Twilight's powers faded, the force field around Fluttershy dissipated.

Rainbow Dash had seen everything. Now she could no longer sit still. She made an explosive thrust to help Twilight and Fluttershy. But she missed her wingless friend by a long way. Everything seemed to move in slow motion as Twilight disappeared into the dusty rubble of the palace. The rain had stopped.

The blue pegasus pony soared through the biting dust and called for Twilight, but there was no answer. All that was left of the palace was an empty, dark gray ruin. A few fragments and broken statues could be seen here and there. Rainbow Dash hated this place already. She wished Twilight would show up the next moment. Then she heard footsteps behind her.

“Twilight?” She turned around and saw a heavy armored soldier.

“No! I'm Commander Whiteknife from the First Unicorn Company! Follow me! We've found your friend!”

The unicorn soldier led Rainbow Dash to a tiled area of marble where the entrance hall once stood. Two other unicorns cleared away the rubble and uncovered a nondescript purple body. Rainbow Dash recognized the star-shaped cutie mark on its flank and gasped, eyes wide open.

Twilight Sparkle had never looked so terrible. Her mane was soot-black from top to bottom, the deep wounds and dark blue marks had left her in a bad way, not to mention her bruised body. Rainbow Dash felt her battered face. She was still alive, which was a real miracle.

“Raainboww...” Twilight breathed weakly and opened her tired eyes. Rainbow Dash couldn't bear to look at her. She pressed her head against Twilight's forehead and tried to find words of reassurance, making her voice literally shake.

“Don't worry! We can fix that! You've always had a plan! Your whole egghead is full of plans!!!”

“Rainb...hhh...” Twilight couldn't manage more than an unintelligible, weak groan. Her tired expression and gasping for breath gave Rainbow Dash an alarming sign.

"No! Twilight! Stay awake! Say awake! Stay awaaake!!!" Rainbow Dash shook her screaming and pressed her hoof on her heart to revive her. But it was no use. Twilight had already fallen asleep.

Commander Whiteknife placed Twilight's hooves gently on her stomach and saluted, as was customary for the fallen. Rainbow Dash stared at her friend's lifeless body for a long time. Finally, her tears could no longer hold back.

“I... wasn't fast enough, Twilight! I just wasn't fast enough! I'm so sorry! I messed up! Why couldn't I save you? Why...? I learned so much from you... Hhhh... Without you, I never would have...”

She broke down crying over Twilight's body. Her loud wail could be heard throughout the ruins, echoing even to the other ponies, who soon found her.

The friends were in great pain. Pinkie Pie had clung to Rarity's neck, howling, Applejack sat in stunned silence, her expression frozen in shock. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash held each other tightly, tears streaming down their faces.

Twilight Sparkle lay motionless on the ground, her once vibrant presence now subdued. Beside her, the crown remained untouched, a silent testament to the trials they had faced together. Yet, the spark of the element had been extinguished, leaving behind an emptiness that seemed to linger forevermore.

The smoke over Canterlot finally cleared, revealing the cool, white full moon over the mountains. The inhabitants returned home, if their houses were still standing. Unicorns retrieved valuables from the wreckage, while the earth ponies and pegasi hauled the rubble out of the town. The repairs would take months, maybe even years.

But Princess Celestia didn't care as soon as she heard the sad news.

A few days passed. The gates of the cathedral, called the Hall of Heroes, opened on a dreary morning. Four ponies pulled a black carriage into a long hall. It was Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Applejack and Rainbow Dash, standing in the harness with their heads hanging down. Rarity walked beside the carriage, accompanied by the young dragon Spike, who had hidden his face under a handkerchief.

The ponies still wore the Elements of Harmony, because they wanted to. Their faces were as gray as the cold stone on the walls and pillars. The carriage was decorated with roses, tulips and an array of other flowers and carried a glass coffin with golden accents.

All citizens of Canterlot and Ponyville were present just to pay their last respects to a pony. The funeral procession moved slowly through the crypt, towards the new grave on the right-hand side of the aisle.

The tombstone was adorned with intricate inscriptions and gentle illustrations, and a small alicorn figurine gracing its center. At the foot of the stone slab, a narrow opening awaited, perfectly sized to accommodate the coffin. As the ponies detached themselves from the cart, Princess Celestia gave the signal to ring the bells to mark the start of the funeral ceremony.

All the ponies looked up. A golden spell lifted the coffin with the flowers and carried it slowly to its final resting place. Here they would see Twilight Sparkle one last time.

Her parents and her brother, Shining Armor and his wife, Princess Cadence, stood in the front row. There was no question that the mother, Mrs. Sparkle, cried the loudest for her foal. As the coffin sank into the hole and the choir began to sing, the five friends had to control themselves.

Rainbow Dash shook her head with eyes closed, unable to bear this bleak period. She ran towards the grave to see Twilight once more. The unicorn lay in the padded bed of the coffin, surrounded by flowers and grasses as provisions for her final journey. She was wearing this simple dress that had been a birthday present from Rarity.

Then the thick granite slabs slid back over the hole. Rainbow Dash tried to catch a last glimpse through the notches between the stones, but rough hooves dragged her away. She didn't resist, because there was no reason to. Rarity and Pinkie Pie, in her long, sleek hairstyle of grief, looked at her angrily. But Rainbow Dash didn't care.

The funeral slowly came to an end. One by one, all the visitors left the crypt until finally five ponies and a small dragon remained. They stayed even longer than Twilight's family.

Rarity released a heavy sigh, her voice laden with disbelief. “I still can't believe she's really gone!”

“She died for us and for Equestria!” said Applejack monotonously.

Rainbow Dash's sobs echoed through the chamber, tears streaming down her cheeks to pool on the stone floor. “I couldn't save her! She looked to me, but I... I couldn't do anything!”

Rarity turned her head. “What’s in your mind, darling?”

“Do you know what it's like when... when a friend dies in your own hooves? She was badly wounded; I was with her and yet... I've so rarely cried in my whole life and now... now it's all coming out like a waterfall.”

Applejack looked at Rainbow Dash kindly. “Right now, you can cry all ya want.” Her eyes became moist. “That ain't no shame!”

Pinkie Pie looked lost in thought at the royal mosaic pictures showing pegasi, unicorns and earth ponies. She closed her eyes as she recalled all the memories with Twilight. “I can still clearly remember our first meeting. I was so happy to see a new face. Then she became a great friend.”

She lay down on her back. Her long, straight hair scattered across the floor. “I hate it when friends leave! But I love the memories of them even more! Don't you, Fluttershy?”

Everyone looked at Fluttershy, who had barely spoken since Twilight's passing. She was still silent, but the ponies could see thick tears hanging in her long mane. Applejack nudged Pinkie Pie. “It’s better to leave her be! She ain't done reckonin' with the shock jest yet!”

Suddenly, the door at the other end of the hall swung open, revealing none other than Princess Celestia. She stepped into the room bathed in the morning sunlight, casting a solemn glow over the six mourners who gazed at her with tear-filled eyes.

“You've been here for two hours!” she stated, her voice carrying a mixture of empathy and sorrow.

“We miss her very much!” Pinkie Pie replied and sat up.

The princess walked up to the grave and looked at it scrutinizingly, as if she wanted to speak to the deceased.

“Twilight did her best,” she said, “but we couldn't prevent her fate.”

“I don't want to seem rude! But don't you feel sad for Twilight?” Pinkie Pie inquired with curiosity, earning a stern glance from Rarity. Celestia turned away from the grave, meeting the ponies' gaze with sincerity.

“I am very sad! I just process my grief differently than you do! I've had many friends who have long since been buried. With my long life, friendships don't last!”

Rainbow Dash began to sob again, louder this time. “But Twi was too young! She didn't deserve such an end!”

“No! She really didn't. But unfortunately, that is what happened, there's nothing we can do about it!”

These words sounded hard as steel in Rainbow Dash's ears. Twilight was dead and not even Celestia's magic could bring her back. This realization ate her up inside. She bit her arm to keep from losing control as she let out a stifled sob. But then a gentle hoof patted her back. Applejack looked at her like a good old friend who hadn't been seen in years.

“Come here, RD,” Applejack said softly, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. “Life will go on! Somehow!”

At the same time, Pinkie Pie snuggled up to the two of them. Then Rarity, Fluttershy and Spike joined them. Rainbow Dash felt as if she had fallen into a warm pool. Her friends were always there for her. They suffered with her and shared her pain, yet she felt another heavy burden. A deep sense of guilt...

Chapter 2: The new Pony

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Chapter 4: Towards the Sun

The light shone through the stained glass of the old church. The large mosaic of Celestia and Luna showed them as proud protectors and rulers of the ponies. Since Rainbow Dash was in Canterlot, she took the opportunity to visit Twilight's grave. Ponies buried in this dome were given a great honor. Rainbow laid flowers on the grave and sat in silence with her eyes closed.

Now she knew that death was not the end of everything. For the first time, she could hope again. With half a spirit inside her, she would complete Twilight's journey to paradise and give her life again. Celestia had explained everything to her: Twilight had suffered great torment when her soul was split, but this was the only way she could withstand the power of the Ursa Major. Now one half was in paradise and the other was stuck in Rainbow Dash. She had to embark on a long journey for Twilight's sake.

“I know your pain, Twi. It must be unbearable to be stuck halfway in paradise. But I’ll make it right, and Celestia will be my witness. I’ll make it right because I couldn't save you,” she murmured softly.

“Do you really blame yourself for her death, Rainbow Dash?” asked a familiar voice behind her back.

Rainbow recognized Twilight's brother, Prince Shining Armor. He was dressed in his captain's uniform, flanked by the unicorns who had fought in the battle. Commander Whiteknife nodded a greeting to Rainbow Dash. Shining Armor sat down beside her, maintaining a respectful silence. Though displaying emotion was discouraged in service, Celestia allowed exceptions in the church, especially for family. “You don't need to blame yourself,” Shining Armor said. “Twilight saw it coming, and the Ursa Major is entirely to blame.”

“Right!" Shetland spoke up. “The post-mortem revealed that Twilight's lungs were so crushed that there was no chance of her surviving.”

“Goodness gracious! Spare the prince and the pegasus these details!” hissed Commander Whiteknife angrily.

“It's okay!” said Shining Armor, raising his head. Then he turned to Rainbow Dash. “I heard what you're up to! It's a really hard thing to do, but you’d be doing my family a big favor! Twilight deserves a full life in Paradise.”

Shining Armor only knew that Rainbow was to take Twilight's half-soul to Paradise. The resurrection rite was a secret shared only between Celestia and her. Perhaps it was best that Shining didn’t know everything. “I would love to accompany you, Rainbow, but I have my duties to do. I wish you the best of luck!”

He gave Rainbow Dash a quick hug before standing up. His final glance lingered on the grave before he exited with the guards. Rainbow Dash felt a deep sympathy for the Sparkle family. Shining's words resonated with her, bolstering her resolve to carry out the mission.

As Rainbow Dash walked towards the palace entrance, she could already hear Trixie's grumbling voice. “Why should I go along with something like that? That's her problem, not mine!”

She left the palace indignantly. Princess Celestia followed her with a severe look. “You will escort her! That is an order!”

Trixie stopped and grumbled to herself.

Celestia sighed, shaking her head. “What am I going to do with you, Trixie? It was your decision to continue your studies!”

“But it's not my duty to help Rainbow Dash with a breakneck action! I've got better things to do!” scolded Trixie.

“Why won't you let me finish?” asked Celestia in a softer tone, “If you help Rainbow Dash, you'll win a great award and I'll teach you the next levels of magic. Maybe you'll even be in some history books!”

Trixie's eyes suddenly grew wide with excitement. She could seemingly envision the glory that awaited her, fueling her desire for adventure. With a confident flair, she turned around. “Well, it's time for the grrreat and powerful Trixie to claim the recognition she deserves! Trixie will achieve such great glory that she’ll have her own constellation!”

“Oh, please don't!” thought Rainbow Dash shocked.

“Great! I knew I could count on my faithful student!” said Celestia, throwing Trixie's heavy pack onto her back. She trotted off, panting and full of energy. Rainbow Dash didn't feel comfortable with the whole thing.

“Um... Is it really necessary to have her with me?” she wanted to know.

The princess smiled. “Her expertise is now such that she will soon be allowed to study outside Equestria. I have something for you too, Rainbow!”

Next to Rainbow's luggage, she pulled out an old granite sphere with a star engraved on it: the element of magic. It had changed from the crown back into a stone sphere.

“It happened just before the funeral,” Celestia explained. “A clear sign that this element is destined for a new carrier. You need it for your task. And here is your element. Loyalty!”

Celestia showed her the golden necklace with the red lightning bolt. When Rainbow Dash saw it, her heart suddenly became very heavy. “I can't take it... I no longer deserve it...”

The princess looked at her in astonishment and sadness at the same time. After a deep bow, Rainbow Dash turned and walked down the wide white marble staircase that led to the gates of Canterlot. At the sides, the guards saluted in farewell. Rainbow Dash thought of everything she had to leave behind. It was almost like self-exile. But in the end, she had made the decision to help Twilight.

Trixie was waiting impatiently at the foot of the mountain. She had put on her typical starry cape and pointed hat for the journey. Rainbow Dash trotted past her.

“Finally, there you are! The great, all-powerful Trixie is tired of waiting!” she shouted, but Rainbow ignored her and trotted on.

The unicorn stared for a while, but then she ran after her. “Well, I'm not volunteering to help you, but I'm afraid we have to go through with it!”

“Do you think I'll let you come with me willingly?” Rainbow Dash murmured.

“Hmph! Good point!”

The mares continued their taciturn journey on the country road that led past Ponyville. The weather was glorious. The pegasi had already cleared the sky. A cornfield spread out on the left, buzzing with butterflies and other insects. Somewhere, someone was roaming through the tall field and heading straight for the ponies. Rainbow Dash became aware of the rustling.

“Somepony is following us!” she hissed, her ears twitching.

“Well, how about that? A fight right away? Don't worry, Trixie has been well trained in all magical fighting skills!”

The noises grew louder, the clattering of hooves echoing through the air. Rainbow Dash reared up on her hind legs, while Trixie lowered her head, her horn glowing. Their pursuer snorted and quickened its gallop as the two scanned the area with keen eyes. Suddenly, a shadow leaped from the field, kicking up dust as it landed on the path in one powerful bound. It was Applejack, and she was not pleased.

“That might suit ya, just runnin' away! What in tarnation is wrong with ya?” she yelled.

Rainbow Dash's mouth remained open, but Applejack wasn't done yet. “And now you're goin' with her?? I thought y'all hated each other! Consarn it, Rainbow, is that what ya call friendship? What in Equestria did Celestia teach ya? What did Twilight teach ya?!”

Applejack started to cry. “And just so ya know! I'm sure she wouldn't have wanted it this way! We're still friends, ain't we? Without us, you won't get one step further!”

“Oh, AJ!” gasped Rainbow Dash. They fell around each other's necks, crying. Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy emerged from the field. Water was in their eyes too.

“That's right, Dashie!” gasped Pinkie. “We can't cope with losing another friend!”

Rainbow's heart leapt, even if not particularly high. Now she wouldn't have to face this alone. As they continued their journey, she filled her friends in on the mission.

Trixie glanced back at Canterlot. The mountain was already miles away, but the castle with its shimmering towers and scaffolding was still visible in the distance.

“Friendship...” she murmured.

The princess returned to the living room with mixed feelings. Had she perhaps been too optimistic about Rainbow Dash and Trixie? She knew that no one who tried to revive someone came back. If the same thing happened to them, she could never forgive herself.

A magic mirror standing on a counter began to light up. Luna came forward. When Celestia looked into it, her sister's face appeared. “Hello, did you get our message?”

“I have, Luna. And I'm deeply concerned! Obviously, it was the same as it was with you back then!” said Celestia. Luna seemingly didn't like remembering that.

“This is far worse, sister! The Ursa Major was driven by nothing but hatred and senseless violence. It sought only to destroy and kill. Poor Twilight fell victim to a brutal and senseless murder. Something, or someone, must have provoked the Ursa Major into such a monstrous act.”

“I understand, sister! Keep me informed.”

Luna disappeared and the mirror only showed Celestia's exhausted face. “Good luck, Rainbow Dash!” she thought.

The ponies had already come a long way. Ahead lay the Everfree Forest, their first obstacle. In the meantime, Rainbow Dash had finished telling her mission.

“Really? It’s possible to bring ponies back to life?” Applejack repeated in amazement. Rainbow Dash nodded.

“And Twilight's soul is in your head?” Pinkie Pie asked, flabbergasted.

“Yes, but only a part of her,” said Rainbow Dash, looking up, although there was nothing to see.

Suddenly Trixie spoke up: “Um, oh! This might sound a tad silly, but Princess Celestia has entrusted me with another task! I must cast a protective spell on you, and I must do it daily!”

Rainbow Dash was confused. “Why? Isn't it enough that you've been crawling around in my head?”

“Well, Twilight’s soul can do a number on you too. The longer you tote it around, the more it melds with your own spirit! That can spell trouble! If we don't act, you'll end up a loony, dribbling pony!”

The pegasus mare jumped up in alarm, causing Fluttershy to squeak in fright. “Wha...wha...what? Why didn't you tell me sooner?” Rainbow cried in horror.

“Sorry! I forgot! -Squee!”- Trixie smiled, embarrassed.

Rainbow Dash broke out in sweat. It was weird. As soon as Trixie had said that, she felt a few years older. “That won't hurt, right?” she asked cautiously.

“It won't! Just hold still!” After these words, Trixie's horn began to glow. When she touched Rainbow's forehead, she felt a brief flutter in her skull and she could have sworn she heard Twilight whimper. Then Trixie let go of Rainbow Dash. Rainbow had never seen such a look on her face before.

“I don't want to say how much Twilight is suffering, but I wouldn't even wish this for my enemies!” She turned around and stared into the depths of the forest.

The others didn't want to think about what Trixie had seen or felt, but it seemed to have hit them hard. Rarity went to her. “Where exactly is this paradise, you speak of?”

“It can be anywhere! Celestia said we must follow her sun and bask under Luna's moon at night! We've got a tremendous, stupendous, colossal journey ahead of us!”

Pinkie Pie groaned: “Aww! Is there really no shortcut there or anything?”

Trixie began to grin ironically. “Oh, there is one! Just jump off a cliff! That's the quickest way to paradise!”

“Suicide is not the answer! That's simply unethical!” Rarity scolded and turned her back on Trixie.

The ponies trotted through the depths of the mystical forest. As time passed, the surroundings grew darker. They watched as the last rays of sunlight vanished behind the dense canopy of leaves, transforming the forest into a spooky tangle of branches, bushes, bugs, birds, and other unseen creatures. Fluttershy was the first to become frightened, and soon the others began to shiver as well as the temperature dropped.

“We oughta take a break!” Applejack finally said. “Let's find ourselves a good spot to rest.”

The others looked around. There was only darkness far and wide. The chirping of the crickets and the hooting of the owls irritated them.

“How about that dilapidated ruin there?” asked Trixie suddenly.

Rainbow Dash snapped to attention. “Ruin? What ruin?”

Trixie pointed to a small clearing cut off by a ravine. Only a small suspension bridge led to a large stone ruin. The walls looked familiar to the friends.

"Great galoshes! That's the ruin where we found the Elements of Harmony! Do ya remember?" shouted Applejack in amazement.

“It hasn't changed a bit!” said Rarity.

Everyone rushed across the bridge to the other side, with Rainbow Dash leading the way. As she reached the end, memories of that adventure flooded back. It was Twilight who had brought her to this place, where they had all faced various tests. Rainbow Dash had proven her loyalty at this very bridge. The memories stung, bringing a pang of sorrow to her heart.

“What are you pondering over, darling? We must keep moving! Otherwise, you might catch a cold,” Rarity remarked as she walked past.

The ruin was darker than outside. Fluttershy hid behind the tail of Pinkie Pie. The ponies looked around. Nothing, almost nothing, had changed in this place. Some things were missing, for example a columnar structure with six arms on which the six fossilized elements once stood. Trixie eyed the area boredly, as if in a museum, but she was glad to at least be under a roof. Applejack took care of the firewood, which Rarity lit with a spell. The fire wavered high and cast large, flickering shadows on the walls.

“So, this is the ancient palace of the princess sisters that Celestia told me about! What a sad, boring place!” said Trixie.

Applejack eyed her critically but decided not to pursue it further. She turned to her friends, who were gathered around the fire. “We gotta figure out where we're headed tomorrow, and keep an eye out for some grub while we're at it!”

“Don't worry, darlings,” said Rarity with a delicate wave of her hoof. “The forest is teeming with fruits and grasses. But for now, we simply must find a suitable place to sleep. This hard ground will give us bruises, and I certainly despise fancy sleeping standing up!”

The ponies discussed their tasks. Applejack and Pinkie Pie set off in search of food, while Rainbow Dash shared some provisions and straw she had brought along. Rarity suggested weaving six mats from the straw, and Fluttershy tended to the fire. As always, they worked together seamlessly, though Trixie remained in the background.

Eventually, the sleeping areas were prepared. The ponies ate their fill from Rainbow Dash's provisions and the food Applejack had gathered. It was already quite late, likely halfway through the night. Applejack let out a loud yawn, prompting Rarity to pull a face of offense. “Applejack, please! Keep a hoof in front of your mouth!”

“Well, let me tell ya, my brother's yawn could wake the whole barnyard!” Applejack laughed.

Lost in their own thoughts, the others gazed silently into the dying embers of the fire. Eventually, one by one, they settled down to rest.

But Rainbow Dash woke up again after a while. She had felt something. A subtle breeze stirring through the broken windows catching her attention. She glanced upwards, her eyes fixating on the tower she had last visited two years prior. There was an inexplicable pull drawing her towards it. Quietly slipping past the sleeping Applejack, Rainbow made her way through the chilly ruins, ascending the spiral staircase leading to the tower. As she reached the top, she entered a vast chamber, its symmetry striking. The wind whispered through the cracks in the walls, and in the center stood a raised platform. Bathed in the ethereal glow of Luna's moonlight filtering through the slender windows, the empty expanse held a mysterious allure.

Only then did Rainbow Dash realize where she was. The battle against Nightmare Moon was taking place before her eyes. Twilight ran towards the black mare with her horn held out and suddenly fizzled out.

Then the room was empty again. Nightmare Moon was defeated and became Luna again. That day, Rainbow Dash realized what Twilight Sparkle meant to her: a true friend. The pegasus pony stepped forward into the moonlight.

“Oh, Twi! I hope you can hear me. If only I could tell you how sorry I am. Your brother doesn't think I should blame myself.” Rainbow Dash's knees went weak and she lay down on the wide staircase, leaving her thoughts out loud to the hall.

“I... I had a moment of doubt, Twilight. I... I know I'm not entirely to blame, but maybe I could've spared you some of this pain. I just... I need you to know that I'm sorry. I'll bear this burden with you, every step of the way. I can't fly anymore... it feels like... like I've been punished enough. But I promise, I'll make it right. I'll make it right... for you.”

Then she fell asleep. What Rainbow Dash didn't realize was that her head was lying on the lap of a purple ghost who was gently patting it.

Chapter 5: Deeper in the Forest

A dried leaf tickled Rainbow Dash’s nose. She had to sneeze and it woke her up. On this gloomy morning, she sat on the steps in front of the altar. The room made a much friendlier impression than at night. Strong roots squeezed through the cracks in the old torn tiles of the ruin. Grass also grew in some places and it looked very tasty for Rainbow Dash. First, she thought about where she could relieve herself and chose an inconspicuous, mossy spot behind the pillars. After it was done, it tore some long bushes out of the crevices and went down the tower. It was a beautiful new day in the Everfree Forest.

As Rainbow walked to the other hall, a cheerful Pinkie Pie jumped at her. Her bright pink hair had frizzed out and she was back to her old self.

“Dashie! There you are! I thought you'd run off without us again!” shouted Pinkie Pie in relief. Rainbow Dash was so startled that her food fell out of her mouth.

“You seem to be doing well!”

“I told you it would pass again. There are so many other good things in life. Thinking about the same thing all the time is not healthy!” Pinkie told.

Rainbow Dash smiled briefly. Then she took the fallen food back into her mouth and walked with her into the hall.

Rarity, Applejack and Fluttershy sat on the mats while Trixie stood off to the side. Rarity praised Spike in front of her friends for agreeing to take care of the boutique. When Rainbow arrived with the food, everyone fell silent.

“Where in tarnation have ya been, Rainbow?” asked Applejack.

“I brought food for you!” said Rainbow Dash.

“Really very sweet of you Rainbow, Darling. But don't you think it's a bit less?” said Rarity as she saw the small pile of grass.

“Nonsense! Some weed is always good!” said Pinkie and jumped over to the others.

