Resparked

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.