Trixie peeked out under her hat. “Are you all right, Rainbow? How's the head?” she asked.

Rainbow Dash didn't know and shrugged her shoulders. But everyone knew exactly what Trixie meant. She walked silently towards the pegasus. “We need to renew the protection spell!” she said.

Rainbow Dash felt that strange feeling in her head again, but the whimpering was quieter this time. Trixie ended it and turned around. “Very well, let's go!”

“Whoa there, Trixie!” Applejack ran into her way. “Now, I ain't sure who gave you the authority, but I reckon I'd like to know just what the hay you think you're doin' with Rainbow Dash and why you're taggin' along with us.”

Trixie saw that she wasn't really popular in the clique. She snorted contemptuously, but let herself explain again: “I'm here for two reasons, AJ! First, to make sure your friend doesn't go off the deep end, and second, Princess Celestia instructed me to jot down a report about this little excursion, just in case we make it back in one piece.”

“What do you mean?” Pinkie asked.

“Seriously? You're still questioning that? This is the ultimate suicide mission! Paradise? Ha! Once you're in, there's no way out! You'll understand once you arrive!”

Applejack, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie looked surprised.

“Believe me! One of you is bound to meet their end!” She was about to walk past Applejack, but she stood in her way again.

“Your constant talk of doom and gloom is mighty irritating! But alright, go ahead and write your report. But mark my words, nopony, and I mean nopony, better be dyin' on this journey!”

“Ha! We'll see about that!” laughed Trixie and went outside.

The journey went on. The friends and Trixie were walking in unfamiliar territory. From a distance, the forest had taken on a green color as the leaves had grown close together. Rainbow Dash lagged with her heavy pack. The weight of the petrified element in her right-side pocket had slipped her mind. The group walked along a narrow path between trees and bushes. Lizards and toads crossed their paths. Fluttershy walked noticeably slower to avoid stepping on any animal. Rainbow Dash eventually caught up with her.

“Are you oaky, Rainbow? Shouldn't I take something from you?" asked Fluttershy.

“No thanks! I do not need any help!” Rainbow Dash gasped. The beads of sweat on her forehead told Fluttershy otherwise. Every little bump took her breath away. The ground was getting wetter, which made her walk even more difficult. At the end of the path, the others stopped.

“Poor Rainbow's been lugging that stuff around for hours,” Applejack muttered. Trixie rolled her eyes.

“Come on, then! At least let me carry one bag. If it's okay with you,” Fluttershy said. She took Rainbow's left side bag and strapped it on her back.

“Enough of this,” Trixie grumbled and used her magic to remove Rainbow's right pocket. Suddenly Rainbow Dash felt much lighter. The pain in her back slowly subsided.

“Uh... thank you!” said Rainbow glumly. Trixie said nothing and walked further into the depths of the forest.

Everyone made much faster strides forward. In the late afternoon, they reached a raging river. The current was far too strong to cross. If they managed to get to the other side, all would deserve a break. Applejack spotted a leaning tree hanging over the river and got an idea. “Time for ma good ol’ rope!”

She jumped onto the tree – dangerously close above the stream, and tied one end around the trunk. “Hey Fluttershy, reckon you could tie this here to the other side for me?” Applejack called against the loud noise.

The pegasus hesitated. She looked at the wild river with fearful eyes. Then she turned back to Applejack. “I don't know if I can do this! The river is far too... far!”

Applejack was starting to get impatient. “Now listen here, sugarcube. You're the only one who can fly! Ah'd have asked Rainbow Dash if she could've done it. But right now, it's up to you. We gotta gather our strength, for her, for Twilight, and for all of us. So let's stop dilly-dallyin' and get to work!”

The timid pegasus pulled herself together and closed the eyes. Then she nodded and flew off. Applejack threw the rope at her, but the tree groaned suspiciously, which the earth pony didn't notice.

Fluttershy stretched her neck to reach the rope, grasping it tightly before securing it to a sturdy tree stump. It hung like a trapeze above the tumultuous waters below.

The farmer pony checked the stability of the rope once more and was satisfied with it. Slowly, she tried to shimmy across the river while the other ponies shivered along.

“Oh, please be careful, Applejack!” cried Rarity, full of worry.

But despite the sweat and the wobbly rope, the bold pony made it to the other side. Applejack posed and let out a joyful “Yeehaah!” Fluttershy applauded and the farmer pony shouted to her friends: “Y'all see that, girls? If Ah can handle this, y'all can too! Let's get 'er done!

Pinkie Pie was the first to go. She found it a little more difficult and tried to overcome her fear by having fun. “Huui! It's pretty drafty up here! Hi, Applejack! Hehe!”

Eventually she made it and was overcome with an explosion of emotions. Her chest swelled with an indescribable mix of relief, happiness, and sheer exhilaration.

Then came Rarity. She was much slower than Pinkie. “A lady isn't made for this!” she complained.

“Don't look down, Rarity!” shouted Applejack as Pinkie continued to cheer her on.

With a soft sigh, she finally reached the others. Her expression was a mixture of frustration and resignation.

Only Trixie and Rainbow were left. “Say, you can teleport us to the other side,” Rainbow Dash whispered to her.

“I could! But I won't do it!” she replied, turning up her nose.

“Excuse me?”

Trixie just giggled as if she knew what she was doing. Grabbing the rope, she eagerly climbed towards the other side. Just as she had reached the middle, she suddenly disappeared and reappeared in front of the other ponies.

“Well, Rainbow?” laughed Trixie. “Still from the other side?”

Rainbow gritted her teeth and imagined punching Trixie in the face.

“Go, Dashie! You can do it!” Pinkie encouraged her.

She had no idea how Rainbow was feeling. Wishing she had her flying skills back, and envying Fluttershy a little.

“Of course! I can do it in ten seconds flat!” she shouted back to give herself a little boost. Then she jumped onto the taut rope. The tree behind her creaked and fear started to grow. She had always relied on her wings and never had to climb. Rainbow swallowed and tried to think of good times. Slowly, she made progress.

“Don't give up, Rainbow, ya got this!” shouted Applejack at the top of her voice. Rainbow snorted and groaned, but suddenly there was a strong wind and she slipped off. Her friends gasped in horror, but it was only a moment of shock. Rainbow was still able to hold on with her legs. She relaxed, closed her eyes and thought of her favorite novel character. Daring Doo was an adventurous pony, just like her. Twilight had always compared her to her. Rainbow Dash imagined she was Daring Doo.

Daring was hanging from a strong steel chain. The orange-red lava bubbled deep beneath her, its heat warming the back of her neck. The chain was strong and stable, so she couldn't lose it. She was Daring Doo. Every dangerous adventure had never been too difficult for her. Suddenly, the gray-haired pony saw a purple unicorn mare balancing on the chain above her. She was half transparent and looked down on Daring Doo with great confidence.

“Twi...” Daring breathed. Her hooves trembled and she couldn't take her eyes off her. Then she shook her head and climbed on. The ghost above her followed, but Daring refused to be distracted. Her mission was far too important. She climbed and climbed.

But then she heard a voice. “Let go!”

“No! I'll die otherwise!” Daring wheezed.

“Let go! Trust me!”

Daring Doo bit her lips. The grip on the chain loosened and then she let herself fall.

Rainbow Dash banged on her back. The next thing she heard was Pinkie Pie’s loud cheer. Applejack grabbed Rainbow's hooves and pulled her up. “Great job! It was a tad peculiar seein' ya hangin' from that there, but ya pulled it off real nice!”

Rainbow Dash looked over at Trixie. She stood there like an ice-block and stared at her in amazement.

It was hard work, but it was worth it. Applejack straightened her stetson hat after Pinkie Pie had calmed down. “All right then! Now ah have to get ma rop...”

In an instant, the tree across the river emitted a low, ominous groan. The ponies watched as it leaned to one side and fell into the river. Rushing with no mercy, the stream tore the trunk away, uprooting the stump connected to it. Before Applejack knew it, her lasso was gone.

“Buck!” she yelled.

In the evening, they spread out their mats under the dense branches of the trees. Far behind them was the river. Nevertheless, Applejack was still upset about the loss of the lasso, her beloved tool. Rarity handed her a leaf full of berries to console her. Applejack ate everything, including the leaf. Trixie sat off to the side and wrote her first report. She whispered the text quietly to herself, which helped to concentrate.

Rainbow Dash felt very depressed, much more so than Applejack, and Rarity and Pinkie Pie noticed this the most. “Pinkie, how much grief can this pony actually take?” asked Rarity worriedly.

“I don't know! Rainbow had seen how... how she died. And then that mumbo jumbo in her head. I wish I knew how to make her laugh again.” Pinkie mumbled.

“I guess it takes a lot!”

As Pinkie Pie's mind seemingly delved into her final memory of Twilight, her frizzy mane slicked down and turned into its smooth state. Rarity watched it with complete amazement, but didn't want to ask how she did it.

Suddenly, Trixie came in. She had finished writing her report. The glittery paper rolled up and disappeared in her bag, which was lying next to Rainbow's blue backpack. “Behold! I have urgent news to impart! We must maintain our vigilance!”

“What? Forgot to mention somethin' again, have ya?" Applejack whispered.

“You should know it too. I mean, have you ever heard of the punishment, 'Banishment to the Everfree Forest'?”

“Yes! And?” Rainbow Dash mumbled dryly, but Rarity seemed to realize it.

“Oh, my goodness! Trixie is right! Ponies who have committed serious crimes are banished here! They'll never come back!”

“I'm just saying that some of them have gone mad and will likely mug us!” said Trixie. “Therefore, I propose a solution, one among us shall stand guard while the others rest, and we shall rotate this duty every hour for our collective safety.”

“Alright then! Ah'll take the first shift!” said Applejack and stood up.

“Fine! Then we've sorted that out, too. Well then, have a good night!”

Applejack walked into the darkness and then stopped. “Trixie?”

“Hmm?” she said.

“If you're fixin' to take my place, I reckon I oughta have a word with ya first!”

Trixie turned around once again and nodded silently.

Chapter 6: The Banished

Trixie woke up as the faint light of the moon filtered through the leaves, signaling the hour of the watch change. The nocturnal symphony of the forest, the howls, screeches, and chirps, filled the air, adding to her disorientation. Groggily, she blinked her tired eyes open, struggling to fully awaken. With a deep sigh, she managed to get to her hooves, stretching out the stiffness from her limbs.

As she got her bearings, Trixie realized that something was wrong. Not only Applejack, who was keeping watch, but also Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy were absent. Unease began to creep in as Trixie scanned the dimly lit room. The only ones remaining were Rainbow Dash and Rarity, both still nestled on their makeshift mats, wrapped in a delicate covering of leaves that served as their blankets.

Rainbow Dash seemed restless, murmuring softly in her sleep, her brow furrowed as she was plagued by a distressing dream. The sight of her friend's discomfort tugged at Trixie’s conscience, reminding her of the gravity of their quest and the burdens they each carried.

Then, Trixie heard a faint whimpering. She quietly followed the sorrowing sound and soon found the source. Fluttershy sat behind a thick bush and let her tears flow freely, while Pinkie Pie stood by her side.

“That's it, let it all out,” Pinkie Pie whispered soothingly, her forelegs wrapped around the weeping pegasus.

Trixie watched from behind a bush, feeling a pang of sympathy deep within her. Yet, she couldn't entirely suppress her lingering resentment towards Twilight. The story of subduing an Ursa Major had once been hers, a fabricated tale she used to awe and impress ponies across Equestria. That illusion had crumbled when the truth was revealed, and the jealousy gnawed at her like a venomous snakebite.

Leaving the scene behind, Trixie moved on. As she emerged from the underbrush, she found Applejack standing vigilantly by the edge of the path, her gaze fixed intently into the forest. Her ears twitched as Trixie approached and the leaves crunched under her hooves.

“So, Applejack, what’s so important?” Trixie asked, her tone laced with irritation.

“It's Rainbow Dash,” Applejack replied somberly, turning to look at the unicorn with a serious expression.

“What about her?” Trixie pressed.

“I know Rainbow Dash really well. Normally, she's as lively as a rabbit in a carrot patch, but lately, she's been more down than a sack of flour in a rainstorm. You ask me, your fancy spell ain’t cuttin' it. Maybe it slows down that soul-mergin' with Twilight somehow, but it ain't enough. We gotta do somethin’ more, Trixie, ‘fore it gets worse.”

“It has to work! Celestia herself chose me for this task!” Trixie retorted defensively.

“Can’t ya see she’s sufferin’? This just ain’t like her at all. If somethin’ happens to Rainbow Dash... I just want her to be okay again, ya know? She’s my friend, and I can't stand seein' her like this.” Applejack said, her voice tinged with worry.

Trixie felt a surge of conflicting thoughts. When she first saw Rainbow Dash again in the library, she had been furious. But as their journey progressed, that anger had faded. Trixie now recognized that Rainbow Dash was already deeply affected by the soul merging.

“You don’t trust my magic, do you? Let me make something clear! I’m not a bad student. Even Celestia said so, and that's why she entrusted me with looking after Rainbow. You’re just her friends and completely unnecessary for this journey. Don’t tell me what to do! You know I'm better than you...”

Applejack’s breath hitched as she absorbed Trixie's words.

A high-pitched scream pierced the calm night air, followed by a flash of magic that lit up the campsite. It was Rarity. Applejack muttered a curse under her breath, having lost focus during her argument with Trixie.

Standing around their campfire were four lean and mean stallions. One, a unicorn with a jagged, broken horn, held Rarity tightly. The other three were circling Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy like wolves eyeing prey.

“What brings you fine fillies to our neck of the woods?” rasped the unicorn, his voice dry and creaky. Rarity could see the hunger in his eyes, his gaze fixated on her heaving chest. “What business do you have in our territory?”

“We’re just passing through!” Rarity retorted, trying to keep her voice steady.

The unicorn laughed, a harsh, grating sound, and his companions joined in with mocking cackles.

“Passing through the Everfree? Don’t make me laugh. Admit it, the false princess banished you,” he sneered.

Applejack and Trixie rushed into the clearing, recognizing the brigands by their glowing eyes and filthy, mud-colored coats. Three were unicorns, and the fourth was a mute earth pony who only growled and made beastly noises.

The two mares prepared to charge, but were halted by the sudden appearance of two wolves, their bodies made of twisted, gnarled wood.

“Timberwolves!” shouted Applejack, rearing up in alarm.

“Well, lookie here! More to join the party,” said a moss-green unicorn with his face smeared in purple war paint.

“The more, the merrier! We could use some female company!” leered the black stallion holding Rarity. She was frozen in terror, her heart pounding as she braced for the worst.

“Let 'em go right now!” Applejack roared, but her shout fell on deaf ears. These criminals were banished to the depths of the Everfree Forest for good reason.

“You think you can boss us around, mare? We’re the alpha stallions here, and I’ll show you who's in charge. Bring the pink and the yellow one over!” the black unicorn barked.

The moss-green unicorn and another, an earth-brown stallion with a dark gray mane, roughly dragged Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie toward their leader. The gray, gaunt earth pony followed behind, drooling like a mindless beast. Rarity was magically pinned to a tree.

The black unicorn leered at Fluttershy, who cowered her face. “Look at me! Act like a proper mare and look at me!” he snapped.

Trembling, Fluttershy lifted her tearful eyes to his, her fear palpable. His gaze was sharp and merciless, slicing through her fragile defenses.

“That’s better! Now, submit to me! Understand?” Fluttershy’s breath hitched, and she fought back sobs. The stallion's intimidating stare held her captive, his demand echoing in her mind.

“Hey! I said submit to me!” he repeated, more aggressively.

“Yes! Okay!” Fluttershy whimpered. The unicorn's lips twisted into a cruel smile, his eyes glinting with manic glee.

“Good... Now... Lick my hooves!” he commanded. Fluttershy glanced down at his battered, bloody, and filthy hooves.

“Do it now! Or do you want me to punish you?” he threatened.

“Okay... okay!” Fluttershy choked out, tears streaming down her cheeks. With agonizing slowness, she extended her tongue, her eyes squeezed shut in revulsion. This was the worst torment she had faced since Twilight's tragic passing.

Applejack and Trixie could only watch as the Timberwolves circled them, their wooden bodies bristling with thick thorns. One bite or touch from these creatures could cause severe injury. Yet, the real danger was the stallions threatening Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie. Oddly, Rainbow Dash lay across the fire pit, seemingly oblivious to the chaos, her colorful mane even visible in the dark.

Fluttershy slowly lowered her head, sticking her tongue out just far enough to brush the stallion's filthy hooves.

Despite appearances, Rainbow Dash was aware. In her dream, she saw Twilight, gravely wounded and twisted on the ground. But the setting was different. They were not in Luna's ruined tower but in a circular temple. Three massive statues of Twilight in a praying posture loomed above, staring down at Rainbow and the fallen unicorn.

“What should I do…?” Rainbow Dash murmured, looking around helplessly. The room was sealed, the only light coming from an inverted dome above the statues.

“What should I do…?” she repeated, her voice echoing. Suddenly, a pink butterfly fluttered down, gently landing on Twilight's nose. Rainbow blinked, the sight stirring a distant memory. She reached out a hoof toward the butterfly, its wings shimmering pink and white depending on the angle.

Before she could touch it, a magenta beam shot from Twilight's horn, hitting Rainbow’s hoof. She jerked back, but the fiery, magical aura engulfed her, spreading rapidly until her whole body was enveloped in light.

Rainbow Dash's eyes snapped open, glowing brightly. Through a bright tunnel, she saw Fluttershy, helplessly licking another pony’s hooves. Rainbow's instincts kicked in instantly.

The stallion with the broken horn was too distracted to notice her. A beam of light from Rainbow Dash sent him flying before he could react. The other exiles and the friends turned at Rainbow. Startled, the moss-green pony jumped back. “What in Tartarus is that!? She wasn't there before!” he shouted.

Trixie gasped, “Those eyes!”

“That’s…,” Applejack started but couldn't finish. Rainbow Dash launched into action. The green unicorn barely had time to cast a spell before her hoof slammed into his face. The brown unicorn snapped out of his shock, firing off red-hot blasts, but Rainbow evaded with a swift corkscrew leap. He stood no chance. A blow under the chin sent him skyward. Another to the gut made him cough up blood. A spinning kick with her hind legs sent him crashing into the underbrush, unconscious.

The earth pony charged from behind. Rainbow raised her elbow, slamming it back into his face, taking him out instantly.

The leader, recovering from the surprise attack, whistled for his Timberwolves. The wooden beasts lunged at Rainbow Dash. In a flurry of splintering wood and yelps, the wolves were torn apart, their pieces scattered around her.

The black unicorn, now the last one standing, watched as Rainbow Dash approached him mechanically. He steeled himself, refusing to be beaten by a mare. He struck out, but Rainbow blocked and twisted his arm until it cracked. The stallion collapsed, screaming in pain, looking up in terror as Rainbow raised both her forehooves for a final blow.

“Stop!” Applejack shouted, grabbing Rainbow to hold her back. “Enough, you've shown them!”

The light faded from Rainbow's eyes, and she lost consciousness. The unicorn stallion exhaled in relief, but Trixie fixed him with a deadly glare, her horn glowing ominously. “Get lost! Before I tear you apart!” she threatened.

He didn’t need to be told twice and stumbled away into the forest from which he came.

The friends gathered around Rainbow Dash, who had fallen asleep once more. They were all baffled by what had just transpired. This power was terrifying. The concern was greater than the shock. Rainbow Dash had always been prone to using force to uphold justice. But what happened tonight was far beyond that. Trixie believed it was the fragment of Twilight's soul. This time, the others reluctantly agreed.

Without a word, Applejack hoisted Rainbow Dash onto her back. They knew they had to leave the area quickly before more of the stallions returned.

Their trek through the night was difficult, navigating around trees and avoiding pits. Eventually, they saw a thin, pink line among the trunks. Celestia was finally bringing the dawn.

Rainbow Dash woke up, smacked her lips and realized she was sitting on Applejack's back. Stretching and yawning loudly, she made sure the farm pony knew she was awake. Even the ever-cheerful Pinkie Pie noticed. “Oh! Dashie’s awake!”

Rainbow shook her mane and leaped off Applejack’s back. Dizzy from the bright light and the flat grasslands surrounding them, she stumbled a bit.

“Whoa! Are we already moving on? Where are we?” she asked, blinking in confusion.

“We’ve left the Everfree Forest. Ya’ve been snoozin' for quite a while,” Applejack replied, her voice calm but tinged with concern.

“Wow! I feel like I’ve been to a cider party!” Rainbow groaned, rubbing her eyes.

Her friends exchanged worried glances. Trixie raised an intrigued eyebrow.

“Ya really don’t remember what happened last night, sugarcube?” Applejack asked, tilting her hat back as she scrutinized Rainbow's face.

“Why should I? I was out like a light!” Rainbow shrugged, looking genuinely puzzled.

“My goodness! We were attacked, Rainbow Dash!” Rarity exclaimed, her voice rising in exasperation.

“Really? But we got away okay, right? Do we still have all our stuff?” Rainbow asked, glancing around at their saddlebags and supplies.

“We’ve got everything,” Trixie replied. “But are you sure you still have your brain with you?”

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes at Trixie’s jibe but decided not to bite back. She wasn’t in the mood for an argument. Instead, she listened as they recounted the events of the previous night.

“I did… Whhaat?” Rainbow Dash shouted after they finished explaining.

“Ya went berserk and took down two Timberwolves, Rainbow!!” Applejack concluded, shaking her head in amazement.

Rainbow Dash sat down; her legs suddenly weak. She knew Timberwolves were physically stronger than ponies.

“I don’t remember any of it. My eyes were glowing? I defeated four stallions and two wolves? This sounds like a crazy movie!” she exclaimed, rubbing her temples.

Rarity patted her back gently. “But it wasn’t a movie. We all saw it with our own eyes! You saved Fluttershy from a terrible fate,” she said, looking over at Fluttershy.

“And for that, I want to thank you! Even though you brought a dreadful end to those poor creatures... thank you!” Fluttershy whispered, her eyes filled with gratitude.

“We can’t take any chances!” Trixie declared. “I’m going to cast a double protective barrier on you, just in case you go off the rails again!”

Rainbow Dash said nothing and let Trixie work her magic. She felt the strange flutter in her head once more, and this time, the pitiful whimpering was louder. Something deep inside her told her this magic wasn’t good for the soul fragment within her.

The ponies found themselves in the Goodlands, a peaceful prelude to the desert and the Macintosh Mountains beyond. Beyond lay the Badlands, the dark, natural border of Equestria. No one knew what lay beyond, except Celestia, whose sun pointed the way.

Despite the glorious weather, the ponies pressed on, their thoughts on their mission and on Twilight, whose half-spirit was already waiting in paradise. Massive cumulus clouds, Rainbow Dash’s favorite, loomed over the epic grassland. They were not only majestic but also perfect for playing in. She closed her eyes, recalling the last time she had dived into such a cloud. The fine rain droplets pattering on her face and the cleansing wind rushing over her body. She sighed deeply, longing for the days she could walk on clouds and just fly freely.

Opening her eyes, Rainbow noticed a peculiar cloud formation. It looked like the head of a unicorn, pointing in a specific direction.

Without warning, she took off at a gallop. The others wondered what had gotten into her this time.

The cloud indeed resembled Twilight’s head. Rainbow Dash ran with her gaze fixed on the clouds. She finally stopped on a small hill overlooking a dry, rocky plain with stacked stones, a sign that another pony had been there before. Applejack was the first to catch up to her and followed her gaze to the magnificent clouds.

“She’s showing us the way!” Rainbow Dash murmured. Applejack squinted at the sky.

“Well, you know more about clouds than I do, RD,” Applejack said, tilting her head.

Rainbow lowered her head sadly, glancing at her wings. Applejack could guess what she was thinking.

“Hey, Dash! Ain't ya trained in martial arts and all that fancy fightin'?” Applejack asked suddenly, her voice breaking the silence.

“Yeah! Karate, judo, and stuff like that! Mixed with typical Pegasus techniques, which require well-developed wings… wings I can’t even feel anymore,” Rainbow replied with bitterness.

“You reckon you could mix them up with some of our good ol' Earth pony techniques? Maybe I could teach ya a few tricks from the Apple family, y'know, just in case we run into more trouble,” Applejack offered with a mischievous smile.

“Really?” Rainbow looked at her, astonished.

“Of course! Ah can see ya carryin' a heavy burden there. We're stickin' with ya, no matter what comes our way. That goes for Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity, too. Twilight was our friend; she died for us. Now it's our turn to make things right or go down tryin'... Rainbow...”

Applejack spat on her hooves and held one out to Rainbow Dash. The morning sun gave her face significant contours, and her loyal gaze spoke more than a thousand words.

“…ya're the bravest pony Ah know.”

Rainbow Dash met her hoof with a determined bump.

Chapter 7: Doubts at the End

Pinkie Pie carefully added another stone to the stone pony she was building. This practice, deeply rooted in the earth pony tradition, honored her heritage.

Nearby, Applejack led Rainbow Dash through the first stages of relaxation training. Despite Rainbow's natural athleticism, which helped her learn the techniques quickly, Applejack was determined to make her stronger with additional training. It wasn't just about physical strength, but also about helping Rainbow find balance and resilience in the face of her challenges.

They stood together on the grass below the hill and made synchronized movements. They breathed in and out at the same time. It was balm for the soul, Applejack said. Rainbow Dash had a feeling that it wasn't just her mind that was relaxing.

Trixie thought it was complete nonsense, but Applejack ignored her mouthing in the meantime. The unicorn mare rolled her eyes and continued writing her daily report.

Rainbow Dash finished the exercise with one last rhythmic movement and stood there like a statue. Applejack was happy to see that.

“How ya feelin’, sugarcube?”, she asked.

“Nothing. I am completely empty, but I feel a certain loneliness.”

Applejack laughed and put his hoof on Rainbow's shoulder. “You still have us, Buddy!”

“I don't think this feeling only comes from myself.”

The corners of Applejack's mouth sagged in dismay. Rainbow Dash slumped onto the grass, strands of her mane cascading over her face. With a frustrated huff, she blew them aside.

"What do you think, AJ? What would Twi do if she was alive again?"

Applejack smirked a little. “Well, she’d do what she always did! She’d dig into her books, studyin’ and learnin’ all she could ‘bout friendship!”

Rainbow Dash grinned. “Of course she would!”

Trixie looked angrily at the two ponies and rolled up the parchment roll very roughly. “There, enough with the silliness! If we keep dawdling like this, we'll reach Dodge Junction tomorrow.”

The friends had visited the desert town of Dodge Junction once before, when Applejack had set his mind to looking for a job. Despite the dirty, muddy streets, the mares were glad to see some civilization. Next to Appleloosa, it was the second largest town in the desert.

They stood in front of the town's angular archway. The first saloons and stores were mostly made of wood and offered good quality goods. There was a boutique and a tool store where they looked around. The clothes store sold simple, cheap everyday clothing, where Rarity scored a bargain: a chic red coat.

“We’re on a journey of no return and you're buying clothes?” Trixie remarked.

“I disapprove of your tone! Who passes Dodge City a second time,” replied Rartiy.

The tool store was more interesting, not the store itself, but a customer. Applejack walked through the ringing door to buy a new rope when she suddenly found himself standing next to him. The rope she wanted to buy was suddenly forgotten. “Braeburn!?”

Applejack's yellow-furred cousin turned to her. His face turned into a mixture of joy and surprise. “Cous! What in tarnation are you doin' in this town?”

“I'd like to ask you the same thing,” replied Applejack.

Braeburn spotted her friends and avoided her cousin's gaze. “Howdy! You're here too!”

“Braeburn, I asked ya a question,” shouted Applejack.

“And who's that good-lookin' blue mare standin' there with ya?” Braeburn turned to Trixie, who puffed up proudly.

“Unimportant!” Applejack said shortly and Trixie glared at her.

“But what the hay are ya doin' here, Braeburn?” the farmer asked repeatedly. Braeburn sighed deeply and surrendered to his persistent cousin.

“Well, if it were that simple to explain to ya, AJ. I got a mighty urgent order from the Appleloosa mine. Need a wagon that can haul a heap of goods, that's all. But what 'bout you, cous'? What brings y'all here?”

“Well, if it were that simple to explain to ya…” Applejack purred Braeburn's words and he grumbled to himself.

“Good, let's meet at the saloon across the street after I buy the wagon.”

After half an hour's wait in the saloon “To the Dancing Monkey”, Braeburn came exhausted through the swinging doors, which rattled back and forth after he stepped through. Applejack was tired of the stench of fermented apple cider and wanted to finally get Braeburn to talk: “Well, here's the sitch, Applejack. The water well for the apple trees in Appleloosa's run bone dry ‘cause the waterway got blocked durin' the mine work. We can get it flowin' again, but we'll have to replant some of them apple trees. So, I'm lookin' for a sturdy cart and some good, new shovels and pickaxes to get the job done right. Can ya help a cousin out?"

Applejack was pained by this news. She wanted to help her cousin too much, if it wasn't for this thing with Twilight. In general, she wouldn't have been able to out of grief. No matter where you looked, bad news.

When Braeburn asked what she was up to, Applejack didn’t want to reveal too much, especially for Rainbow Dash’s sake. So, she simply told him that Twilight Sparkle had fought against an Ursa Major and tragically lost her life in the battle. Braeburn expressed his deep sorry for their loss.

Applejack looked Braeburn in the eye and said firmly, “And now, we’ve head to paradise to bring ‘er back.”

Braeburn reacted with astonishment. Even the gray bartender at the bar pricked up his ears. Braeburn looked at Applejack with wide eyes. “Y’all are doin’ this for Twilight? You’re leavin’ Equestria? Do ya even realize you might never come back, cous?”

Trixie crossed her hooves with a smile. Somehow, she agreed with this stallion.

“I’m aware of that!” Applejack replied.

Braeburn put his hat on his chest and prayed inwardly to Celestia that his cousin had not lost her mind. The old saloon keeper, hunched over on a blade of grass, came up to them. “I've heard that whoever enters paradise is considered gone. It is the entrance to the world of the dead. What's more, terrible creatures are said to guard the gates.”

Applejack and Rainbow Dash looked at the stallion unimpressed.

“So, is that supposed to scare us off?” asked Rainbow. She could see Fluttershy's intimidated face out of the corner of her eye.

“Is it worth dying for a deceased friend? You're all so young, why so wasteful?”

Rainbow Dash thumped her hoof on the round, wobbly table. The others flinched. “Of course! I saw what Twilight did, what she did for all of us, and she was senselessly and violently killed for it! I won't let it stand like that! She deserves her life back!”

The barman was so surprised by Rainbow's reaction that his culm fell out of his mouth. Then he had nothing more to say and returned behind the bar. Trixie looked at Rainbow Dash skeptically.

“Really, y’all oughta think this over again!” Braeburn said, his voice full of worry.

“We already have,” Applejack replied and stood up. “We’re gonna bring her back!”

Braeburn's eyes had grown watery, as if he already knew that his dear cousin was as good as dead.

Braeburn left the bar with his head hanging low. His stomach churned at the thought. Knowing Applejack, he realized she wouldn't be swayed from her path. She must have been desperate. Why wasn't she thinking about her brother and sister? Big Mac would be devastated, and Apple Bloom had always looked up to her big siblings. Applejack was really going to leave her family behind to bring back a friend. It just didn't seem like her.

He walked over to check on the new cart he had left next to the saloon. Suddenly, a terrible chill ran down his spine.

“Dang it, bloody thieves!” he cursed loudly and started running back. The brand-new wagon, along with the tools, had been stolen. He noticed a trail of wheel marks leading toward the mountains.

The friends sat on the stools in silence. Rainbow Dash was deep in thought. They had come so far now and the border of Equestria was within reach. She denied inwardly that paradise was a place of no return. She had to get there, there was no other way. But what if it was true? Trixie stared grumpily around the room.

Suddenly Braeburn stormed back into the bar, his nerves on edge. “My new wagon's been stolen!!!”

The stallion was simply desperate. He didn't have enough money for a new cart. Now he was sitting dejectedly on the cheap wooden stairs in front of "the Dancing Monkey". Applejack tried every way to comfort him while Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy investigated this case.

“The way it was stolen, the thieves were in quite a hurry!” said Rarity to the others.

“How in the hay am I supposed to get new tools to Appleloosa now? Our apple trees will wither away without 'em!” Braeburn complained.

Pinkie Pie looked thoughtfully at the streets, then turned to the farmer. “Poor Braeburn! We should help him!” She slapped her hoof on the other.

Rarity already suspected what she was up to. “You're not going to pull that ridiculous detective thing again!”

Pinkie Pie dug out a green plaid hat and put an old-fashioned pipe with bubbles coming out of it in her mouth. Rainbow Dash had something against the plan. “We can't! Even though I'd love to help, we have another mission!”

But the majority voted in favor, Trixie didn't care.

“Please Rainbow! Do it for the Apple family!” pleaded Applejack.

“Well, good! You outvoted me anyway.”

After a long chase, they reached the other side of the town. Pinkie Pie walked in circles with the magnifying glass pointed at the sand, then stopped and pointed at the gray mountains in the distance. The tracks in the sand led straight there. “That way! The car was dragged into those mountains!”

“This here's the Macintosh Mountains, right on the edge of the badlands. You ain't tellin' me those varmints went that way and got clean away, are ya?” Braeburn said. Applejack, however, disagreed. She tugged resolutely at her cowboy hat.

The sun was directly overhead, which meant that this was also the way to the distant paradise.

Braeburn left the little wagon to them. Pinkie Pie and Applejack pulled it with Trixie, Rainbow, Fluttershy and Rarity on board. Applejack promised Braeburn that he would bring the things back safely.

“Will ya promise not to head off to paradise too?” asked Braeburn.

But Applejack just looked at him sadly. Unfortunately, she couldn't hold it. “Sorry!" was all she said. Then the friends rode off south.

The vehicle rumbled through the desert landscape. Applejack and Pinkie Pie snorted vigorously. Rarity's coat flapped in the wind of acceleration. He had already gotten a bit of desert dust. The landscape became rougher. Then the trail disappeared. The ponies crossed a narrow pass. The pulling earth ponies slowed down as the path became uneven and the wagon rocked uneasily back and forth. Fluttershy felt sick.

Pinkie examined the rocks with a magnifying glass and came across solitary beetles and reptiles. Rarity searched the area with her horn, which worked like a radar thanks to the mineral resources in the rocks. “Looks like the thieves want to dig for gems themselves. I sense some in the area.”

“What makes you so sure?” said Trixie skeptically.

Suddenly Pinkie Pie's left front leg trembled as if it was going to take off on its own. Then he led the way himself. “Oh! I think they're that way!” Pinkie shouted. The cart started moving again.

The Macintosh Mountains were a chaotic collection of brown and gray rocks. At a steel bridge, a sign warned of unsafe terrain. From here, the ponies left the civilian area again. Thanks to Rarity and Pinkie Pie's senses, they got closer to the stolen wagon. Pinkie's hoof shaking became stronger, while Rarity revealed that the thieves had already found a source of diamonds.

Finally, they saw the wagon at the foot of a mountain in front of a small pine forest. It was standing there completely abandoned. "This looks suspicious!” Pinkie muttered.

The large cart was painted dark brown. The rims had gray metal casings. It certainly hadn't been cheap. Applejack confirmed this realization with a deep sigh.

Pinkie unbuckled himself from the small car to take a closer look. Obviously, a trap, but the ponies had no other choice. Trixie told them to be vigilant.

Pinkie Pie crept slowly towards the cart. It was loaded with the tools; the thieves hadn't used them yet. Something was wrong here. Suddenly her tail twitched, but it was too late. A large shadow landed in front of her and knocked the pink pony away. Her body skidded roughly across the ground and hit a fir tree. The needles rained down on her. The detective's cap and pipe flew away.

More attackers stood behind Applejack. A claw whizzed across her face and she lay on the ground. The small wagon shook and Rarity let out a hoarse scream: “You!?”

Fluttershy shrieked in fear, but Applejack didn't see what was happening. A clawed foot had planted itself on her head, making it impossible for her to move it. More dull thuds rang out. Rarity fell to the ground before Applejack's eyes. She had lost her coat. Now she crawled back with staring eyes, her face fixed on her tormentors.

Applejack heard Rainbow Dash gasp, either someone was holding her mouth shut or she was being strangled. The cart shook again, this time Trixie fell. Applejack dared a look. A brown, leathery foot stood on her, no doubt it was a fat dragon, much older and more vicious than Spike.

Rarity looked into the yellow eyes of a red, thin dragon.

“I thought as much! Six pathetic ponies!” he laughed and stomped towards the pale Rarity. He held Rainbow Dash in a headlock, who struggled in his merciless grip.

The dragon leaned over Rarity. “I know you two!”

Rarity recognized this dragon, he belonged to a gang that Spike also wanted to intrigue himself into. The red dragon had grown quite a bit since the last time.

“First those stupid Diamond Dogs and then you, it's going to be a party! I wonder if I should do the same to you as I did to them!”

He pointed between two fir trees. In the shadows of the branches, Rarity recognized two lifeless bodies that were barely recognizable.

“But since you embarrassed us like that during the phoenix hunt, I'd love to throw you into the lava!”

“How... uncivil!” gasped Rarity.

The young dragon gang, led by the red dragon they called Garble, dragged the ponies off to the Badlands. They took the two train carts with them. The dragon territory was a volcanic landscape, brightly lit by the red of the lava. The sky was dark from the ash and only let in a few rays of sunlight.

Setting up camp near a bubbling lava lake, far from the territory of the adult dragons, Garble's gang prepared to lay low. The five young dragons were in high spirits, reveling in their prize. They threw the ponies onto the gritty ground with no more regard than if they were tossing away old toys.

Rainbow Dash struggled fiercely against a burly purple dragon holding her down, her wings flapping desperately. But a brutal slap sent her sprawling into the dirt beside her friends. She landed hard, and tears welled up in her eyes. The usually unbreakable spirit of the Pegasus crumbled as she whimpered through clenched teeth. Garble's eyes gleamed with menace as he hissed a warning to Rarity and Trixie.

“Try any magic, and your friend is done,” he growled, claws poised threateningly over the trembling ponies. Rarity's horn flickered with suppressed energy, while Trixie bit her lip, anger and fear warring in her eyes. Pinkie Pie lay unconscious, her usually bouncy mane now limp and flat against her head, mirroring the hopelessness that seemed to seep into their hearts.

Applejack's heart ached seeing Rainbow Dash in tears. Her own eyes brimmed with unshed tears. The situation was grim, and the weight of despair was almost too much to bear. She glanced at her friends, beaten and subdued, and her thoughts turned to Twilight. They had come so far to save her, but now it seemed they might meet their end here, in this desolate, scorching land, for the mare they missed so dearly.

Chapter 8: Border Crossing

Garble looked closely at the ponies one by one. He snorted at the sight of Rarity and Rainbow Dash. Then he went to rest with the other dragons, he wanted to throw the ponies into the pit later. That bought the friends some time. The dragons ate their fill of gemstones and then fell asleep. One snored louder than the other.

Rainbow Dash tried to free herself from the shackles. She wasn't ready to give up. Rarity noticed how she tried to free herself bit by bit and secretly helped her with magic.

“Leave me alone, I can do this on my own!” grumbled Rainbow as she felt Rarity's aura.

“Don't be so stubborn!” whispered Rarity and quickly released Rainbow Dash. One of the dragons rolled wildly to the side and showed its sleeping face. When he woke up, he would be the first to see Rainbow Dash.

The ponies didn't think it would be so easy, but the hardest part was yet to come. They had to take the carts with them. However, they made a treacherous noise when they pulled them.

Pinkie Pie was put into the small wagon in which Rainbow Dash and Trixie's travel bags were also stowed. Fortunately, the dragons hadn't discovered them yet. Garble rubbed his dewlap. He had eaten half a ton, but he would have been just as dangerous in battle without it.

Rainbow and Applejack pushed the big wagon ahead, Trixie and Rarity pulled the little one. Trixie clumsily hit a stone with her hoof. She grimaced in pain and Rarity had to use magic to shut her mouth so she wouldn't scream. The dragons grunted in their sleep and the ponies fell silent as mice. Everything remained calm. Trixie was relieved and took a step. Suddenly the wheel hit the same stone. The cart rumbled like a shaken armor. That woke up the red dragon. The ponies would have loved to be small and insignificant now.

"Hey, what's going on? Wake up, the ponies want to escape!” Garble roared. The other dragons started moving and surrounded the friends, cutting off their route.

Fluttershy whimpered in fear, while Applejack, Rainbow Dash and the two unicorns desperately set up a fighting stance. A dragon had claws, a spiky tail and could breathe fire. A pony could only kick and use the magic that only unicorns possessed. Rarity swallowed. The unbearable pressure made the ash-swollen air crackle. Rarity was good at magic, but only in the field of fashion design. All the hope was on Trixie. The ponies looked back at her. It was obvious. Trixie was shaking like a cowardly foal.

“I wish Twilight was here!” Rarity muttered. Would she have found a way out?

A week after the wedding in Canterlot, Twilight and Rarity got talking about the Changelings' attack. Rarity praised Twilight's brother's shield spells and wanted to know how it worked.

“It’s very simple!” said Twilight that evening on the grasslands in Ponyville. “If you at least get the hang of it. When I was accepted into the Academy for Gifted Unicorns, Shining Armor taught me. The best protection must come from the heart. Always remember what's really important to you. Never let it go. When we were fighting Discord, I kept thinking about you. The fear that we would fall apart was very great. I wanted the best for you. Discord couldn't touch us because my friends are just too important to me.”

“For me too, Twilight!” Rarity said. Trixie, frozen in fear, looked at her confused.

Suddenly, the dragons spat thick fireballs at the ponies. They all squinted. That was it!

Rainbow Dash was the first to open her eyes. The ponies found themselves encased in a dense wall of fire. A blue bubble completely enveloped them, including the train carts. Rarity had cast a powerful protective spell for the first time, one that drained her strength considerably.

“Keep it up, Rarity!” shouted Applejack.

The dragons stopped. Garble and his were very annoyed. Their firepower should have roasted all the ponies and their wagons.

“Now it's my turn!” shouted Rarity, out of breath. She stamped her front hooves. Immediately, several different colored gems shot out of the ground. The dragons dodged quickly, but the sharp hail hit some of them.

Garble tried to leap out of the radius of Rarity's attack, but she pursued him relentlessly, causing chunks of earth to shoot up like mountains around him. Summoning her courage, Trixie unleashed her best magic – a magical thunderstorm. Bright flashes of lightning shot from the clouds, driving the dragon gang back. She hadn’t been lying about her improved skills, and seeing her succeed filled Applejack and Rainbow Dash with happiness. With the combined efforts of the unicorns, the dragons were pushed back far enough for the ponies to make their escape.

Rarity was exhausted. She had done exactly what Twilight had told her to do, but she didn’t have much strength left. Trixie also seemed to be at the end of her tether, but still showed a little fighting spirit. The dragons were preparing for another attack, already charging toward the unicorns. This time, Garble was determined to tear at least one of these ponies apart mid-air.

Suddenly, something heavy came flying from above. Another dragon thundered onto the ground between the attackers and defenders. It had a long body, purple horns and wings that were too small for it. Many gemstones sparkled on its body. Its tongue hung out of its mouth. Garble and the other dragons backed away. “Crackle! What the...!”

The female dragon made a strange sound. Then it spun around and threw Garble's gang into the lava. The ponies looked at this strange savior in complete surprise. The teenage dragons struggled through the thick soup of molten rock, but Crackle let out a breath of fire to tell the others to get lost.

Now the dragon turned to the ponies. His expression was not at all threatening. "How come you're helping us?" asked Rainbow Dash.

The dragon looked the pegasus in the eyes. Suddenly, Rainbow and Rarity felt a familiar feeling. A scene played in her mind that showed Twilight, Rarity and her defending the little dragon Spike from Garble.

After they escaped, Crackle showed up and found a dragon costume that looked like her own. The costume had been used by the ponies to help Spike.

“I see,” Rainbow muttered, lowering her head.

Crackle pulled a green dragon costume from behind the rocks and laid it down in front of Rarity.

“Oh, by Celestia! This is...” Rarity stammered, feeling the head of the old, dusty costume. Crackle seemed to smile a little.

The journey continued. The female dragon Crackle had agreed to take Braeburn's new car back to Dodge Junction.

"Braeburn will make eyes," Applejack said. Then she thought of something. She wanted to write him a letter before Crackle left. Grumbling, Trixie pulled a parchment from her pocket to have Applejack dictate the letter to her:

"Dear Cousin, I sure do appreciate ya worryin' about me. But ya don't need to be. We're a big family, and we've been through a lot of hard times. I promised my friends and myself that we will survive. We might be gone for a mighty long time. We've already crossed the Badlands and are headin' towards the frontier. Tell my siblings, Big Mac and Apple Bloom, and my Granny Smith that I love 'em and not to worry. My friends and I are carryin' a heavy burden, and we're runnin' out of time. Most of all, we're tryin' to fill a deep hole in our hearts.”

Braeburn found the letter between shovels and pickaxes. He found it difficult to read through. A tear dripped onto the sandy ground. How was he going to break the news to Big Mac and Applebloom? He galloped to the post office to pass on the message.

Meanwhile, the ponies drove the small wagon through the wasteland. After hours of driving, they reached a sign with golden letters. It was covered in dust and scratches, but clearly legible: “You are leaving the land of EQUESTRIA! - Territory of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna!”

Applejack and Fluttershy stopped. They had come this far. Tiredness was getting to them all. The ash clouds still covered the sky and it was impossible to tell where the sun was. Only a little light penetrated through the clouds.

“Fluttershy! Maybe ya could fly up and see where we need to go.” Applejack suggested.

Fluttershy, who was quite uncomfortable with the whole thing, unbuckled herself. She was aware that she was the only one able to fly. So she flew through dense clouds. Her friends on the ground waited and gazed into the dreary gray of the clouds. Suddenly, a shadow fell from the sky. Fluttershy trundled down and almost made a crash landing. She coughed softly: “We... cough... cough...! We have to... cough... that way!”

She pointed straight ahead. Applejack supported her. “Thanks, Fluttershy! Ya can take a break now!” she said.

“No!” she reassured, “I'm fine, I think I can still do it.”

“Hop on the wagon! Ah'll pull it mahself!” replied Applejack.

“Are you sure?” Rarity asked in amazement.

“Y'all done a great job, and y'all look plum tuckered out! Ah still got plenty of energy left.”

Fluttershy still wanted to make a comment: “The sun is pretty low, by the way. It wouldn't be a mistake to take a break!”

“Not in the badlands! We don't know what's waitin' for us, or have y'all forgotten 'bout Everfree Forest?” asked Applejack.

The farmer pony pulled the cart on her own. After a few meters, she was already sweating. Fluttershy wasn't entirely wrong. Pinkie Pie was awake again and complaining of a headache.

As night fell, much faster than the ponies anticipated, they refrained from lighting a fire. Instead, they gathered around a small lava pit, scarcely larger than a puddle. It cast minimal light but provided enough warmth for all. As they lay on their mats, the exhaustion settled in. Applejack's hooves ached, but she waved off Rarity's offer to tend to them. Trixie completed her report, then stared at the others in silence for a long while.

“Well, she’d do what she always did! She’d dig into her books, studyin’ and learnin’ all she could ‘bout friendship!”

Applejack had said to Rainbow Dash, if Twilight was alive again, Celestia would surely take her on as a student again.

The thought weighed heavily on Trixie's mind. Was there still a place for the great and powerful Trixie? Restless, she rose and wandered into the darkness for a walk. The truth was undeniable – Twilight was better than her. Everyone acknowledged it, even her friends. This realization hit her hard. She turned to look at her sleeping friends. How could she make them understand? It seemed impossible, especially with the stubbornness of Applejack and Rainbow Dash. She needed a new plan, one that would show her worth in a different light.

The next morning, Rainbow Dash woke to aching limbs. The desolate landscape was cloaked in a somber purple hue, casting an eerie atmosphere. Rainbow felt an unsettling sense of dread as she realized her friends were nowhere to be seen.

“Friends! Where are you?” she called out desperately, her voice echoing through the barren expanse. Ignoring the throbbing pain in her hooves, she galloped onward, the sense of unease growing with each passing moment.

“Friends! Friends!” she continued to shout, scanning the surroundings in vain for any sign of her companions. Shadows flickered across the sand, playing tricks on her senses, heightening her fear.

Then, a ghostly figure appeared in the distance, slowly limping towards her. Rainbow's heart skipped a beat as she struggled to make sense of what she was seeing.

“Rainbow...” she heard Twilight's voice echo in her mind, the memory of her friend's last words haunting her. The image before her wavered, blurring in and out of focus.

“Rainbow...” The Ursa Major's eyes flash.

A violent jolt roused Rainbow Dash from her uneasy slumber. Applejack was shaking her awake urgently.

“Rainbow! Wake up! Wake up!” Applejack's voice held a note of concern that immediately put Rainbow on edge. The lingering echoes of Twilight's faint moans added to her disquiet. Trixie was nowhere to be seen, and a part of Rainbow felt a twinge of relief.

“If she don't come back, then we'll just move on! Let her see for herself where she's gotten to!” Applejack's frustration was palpable as she scolded.

“Do you think that's a good idea?” Fluttershy's gentle voice interjected, always the voice of compassion and second chances. But Applejack was resolute.

“Maybe it's for the best!” Rainbow Dash chimed in, still seated on the mat. She hadn't tended to her wings in what felt like ages, and her feathers were as disheveled as a plucked chicken. Applejack looked at her with concern. Rainbow straightened up, feeling the weight of their mission pressing down on her weary wings.

“And I think you should go back to Ponyville too!” She had expected the friends to be surprised.

“What are you talking about?” hissed Rarity.

“You've gotta be kidding me, RD!” shouted Applejack, her voice filled with incomprehension.

“Listen to me! Twice… Twice we were attacked by maniacs. Now we've left Equestria and we're not even halfway through the journey, what else is there to come? I just don't want to go through this anymore. I just don't know what to do anymore.”

She stood there completely upset. A strange anger spread through her; she didn't know where it came from.

Applejack tried to take her in her arms, but Rainbow had had enough of this coddling and comforting. She slapped Applejack's hoof away from her. “Leave me alone! Go home!”

She turned and left. She took her luggage with her. As she put it on, it pressed against her back like a big concrete block of guilt, fear, sadness, and anger. Fluttershy started to cry. It was easy to make her cry, but Rainbow had already moved on and was out of earshot.

Rainbow Dash clambered over the rugged cliffs, though every step was a struggle. At last, she reached the edge of the desolate wasteland. Before her stretched a vast abyss, revealing an entirely new world beyond. Towering forests and snow-capped mountains loomed in the distance, while verdant meadows and sparkling rivers lay nestled at the mountain's base. The strong wind tousled Rainbow Dash's mane, obscuring her face as she stood on the precipice.

With a sigh, she nudged a pebble over the edge, listening to the faint click as it met the ground far below. A hollow feeling gnawed at her throat, parched from days of hardship. She considered taking flight, but the thought of plummeting down like the small stone gave her pause. Instead, she remained rooted at the edge, eyes shut tight. As a pegasus, the idea of soaring into the depths should have held no fear for her.

“If you do that, you're not my friend anymore!” she heard someone behind her. Rainbow turned her head. Applejack stood rooted to the spot and her eyes were more serious than ever.

“I wasn't going to!” Rainbow Dash replied, but Applejack knew her too well. Rainbow suddenly felt so weak that she could no longer stand on her hooves. She lay down, exhausted. Applejack walked towards her.

“I can't go on like this! I just can't take it anymore!” Rainbow Dash sought the closeness of her friend as she continued to cry. “Why are you making it so difficult for me! Why don't you let me go?”

"But why do ya wanna go?" Applejack asked, confused.

“I don't want to lose you too! Right from the start! That's why I left Ponyville without telling you!”

“You wanted to do that? For us?”

“Because my friends are important to me!” Rainbow sobbed. Applejack seemed to be thinking, then she laid her head on Rainbow and hugged her.

“Don't cry! I really appreciate it, but now that we're here, let's do this thing together! Come on!”

Suddenly, Applejack lurched forward. "What in tarnation?!" As they lost their footing, Rainbow Dash let out a panicked scream, thrashing her hooves in fear. They tumbled uncontrollably down the steep slope. Instinctively, Applejack curled protectively around Rainbow, bracing for the impact that came hard and sudden, jolting through her body and leaving her momentarily breathless.

They rolled downhill, the terrain unforgiving, dragging through brush and roots. Time seemed to stretch endlessly as they descended. Finally, they crashed into a thicket of fir trees, rocks clattering around them. Branches whipped at their faces, stinging like lashes. Applejack held on tightly, unsure if Rainbow was conscious amidst the chaos, determined not to let go, no matter what.

Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie waited at the top before a smaller slope where a convenient path wound down into the new area, just wide enough for the wagon. They waited for Applejack and Rainbow Dash, hoping she was there. But the friends were starting to get restless.

“Do you think they're still arguing?” asked Pinkie Pie.

“Hmm... Applejack said that if it takes too long, we should go ahead. I think that's long enough,” said Rarity.

“Maybe we should wait a little longer! They might be coming right now!” said Fluttershy.

“Applejack and Rainbow Dash are both tough! They'll be fine, plus we all have a common goal. I think we'll run into them again eventually.”

Still, a sinking feeling gnawed at them all. Rarity cautiously moved forward, one hoof at a time, pulling the cart with Fluttershy towards the unknown.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash found themselves deep in the dense mixed forest, grateful that their injuries were minor. Applejack carefully picked seeds and bits of foliage from Rainbow's tangled mane.

“How the hay did you lose your balance?” Rainbow grumbled.

“It ain't my fault! Somepony up and pushed me!” Applejack retorted.

“Whoever did that, deserves a good hoof to the face!” Rainbow huffed.

“I reckon they do,” Applejack agreed, focused on untangling a stubborn clump from Rainbow's mane. “Sorry 'bout your hair.”

“Ow, you’re pullin' my mane out!” Rainbow winced, her mane now a mess of seeds and fluff. Her tired expression made her look almost ill.

“I can manage,” Applejack said, easing another clump free. Rainbow took one bag from Applejack while carrying the other herself.

They pressed onward, Rainbow scanning their surroundings. “What about the others?” she asked.

“Told 'em to follow the sun if we get separated. We’ll catch up eventually,” Applejack reassured her.

“Ah, right,” Rainbow nodded, though uncertainty lingered. There was still the matter of being shoved off that cliff. Together, Applejack and Rainbow Dash continued their journey.

Chapter 9: Lost Friends

Princess Celestia stood on the balcony of her castle, her demeanor as stoic and unmoving as a statue. Days earlier, the Apple family had reported a member missing, though Celestia was unaware that Applejack and the others had joined Rainbow Dash and Trixie on their journey. She had reassured the Apple family, assuring them that Applejack had a critical task at hand and would be safe. Celestia had been informed that they were all well and had already left Equestria.

Shining Armor, meanwhile, had retired from his duties. His grief over the loss of his sister Twilight Sparkle was too profound for him to bear. Each day, after the changing of the guard, he would seek solace in the cathedral, spending hours in front of her grave. He lamented what could have been, believing that Twilight Sparkle had a bright future ahead of her – if only fate had been kinder. But could the tragic events have been foreseen?

Meanwhile, Princess Luna had expanded her investigation into the mysterious case, but thus far, no new information had surfaced. She contemplated the possibility of a malevolent attack on the royal residence. Could it be Queen Chrysalis, or perhaps Discord? Although Discord remained imprisoned in stone, his knack for chaos made him a plausible threat.

Celestia’s thoughts were filled with unanswered questions, shrouded in the same uncertainty that lay behind the sun she had raised for another day.

Rainbow Dash had stopped counting the days. The journey to Paradise seemed ever more distant, and there was no sign of their friends. She increasingly forgot to eat, and when she did, her behavior grew increasingly peculiar, especially at night. Her conversations often turned unsettling, leaving Applejack worried. For weeks, they had traversed forests, highlands, rivers, and barren lands. The climate was growing more tropical, with noticeably longer days. While they had enough provisions, Applejack couldn’t help but miss the hearty fare of Equestria. The oats they had were hard to stomach. It had been a week since they had parted ways with the others.

One morning, Rainbow Dash and Applejack stood beneath a wide waterfall, taking a moment to meditate. For Rainbow Dash, the only real pleasure in their journey was the training sessions with Applejack. Applejack had been teaching her how to strengthen her hind legs, a lesson Rainbow Dash appreciated deeply. As she stood there, Rainbow Dash reminisced about their old competition in Ponyville, where they had pushed each other to the limits in various challenges. Despite their best efforts, it was Twilight Sparkle who had outshone them both. The memories made Rainbow Dash chuckle softly, but Applejack, focused on her own meditation, had no clue what was running through Rainbow’s mind.

“What’s up?” she asked.

“Nothing! I... I was just daydreaming.”

“So?” Applejack glanced behind her eyelids. “That’s the first time I’ve heard ya laugh since we started this trip. What’s got ya in such a good mood?”

“Old times...” Rainbow replied. “You know, the journey seems so long. I don’t know if it will be the same when we get back.”

“Who knows!” Applejack muttered, gazing out over the lush, tropical landscape. “We’re right in the thick of it. The world keeps on turning, and there’s always gonna be changes coming our way…”

Rainbow Dash flinched and grabbed her head as if she had been electrocuted.

“Rainbow? Are you alright, sugarcube?”

“Yes... I think so!” she simply replied.

Applejack wasn't entirely convinced by that answer. She had almost forgotten that time was working against her. The effects of the soul fusion were becoming increasingly apparent. Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash stepped out from beneath the waterfall and shook her mane vigorously, sending a cascade of shimmering water droplets into the sunlight, creating a fleeting rainbow.

Applejack came to a halt and examined her friend with growing concern. Rainbow Dash looked haggard and frail, as if she might collapse at any moment.

"Ah’ve been wantin’ to ask ya somethin’ for a while now,” Applejack said, her voice full of earnest curiosity. Rainbow didn't turn around. She just moved her ears to listen.

“Why did Twilight do that? Why did she split up her soul and drag you into her torment?” Applejack asked, her brow furrowing with worry. “I reckon there’s got to be a mighty big reason behind it.”

Rainbow Dash suddenly put on a stern and fierce look. “It was an accident!” Rainbow Dash said curtly, but lying to Applejack was never a good plan.

“I may not be a unicorn, but ya can’t just accidentally split a soul and seal part of it in a body, can ya? That kinda thing takes some serious magic – more'n just a little slip-up,” Applejack said with a hint of sarcasm. “Seems like there’s a lot more to this whole mess than meets the eye.”

Rainbow Dash spun around, her eyes blazing. “What would you do if you were in her horseshoes, huh? You don’t know the half of it, AJ! You didn’t see her fighting out there! So how dare you second-guess her?!”

Applejack was very shocked by her reaction. Rainbow Dash immediately calmed down again and looked grimly at her distorted reflection in the water. “It was a blind move, she didn’t know what to do, she had used up the last of her strength for me. She didn’t want to die… I could… I still see it… In her eyes! She just didn’t want to go yet!”

Applejack frowned with a mixture of shock and realization on her face. "And now she’s holdin’ on to your soul with one hoof just to keep goin’? That doesn’t sound like Twilight at all!”

“You just don’t get it!” Rainbow Dash shouted, her voice trembling with fury. She stormed out of the river, water spraying behind her. Applejack watched her with a heavy sigh. Rainbow’s agitation was palpable; she was unraveling more and more, her frustration boiling over. The relaxation training had been for nothing – her impatience and distress were too overwhelming, making it impossible for her to find any peace.

Rainbow Dash trotted quickly across the grass, trying to dry her hooves. Without warning, she flinched, her mind flashing with the red eyes of the Ursa Major. Desperation took hold as she shook her head violently, her vision spinning with dizziness.

“No! Please, let it go! Hold on! Stop it!” she gasped in fear and repeated the words frantically, each utterance growing more frantic and disjointed. As she attempted to gallop, her hooves stumbled over the uneven ground, her movements erratic and unsteady as she fought against the encroaching madness.

“Dammit, what more do you want? We’ve come so far already! Look around! We’re not in Equestria anymore! Not for a long time! Why do you still complain!?" Rainbow Dash growled in frustration, pressing her head together as if trying to drive the distractions from her mind.

Her vision started to blur as she stared at the dry grass. An overwhelming sense of weakness took over, and she finally collapsed onto the ground. Strange birds hovered above her, too far away for her to identify. She longed for a strong wind to carry her straight to paradise, to a place of redemption. With her eyes closed, she turned her head to the side. When she opened them again, her breath caught in her throat: next to her lay a violet spirit, quietly gazing up at the sky.

“Twi?” The spirit slowly turned its head and Rainbow realized that it was half there, and not just the head: the spirit's whole body was cut in half. “Twi! Hhh... why me?”

The spirit’s face was serene, reminiscent of Fluttershy’s gentle demeanor when she calmed the animals. The half-soul reached out with a hoof, lightly touching Rainbow’s wet left cheek. The contact was icy, sending a shiver through Rainbow. Then, almost as if in a dream, the spirit faded into the ground.

Was that real? Rainbow fell into a trance-like state, the world around her becoming distant and hazy. There was nothing left to grasp, but her mind was flooded with haunting visions: the Ursa Major looming, Canterlot in ruins, and Twilight lifeless. She relived the nightmare anew, experiencing the day she lost Twilight from a different angle. The memory was punctuated by wide, staring eyes, followed by an overwhelming abyss of darkness.

Applejack felt bad. She should have anticipated just how raw Rainbow Dash would be about the topic. All she wanted now was to apologize and promise never to bring it up again until they reached paradise, even though her curiosity was burning. Her mane, damp with the weight of her sorrow, hung limply around her. The clouds above drifted south, signaling that it was time to move on.

The earth pony was carrying Rainbow's things, which she had forgotten about at the river. In general, her friend’s absent-mindedness was really upsetting. Rainbow Dash lay on the grass and stared into space. Her shuddering pupils had shrunk. Applejack set the blue saddlebags down beside her, but Rainbow showed no reaction. “Go! We have to keep moving!”

Rainbow Dash stared apathetically, as if she no longer had a plan. Perhaps she was angry, and that offended Applejack deeply. She turned her head to the side, as if her own sight was no longer worthy of Rainbow. “Ah’m sorry, Rainbow. I didn’t mean to say anything bad 'bout Twilight. She was a friend to me too, y’know. We all miss her something fierce.”

Rainbow moved her hoof to the sky. “These birds...”

Applejack looked up. She realized they were vultures just waiting for one of them to kick the bucket. She remembered what she had said to Trixie in the Everfree Forest. She had sworn that they would survive. But the separation from the others and those damned birds made all her hopes fade.

“That don’t matter right now, Rainbow! We’ve gotta keep on movin’. We’ll catch up with the others soon enough.” Applejack assured.

She looked at the birds again. Her eyes narrowed as she did so. Their presence didn’t bode well, but Applejack wasn't superstitious, of course. Only Rainbow Dash felt they were watching her. Her disturbed eyes darted back and forth as if she were seeing several ghosts. Gradually, Applejack realized it.

“You're sick, Rainbow Dash!” she said wistfully, lowering her head so that her hat hid her eyes.

“Listen up, Rainbow! We’re in this together, and we ain’t gonna hit our goal overnight. But we’re stronger as a team, so you gotta pull yourself together.”

Rainbow Dash remained silent, but Applejack went on. “A wise pony once said, ‘There ain’t no shame in lettin’ your friends lend a hoof.’ We’ll get through this, I promise. So come on, dry those tears and let’s keep pushin’ forward,” said Applejack, smiling forlornly. Rainbow sniffled and her eyes became wet.

“Rainbow, I can see you’re not doin’ so good. I can read it in your eyes. Let me help you out. Take my hoof, and we’ll get through this together. Just hang in there, okay?”

Rainbow Dash met Applejack's gaze with a blank stare, her eyes conveying confusion. A face that promised nothing good.

Suddenly, Rainbow Dash's entire body tensed as she clutched her head, her face contorted in pain. Applejack watched in alarm as her friend let out a piercing scream.

“No!! Stop it! Make it stop!!! Make it stop!!!”

Applejack jumped up in panic and tried to hold her so that she didn't hurt herself. The pegasus looked at the earth pony with a terrifying gaze and thumped frantically on her chest, as if she was begging Applejack to help her.

“Make it stop!!! Make it stop!!! Make it stop!!!”

Although Rainbow looked very ill, she had enormous strength in her. She could push Applejack away from her, and she felt completely helpless. Her friend squirmed and writhed. Rainbow made it onto her hooves. Then she got a reflexive push forward, unable to do anything but run. Applejack called after her, but Rainbow Dash simply ignored the calls. She wanted to get out of this hell, this world of pain.

The dense forest was different from the forests Applejack knew. The air was warm and humid, with the most unusual plants growing in it. Applejack pulled a vine out of the way. Two colorful birds fluttered away from her, for they had never seen the large, four-legged, orange creature with the cowboy hat before. Applejack called out to Rainbow Dash, but only the cries of unfamiliar animals answered. Suddenly she felt like she was being watched. A strange, steady throbbing sound reached her ear. She hoped it was nothing threatening. She took a cautious step and suddenly...

"Whoa!"

Applejack fell onto the soft earth. She had tripped over a climbing plant. Angrily, she pushed against the weave to free herself.

“Darn jungle!” she cursed.

After a few attempts, she managed it. She lifted Rainbow's bag and checked to see if anything had fallen out. The backpack weighed several kilos. Applejack was dying to know what she was carrying around, but as a trusted pony, she had learned not to pry into other people's private belongings. Besides, Rainbow Dash was much more important. She sighed softly. “Rainbow, what in tarnation's goin' on with you? What're you keepin' from me?”

Gathering her courage once more, Applejack pressed forward. The rhythmic thumping in the jungle persisted, but the birds continued their songs, undisturbed. The noise seemed to be coming from a great distance.

Rainbow Dash heard the noises too. Only much louder and it drove her mad. If she was going to die, at least she would be with Twilight... No! No! She wanted to go to the world of the living with Twilight! Everywhere was green, everywhere were the images and the trauma.

Her face contorted into an abstruse grimace of fear. Totally paranoid, Rainbow stormed through the branches and howled like a ghost. She looked around with wide eyes, the throbbing penetrating deep into her brain like a worm. She let out a scream that to her own ears sounded like either fear or pure madness. She spun around, all roads led to hell. She breathed too fast and fell down from exhaustion.

All her friends were gone. She was alone. Suddenly she got a forward push again. She stood on her hooves faster than her consciousness could make out. Then she ran on without really realizing where she was going. Suddenly a petrified grimace with yellow teeth appeared, sticking its tongue out at her. Rainbow held her hooves in front of her face and shrieked. She curled up in a ball and trembled all over. She forgot to swallow, so drool rolled out of her mouth. It coated her hooves like liquid glue. Rainbow noticed the warm wetness, then she was startled by her own saliva. “Ah, go away! Go away!!”

She wrapped her arms around herself and rocked back and forth. At least that calmed her down a little. But she was alone. Who could she talk to? Who was near her? Finally, she began to mumble. Her own voice sounded almost alien.

“T... T... Twi?” Again and again, she called out to Twilight. Trembling, she looked around, hoping the ghost would appear.

“Twi?” She didn't come. Rainbow Dash stopped bobbing. Everything went quiet around her. Twilight gave no answer. Rainbow Dash cried thick tears and as she sat there and was with herself, she looked up. She realized that the stone grimace she had seen earlier was nothing more than a statue from an ancient culture. Rainbow Dash lowered her head and began to sway again. She was very close to Twilight in her thoughts. She would have loved to take this poor piece of soul in her arms.

Meanwhile, something approached her from behind with steady steps. The clattering hooves resounded on the old overgrown stone slabs that belonged to the statue. The pegasus girl stopped bobbing again. This time she was sure that someone was standing behind her.

Trembling, she turned around. She saw two pairs of black, bony hooves belonging to a scrawny figure wrapped in a black, dirty cloak. The dark skin was stretched over the body like leather and two blind, milky eyes were visible on the horse's face. The figure looked like death itself. Rainbow was struck by lightning. She slid back under the old statue, wriggling wildly. Her eyes were fixed on this unknown thing staring back at her.

“Why are you bowing down to this old statue of forgotten gods?” the figure asked in an unnaturally deep voice.

"I... I’m looking for... a friend!’ stammered Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow turned back to the statue. It didn’t look like it wanted to greet someone. Rainbow Dash looked at the creature again. Only now did she notice that the creature had bat-like wings. “You’re not imaginary?” she asked nervously.

“I’m just as real as you are!” It spread its cracking wings. “My name is Bellerophon and your name is Rainbow Dash, isn’t it?”

“Yes, that’s me,” she said.

The creature folded its wings back in and continued speaking. “I know who you are and I know who you’re looking for. But sadly, she can’t hear you.”

“Paradise! Is it still far away?” Rainbow Dash asked spontaneously.

“True! You traveled a long way to find her there. You almost made it.”

Rainbow Dash felt so exhausted when she heard that. She threw her front legs on the ground out of sheer desperation and howled: “I can’t take any more! I can’t take any more! This soul torments me! I can’t take it!”

“Calm down, it's not the soul itself,” said the figure.

Rainbow looked at the stallion spellbound. As he spoke, he strode towards her. “The one you call Twilight is only half in paradise where no pain is felt. But since the other half is still among the living, she feels the pain of death again and again, and because of the soul merging, you feel it too. Twilight suffers more than you do. Every second is agony for her.”

Rainbow gasped, because what he said was so sad that she couldn't even cry anymore.

“Hey, Rainbow!” the blue pegasus heard from somewhere, then she saw Applejack with a very worried face. The zombie-like stallion also turned to her. Strangely, Applejack paid him no mind.

“Hi, AJ! I'm talking to someone right now!” Rainbow Dash pointed into the void. Applejack looked at her in confusion, as if Rainbow was trying to play some kind of joke on her.

“What? There's no pony there!”

The black stallion did not react and did not seem to want to draw attention to himself.

“Come on now, stop this nonsense. We’ve got to keep moving and find the others. No time for getting lost in your head!” said Applejack in a slightly annoyed tone.

“But... but... He can help us.”

Applejack's expression turned grim and Rainbow couldn’t understand what was going on.

“Don't you see him?”

“Get a grip! It’s all in your head, Rainbow!” Applejack said and trotted ahead.

Rainbow Dash looked up at the stallion, offended. “You said you were real. You... hhh... you said it…” she gasped, almost losing her control again.

“I am, it’s just... you can see me because you saw someone die. Your friend Applejack, of course not. You’ll need me one day. Just look at the horizon.”

A shiver ran down her. In her mind, she saw the moment of Twilight's death again, as she struggled for breath, badly injured. She forced herself to suppress the memory. “Oh, well... Then I have one more question before I go: have you seen three other ponies with a draught cart?”

The creature didn’t have to think twice. “They did indeed walk past here. They have a small problem that could develop into a bigger one.”

Rainbow Dash was horrified. “What, where are they?”

The stallion pointed straight ahead in the direction where Applejack was waiting. Rainbow didn’t hesitate for long and ran off as fast as she could, even though her bones ached. “Thank you very much! Maybe we’ll meet again! Bye!”

She ran back to Applejack. “Did you finish talking to the forest?” she asked sullenly.

Rainbow sprinted past her. “Quick! The others are in trouble!”

The earth pony mare was now completely confused, but there was no time, because Rainbow was surprisingly fast.

At the statue of the welcoming god, the creature remained silent until the two ponies disappeared behind the trees. Then he wandered on and suddenly saw another pony. It was blue and wore a coat.

“Hmm... She's still here,” he thought and vanished into the darkness.

Chapter 10: The Gate of Eternity

A few days earlier, the cart was manageable for two ponies to pull. They took turns, with Rarity and Fluttershy pulling together, then Pinkie Pie and Rarity, and finally Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie. They found themselves in a jungle, less dense and foreboding than the Everfree Forest. The trees soared to dizzying heights, their leaves taking their sweet time to fall. Time itself seemed to drag on at the same slow pace as the foliage.

“By Celestia! How much further are we supposed to go?” Rarity shouted in exhaustion, even though she wasn't pulling. They didn't know whether they should just leave the wagon to go faster.

“Until we reach paradise, what else!” said Pinkie.

“Do you have any idea what it will look like?” asked Rarity. “I’m imagining a big castle with ponies wearing the best of clothes!” Pinkie and Fluttershy were not impressed.

“I hope it's a world of sweets and endless parties!” said Pinkie.

“Well, I'd like a big garden with lots of little animals. Oh, I miss Angel,” Fluttershy said softly, thinking of her little rabbit.

Pinkie Pie's eyes widened as she suddenly remembered something. “Oh! Speaking of food, I'm starving!” Just then, her stomach growled loudly, as if in agreement. Rarity and Fluttershy exchanged a sympathetic glance, understanding her predicament.

“We only have a few provisions left!” said Rarity, lifting a dried carrot. A disappointed murmur was the answer. Rarity looked at them, then divided up the carrot and gave her two friends a piece each.

“But Rarity! What about you?” asked Fluttershy.

“It’s all right! Don’t worry about me. When we take a break in the evening, we'll collect new food.”

“I’d love a big, delicious pie right about now!” Pinkie Pie sighed wistfully. A half-carrot just wasn’t cutting it for her enormous appetite.

In the afternoon, they took a much-needed break. Everypony’s hooves were sore from the trek. Fluttershy stayed by the wagon while the others went off to forage for food. As she sat alone, she kept hearing a faint thumping sound, like something moving around in the forest. Pinkie Pie had brushed it off as just the wind, but Fluttershy wasn’t so sure. Her ears perked up, trying to detect any other sounds. She felt a pang of unease, her thoughts drifting to the animals that seemed to be watching her from the shadows. She regretted staying behind and hoped her friends would return soon.

Rarity searched the foliage with a stick, which she controlled with her telekinesis. The sky-blue glow of her horn reflected off the bark of the trees, which were teeming with insects. Rarity tapped against the trunks. She already knew some of the bushes and leaves from Equestria and they were edible. She put everything she found into a bag she had sewn herself. Pinke searched the ground, but her growling stomach distracted her. “If only there was some fruit here. I'd like some apples or chimicherries or cherrycho...”

“It's all right, Pinkie! I got it!” muttered Rarity and continued to look around. After a while, Pinkie came across something. It was a couple of mushrooms growing on the root of a rather diseased tree. Their caps were dark green and their stems were a delicate light green.

“They look delicious!” said Pinkie Pie. Rarity came over with the now full bag and looked at the mushrooms.

“I don't know them! We'd best leave them.” She turned around again. Pinkie, however, was sure that these mushrooms were a delicacy that Rarity was missing out on. She smelled them twice and, as expected, they smelled wonderful. “Mmmmh! They remind me of wild berry cake!”

“Pinkie Pie? Are you coming?” she heard Rarity call from afar. But Pinkie didn’t want to just leave these good-smelling mushrooms standing there, so she picked them.

Rarity had already set out the sparse food they had managed to find. It looked more like a diet meal than a satisfying meal. Pinkie Pie trotted up with a big grin, mushrooms clamped in her mouth.

“Now you've picked them after all...,” said Rarity. “Seriously, Pinkie!”

“But they smell good! Then why shouldn't they taste good?” said Pinkie as an excuse and put the mushrooms on the floor.

“Look at that color! I have always despised green!”

Fluttershy took a careful sniff of the mushrooms. “They actually don’t smell bad at all!”

Rarity groaned and flopped down; her frustration evident as she struggled to light a fire with her magic. Pinkie Pie, impatient with the wait, took a bold step and popped one of the mushrooms into her mouth. Fluttershy sniffed at the remaining mushrooms cautiously before finally taking a bite herself. Pinkie, not one for hesitation, tossed the smaller mushroom into the air and devoured it in a single gulp.

Rarity and Fluttershy watched with bated breath as Pinkie Pie chewed, their eyes wide with curiosity.

“And how is it?” Fluttershy asked nervously, her gaze fixed on Pinkie. For a moment, there was only silence as they waited for any reaction.

“Oh! It wasn’t so bad!” Pinkie Pie said cheerfully. Then she collapsed onto her stomach. The last mushroom rolled away, coming to rest in front of her disheveled head.

Rarity’s eyes widened in horror, and she quickly rushed over, grabbing Pinkie by the shoulders, and gently turning her over. Pinkie was unconscious, and a dark green liquid oozed from the corner of her mouth.

“Pinkie!!!” Rarity shook her in panic. She put her ear on her unconscious friend's chest. Her heart was still beating, but her breathing was barely perceptible.

“What should we do, for Celestia's sake?” Fluttershy held her breath, seeing only this situation. She wanted to scream, but she couldn't. Swallowing, she looked at the mushrooms, which Rarity was now looking at as well, then they looked at each other again.

The carriage rattled. They pulled for Pinkie's life, who wiggled around in the carriage like a piece of meat. More green saliva ran from her mouth. Rarity and Fluttershy breathed loudly. Their thundering hooves had already taken them quite a distance, but in the darkness, they could see next to nothing, except this dilapidated path.

“I told her, but she didn't listen! She just didn't listen!” Rarity gasped desperately. In her distress, she growled out her great frustration. Fluttershy stumbled twice and gasped as well. Finally, they slowed down when they saw something by the road.

“Does the path end here?” Fluttershy asked. Inwardly, she prayed that it didn't.

“I don't know!” said Rarity and pulled the wagon a little further. Rarity saw the strangest statue she had ever seen. “What a hideous thing! What was the artist thinking? Those yellow teeth and that tongue! Just disgusting!”

Fluttershy had trouble even looking at the old statue and tilted her head to the side. “Let's move on quickly!”

Suddenly, they heard Pinkie Pie wheezing and coughing in the cart. The green stuff had stained the entire cart. They just wanted to keep moving and get out of this jungle. Fluttershy squinted to avoid even looking at the base of the structure as they passed. Rarity, however, studied it critically.

“Why are you rushing through the forest like this? And what have you brought with you?” a voice asked.

Fluttershy jumped, her wings fluttering and making the whole cart clatter. Behind them, right next to the statue, stood a tall figure with a mohawk mane. The native stepped out of the shadows, revealing a large zebra with two brown sacks balanced on a stick across its back. As Rarity and Fluttershy stared in speechless surprise, the zebra introduced itself with a warm smile. “My name is Ambra. I’m a zebra from the southern coastal village.”

“Rarity!” the unicorn mumbled. Ambra hadn't quite understood her. But then he noticed the pink bangs in the seats. He looked at her green-smeared face, then his eyes became very serious. “That doesn't look good, I'm sure that's why you were running like that. But I only know someone who can help you.”

“She has...” Fluttershy wanted to explain everything, but the native zebra already knew. “The little nightmare! We use this mushroom only for our rituals, you should never eat it plain! How much did she eat?”

“A whole one!” replied Rarity.

Ambra looked at them and organized his pockets. “Then we should hurry!”

Ambra led the ponies out of the jungle to a stony path. The salty air greeted their damp nostrils. A soft rustling could be heard in the distance. Pinkie Pie's condition was getting worse and worse, with green fluid now oozing out of her nose and ears.

“She needs to breathe the salty air; it’ll clear her nose!” Ambra said.

Rarity carefully propped Pinkie up, so she was sitting upright on the bench in the cart. Pinkie’s eyes fluttered open for a moment, catching a glimpse of the evening light. With a faint smile, she murmured in her dazed state, “Paradise! We made it!”

The path stretched straight ahead, growing increasingly sandy and steep. Bits of wood shavings and small stones littered the way, causing Rarity to frequently shake her hooves to rid them of the bothersome, damp sand. The persistent wind blew sand into her mane, adding to her irritation. But as they pressed on, the sight of thatched roofs gradually came into view. With each step, the outline of a small village nestled against the dyke became clearer. "This is my home!" Ambra proudly announced.

Rarity realized that this zebra didn't rhyme like her friend Zacora did in Equestria. Maybe it was a quirk of hers. In any case, it became clear that not all zebras rhymed.

The conical thatched roofs were decorated with spooky masks that looked familiar to Rarity and Fluttershy. The old wooden walkways were connected to the round houses. The hammering of work could be heard everywhere. Zebras spoke to each other in a foreign language and foals played in open spaces.

When the villagers noticed Rarity and Fluttershy with the carriage, they fell silent. Some looked pityingly at the sick Pinkie Pie, who looked like the abstract performance of an eerie parade. The pulling ponies felt uncomfortable with all these onlooking zebras.

Ambra didn't let on and led them over the wide footbridges to a hut. The young foals, some spindly, followed the cart curiously. Rarity and Fluttershy quickly unbuckled themselves to help Pinkie out. Ambra lent a hand. Silence continued to reign in the village. The news that ponies had entered the village spread quickly. Some had never seen a pony before.

Fluttershy and Ambra carried Pinkie into the hut and laid her on a soft blanket in front of the reddish fire. In the glow of the light, the village elder looked at the sick pony for a long time. Then she silently asked two black-haired zebra guards to leave the hut. Ambra bowed to the old zebra mare. Her eyes were huge and she wore a lot of jewelry. When she blinked, the jewelry clinked softly.

“The little nightmare,” she said and set to work without hesitation.

She piled up various herbs, including plants like Poison Joke, which also grew in Equestria. Pinkie Pie groaned in pain and writhed. The older zebra worked quickly, her movements practiced and precise. After diluting her mixture with water, the potion was finally ready. The village elder poured the contents into an ornate bowl.

Finally, she asked Fluttershy and Rarity to step closer to hold Pinkie. Then she emptied the red potion into her green mouth.

Pinkie Pie's head glowed, and she wriggled her hooves uncontrollably, but Rarity and Fluttershy had anticipated this. As Pinkie’s eyes fluttered open, gasping for breath, the first thing she saw was the old zebra mare’s face. “Zecora?” she asked, her voice filled with both relief and confusion.

The zebra smiled as a mother could only smile. “I am Umma, the village elder! I am pleased to meet friends from Zacora!”

Rarity's eyes grew wide. “You know Zacora?”

Umma's grin widened and she looked at the two of them. “She is my granddaughter.”

“Zacora's grandma? Can I have some more?” asked Pinkie Pie with a tired smile.

“Despite all the stress we're under right now, Pinkie Pie hasn’t lost her sense of humor,” said Rarity, who just felt something heavy fall off her back. Fluttershy felt the same and almost toppled over. She trotted out quickly, tears streaming down her face. Rarity turned around; she had seen it.

The sunset outside was more picturesque than any other. Fluttershy's mane blew in the fresh sea air, which also dried her moist eyes. Rarity joined them a little later. “I've never seen such a beautiful sunset!” she said.

Fluttershy nodded. Conflicting feelings fought within her and she didn't know which one to express. Expressing happiness was usually hard for her. When Rarity looked at her, the pegasus spoke softly, “We would have lost Pinkie Pie if we hadn't come across the zebras. Losing one friend is already too much... Rainbow Dash and Applejack, I miss them, I hope they're well. I don't want anything to happen to them.”

Rarity stroked her friend's pink mane. “Applejack is a capable pony and Rainbow Dash is a fighter who stands by her friends. They're both strong, so I'm sure we'll meet them in paradise.”

“And paradise?” asked Fluttershy anxiously, “will we really die if we enter it?”

Rarity remained silent. She saw a little zebra foal writing on a roll of parchment on the beach. The zebra's clever look and distinctive writing posture made Rarity smile. “And if nothing else, at least we're with her...”

Pinkie Pie was slowly getting better. Umma took very good care of her and always gave her medicine.

One morning, Rarity went to Ambra's house to ask a few questions. The interior of his hut resembled that of Zacora's house in the Everfree Forest. “Hello, Ambra!”

“Good morning! Make yourself at home!” said the zebra stallion and offered Rarity a seat.

“We’ve been here for a week and now I’d like to ask you a few questions. Do you know the place that everyone calls paradise?”

Ambra pressed her lips together, deep in thought. “The paradise where all souls are said to return? Umma would know more about it. Many of us believe it lies beyond the horizon.”

They made their way to Umma's home, where Fluttershy was already waiting by Pinkie Pie’s bedside. Pinkie lay there, sleeping soundly, her ears twitching occasionally as a small fly buzzed around her.

Umma unrolled a parchment scroll on the table, revealing a vividly painted scene. At the center was the symbol of Celestia’s sun, radiating golden rays over a serene sea. Where the sunlight touched the water, a bright, open gate gleamed.

“My mother told me,” Umma began, her voice soft and reverent, "that when life ends, our souls embark on a long journey. For countless eons, we have set our dead adrift at sunset, their bodies drifting towards this sacred point where the sun meets the sea.”

Her hoof pointed to the gate. “The gate of eternity! It always opens when the sun goes down and closes again when a green glow burns out over the horizon. Once you've passed through, you're in paradise.”

Rarity, who knew a lot about art, was immediately struck by the beauty of the painting. But the center had a different effect on her, and so did Fluttershy. Both had a great desire to cross this gate, to break through the border.

“Yes!! That’s our destination! Hooray!” shouted Rarity with excitement as she leapt into the air, her voice ringing with enthusiasm.

“Weee! Let's go then!” said Pinkie Pie on the mat. She seemed to have been woken up by Rarity's cheering. There were lots of empty bowls next to her.

Rarity eagerly reached out her hooves, and Pinkie Pie, despite a twinge in her tummy, leapt up beside her. The three friends clasped each other tightly by the shoulders, their faces alight with joy. “I can't even begin to tell you how thrilled I am!” Pinkie's excitement was palpable, her voice bubbling over with unrestrained happiness. “We're almost there!!!”

“And we'll see Twilight again!” said Fluttershy.

“That’s right! Let’s take a moment to remember Twilight,” Rarity said softly, closing her eyes in reverence. The others followed suit, each lost in their thoughts. They thought of Rainbow Dash, wondering how she was faring and hoping she hadn’t succumbed to the madness of her fragmented soul. Their journey had transformed them in so many ways, and they knew more changes were yet to come. After a brief silence, Pinkie opened one eye, then shut it again with a small, wistful smile. Then they stamped their hooves, united in their resolve.

Umma arranged the details for their journey. Rarity handed the cart over to a group of zebra foals, who were thrilled to have a new plaything. The day of departure finally arrived, and the sun began its descent towards the horizon. Ambra crafted a traditional raft, typically used for ceremonial burials, but this time without a coffin. The other zebras looked on with curiosity, wondering if someone had passed away. The raft was adorned with a white veil flag, and Umma meticulously decorated the beach with white flowers. As the raft was set afloat, she performed a blessing, sending it gently drifting into the water.

Rarity, Pinkie and Fluttershy just had room on the board when they put their hooves close together. Now it was time to say goodbye to the zebras. Pinkie Pie chattered excitedly. “Thank you so much for helping us, thank you so much for showing us the way, thank you so much for being our best friends, thank you so much for...”

Ambra gave Pinkie Pie a nudge on the nose and set the raft in motion. Now Pinkie had become even pinker. Rarity waved goodbye until the coast had become a yellow line. The open sea offered a magnificent view of the continent where Equestria lay. The forests, mountains and meadows were all a fascinating home to small horses.

“Oh! Ambra is such a wonderful stallion!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed with a sigh.

Rarity raised an eyebrow and teased, “Pinkie, you’re not falling for a zebra, are you?”

The raft drifted further and further; a strong wind enlivened the foaming water. In the silence, the ponies moved closer together and dreamed of their destination. During the long sea crossing, the sun came considerably closer and the water became calmer. The ponies were sweating and each of them nodded off slowly, but their thoughts were very close to Twilight. After many hours, Fluttershy looked to the horizon again, but there was no one there. All she saw was a deep evening glow. Even the wind was no longer blowing. It was dead quiet on the water. Too quiet.

“Girls?” Her friends didn't move. They lay huddled together with their eyes closed.

“Girls? What...” She got no further.

Suddenly, something bright and round appeared in front of her. It grew bigger and bigger until it was simply indescribable. Spellbound, she saw an open eye coming towards her.

“Girls!” Her knees trembled and her pupils became smaller. The brightness became unbearable, it burned in her eyes. Then the raft swallowed the brightness. Fluttershy left one last squeal to the world before they all disappeared at once.

Ambra stood on the beach, watching the sun dip below the horizon. As he closed his eyes, he felt the profound stillness of the moment when the gate of eternity was sealed. A brief green flash illuminated his face, marking the end of the day. He opened his eyes, a serene smile spreading across his lips.

Chapter 11: A Dash of Loyalty

Many hours before the sun went down, Rainbow Dash and Applejack galloped along the path described by the mysterious stallion. Along the way, there were many forks in the road. Rainbow Dash wasn't sure which direction the stallion had meant. She almost believed that he was just a figment of her imagination.

They hurried along until late afternoon. The mosquitoes flew low and the air was thick with the smell of an approaching thunderstorm. Every now and then, a low rumble could be heard behind the gray clouds that lay melancholy over the rocky landscape.

Rainbow Dash looked straight ahead. She couldn't even see exactly where she was going. Applejack galloped behind her and called her again and again, to no avail. Rainbow Dash could not be quietened. She disappeared behind the rocks. Applejack was able to catch up with her there later. Rainbow Dash lay snorting on the uneven ground. All her limbs were twitching as if she was trying to fight back her weakness.

Applejack rushed to her and gave her a bottle of water. When Rainbow Dash felt the cool water on her lips, she reached for the bottle and would almost have drunk it all if Applejack hadn't taken the bottle away from her in time. To make matters worse, Rainbow spilled most of it.

“Pull yerself together, Dash! We ain't got much left!” Applejack scolded.

“We have to find the others!” gasped Rainbow, writhing on the ground.

“And how in tarnation we gonna do that? It’s gonna be dark soon, and we don’t even know where they are!”

Rainbow grabbed Applejack by the neck and shook her in panic. “They are in danger! We have to hurry! We have to...”

Applejack looked at her reproachfully. “How would you know that?”

Rainbow Dash began to stammer. She put her hooves together, intimidated. “The... the black stallion told me! He meant...”

“Oh, snap out of it,” Applejack shouted. Rainbow Dash fell silent, surprised by her reaction.

“I saw ya talkin’ to yerself, plain as day! Ya ain't in yer right mind anymore, even if it pains me to say it!” Applejack’s voice softened, but her worry stayed. “I just wanna help ya, but ya gotta help yerself too! Please, stop spoutin’ nonsense!”

Applejack looked towards the sun. Then she suddenly realized that they had lost their way. A real disaster! You could only sigh at that. She wondered how they could get out of this mess. The longer they stayed here, the more difficult it became to keep Rainbow under control. The earth pony looked at her again with a worried expression. Rainbow Dash chewed her hooves, then winced and stared around.

“We've been trottin' along for what feels like a half hour since we left that jungle,” Applejack thought. “How much longer can she hang on?”

Then she finally said to Rainbow Dash, “Come on now, RD! Get them hooves movin'!”

Rainbow reared up, growling like an animal in severe pain. Her posture seemed very unsteady and she buckled almost every other step.

“C’mon now! The others are waitin'!” Applejack said.

Rainbow shook her mane; the six colors of her hair strands were dark due to the dirt. She slowly followed the apple farmer, who had already trotted a long way ahead.

It turned out that the path wasn't getting any easier. Applejack and Rainbow Dash saw how dangerous the terrain ahead of them was. The area was a jumble of razor-sharp, jagged rocks. A veritable chaos, downright terrifying. Applejack knew it would be even harder with her unstable friend than it already was. “Celestia be with us!”

Rainbow Dash tripped behind her and looked down the slope. A cold wind whistled through the ravines. Applejack now tried to be the first to descend. As she did so, she offered Rainbow to hold onto her tail.

“Do we really have to go through there?” Rainbow Dash asked, looking at the cliffs that had been created by the salt sea. The gray edges looked like huge dragon teeth.

“There ain't no turnin' back now, sugarcube! We’ve strayed too far off the path to leave!” replied Applejack.

Rainbow sighed and clung tighter to Applejack's tail. “Have I ever told you how much I like having you as a friend?” Rainbow Dash was almost too tired to speak, but Applejack had clearly understood her.

“I love you too, RD!”

Satisfied, Rainbow Dash closed her eyes and let her friend guide her. Over the last few days, she had no other rock to cling to but her. The confused thoughts and recurring nightmares were getting stronger, as was the mental pain, and that was why she needed Applejack more than ever. When Rainbow opened her eyes again, blinded by the glare, they had already made it quite a way down the slope. A lot of gravel had come down at the bottom, the earth was sandy. The clacking sounds of their hooves echoed around every corner. Rainbow Dash stopped abruptly. Applejack noticed and turned around.

“Rainbow, what is it?”

The pegasus stared distraught at the slope. Something else could be heard besides the sound of hooves. Rainbow quickly looked around and heard the clattering everywhere, sometimes louder, sometimes quieter. Applejack feared the worst: not another seizure! She had had two the other day. Rainbow had become very sensitive to noise and recurring noises made her particularly susceptible. She kept having these anxiety attacks, often losing her balance, and occasionally slipping. In a place like this, that could be quite dangerous. Applejack did what she had done the last time she had an attack: she covered Rainbow Dash's ears.

“Shh shh shh! Everything will be fine, it's just the echo,” Applejack said. Her lost friend stared at her with a look of fear and illness. Before her eyes, the mountains grew larger and more menacing, the light around her became dark and dreary. Then she felt the ground tremble beneath her hooves.

Applejack also noticed this trembling; it became ominously stronger. The flat stones wobbled and slid inexorably down the slope. Then there was a terrible thud. The ponies looked up and saw dozens of rocks rolling towards them. Applejack and Rainbow Dash looked at each other and cried out at the same time. Now it really was time to go through.

“We're going to die! Damn it! We're going to die!” gasped Rainbow Dash.

“Not today!” gasped Applejack, who was running alongside her. The stones caught up with her like a pack of wild predators. The avalanche took more and more stones with it. Some smashed on sturdy rocks, which turned into small, dangerous projectiles. The ponies were lost in the chaos. Rainbow Dash screamed loudly for Applejack as she dodged the large rocks.

“I'm here! Come over here!” Applejack stood on a ledge, not far from Rainbow Dash. The pegasus mare leapt through the roaring stream, getting closer to the safe end. She stumbled over the smaller stones and dodged the larger ones. Then she leapt up onto the ledge with the last of her strength. Applejack grabbed her front hooves and pulled her towards him. Rainbow hung her head, exhausted. Thanks to Applejack, she had survived. The dizziness almost made her faint. She could only give her friend a tired smile. Applejack smiled back.

“Safe at last!” she thought. But unfortunately, she was wrong.

Out of nowhere, a football-sized stone shot towards Rainbow Dash. Applejack saw it and dashed between them. The stone hurled her off the safe rock with immense force. Everything happened incredibly fast. Rainbow Dash could see the earth pony rolling over and disappearing in the rocky turmoil. She still had enough strength to scream.

“APPLEJAAACK!!!”

“Applejack!” the echo replied twice after all hell had broken loose.

Applejack was dead, Rainbow Dash thought. No one could survive something like that, and yet she hoped she would rise from the rocks again. Anything else was not allowed. Not another unfair victim of fate. She slithered down the rest of the slope, whimpering and sobbing, after strapping on her pack. But nothing heavier than this situation could weigh on her back.

“Please don't! I don't want it to be true...” she begged through clenched teeth. She was getting closer and closer to the foot of the slope and the worry for Applejack was growing. She knew that feeling of not knowing whether a friend was dead or alive all too well. Behind her, the thunder of the evening storm rumbled as she ran across the gravel, calling out for Applejack again and again.

The earth pony was lying on its back, its mouth was full of dust and it was difficult for her to breathe. A thick cloud of dust had settled over her.

She was lying on the rock that had come down as an avalanche. At least she hadn't been buried, for which she thanked Celestia. The pony had reached the foot of the mountain, that much was certain.

Everything hurt, especially her right leg. She had lost her hat and her head was bleeding profusely. A laceration, it didn't have to be that bad because Applejack had seen worse, so she dared to lift her head to see why her leg hurt so much. With a red haze before her eyes, she realized that it was bent unnaturally. It was bleeding profusely from a large gash, and a splintered bone protruded from between the flesh and tendons at the hock. Applejack felt even more dizzy and wondered if this was real.

Minutes later, the panting Rainbow Dash rushed to her. Applejack lay motionless on the stones and stared up at the white sky. Rainbow Dash laid her head on Applejack's chest.

“I'm still alive!” Applejack said in a low voice, as if she regretted it.

“AJ! Oh, no! What happened to your leg!” Rainbow Dash grabbed his head. It looked like someone had hit Applejack's leg with a blunt axe.

“Ah know... Kicks McGee looks horrendous!”

“Help! You need help!!!” cried Rainbow, breathing heavily as she gnawed on her hooves and ran her hands over her face, shivering.

The drizzle fell on Applejack's. “No! It's over!”

Rainbow stared at her, puzzled. At last, she saw that endlessly tired look on her friend's face. The expression put a thick knot in her throat and threw her back to her severe trauma.

“Please don't look at me like that! Twilight did it when she died too!” cried Rainbow.

“She gave ya that look? Then I know just what she was feelin’,” Applejack said, looking up at her, who was rubbing her eyes sore.

“What? I don't understand!” she asked.

“Look, this here’s acceptance talkin’! I’m done. This can’t be fixed. Twilight must’ve seen it too and accepted it. Y’all go on without me. I’ll keep up as best I can” Applejack said and her eyes darkened.

“What are you talking about? That doesn't make any sense!”

Applejack stared wearily at the sky. She knew it would take a long time and the pain wouldn't get any less. But she could wait, she took her time.

“Maybe Braeburn was right after all... Maybe you gotta be dead to get into this paradise,” Applejack said, her voice weak and resigned.

Rainbow Dash revealed her red face wet with tears and yelled at her. “AJ! I can't believe it! You... You’re lying!!!”

Applejack laughed, sounding almost fake. “Heh, Rainbow Dash... I was the one who kept sayin’ we'd make it through, that we'd get Twilight back and all come home safe. Guess I was just foolin’ myself, huh?

Rainbow Dash gritted his teeth in anger and shook his head. “Stop it! Stop saying things like that!”

She tore open the saddlebags in a rage and pulled out the almost empty pouch bottle to tear it apart with her mouth. She turned it into a poorly improvised bandage, which she wrapped around Applejack's leg. Then she looked at Applejack with eyes in which a new fire flared. “I'll take care of your broken honor, because you know I'll always stay with you and that's why they call me Loyalty!”

Rainbow Dash heaved Applejack onto her back with a strong jerk. Applejack winced in pain – an earth pony was heavier than a pegasus. Rainbow Dash trotted through the mountainous landscape towards the sun with the face of a warrior. Applejack thought it was all unnecessary, but Rainbow didn't want to hear any more. This time she wouldn't let go, no compromises! Rainbow sped up. Never again would she let a friend die!

She avoided the dangerous places and quickly recognized the safest route. She ran through natural tunnels and through narrow passes. Applejack bit her lips until they turned white. Her leg throbbed wildly in sync with Rainbow's running rhythm.

“Slow down... please slow down...” Applejack cried. Rainbow obeyed. In the corner of her eye, she could see that this bandage was no good. All the blood left a clear mark on the paths.

“Hang on!” she shouted as she hurried past the foot of the cliffs.

Then the rain began, turning the path slippery and sodden. Puddles formed, tinged with the blood of the earth pony on her back. Rainbow Dash heard the distant rumble of thunder; the storm was fading, but the rain made her struggle. Drops kept blinding her, and she nearly lost her footing several times. Thoughts of Twilight weighed heavily on her. Suddenly, a headache struck her, like an unexpected blow.

“No! Not now!” Rainbow gasped; her voice tinged with desperation. She shook her head, but fear clawed at her, dragging her towards the abyss. She fought against it with everything she had, determined to reach the top of the hill before surrendering. Her mind raced, and her eyes felt heavy, barely able to stay open.

Applejack was no longer speaking, presumably she had passed out from the pain. Rainbow made it up the hill by sheer force of will. Her body slowly began to go on strike and her muscles burned like crazy. The rain poured down on her colorful mane and covered her closed eyes. The noise in her head had become louder and a little later she knew what she had achieved and where the sound was coming from.

“The sea...” gasped Rainbow Dash with a frog in his throat. Applejack opened his eyes and saw the white spray rolling over the rocks. On the horizon, the sky had turned red from the evening. The last seagulls screeched in the air.

“Rainbow... You did it...,” said Applejack. Her friend didn't react, she looked like a soldier on the hill who had been hit by bullets and was about to topple over.

Suddenly, Rainbow Dash leaned forward and ran down the hill. Applejack groaned in pain. Rainbow stumbled, zigzagged towards the water and then, after reaching the slippery wet sandy ground, she fell. Applejack slipped off her shoulders and fell beside her. Rainbow's eyes drowned in tears. She ate the sand out of sheer desperation. Water lashed against her face, choking her crying into a pitiful gurgle. Now she had made it this far and yet she felt like she had lost. She had always hated losing. She was wet and completely exhausted, but the relentless will to keep going, to keep fighting, was still there. Applejack, also completely wet, wrapped himself around her and Rainbow returned the hug. Eventually she sobbed less, and the more the day ended, the quieter she became. Then they both closed their eyes.

The sea embraced them both, pulling their bodies into its depths. As the sun dipped below the horizon, a gate of light appeared on the water’s surface. The water carried them swiftly towards it, and though the gate would soon close, the ponies were on the right path. The waves surged them forward, away from the shore and towards the horizon. Rainbow Dash, through her hazy vision, caught a glimpse of the black stallion she had seen earlier, but her mind was too numb to dwell on it. All that mattered now was the comforting stillness around them. They felt a profound sense of freedom.

The calm azure waters had washed something ashore. An orange earth pony lying alone on the beach. Its hair was sticky with sand and large palm leaves hung over it, providing shade.

A breeze gently woke Applejack from her slumber. She blinked briefly, but closed her eyes again because the light was too strong.

“Am I dead...?” This question answered itself when she felt her leg and her head. She was lying on the dry sand, which was as soft as flour. In her blurred vision, she saw palm leaves and the glittering light of the white sun.

“Where am I? This isn't paradise...”

Paradise was a place of peace, she felt nothing of the sort. She turned to the side and saw two caves that belonged to a skull of death. Applejack flinched and let out a scream of horror. This dead earth pony had probably been lying here for years, no doubt to find the rest it had long since found. In any case, it made Applejack wide awake. If her leg had had a mouth, it would have screamed at the top of its voice. The bone had slipped out a few centimeters and was pressing against the nerves. The hoof had already turned completely blue in several places. She looked up and took in the surroundings.

“Another darn jungle! Great!”

Then she looked again at the pony skeleton next to her. A snake was crawling through the nostrils of the skull. Applejack shook herself and slowly crawled away. She called out to her friend: “Rainbow?”

“Applejack?” someone called out. She turned around and saw a shadow behind the leaves. It wasn't Rainbow Dash.

Chapter 12: Paradise awaits

Applejack squinted her eyes, trying to make out the figure moving in the shadows. The silhouette of a unicorn emerged from beneath the thick canopy of leaves, alone. A gnawing suspicion crept over her as she held her breath, waiting for the figure to step into the light. When the sun caught the mane, it seemed to shimmer dark purple, but the heat waves distorted her vision. Applejack blinked and focused harder. Then, as the figure came fully into view, the face became unmistakable.

Applejack let out a sigh of relief as she recognized Rarity's pale, surprised face. The unicorn looked worn out, her hooves sticky with sand, and her once pristine purple mane was tangled and dotted with leaves. The old Rarity from Ponyville would have fainted at the sight of herself, but now it seemed she no longer cared. All that mattered was finding a friend she had thought lost for weeks. Tears of joy welled up in her eyes as she called out, “Applejack! I’m so glad to see you!”

Rarity galloped toward her, eager to embrace her long-lost friend. But as they collided in the hug, Applejack’s injured leg flared with pain. She let out a sharp groan, “Haah! Careful now... please...”

Rarity recoiled in horror as Applejack broke into a sweat, gritting her teeth from the pain that held her frozen in place.

“Something wrong? Are you hurt?” Rarity circled around her, eyes widening when she saw the injured leg. The sight made her gasp, bringing a hoof to her mouth in shock.

“Yeah! As ya can see, luck ain't been on my side,” Applejack muttered with a strained smile. Rarity's eyes darted around, suddenly lighting up as she remembered something.

“Uh... And what about Rainbow Dash?”

“I ain't got the foggiest! We both blacked out on a beach, then I woke up here all by my lonesome. Any idea where we are? Is this s’posed to be paradise?” Applejack asked, eyeing Rarity’s uneasy expression. It sure didn’t look like it to her.

“First things first, you need some help. After that, I’ll fill you in on everything,” Rarity said.

“What else can you do?” Applejack asked with frustration.

Rarity concentrated, then activated her horn.

“What are you up to, Rarity?” Applejack asked, eyeing the fashion mare warily. Rarity’s gaze flitted nervously between Applejack’s face and her injured leg, which was surrounded by a blue magic aura. Nothing seemed to be happening, and Rarity bit her lip.

“Um… Please, forgive me, but this is going to hurt a lot!”

Before Applejack could react, Rarity started. The bone slid back into place with a sharp crack. Applejack let out a guttural roar of pain, making the birds in the treetops scatter and the smaller animals dart into their burrows in fright.

“Done!” said Rarity, who hadn't enjoyed treating her friend so unprofessionally. A trained unicorn doctor would have been able to do it better and with less pain. The bone was in the wound, yet broken and probably incurable, Rarity preferred not to say that in front of her. Applejack gasped; her throat felt raw. “Kicks McGee” throbbed as if it had a heart of its own. The tears she had shed during the brief treatment ran down her freckles. Rarity grabbed her front hooves and begged for forgiveness.

“And now what?” Applejack asked.

“We haven't made it yet! But soon, Applejack! Soon we'll have it...”

Rarity carried Applejack on her back into the deep palm grove. The unicorn mare used telekinesis to push the branches out of the way. The place was completely alien, with the most exotic plants they had ever seen growing everywhere. The air was warm and humid, quite pleasant weather. A different kind of paradise.

“We just got here, too,” Rarity said, trying to offer some comfort. “Pinkie and Fluttershy are okay, if that helps at all.”

Applejack was actually a little relieved, but she couldn't stop thinking about Rainbow Dash. “How did ya get here?” Applejack asked.

Rarity sighed, “It's a long story. We wandered for weeks through primeval forests and traveled across the sea. Only Fluttershy remembers us being swallowed by a bright light. Then we woke up here. A few hours later, I heard you calling.”

“Applejack!!!”

Suddenly, a burst of pink lightning sprang from the bushes, radiating pure joy. Rarity braced herself, fearing she might be knocked over. “Hold on! Don’t, she’s hurt!”

“Pinkie Pie! I'm so glad to see you,” said Applejack. Pinkie Pie paused, her eyes wandering to her right leg. Applejack was starting to get annoyed that everyone cared so much about that leg. Offended, she hung her head, her mind replaying the arguments she had had with Rainbow Dash last week. Suddenly a gentle pink hoof patted her cheek.

“Hey there! We’ve got a cozy spot all set up for you to rest and get comfy,” Pinkie Pie said with a reassuring smile.

When they arrived at the small camp, it was deserted. Rarity looked around anxiously. Usually, Fluttershy would be right there on her mat. It was unlike her to wander off alone, unless she’d come across a new animal and followed it.

First, with the help of Pinkie Pie, Rarity laid Applejack on a soft mat under a mighty oak tree. They couldn't spare Applejack the pain she was in. Rarity wrapped her ankle with a new cloth, then she went to check on Fluttershy while Applejack had time to think.

Death certainly wore a grim face. For a fleeting moment, Applejack felt lightheaded and her thoughts turned to her family. They had always been her pride and joy, and she longed to be there for them, especially in times of need. Times when she had felt most vulnerable. As a foal, she had faced immense loss and struggled with those deep emotions, using her work on the farm to channel her anger and pain. For years, she had stomped apples from the trees, working through her childhood grief. Now, as she looked at her wounded leg, she wondered where that strength had gone.

A shout broke the silence, making them all jump. Rarity returned, gasping for breath, her eyes wide with urgency. “I can’t explain it – just come and see for yourselves.”

She carefully lifted Applejack onto her back and made her way down to a small stream. Along the banks were remnants of a long-lost civilization, weathered and crumbling. On the opposite side of the water stood a blue pony, watching them intently.

“Rainbow Dash,” Applejack gasped. Fluttershy came up to the two mares, shaking her head in concern. Applejack waved her forelegs at Rainbow, who was standing strangely still in one spot. She did not respond to her calls. It took Rarity a lot of effort to cross the stream. Pinkie and Fluttershy followed her. The friends walked slowly towards Rainbow Dash. The lost pegasus stared at the area in confusion, as if he had forgotten something.

“Let me get closer! I wanna see her face up close!” Applejack called out, her voice filled with a mix of disbelief and concern. The emptiness in Rainbow’s eyes was something she couldn't quite grasp. An endless, hollow void.

“No...” breathed Applejack, fighting back tears,” No, no, no!” She pounded Rainbow's chest, then hugged her to cry on her.

“Mmmgnaah...” Rainbow's only reaction and response to the final reunion. The five friends were together again, or almost. Rarity put Applejack down. It was too much for her and she had to be comforted by Pinkie Pie.

Crossing the small stream with Rainbow Dash was impossible. So, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie carried the mats to the ruins nestled under the palm trees. One of the ruins was overtaken by a massive tree, its roots bursting through the walls. Eventually, the tree would bring down the two-story structure. Applejack settled down with Rainbow in the shade of the ancient building. Rainbow's ears were flushed red from the sun, and her usually vibrant mane was a tangled, split mess.

“That little fighter…” Applejack said softly that evening. “Ah told her to move on without me, but she just wouldn’t let me go. After all she’s been through, she kept pushing, and she did good. She collapsed on the beach, and now look at her. Is there any sense in all this? Can it even explain what happened to poor Twilight?”

Rainbow Dash nuzzled her damp muzzle against Applejack’s shoulder. With Applejack, she always sought comfort, snuggling close. With Rarity, Pinkie, and Fluttershy, she seemed to offer a smile. But when Twilight’s name came up, she reacted like it was her own. None of the ponies could sleep well. They kept watch over the ailing Rainbow Dash. Whenever she whimpered from the cold wind, Rarity draped a mat over her. Then, the stream started to glow with a magical light. Bright points of light began dancing across the water, water-fireflies just emerging from their pupae. They floated up to the ponies, and only then did they truly appreciate the beauty of the forest. Rainbow Dash gazed at the tiny creatures in a daze, and though Applejack wasn’t sure if she fully grasped the beauty, it clearly brought some joy to the pegasus.

Applejack noticed that the nights were very short. Time generally seemed to pass quickly. Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, even Rainbow Dash, had found sleep, but not her. Everything around them had become too sad and they had been tormented by thirst and hunger for hours. Pinkie Pie was the first to open her eyes.

“Morning already?” she mumbled sleepily, stretching so that her spine cracked. “How are you, Applejack?”

Applejack shot Pinkie Pie a sharp look. “I haven’t slept a wink, and now you’re askin' me somethin' like that?”

“Oh... sorry!” exclaimed Pinkie Pie, who had almost forgotten about Applejack's condition. For Applejack, however, it wasn't over. Pinkie tried to calm her down. “Can I... Can I do anything for you?”

Applejack cast a wistful glance at the parched, cracked earth. “Yep, there’s something. Can ya fetch us somethin’ to eat and drink?”

“You got it!” Pinkie Pie hissed off, the dust and breeze she left behind waking Fluttershy up. She sneezed, stirring up more dust and waking up Rarity. Rainbow Dash mewed like an awakening foal.

“Gesundheit!” said Applejack.

“Thank you, Applejack, but you look awful,” said Rarity, touching her forehead and immediately noticing the fever. “You’re in a really bad shape. Shall I bring you something to eat?”

“Pinkie Pie’s already on her way, but please don’t fuss over me. I’m getting tired of everyone hovering around!” Fluttershy took a few steps back to give Applejack some space.

“Oh, come on now! Once we find paradise, everything will look a whole lot better,” Rarity said.

Rarity's words did little to lift Applejack’s spirits. To her, paradise felt like a distant dream, something that only existed in the world of the dead. The dry, cracked ground and the endless search had worn her down. She felt a deep weariness settle over her, as if hope itself was slipping through her hooves.

“Paradise,” Applejack muttered bitterly, “feels like just another fantasy now. I’m not sure I even believe in it anymore.”

Pinkie Pie bounced through the jungle, determined to find something tasty to lift everyone’s spirits. Despite Applejack’s gloom, she wanted to bring a bit of cheer and had already gathered some dandelions. Hoping to find fruit, she kept her eyes peeled. Suddenly, she heard a rustling in the bushes behind her. Pinkie stopped in her tracks; her ears perked up. A cockatoo flew out from the top of a palm tree, squawking loudly.

“Oh, hi there, birdie!” Pinkie greeted as she turned around. For just a moment, she caught sight of a shadowy figure, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared. Pinkie’s heart raced with unease, and without a second thought, she decided to make a hasty retreat.

The hooves of the creature Pinkie Pie had seen thundered across the grassland. “By Hermes! I'll have to tell the others.”

“Rarity! Fluttershy! Applejack!” Pinkie Pie shouted in a panic as she rushed back. She tripped over the stream, splashing everyone and losing the food she’d gathered. After catching her breath, she exclaimed, “You won’t believe it... I saw something strange... There was this weird... pony thing!”

The other ponies looked at Pinkie Pie in confusion. “A pony... what?” Rarity asked, her eyes wide with surprise. Pinkie stared down at her trembling hooves, uncertain if she had just dreamed the whole thing. But the image was etched firmly in her mind – she knew it couldn’t have been just her imagination. Then she glanced up and saw another pony standing behind her friends. Her mouth fell open in shock.

“Fine, fine! Looks like you've all arrived alive, or at least halfway,” an unsympathetic-sounding voice called out. The others turned around. Standing before them was none other than Trixie with a disheveled mane and a monstrous battle stare.

Fluttershy and Rarity jumped up in alarm, while Applejack quickly shielded Rainbow Dash, who was growling in agitation. “No way! I thought you’d gone home!” Applejack exclaimed.

Trixie shook her head with a laugh. “A little change of mind. I have the final solution to Twilight's soul!”

“How did you get here?” Fluttershy asked in surprise.

“Seaturtles,” Trixie replied simply. Her eyes wandered around. “I see you're still determined to go through with this. But not with me. If you revive her, I know Celestia will let me down!”

Applejack hesitated, but Rarity swiftly took charge. “You’re not stopping us, you monster!” she declared.

“You bet I am!” Trixie retorted with a grim smile. “I’m going to exorcize this half-spirit from your body. Then your Dashie will be cured and Twilight will stay dead – forever!”

Rainbow Dash roared in fury, breaking free from Applejack’s weak hold and charging at the unicorn with relentless rage.

“What, can't you talk anymore?” Trixie shouted, dodging the attack.

Rarity shouted and made her horn glow: “Don't you harm a hair on her head!”

However, Trixie cast a curse on Rainbow, causing the pegasus’s hooves to magnetically lock together. Rainbow crashed against the ruins' wall. Rarity retaliated with a blue spell beam, but Trixie’s protective shield deflected it, sending the spell ricocheting back. Rarity was thrown backward and landed hard on the ground. Pinkie and Fluttershy rushed to her side. Gasping for breath, Rarity looked up at them and pleaded, “Please! Protect Rainbow Dash!” before she fainted.

Now, the two remaining ponies were filled with fury. Fluttershy dove down from above while Pinkie Pie charged straight at Trixie. With a magic blast, Trixie repelled Fluttershy, then swiftly turned to block Pinkie Pie’s tackle.

“You're all no match for the great and powerful Trixie!” she shouted, now looking at Applejack, who was staring at her, sick and weakened, but with great hatred.

“You know, there's one thing I really regret. I really only wanted to warn you with my traps and not seriously hurt you,” said Trixie.

“What? Youu...” Applejack's voice was deeper than usual because all her anger couldn't be released. Trixie ran up to the wriggling pegasus and freed her from the hoof restraints.

“Leave her alone! Damn it! She's sick!” Applejack screamed.

Trixie seized Rainbow Dash by the collar and shoved her against the jagged wall of the crumbling ruin, scraping her back and wings. “I know you're inside there!” Trixie snarled. “Why don’t you just come out? Show yourself and leave this body!”

Trixie slammed Rainbow Dash repeatedly against the wall, each impact causing the pegasus to groan in pain. Inside Rainbow’s disoriented mind, a part of her soul screamed in anguish. As she endured the torment, she glimpsed the round room below, filled with statues and the magically glowing corpse of a unicorn.

When Trixie smashed Rainbow against the wall for the sixth time, her eyes flared with fierce determination. Suddenly, with a powerful kick, Rainbow struck out, sending Trixie flying through the palm trees before crashing into a rock.

Rainbow Dash stood on her hind legs, trying to charge towards Trixie, but felt a tug on her tail. Looking down, she saw Applejack, who had crawled over and was clinging to her tail, tears streaming down her face. Rainbow Dash, momentarily calmed by her friend’s touch, let go of her anger.

Applejack wrapped her hooves around the unconscious Rainbow, resting her face against the pegasus's matted mane. Exhausted and heartbroken, Applejack’s tears mingled with the tangled hair of her friend.

Trixie was trapped in the rock. Her impact had punched an outline into the rock like a wax stamp on an envelope. She came to and, slightly dazed, recognized a sharp point that belonged to an arrow strung on a bow. A large creature with muscular arms stood before her. It looked so terrifying that it intimidated even the great and all-powerful Trixie.

Pinkie Pie looked up, her eyes widening as she spotted the creatures encircling them, armed with spears and arrows. She shook Applejack urgently to get her attention.

“Pony monkeys! Pony monkeys!” Pinkie Pie shouted.

Rarity, jolted awake by the commotion, scanned the area. One of the creatures stepped forward, spear at the ready, and introduced itself.

“My name is Asbolos! We prefer the term, centaurs!” the creature declared.

Chapter 13: Councillor Cheiron

These creatures were a cross between a horse and a monkey, with wild, curly manes. They moved like hunters, each with a cloak and weapon belt, machetes hanging at their sides. The ponies' fur bristled in alarm. The centaurs were clearly carnivores. Applejack, trembling as she looked up at their leader, Asbolos, pleaded, "Please... spare us."

The dark-skinned centaur with a fierce black mohawk caught sight of Applejack's blood-soaked bandage, his sharp eyes narrowing. Without hesitation, he withdrew his spear and took a step back.

“You’re in luck,” he said, his voice deep and authoritative. “Our law is clear: we do not attack injured creatures.” His fellow centaurs relaxed slightly, though their eyes remained wary, watching every movement of the ponies. Applejack exhaled shakily, relieved but still tense.

“But you are disturbing the peace of the Holy Garden, and we can't tolerate that!”

Asbolos turned to the other centaurs, waving his hand to signal them to lower their weapons. They obeyed without hesitation, their tense stances relaxing slightly. Applejack opened her mouth to ask questions, but the fever blurred her vision, and a wave of dizziness silenced her before she could utter a word. She swayed unsteadily, her thoughts spinning, as the world around her felt distant and out of reach.

“Tell me how this fight actually came about,” Asbolos demanded, his deep voice commanding attention. His sharp eyes shifted to two centaurs who were prodding Trixie with their spears, forcing her out of the rock she'd been slammed against. With a grunt, Trixie tumbled to the ground, her face meeting the dirt with a rough thud.

Applejack was trying to answer, but the fever took over suddenly. Asbolos supported her head before she fell. He quickly realised that she needed help and lifted her up with strong arms, holding her like a baby.

“Ah, Lykus!” A centaur with grey fur replied. “If you could be a big help and carry the other pony on the ground there, that would be great,” Asbolos said, pointing at Rainbow Dash.

Rarity wasn't sure how to respond in the situation. No one else was up for a chat. Fluttershy hid her face behind her mane. All of them, including Trixie, were treated the same way by the centaurs. They gave a hand signal to indicate that they should follow. Trixie met Rarity's gaze. She wrinkled her nose and made a beeline for the other end of the room to avoid getting into a discussion with the others. If the centaurs hadn't been there, Rarity would have done a lot more than just argue.

The hunters led them over streams, past cliffs and valleys. Every now and then more ruins appeared, all in the whitewashed rock. Deserted houses, damaged statues of monkey creatures in masculine poses.

“These are remnants of our ancestors, who unfortunately paid less respect to the Sacred Garden. The gods had rightly punished them,” explained a centaur walking alongside Rarity.

Applejack kept nodding off during the lulling walk. Asbolos sensed her weak aura and decided to hurry. Later, the patrol reached a bridge that led into a cave on the other side. A white archway allowed entry. They marched through dark corridors until they reached a large room. The room was lit with blue fire in golden bowls. In the center stood a deep truncated cone, surrounded by torches. There was a slight indentation on this elevation. A golden ring on the ceiling had the same radius as the truncated cone. The ponies suddenly realized everything.

“Is this…?” Rarity was taken aback and before she could finish her sentence, Asbolos replied, “... the gateway to our world!”

Fluttershy stared at the ring as if she would be crushed by it at any moment. “Are... are we going to die?”

Laughter erupted from the centaurs, causing Fluttershy to blush deeply, shrinking behind her mane. The question of how they had arrived here seemed almost silly now.

“You’ve nothing to fear,” Asbolos reassured them, his tone more relaxed now. “This gate can be passed from either side. All it takes is the right key.”

With a simple gesture, Asbolos ordered one of the hunters to begin working on the gate. The centaur swiftly moved into action, leaving the ponies to glance nervously at one another.

The red-brown centaur carefully placed a round sapphire into the notch. The stone pulsed softly before a beam of blue light shot upward, illuminating the center of the ring. In an instant, a shimmering, water-like structure materialized, its surface rippling gently. The light danced across the room, casting glittering reflections that sparkled in the eyes of the astonished ponies.

“After you,” Asbolos said to the ponies. Fluttershy was still afraid. But when Pinkie Pie and Rarity stepped onto the platform of their own accord, she gathered her courage. Something pulled the ponies up. They were floating towards the water.

“Haaa! I want to get out of here! This is too much! I want to go home!” squealed Fluttershy, kicking her hooves in a panic. Without hesitation, the three friends dove into the shimmering liquid. It felt cool and tingly, almost like swimming through gentle rain. On the other side, they emerged from a circular pool, yet somehow remained dry. Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie shivered as they took in their surroundings, while the others followed behind, carrying Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and a bruised Trixie. And then, at last, they saw it...

It was simply breathtaking! Before their eyes stretched a vast, ancient city, teeming with lush gardens and towering temples. It was indescribable, almost dreamlike. White marble streets snaked through the city, all leading to a grand center. Dominating the skyline was a shining capitol, standing far taller than any other structure. The ponies stood in awe, their jaws nearly hitting the ground. Asbolos couldn’t help but grin at their astonishment. But he wasn’t about to keep the name of this wondrous city a secret. “Welcome to Atlantis!” he announced proudly.

“Atlantis?” Pinkie Pie repeated, fascinated. The name triggered a certain enchanted feeling in the ponies.

“That's right, this is our realm!” said Asbolos proudly. “We've been guarding the journey of the deceased since the world was created.”

The ponies were guided deeper into the city by the centaurs. Women chatted and laughed, while young centaurs played joyfully in the square. The returning hunters were met with nods of respect and warm greetings. A centaur girl called out to Asbolos, her voice bright with curiosity. “Hello, Asbolos! How was the hunt? Who did you bring back? Will you be joining us for dinner tonight?”

Asbolos waved back with a smile. “Maybe! All is well, Greta!”

It became clear where the centaurs were leading the ponies: the grand capitol. It bore a resemblance to the town hall in Ponyville, but it was a mere shadow compared to this magnificent structure. Wide, sweeping stairs ascended to the entrance, where two imposing guards stood sentinel. One of the guards nodded at Asbolos before blowing a horn he held at his side. The massive gates creaked open slowly, inviting them in.

As the ponies entered, they did so with a sense of awe and reverence. The interior was warm and welcoming, in stark contrast to the imposing exterior. Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Trixie felt the heated floor beneath their hooves, a comforting sensation. A sweet floral scent filled the air, enveloping them in tranquility. The reception hall was designed like a mythical garden, with vibrant greenery and flowers. At the center stood a fountain with three elegantly carved bowls, while colorful birds flitted gracefully above it. Nearby, an elderly centaur with a full gray beard watched them closely, adorned with an ornate golden buckle wrapped around his torso. As he looked up, the other centaurs bowed their heads in respect.

“Asbolos, my friend! What a pleasure it is to see you’ve brought the expected visitors!” the old centaur exclaimed warmly.

“Your knowledge is unmatched, Councillor Cheiron!” replied Asbolos, a sense of pride in his voice.

Cheiron's kind eyes scanned the new arrivals. “Welcome! I am Cheiron, head of the Council of Atlantis. You’ve journeyed far; now you can rest your weary bones.”

Rarity, however, wasn’t in the mood for rest. “Thank you for your hospitality! I’m Rarity, by the way... Your city is absolutely magnificent, sir. It’s just a pity we’re not here for a leisurely visit.”

She looked sadly over at Applejack and Rainbow Dash.

“I know,” Cheiron said understandingly, “One of your friends has a torn soul inside her. I've heard about it. It doesn't happen often.”

He strode towards Lykus. Rainbow Dash had put on a particularly sniveling face in her sleep. Cheiron touched the pony with his old hands and winced as he felt the creature's distress. “I can feel the presence of the weak personality. It is suffering great agony. It is very bad. The other soul has become very disturbed and ill because of this suffering. They are closely connected.”

Fluttershy made a catching sound. “Can you heal Rainbow Dash? Please tell me! Will she always be like this?”

“If another day had passed, both souls would be beyond saving,” Cheiron said seriously. “But we can do something, it's not too late!”

“There's something else!” Asbolos suddenly exclaimed, urgency lacing his voice. “Something’s wrong with this pony, too. I have a feeling she’s dying...”

A chilling silence fell over the group. Even Trixie, usually so confident, found herself taken aback by the gravity of the situation.

“I see,” Cheiron responded, his tone shifting to one of authority. “Get her to the hospital immediately. I want my doctors to attend to her right away!”

The friends exchanged worried glances, their concern for Applejack palpable. Before anyone could speak, Asbolos darted out of the room, two centaurs rushing after him. Just then, a blonde centauress emerged from a back room, catching Cheiron's eye.

“Ah, perfect timing! I was just about to call for you!” he exclaimed.

Cheiron gestured toward the centauress, introducing her to the four ponies. She wore a stunning blue robe that left Rarity momentarily speechless. The centaur woman radiated beauty and grace, captivating even the most discerning eye. "This is my daughter, Okyroe," Cheiron said, “She possesses the unique ability to help your Rainbow Dash separate the sick piece of her soul. It's an ancient ritual known only to her; a gift bestowed by the gods themselves.”

Lykus handed the pony to the woman. The woman looked at Rainbow for a long time, stroking her mane. “Poor thing!” she said, “Let’s get started right away, follow me!”

The friends followed the young woman with Cheiron. Okyroe spoke to one of the women in a strange language. They nodded and dispersed. Doors and gates were opened and the ponies travelled through several halls and corridors until they came outside.

In the heart of the clearing, a wonderful sight unfolded. At its center stood a weathered stone tablet, surrounded by a serene atmosphere. Beyond it, a vast ravine cascaded with several waterfalls, the water shimmering as it tumbled down the lush, plant-covered walls. The floor was decorated with intricate paving stones, adding to the beauty of the scene. The centaurs reverently washed their arms in the pure, crystal-clear water. Cheiron and the ponies followed suit, cleansing themselves before approaching. The white centaur gently placed Rainbow Dash on the stone slab. The Pegasus hummed softly in her sleep, blissfully unaware of the events unfolding around her.

“Please bring me the bowl,” Okyroe ordered. One of the women brought her a bowl of water. Rainbow sensed the presence of the centaurs. She whimpered in fear. Rarity, Pinkie and Fluttershy wanted to go up to the altar, but they had to keep a safe distance because this ceremony required great concentration.

Okyroe gave Rainbow a light breath of air on the face. A blue mist filled her nostrils, which helped to calm her.

“You see...” Cheiron said gently. “A while back, a soul came to us. It was a bit different from the norm.”

Okyroe made quick arm movements over Rainbow. The other centaurs joined in with her spiritual, flickering dance. The ponies watched the spectacle with great curiosity and trepidation as they listened to Cheiron.

“This soul was in a bad way and we couldn't help her.” She told us a story about pain, hatred and discord that had left her scarred...

Okyroe's movements became more intense and rhythmic. Some of the centaurs stomped their hooves.

“...But she also spoke of friendship. She talked about things like honesty, kindness, laughter, generosity, loyalty and magic.”

The centaurs started to sing, with Okyroe's voice being the loudest. Rainbow Dash's body started to move to the rhythm, feeling waves of energy flowing through her as she was surrounded by the sea of hands and song.

“She was counting on you to show up. Despite the terrible things that had happened to her, she still knew so much.

The centaur woman poured some liquid from a bowl over Rainbow's forehead. The ceremony became increasingly intense. Okyroe spread her arms wide.

“You've finally arrived!” The good news is that Twilight Sparkle’s soul can be redeemed!”

Rainbow Dash's chest rose up from the altar. Fluttershy stepped back to let Pinkie Pie look. Rarity and Trixie were so engrossed in what was going on that they didn't even notice their mouths had fallen open. Okyroe’s eyes began to glow, just like Rainbow's, and at the same moment, something luminous slipped from the pony's throat. It pulsed with energy. The centaur woman held the glowing thing steadily in the air, while Rainbow's body sank back onto the slab, completely lifeless.

“What is happening? What's happening to her?” Rarity gasped in confusion.

“Just watch!” Cheiron said calmly, arms crossed.

Rainbow Dash had the sensation of floating. In front of her, she could see a big tunnel that led into the light. She could see herself lying on the stone slab below her. Everything felt just fine. She wasn't in any pain or feeling sad. Not even a sound came from Twilight's soul. Then Rainbow had a new sensation: something was emerging from her body. Rainbow Dash was completely white, and the same was true of what materialized before her. It was initially very bright. Later, she realized who it was. Twilight Sparkle, in full. Her expression was a mix of gratitude and sadness. Rainbow Dash moved her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but she couldn't hear anything. However, she could tell from her lips: “Thanks, Rainbow Dash! Farewell!”

“No, I can't.” Rainbow whispered, but there was no sound. She held on to Twilight's hoof for a moment before she flew away. Twilight was taken aback at first. But then her expression changed, and she looked like she understood, like she was saying it was okay and that she should let go.

Rainbow's grip started to loosen, her arm slowly slipping from Twilight's hoof. At last, she released her grip. The free spirit waved at her, soaring into the light. Rainbow Dash felt herself being pulled back, but she kept her gaze fixed on the tunnel as Twilight vanished. Memories, captured like a film, rushed into Rainbow Dash's mind. They were wonderful times spent with Twilight: the group hugs, the adventures, the laughter, Ponyville… All memories that Rainbow Dash would cherish forever.

She returned to her own material body and when she arrived, she shed a tear in her sleep.

The energy flowed out of Okyroe. The other women supported her as she walked away from the altar. The centaurs left the clearing, satisfied with the success of the ceremony. The friends were now free to join Rainbow Dash. But Trixie stopped. She didn't dare look Rainbow Dash in the eye.

The wind blew through Rainbow's hair. In time, life returned to the Pegasus. She opened her eyes and was immediately blinded by the bright blue sky. Rarity and Pinkie Pie rushed to her. As Rainbow tried to get up, she almost fell off the stone slab.

“Easy!” called Rarity. The friends supported Rainbow Dash as she tried to stand on her shaky hooves. Fluttershy came up to her to give her a hug.

But Rainbow resisted all this cuddling and tore herself away from her friends. Groaning, she tried to walk on alone. With blurred eyes, she saw a cliff in front of her and slowly walked towards it. Her friends followed her and watched out for her. The awakening mare seemed to take her steps more and more confidently. She began to trot towards the precipice, picking up speed. The cliff was not far, just a short distance away.

“Rainbow, what are you up to?” called Fluttershy.

“Oh, Celestia! You're not going to...” Rarity gasped.

Pinkie Pie cried out in horror: “Stoop!!”

But Rainbow Dash didn't listen. She snorted, her strength spreading to the tips of her wings. She stretched them out, jumped off the cliff and plunged into the depths.

Pinkie Pie slowed down. She was about to scream, but a second later something blue shot up into the sky. A pegasus roared through the deep ravine, followed by a cry of immense joy. Rainbow Dash burst through the clouds, her wings fluttering with renewed vigor. She flew wild figure eights. Pinkie Pie was the first of the astonished ponies to start shouting loudly: “You can fly again!!! Yahooh!!!”

Rainbow had heard her. She could hardly believe her luck. She landed on one of the clouds. The soft, damp, cool mist carried her as it always had. Rainbow Dash hadn't felt this way for a long time. The wind in her mane, the adrenaline... She loved it, she loved it.

“I'm back,” she murmured to herself, realizing that her old liveliness was returning.

“I’m back!!!” Rainbow Dash shouted at the top of his voice so loudly that it could be heard throughout the gorge. Many centaurs turned round. They saw this puffed-up pegasus rearing up on the cloud. Some shook their heads. Cheiron laughed. It was quite a sight, Rainbow enjoying the attention. He returned to the capitol. Now the old centaur had to look after his patient.

Moments later, Rainbow Dash zoomed back down the aisle, landing at full speed right in front of her friends. They immediately pulled her into a tight group hug, and Rainbow Dash fluttered her wings triumphantly, planting kisses on each of them. “I missed you all so much! So, so much!” she exclaimed. The others nodded enthusiastically, their faces beaming with joy that was impossible to conceal.

“We’ll throw a party to celebrate!” Pinkie shouted, bouncing on her hind legs. She broke into song, her voice bright and cheerful: “Welcome back, Rainbow's wings! Welcome back, Rainbow's wings!”

Only Rarity was able to contain the energetic mood a little, which she noticed reluctantly as she cleared her throat. “Um... aren't we forgetting something?”

“Oh, yes! Right... Where's Applejack?” asked Rainbow Dash, looking around. Rarity closed her eyes with a sigh. She hadn't meant that, but it was a good question. Rainbow had been unconscious for hours, of course she couldn't know that.

“Applejack's in hospital, you know what happened to her,” Rarity said contritely.

Rainbow Dash remembered it vaguely. There were rocks, she had Applejack on her back. Finally, she remembered, followed by a huge groan. All her memories of what had happened before had been a nightmare. It would be good to close that chapter of bad thoughts, but Rarity was right, it wasn't over yet.

The hospital was not far from the town hall. The centaur Okyroe led them into the room to the care pony in question. Okyroe stayed outside the room with Trixie. Rainbow Dash went ahead, wings spread to surprise Applejack.

She was lying under the window in a wooden bed. Her right hind leg was bandaged and splinted. Her tired, dull face looked straight at the other ponies. All four of her friends were here and that brought a smile to her face despite everything. “RD! You're back, I'm so glad!”

Rainbow Dash tried to smile, but Applejack's condition made it difficult for her. “The doctors told me they released the soul from you. Finally...”

Rainbow Dash tried not to stare at Applejack's leg, because that was the only way she could keep the farmer happy. ‘Yes! I can fly again too,’ Rainbow said curtly.

“That makes me happy! I'll be well soon too and then we'll revive her! I swear on Granny Smith's dentures!” Applejack assured her with a steely gaze.

“That's right! We'll... see you!” said Rainbow and left the room so that the others could talk to Applejack.

Cheiron and Okyroe were standing in the wonderfully fragrant corridor. They had just finished a conversation and were looking at Rainbow casually. Trixie was nowhere to be seen, but that didn't matter much to Rainbow Dash.

“Well, how are you?” asked Cheiron.

“Good, but I think I'll stay in Atlantis for a while until Applejack's leg is fully recovered,” Rainbow Dash said.

Okyroe looked worriedly at the councillor. “Father! You'd better tell her.”

Cheiron hesitated a little. He scratched his head thoughtfully. “Well, about Applejack... She's out of danger, the fever's going down, but...”

Rainbow Dash had the unpleasant feeling that he was getting ready for something. “But what?”

“She will never be able to walk properly again and she can give up her job, whatever she was doing.”

Something hot crept into Rainbow's head. This couldn't be true. “Oh no!”

“I'll tell her as soon as your friends have finished talking. You can sit on one of these cushions.”

Colorful pillows were stacked high in the corner, and Rainbow Dash nestled into them, but comfort eluded her. Words escaped her as she tried to find the right ones to express her feelings. Moments later, Fluttershy, Rarity, and the ever-bouncing Pinkie Pie emerged from behind the curtain, passing by Cheiron, who had now entered the room himself.

“Hey! Dashie, what's with the face?” asked Pinkie Pie cheerfully. Rainbow Dash had to swallow twice before she could say it.

“I-I just found out that Applejack will never be able to work on the farm again because of her injury.”

“What?” shouted Rarity, startled, “A-and does she know about this?”

Rainbow Dash was silent for a moment and then said with a raspy throat: “Cheiron is telling her...”

Silence fell over the four of them for minutes. Then came the reaction: a scream and howl of pure despair.

Chapter 14: One last Request

Rainbow Dash soared above the amazing city, relishing the sensation of seeing it all again. Below her, she spotted the recreation center where she and her friends were staying, and nearby stood the hospital where Applejack rested. Something heavy weighed on her heart, urging her to descend. Memories of Applejack’s hard work and proud spirit flooded her mind, years of friendship flickering in her thoughts. Now, after everything, she and Twilight were finally free. New possibilities stretched before her, but instead of relief, misfortune had befallen someone else.

Cautiously, Rainbow glided down to the hospital window. Inside, Applejack lay asleep, her body covered in soothing ointments. She looked fragile, a shadow of her usual self. Rainbow stared for a moment, torn by the sight, before quietly turning to fly back to the others. As she did, Applejack stirred and opened one weary eyelid.

Rainbow Dash's wings cast a fleeting shadow over Applejack's face as the Pegasus vanished into the sky. When Applejack opened her eyes, the world seemed dim. The sundial outside marked the afternoon, yet time in Atlantis felt agonizingly slow. Or was it just her? For a moment, her thoughts drifted to her friends and family – the laughter, the love they shared in both her dreams and waking moments. Applejack cherished those times, the simple joy of living alongside them. But now, as she turned away from the window, trying to sink back into sleep, she knew things had changed. New choices awaited her, and everything would be different from here on.

Rainbow landed with a puzzled face in front of her friends, who were enjoying sunbathing. Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie had their manes plaited by two centaurs while Rarity lay on the lounger. Rainbow's face was so similar to when she landed outside the boutique the day after the Ursa Major attack. “I can't wait anymore; we have to get Twilight back.”

Everyone looked at her at the same time. They felt the same way. Rarity pondered, followed by a deep sigh: “But how? Look around you: We're in a big city. Where should we start?”

“If you have any questions, you can just go to our library in the town hall, it's open to everyone,” said the centaur who was braiding Pinkie Pie's hair. Rainbow Dash started to laugh. It wasn't her typical laugh. “Thank you! Wait here, I'll sort it out.”

Rarity was about to say something, but she was already flying away.

Rainbow Dash slipped effortlessly into the library, where marble shelves towered several meters high, filled with countless books.

As she scanned her surroundings, she quickly realized that finding a clue wouldn’t be as simple as she’d hoped. The corridors were empty, leaving her to her thoughts. She felt a wave of frustration wash over her. With all this knowledge around her, would Twilight have been able to uncover something if she were here?

Determined to start somewhere, Rainbow decided to focus on Section A. She zipped through the corridors, glancing around at the vastness of the library – it felt almost like a village unto itself. She spotted statues of lionesses, hydras, and other mythical creatures that she had only heard about in stories. Twilight had once recounted a tale of encountering a hydra and escaping by sheer luck.

Rainbow’s heart sank as she reflected on how many times Twilight had put herself in danger. She remembered the numerous times she’d been injured but had always managed to bounce back. And now, after facing that Ursa Major, it dawned on her: it must have been stronger than usual...

Wham!!! “Ouch!!!”

Rainbow Dash collided with someone, sending a cascade of books tumbling to the floor. Rubbing her head, she quickly recognized the familiar figure she had bumped into. It was Trixie, who was also nursing her own head and grumbling, “Watch where you’re going... oh...”

Trixie was draped in her starry cape, though she wasn’t wearing the matching hat. Upon spotting Rainbow Dash, she fell silent and hurriedly bent down to gather the scattered books.

“What are you doing here?” Rainbow Dash asked, perplexed. Trixie didn't look at her.

“I'm studying, what else!” She picked up a book with her magic, the title of which Rainbow could glimpse. Something about magical artefacts. “Of course! I intend to show Celestia that I’m even better than that old hack who came before me!”

Rainbow Dash became skeptical. Trixie took four hoofsteps, but suddenly she stopped. “I'm going to leave Atlantis! Whatever you plan to do now, there will be no point! Twilight is finally free and in a better place. Face it... But if she does come back...”

She looked at Rainbow Dash with stern eyes. “...I'll be much more powerful than her!”

The two ponies had a staring contest. Suddenly Trixie turned and walked away. Rainbow was the clear winner, although she had an uneasy feeling in her guts.

She'd had enough of this library, she didn't want to research, Twilight was better at that anyway. There were quicker ways. As she wandered through the corridors, a few things crossed her mind. Celestia had mentioned something about a ritual. A ritual like the one that had released Twilight's soul piece?

In the main hall, she noticed a centaur she had once seen in passing. The black centaur with the brown skin and the mohawk. Rainbow Dash had forgotten the name.

“Hey, excuse me, sir?” she called out before the centaur could leave the hall. He turned around, and his muscular, dark-skinned build almost made Rainbow trip. “Listen, I need to talk to Cheiron! It’s super important! Can you let him know I’m here?”

The centaur raised an eyebrow, arms crossed. “The councilor is holding a conference. He won’t be back until tomorrow.”

“Yeah, I get that, but you really need to tell him I’m waiting! This is urgent, and I can’t just sit around! Please?”

“A meeting? Of course!” the centaur laughed. “Your name is Rainbow Dash, the mare with two souls, right?”

Rainbow Dash grinned sheepishly as the big hunter said goodbye and exited the hall. It was time for her to head back too; she needed to inform the others. Everyone should be present for this conversation, except perhaps Applejack. It would be best for her to fully recover in the hospital first. Rainbow already had her words planned out in her mind. It was a single request, her long-awaited wish.

“I promise, AJ! We all promise!” Rainbow Dash said to herself. Her own words burned deep into her mind.

By the next morning, the ponies had learned that rain in Atlantis only fell when it was necessary. For example, when the plants didn't get enough water, or when the artificial lakes were in danger of drying up. As in Equestria, the weather was controlled. By whom, however, was the question.

The hunter Asbolos came by with his escort to report that Cheiron was ready to listen to Rainbow Dash. Hearing this, the blue mare was instantly alert.

Rainbow gathered her strength. She took a deep breath and thought about what she wanted to say. She was ready to go. The ponies followed the escort to the town hall. At the gate to the meeting hall, however, Rainbow Dash had to swallow.

“There's nothing to be afraid of, just concentrate on Cheiron, you know him," Asbolos said. Before she could ask how many people were in the conference room, she got the answer when the door opened.

The hall resembled a small arena, reminiscent of the one in Cloudsdale. Asbolos and the ponies stepped inside, entering the largest room in the town hall. About a hundred centaurs were seated, each dressed in a variety of colors, their curious and skeptical gazes fixed on the newcomers. The atmosphere was unsettling for Fluttershy, who ducked her head and whimpered softly. In contrast, Pinkie Pie reveled in the attention, bouncing excitedly. Rarity, on the other hoof, felt uneasy, as if she were being put on trial. At the center of the room, Cheiron sat on a high white throne, a smile on his face. Clad in a silver spear and helmet, he exuded an air of authority, appearing as both judge and leader of the assembly. The other centaurs to his right and left were his counsellors, whispering nervously.

“Greetings, my little ponies,” Cheiron said. “As I heard from Asbolos, someone has a question for me. Rainbow Dash? How are you?”

Rainbow stepped forward with a steely gaze and looked up at Cheiron.

“I’m fine, and yes, I have something to say…”

“Then speak,” Cheiron demanded politely.

A hush fell over the centaurs as they all turned their attention to Rainbow Dash, their curiosity palpable. In such a large crowd, she knew she had to choose her words carefully. “Twilight was our best friend,” she began, her voice steady. “We shared so many happy moments together. We lost her in a battle against a terrifying monster. In my grief, I felt nothing but a sense of injustice. Twilight was taken from us too soon; our friendship was far too brief. I searched for a way to make things right. My mission is clear: we all miss her deeply. Even Applejack, who isn’t here, feels the same way. What we have is more of a request than a question for you.”

Rainbow Dash lowered herself to the ground, her forelegs bending as she rested on her knees, her head hung low. The weight of the emotional pressure felt overwhelming. “Please, Cheiron!” she pleaded, “If it’s within your power, I beg you: bring Twilight back to us! Let her live again, with us in Ponyville, just like before...”

Now Pinkie, Rarity and Fluttershy also fell to their knees.They looked up at the ruler of Atlantis with bright eyes. Cheiron blinked twice. After a long silence, he stood up and walked over to the little begging pony. His spear made a stern and loud thump on the ground.

“So, you want me to get her back?” Cheiron's voice had changed unpleasantly. “Do you realize where Twilight is?”

He walked round the pony once. Rainbow jerked her head up in fright as Cheiron continued to speak. His stick banged on the ground every time.

“She's in a better place, she'll be happy there... You can't wish her anything better! And now you're asking me to revive her? What kind of friend are you anyway?”

Rainbow began to wonder if she was saying the right thing. Was she really doing it for Twilight or for herself? But she pushed these doubts aside and continued to plead: “No, she's not happy without us... She'll miss us...”

“How can you be so sure?” Cheiron shouted harshly.

“But... Celestia said it was possible, she said it was possible... Please! In the name of Princess Celestia and all that is holy: Bring us back Twilight Sparkle!!!”

The spear struck the tiles one last time and the Councillor stopped. A look of astonishment crossed his face. “Celestia... I haven’t heard that name in ages,” he murmured, a hint of amusement creeping into his voice. “So, she’s a princess now? Haha, I suppose that was to be expected.”

Rainbow Dash gasped. She straightened up and stared at the councilor. He stroked his beard and seemed to remember earlier times. “Well, if you really know Princess Celestia, I will honor your request. I will make an exception, but you must accept whatever I tell you!”

Rainbow Dash rubbed her eyes, silently thanking the princess and Cheiron for their support. The atmosphere in the hall grew more charged, with the other centaurs shaking their heads in indignation.

“Cheiron! Is that really necessary?” someone shouted from the left.

“No one had ever dared to resuscitate a deceased creature!”

But then Cheiron shouted and silenced everyone. “We dwell in a republic, a realm where every voice holds the weight of decision. Though the council may possess the power to revoke my position, my resolve is steadfast. We shall extend to Twilight Sparkle a second chance, should she desire it. Such is the essence of democracy.”

“Uh, democracy! Sounds interesting, maybe we should do that in Equestria too!” exclaimed Pinkie Pie.

“I don't think so, Pinkie...” mumbled Rarity.

Cheiron had the room cleared. It was the shortest meeting he had ever experienced. “Follow me, I want to show you something.”

Asbolos stood still. He stared glumly into the empty hall and it seemed obvious that something was weighing on him.

“What's wrong, my friend?” asked the councilor.

“I’m not sure, Cheiron... Every soul finds peace in paradise until their next life begins, but a resurrection... That’s something we’ve never attempted before!”

“Yes, Asbolos! But these mares have travelled a long way from Equestria and they know Tia. She has something good with me and Rainbow Dash reminds me a little of her. I was still a young diplomat back then.”

Asbolos nodded. He wasn't satisfied, but he understood.

The largest garden in Atlantis lay behind the Council House, a short distance from the hill where the ritual had been performed. Flowers bloomed with extraordinary vibrancy and small fountains dotted the landscape, their water sparkling in the sunlight. The warm summer air carried a delightful scent from the lush grass. Cheiron led the group to the terrace where three statues glimmered in the sun. Initially blinded by the brilliance, the ponies quickly saw that one of the statues was none other than Princess Celestia, gleaming in gold between two other unicorn statues.

“Gusty the Great!” said Cheiron, moving his hand to Celestia's right.

“And Starswirl the Bearded!” He gestured to the statue on the left.

“These alicorns visited Atlantis many eons ago. As you can see, you were not the first ponies.”

Sitting close together, the friends looked at these monuments with admiration and wonder. An Alicorn, like Celestia, holds many secrets.

“I'm sure one day your princess will tell us what she has experienced here. But we're here for something else... Rainbow Dash? Are you ready to resurrect your friend?”

This question came as a surprise, although she had been expecting it all along. She jumped a few times inside until she suddenly remembered something. “But I... I wanted Applejack to be there!”

“I'm here!” shouted an unmistakable voice. Applejack stood behind the ponies, pale and smiling. Daughter Okyroe stood at her side. Rainbow Dash just wanted to hug Applejack, but she realised that her leg was being held up by a titanium splint. The crippled pony hobbled carefully towards her half-relieved friend and touched her cheek. Applejack laughed as if everything was fine.

“The rumour’s spreading like a plague of parasites in midsummer.”

Rainbow Dash desperately wanted to say something comforting, but no words came to her. Sometimes, silence was the only way to face such overwhelming pain.

Cheiron nodded. Now that they were complete, he wanted to begin. He raised his staff into the air and shouted a prayer to the sea. Great clouds gathered in the sky. “Oh, Lord of the Sea, the Horses and Atlantis! Transfer Celestia's wish to this Pegasus and give him the gift of restoring a soul to life. Oh, Poseidon! Do not be angry at this impudent request, for we will offer you a gift...”

A deafening crash interrupted Cheiron's prayer. A lightning bolt struck his staff, and the centaur immediately slammed it into the ground. Electric discharges surged through the golden statue, racing up to the tip of Celestia’s horn. Then, silence fell – broken only by the soft roar of the pink waterfalls in the distance.

Suddenly, the statue stirred. It moved forward, causing Fluttershy, Pinkie, and Rarity to stumble back in fear. Behind Celestia, an entrance revealed itself. Both Cheiron and Okyroe exhaled in relief – this was a sign of Poseidon's favor towards the ponies.

Rainbow Dash, however, remained oblivious to the honor. Cheiron understood something she didn’t: although Princess Celestia was the ruler of Equestria, Poseidon was still greater. He was the god of the alicorns.

“You first, Rainbow Dash,” Cheiron said.

Rainbow Dash glanced downward, noticing a soft yellow glow radiating from the corridor below. It reminded her of the light she’d seen in the tunnel during her last vision with Twilight. Her heart raced as she descended, folding her wings tightly to her sides. The moment she had longed for was finally here. And there it was, right before her: a brilliant, beckoning light.

Chapter 15: Acceptance

The light shone brightly, but Twilight was nowhere in sight. Rainbow Dash found herself in a sleek, modern room, everything around her immaculate and polished. In the center, two metallic rings slowly rotated, emitting a low, calming hum. The light within them wasn’t just a glow – it was a pulsating white hole, radiating with a vibrant, living energy.

The others followed. Pinkie Pie squealed extremely at the sight of this lively dance of rings. “Oh, my gosh! I'm so excited! Are you excited, Fluttershy? This is so exciting!”

“Yes, I think it looks nice!” Fluttershy said.

Everyone was present and Cheiron spoke up: “The time has come! The last portal to eternal paradise, the land of walking souls. Pay attention! As soon as you enter it, your life is over!”

Rainbow Dash’s throat tightened. The thought of finally seeing Twilight again made her heart race. After all their struggles, her friends’ pain could finally be soothed. They had come so far for this moment.

“You’ve got a lot of courage, Rainbow, I’ll give you that,” Cheiron said, his voice calm but serious. “But you’re also incredibly stubborn.”

He stepped closer, his eyes locked with hers. “Now, listen to me carefully. This is important. Everything you wish for will come true, but Poseidon doesn't just give up a soul. There is a price. You have to offer him something in return...”

The councillor was silent for a moment. “Rainbow Dash? Are you ready to choose one of your partners?”

“What?” Rainbow didn't understand. She turned round. The faces of her friends were frozen to stone. She had never seen them like this before.

Cheiron repeated the question: “Which soul do you want to choose? Your friends can help decide.”

Rainbow looked puzzled. Either she didn't want to understand or the buzzing of the rings drowned out the voices. But even Pinkie understood. “Ooh, Rainbow! Don't you get it? You have to sacrifice one of us for Twilight!!!”

That clearly hit home. Rainbow Dash, eyes wide open, shook his head tensely. “No!” She looked at the two centaurs. “No! I don't want this!”

“I'm sorry, Rainbow! It's Poseidon's will... and he wanted you to know only now!” Cheiron explained carefully.

Then Okyroe began to speak: “The living and the dead exist in balance. This has been the law of nature since time began. Life flows in, and life flows out, always in equal measure. When Twilight passed, another soul stepped into her place. Now that you’ve asked to bring someone back, there must be a balance. A price must be paid.”

Rainbow Dash didn’t care about all the talk of balance and Poseidon’s will. It was nonsense to her. She clenched her teeth, her jaw tight with frustration. No way. Never…

Her emotions boiled over, the weight of the truth hitting her like a rusty blade, sinking deeper into her heart than ever before. So, this was the price…

“Sorry, Rainbow!” Rarity said regretfully. Her make-up was running slightly under her eyes. “But if you really want to see Twilight again... If it's close to your heart, then I'm willing to die for her!”

Pinkie Pie bumped her shoulder. “Hey! None of us should make rash decisions!”

“I don't want to die...” whimpered Fluttershy barely audibly.

“Will you shut up!?” Rainbow Dash suddenly shouted. The ponies flinched. She had almost screamed her lungs out. The voice still echoed in the corridors. “Nopony... will enter the portal... Nopony moves...”

“Rainbow?” Rarity’s voice was filled with confusion and horror. The pegasus' lower lip trembled. A surge of energy pulsed through Rainbow Dash; she could scream until her throat was raw, stomp like a furious foal, deny everything and walk away, leaving it all behind.

As Rainbow Dash focused on her friends, a figure stepped forward - Applejack, her head bowed low. Slowly, she lifted her gaze, her eyes shadowed beneath her blonde mane, looking past Rainbow with a heavy expression. She took a few tentative steps forward. Rainbow wanted to stop her, not only to keep her from doing something reckless, but to catch her if she fell. But despite the awkward titanium brace, Applejack didn't falter. She walked with quiet determination.

Rainbow stood between her and the gate. She shook her head with a serious look. But Applejack smiled at her. “Rainbow, sugarcube, step aside, will ya? Trust me on this. It's the right thing, I promise.”

“No! AJ, if you do that, I'm not your girlfriend anymore!”

“Don't lie to me, Rainbow!” Applejack replied cheerfully, walking a few steps further.

“Rainbow, you've done so much for me, but this is somethin' I gotta do. And you’ve earned it, ya know? We don’t get to pick our destiny—that’d be too easy. You’ve got your dream of bein’ a Wonderbolt, and your wings are workin’ again, so what's holdin’ you back? Me? Well, I had plans too... Workin' the farm at Sweet Apple Acres, findin’ a good stallion, maybe even startin’ a family. But... I reckon that won’t happen. I'm like a fallen apple from the family tree… My work... I just can’t keep goin'. I just hope Big Mac and Granny understand, and that Apple Bloom grows into the fine mare, I know she will.”

Rainbow Dash couldn't deny it, but her heart was already crumbling. She looked at Applejack's back, then turned away, her head shaking.

Cheiron gently placed his hand on Applejack's head and whispered a blessing that lifted all fear from her. She took a deep breath and prepared to step through the portal. Rainbow Dash forced herself not to look away as the humming of the portal quieted. The two rings remained upright, and the hole in the center widened, just large enough to step through. A bright light enveloped Applejack, and all worry seemed to fall away from her as she walked steadily forward. Just before the threshold, she paused and took one last look back. For Rainbow and the others, this was the last moment they saw Applejack. She beamed at them and said with a smile: “So long, partner!”

So she limped on towards the light, her body grew paler and paler... Then she was no more...

Applejack stepped into the light and found herself in a sea of brilliant white. Nothing was visible until she suddenly heard a dull thud. It was herself-her own orange-colored body. But now she felt no more pain. A feeling of relief flooded through her and she was glad that she had died in peace and with her eyes closed. At last, she was free and could complete her journey. “Mum, dad! I'm coming to you!” she whispered.

It had become quiet in the material world. Rainbow Dash was trembling. She seemed very stiff. Somehow, she didn't seem to be breathing. Fluttershy, Rarity and Pinkie Pie had lowered their heads. One by one, they looked up at the blue pegasus.

“Rainbow?” Pinkie's call had no effect.

“Rainbow, please...” Pinkie Pie tried to get up, but Cheiron stopped her.

“She has to manage this on her own.”

Rainbow Dash let out a strange sound, almost like she was struggling to catch her breath. Pinkie Pie recalled Fluttershy’s emotional outburst back in the Everfree Forest. “Rainbow, it’s okay... Just let it out... There’s no shame in feeling this way.”

Rainbow's breathing suddenly grew louder and faster. Then her great dam of emotions finally burst... Everything she had held back for the last few days, weeks, months, she let out.

She screamed... She just screamed and howled. There was nothing else she could do. A salty stream ran down the tip of her nose and flowed past her teeth to her chin. She screamed out all her damn rage until her vocal cords burned. She had lost again, just like that night. What was she doing wrong, she asked herself. Had she forgotten how to save lives? She didn't know...

“That's right, Rainbow...” whimpered Pinkie. “You know what Applejack did for us. We'll never forget it.”

Rainbow Dash could barely stand. Her face was wet with tears. When her strength came to an end, she said something quietly. “...back...”

Cheiron listened. The pegasus repeated the words over and over: “Get her back... Bring Applejack back...”

Cheiron raised an eyebrow and stroked his beard thoughtfully. He stepped closer to gauge her seriousness, wondering if she had truly lost her mind once more. “Are you certain about this? You do realize what is no longer possible!” he replied.

“Yes, I know, but it's okay...” Her words sounded melancholy. “I don't want to lose any more friends; I just want to go home... Please bring Applejack back... That's my wish.”

Cheiron's face darkened behind the light. He hesitated for a while, then pointed the staff at the gate. “So be it! I'll call Applejack back!”

A bright flash shot into the white hole. Suddenly the rings turned in opposite directions. The humming grew louder. Then strange chimes rang out. Rainbow Dash closed her eyes and squeezed out the last of her tears. Which Twilight took as a final goodbye. “Goodbye, Twilight... Rest in peace...”

Applejack stepped out of the portal in one piece, but that wasn't all. Her titanium splint was gone. The earth pony had been reborn and without question overrun by events. She had been dead for about half an hour. “What in Equestria?”

She looked at Rainbows teary face. “I'm back, but... how?” Applejack called out, looking around in confusion.

Rainbow Dash remained silent. Rarity jumped over to her and wanted an explanation for all this. “Why... Why did you do that?”

Rainbow knew. Slowly she got to her feet and walked a few meters towards the light. The wind dried her tears. “When I was separated from Twilight's soul, I realized something,” she began, her voice steadying with each word. “At first, I pushed it aside, thinking it was just instinct. But when I saw her again, she smiled at me, thanked me, and it warmed my heart. And as I let her go, it hit me: I wasn’t really searching for her. I was searching for comfort.”

Rainbow paused; her gaze fixed on the light. “Twilight – she’s our friend, and she always will be. Even though she’s far away now, she lives on in us. We carry her in our hearts, in our memories. And as long as we remember her, she’ll never truly be gone. She’s immortal in us.”

Rainbow Dash took a deep breath. This felt like the right ending. She didn’t care what Cheiron had said; her decision was the one Twilight would have wanted, and she was sure of it. “Thank you, Twilight. Thank you for being our best friend!” she shouted into the glowing gate, hoping her words would reach Twilight in Paradise.

With a final glance at the portal, Rainbow turned to her friends and smiled. It was a genuine smile, filled with peace.

Rainbow had expected the others to return her smile, but instead, they stared at her with wide, frightened eyes. Confused, she shot them a reproachful look, ready to ask what was bothering them this time. Before she could speak, Pinkie Pie raised a trembling hoof and pointed over Rainbow's head, her mouth hanging open in shock.

A sphere floated above her head - no ordinary sphere, but the sixth Element of Harmony.

Rainbow Dash had barely time to react before the Element erupted in a brilliant display of spectral colors, like a newborn sun. The sphere shimmered and warped, transforming into Twilight's crown. It descended slowly, settling on Rainbow's head. A surge of overwhelming power flooded through her, so intense she couldn't hold back a scream. Her eyes blazed with radiant light as a rainbow-colored beam shot from the crown straight into the portal.

The rings spun wildly, as though they had lost all control. Rainbow Dash was lifted into the air, caught in the chaotic energy. The light grew blindingly bright, forcing the ponies and the two centaurs to shield their eyes. The rainbow beam vanished, and the eerie humming ceased. Rainbow Dash dropped to the ground, landing hard on her rump. Dazed, her eyes swirled as she rubbed her head in confusion. Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Fluttershy rushed to her side.

“What... what just happened?” Rainbow Dash stammered. The Element of Harmony clattered to the ground, a thin trail of smoke rising from it, though it appeared unharmed.

All eyes turned to the portal, where the once-blinding light had dimmed, and now a new figure stood in its place. The circles of the portal continued their slow rotation, casting faint shadows.

Cheiron raised a hand, signaling for everyone to stay put. Without hesitation, he approached the figure – a mysterious form cloaked in white, its hood pulled low. The ponies stretched their necks, trying to get a better view as Cheiron carefully reached out, slowly pulling back the hood.

Dark blue hair blew in the wind. A purple face opened its eyes and blinked twice. Twilight Sparkle smiled at her friends.

Speechlessness was on everyone's lips, especially Rainbow Dash. She staggered towards this apparition, very close, face to face. Was that a dream? A ghost? It seemed so real. She was looking into the lively face of a dead friend. “Well... Rainbow... Aren't you going to say hello to me?”

Her eyes watered. But this time, Rainbow Dash was sure it was just the light. Just the light, nothing else. She fell into Twilight's arms.

It took a long time for the event to sink in. The ponies stood quietly in Atlantis' grand garden, the scent of flowers and the sound of fountains surrounding them. Twilight Sparkle strolled across the meadow, her friends walking beside her. But something was different – she moved not as the familiar friend they had always known, but with the grace of a prophetess, almost like royalty.

Cheiron observed it all from a distance, a heavy weight of guilt pressing on his heart. His daughter gently placed a hand on his shoulder, though it did little to comfort him.

“Cheiron,” she whispered, her voice filled with awe, “this is a miracle.”

“Or just plain magic... or friendship... Or maybe both... Yeah, it'll probably be that...”

“Hey, Twi, no idea if it's really you, but...” Applejack seemed perturbed. “As a friend, you owe us an explanation!”

The other ponies nodded in agreement. Twilight had no choice, and she would have told them anyway. “It's all Rainbow Dash's doing!”

“But... How...? The element of magic... I'm confused and suspicious at the same time.”

"Apparently, Rainbow had it with her the whole time."

Rainbow Dash looked down in shame. The truth was, she had forgotten all about it. She'd put it in her pocket and never said a word to anyone. Applejack might have had every right to be angry with her for hiding it, but she wasn't.

All eyes were on Twilight, and her gaze was fixed on the crown, her thoughts far away. “It seems this element has more power than we ever imagined. Perhaps each Element of Harmony has a hidden power that we have yet to discover.”

“I see, so your element can bring the dead back to life?” Rarity guessed.

Twilight grinned, shrugging as a gentle breeze tousled her mane. “Not anymore... The power has faded. The spell only affects those who are truly close to you, just like it does with us.”

Rainbow Dash realized something: “Right! I felt something! It was like a flash, a... a spark. I was happy to have Twilight as a friend... or had, whatever.”

“A reignited spark!” Twilight said in amazement.

“Whew!” Applejack sighed, tipping her hat back. “I’m just so glad to have you back with us, even if there are still some questions left hanging. We've been through so much together. I reckon it’s time for a group hug!”

Twilight opened her arms wide, a radiant smile lighting up her face. Her friends wrapped her in a tight embrace, holding on until the sun dipped below the horizon.

Twilight lingered in the garden for a while, savoring the tranquility as her friends made their way back to the warren. She wanted to fully embrace the beauty of the twilight, having forgotten just how breathtaking the sky could be. Suddenly, she heard the rhythmic sound of hooves approaching. Occasionally, noble centaurs would stroll by, but these footsteps had a distinctly “pony-like” quality. Twilight turned to find Rainbow Dash approaching her.

“Oh, it's you! Can't get enough of this sky either?”

I've been flying around a lot...” she said.

“Oh, of course!” Twilight laughed.

“But I need to talk to you! It's important!”

Rainbow Dash leaned against the railing beside Twilight, both gazing down at the rushing waterfalls below. The wind tousled their manes as a comfortable silence enveloped them.

“It’s not just about the elements or bringing anyone back,” Rainbow said, breaking the stillness. “It’s everything that came before it. Twi… the Ursa Major, your death, and that soul fusion – what exactly happened?”

It wasn't an easy question to ask. She knew she was reopening wounds that had been closed. Twilight became noticeably uncomfortable. “I don't like to remember that.”

“It's my past too, Twilight. We have to come clean and face it. Otherwise, you'll carry it around with you forever and eventually break.”

“All right... I'll tell you everything!” gasped Twilight with understanding. Rainbow Dash was absolutely right. The trauma had to be dealt with as soon as possible. The best way to do this was to take a walk through the park.

“Do you remember Nightmare Moon? You know what she was like... Full of hate, anger and jealousy. Things that change you.”

“Yes, but we had beaten her, she had become Luna again, and she's in great shape,” Rainbow replied with pride.

“Exactly, Luna is nice, she's always been nice... Until jealousy got the better of her. It's like a disease. Add to that anger and hatred, and then you're no longer yourself.”

Rainbow Dash stopped, confused. “Wohw-wohw-wohw! Wait a minute, Nightmare Moon? I thought we were talking about the Ursa Major?’

“I’ll explain everything,” Twilight said, taking a deep breath. “You remember how we defeated Nightmare Moon, right? With the Elements of Harmony. But here’s the hard truth: we didn’t actually defeat her. The Elements’ greatest weakness is that they can’t destroy evil; they can only dispel it or seal it away. What we did was separate Luna’s darker side from her. The darkness was hiding, waiting for an opportunity to latch onto someone vulnerable and full of hate. Do you see where I’m going with this? Nightmare Moon returned as an Ursa Major, seeking revenge. She unleashed chaos on the palace, obliterated Canterlot… and ultimately, she destroyed m-me.”

Twilight took a deep breath, her expression heavy with the weight of her words. Rainbow Dash remained silent, processing the shocking revelations. They walked on, passing ancient pillars and serene lakes, the tranquility of their surroundings contrasting sharply with the turmoil within.

“After I defeated the Ursa Major with the last of my strength," Twilight continued, her voice trembling slightly, "the evil spirit that had been unleashed haunted me. It tore my body apart and tried to claim my soul. I felt completely defenseless against it. While you stood by my side, I could see her lurking behind you – those eyes filled with fury and that twisted grimace as she whispered terrible things in my ear. In that moment, I saw no other choice. I had to use the soul-splitting spell. Nightmare Moon couldn’t do anything with just half a soul. One half fled to Paradise, and the other half found refuge with you. I’m so sorry, Rainbow. It was an agonizing decision, and I lost my mind in the process. I didn’t want to drag you into this!”

Twilight couldn't take it anymore. In a moment of desperation, she sought out Rainbow’s presence, clinging to her tightly. “I’m so sorry!!! I’m sooo terribly sorry!!!”

Surprised by the sudden embrace, Rainbow laid her head softly against Twilight's. Twilight allowed herself to let go of her guilt, feeling a wave of relief at the realization that Rainbow didn't blame her.

“But... Please don't tell Luna about this. She'd only blame herself!”

Rainbow Dash patted her back. She agreed. It was bitter when even the comforter found little comfort. There was only one solution to the problem: look to the future!

The following morning, everyone gathered in front of the well that had brought them to Atlantis. Cheiron and Okyroe stood alongside a whole herd of centaurs, all there to bid them farewell.

“I've made some changes to this portal. Your journey home should be shorter now,” Cheiron explained.

“Good luck,” said Okyroe. She gave each pony a laurel wreath.

Twilight cleared her throat, a hint of nervousness in her voice. “Um… I have a favour to ask, and I hope you won't be angry with me. Would it be all right if I stayed in Atlantis for a while? This library… I've never had a chance to explore it properly.”

The five friends grimaced in disappointment. But Rainbow read them like a picture book. What an egghead!

“I don't mind!” laughed Rainbow Dash. This amazed the others even more. “But please promise us that you'll come back!”

Pinkie Pie put a hoof on her right eye. “Really promise us!”

C”ross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!” Twilight recited the infamous Pinkie Pie-Swear.

Pinkie was overjoyed. That was the best promise ever. So, Twilight received a tumultuous hug.

The ponies left this world. The tingling, cold liquid swallowed them up and they sank through a bright cone of light. Whichever place they were taken to, they found a quicker, safer way home.

Five weeks later...

Spike let the parchment burst into green flames. He was sending a very important letter. The first friendship report in months. He watched silently as the grey soot particles blew towards the castle.

Once there, the sheet materialized right in front of Celestia.

“Dear Princess Celestia, our friend, Twilight Sparkle, has a fulfilled life because she has us! We always stand together, and even if one of us must leave forever, our friendship transcends that. For we share our memories with one another. As long as someone remembers a departed friend, they remain immortal. During our time of mourning, we missed Twilight dearly, but now that is over—she is back! Thanks to you! She is studying a special kind of magic that we saw beyond the horizon. When she returns to Equestria, she will have so much to share.

Your loyal subjects, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash!”

Celestia sealed the parchment. Then she called her sister to her. Princess Luna came into the bedroom with a questioning look on her face.

“Please bring me this one book from the chamber! We have to prepare Twilight Sparkle for the next test!”

Feeling depressed and hungry, Trixie trotted back to Equestria. After an exhausting journey, she was relieved to be home at last. There was a nagging feeling inside her that told her Twilight was alive again. Maybe it was just intuition, but she wasn't entirely sure. Regardless, her studies could wait; Celestia had stopped giving her answers.

With a nervous sigh, she pulled a crumpled note from her pocket. It contained notes she had copied from a book, something that might come in handy when Twilight returned to Ponyville. But for now, she needed food and, more importantly, money – lots of it.

As she continued her way, she passed an old stone farm. The earth pony family who lived there eyed her suspiciously, as was their habit with unicorns. Trixie didn't ask for much; all she wanted was a hot meal and some work. But the owner of the quarry met her with a pickaxe pressed to her chest, suspicious of her intentions.

“Then get started! My daughters Maud Pie and Limestone Pie have their eyes on you. You better watch out! There's no lazing around here, understand?”

“Okay!” Trixie sighed and set to work. She knew that one day her plan would work out.

Everyday life had returned to Ponyville. Rainbow Dash swooped over the houses and greeted a grey Pegasus as it flew by. She then ascended to the highest cloud, where she could survey the entire landscape below.

From her vantage point, she spotted the ruins of the Everfree Forest and, in the distance, towering mountains. Beyond those peaks lay only clouds and a faint, shimmering spark. Rainbow Dash fixed her gaze on that point on the horizon, excitement bubbling within her. Twilight would be home soon, and she could hardly contain her eagerness.

~ The End ~