TRUST TO RUST

PART 2

Their third, and indeed, last job for the day was to take a smaller delivery of engine parts around the section. A line of vans and flatbeds was coupled behind the twins, Bert at the back, 'Arry at the front with Rainbow in her cab.

They stopped at every station, dropping two or three vans, then leaving, all the way to Manehattan (where they disconnected seven vans and nine flatbeds), and to Canterlot (one, solitary van)... Finally, with two vans, a flatbed, and the brakevan remaining, they set off to home.

It was night by the time they arrived. The trucks were shunted into a siding, and, after a beer and some fuel at the depot, they rolled onto the turntable as one, then, the two diesels slipped into their individual berths. No sooner than they did, Rainbow Dash flew out from 'Arry's cab, and went around them. Philosophic and emotional stuff and she weren't in the same league, but she was familiar with science and technology, having studied at the Weather University after finishing the Academy. Kicking and moving clouds kept her in the air, which was already a good flight training on it's own, keeping her in shape. Now, she inspected every part of the two diesels with surprising expertise, looking for scratches or dents, loose parts, ANYTHING, that would cause trouble later, like a good fitter should. Spike was quick to notice...

"Uhh... Rainbow Dash..." he muttered, a bit awkwardly. He hadn't seen the pegasus for quite a long time, and the mare didn't seemed to notice that all the other diesels, AND her friends were there, looking at her in awe.

"Yeah, Spike?" she asked in an everyday voice.

"Errm... You can rest now, that's... That's my job..." the dragon explained, pointing at the rug in her hooves, as she prepared to clean the two engines.

"Sorry, Spike, but 'Arry and Bert are under MY watch." and with that, she rubbed down and polished the two shunters in ten seconds flat. She even washed down the smirch and grease covering their chassis, buffers, wheels and traction rods. In the end, 'Arry and Bert looked spic and spam, ready for the new day. Their motors were turned down, one by one, and only THEN was when Rainbow landed in front of them, giving a great sigh as she finished - covered in grease, oil, and other, unclassified muck.

While she was taking a breather, her friends trotted up to her, congratulating.

"Rainbow, that was fantastic!" Twilight beamed.

"Hmph. From a beginner!" Diesel grumbled, but secretly, he was impressed. Somewhat.

"Never seen you so busily bustling before..." Rarity added cheerfully "I must say, I'm deeply impressed."

"Yes, yes, very neat job indeed..." Old Stuck-Up admitted "You don't have to rush like that, though..."

"Yeah, you could've lit the polishing grease on fire!" Bowler added, but the ponies ignored them.

"You were so quick and precise, I couldn't tell where you were until you've stopped..." Fluttershy peeped.

"Eeyup, a fine piece o' work!" Applejack smiled "An' Ah've heard an' saw what ya did in the S'lection Yard, rounding up 'em trucks in record time!"

"Don't be so surprised, A.J.!" Pinkie Pie jumped in "It's Rainbow Dash we're talking about! Fastest flier... AND shunter, in all of Equestria!"

Rainbow found herself blushing.

"Ah... That was more of the resort of the Iron Bros..." she admitted, and the two diesels beamed proudly.

"But still, it was a great effort from your part!" Twilight explained "It's not an easy job dealing with trucks, especially in the Smelters! You gotta have the stomach for it!"

The cyan pegasus cringed here, but the others didn't notice.

"Yeah, I don't think I'd be able to deal with a grim job like that..." Gilda admitted (but actually, she was lying to sound nice, how kind of her) "Can't say the same about CoBo, though..."

"Yeah, I BET you won't..." Rainbow thought sorely. Even the memory of that sordid place and it's haunting memories stirred her stomach, and her face went a bit pale. This, the others noticed as well.

"Ummm... Are you alright, Rainbow?" Fluttershy asked.

Rainbow swallowed, and then replied.

"S-Sure... Well, anyways, I'll get Tank and head home."

"Wait, Tank is here?" Twilight asked. The others were surprised as well. Not the engines, though...

"Ah, yesss..." BoZo wheeshed "The poor critter crawled in a few days ago, searching for Rainbow, I guess..."

"We told the workcolts about him, so they made him place to stay until Rainbow comes around..." Pip added.

"The poor devil exhausted..." Emma muttered "I bet he searched all of Ponyville and it's surroundings. He'll be happy to see you." she added, smiling at the polychromatic pegasus.

"But this brings up a question, though..." Rarity pondered, before turning to her friend "Where WERE you in the past few weeks?"

"Oh, Ah can tell ya where SHE was alright..." Applejack growled "She was too busy nappin' ta take care of her own pet! Well, Ah'll never..." she stopped.

The others were surprised at the sudden pause.

That was when they heard a snort... And another...

Slowly, they turned their heads at Rainbow Dash, who was now sitting on top of Bert, trying hard to hold back her laughter.

She couldn't hold it for long...

"BAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA-HEHEHAHAHAHAAA!!! AHEHEHEHEEE-AHAHAHAHAHHAAAAH!!! HAAHAHAA...!!!"

It stunned them. Not Rainbow's full-hearted laughter, they've heard that before, and usually didn't bother them, even if she WAS laughing AT them. But this was different.

Her laughter didn't had the same, light-hearted tone as usual. It sounded nefarious instead, and hinted with malice - the sort of laughter Diesel had when they first met, and the surly shunter reminded them of the awful rumors ponies started about them. He brought them down into tears, laughing viciously. He apologized afterwards, and they forgave him - after all, they DID force this reaction out of him by cornering him with a thing that "wasn't fully his fault" - similar to their case with the horrid tales unknown ponies made up about them - well, not exactly ponies, according to the diesels.

Rainbow Dash's laughter now had the same spite and jeer that Diesel's had. She was laughing at them, but not only she - the Iron Twins were laughing WITH her!

The same sort viciousness, amplified three times, was overwhelming. Especially for Applejack, who felt it being directed towards her (clever mare).

"What's so funny?!" she snapped.

Slowly the diesels and the mare calmed down. Rainbow actually had to wipe some tears from her eyes, she laughed so hard! The two stripy shunters smirked wickedly.

"Ah, Applejack. A fo' Applejack..." Bert muttered in a relaxed matter.

"A is fo' Applejack, 'o drowned in 'er own lies." 'Arry added, mordantly.

"W-What the Hay are ya'll talkin' 'bout?!" the applefarmer snapped, but worry was audible in her voice.

"Oh, nuthin'..." the stubblier (is that even a word?) shunter teased.

"Jus' 'bou' th' FACT tha' you've bee' lying t' yerself, O' El'men' o' 'On'sty..." her brother grinned evilly.

"WHAT?!" Applejack felt disoriented.

"Guys, guys, you're confusing her!" Rainbow called out to them, but her voice had a venomous tinge, more than her usual sauciness. She hopped off of Bert, and glided down, landing right in front of Applejack with her head down. She jerked it up, sporting a sneer, staring right into the mare's eyes. Unconsciously, the cowpony took a step back. Rainbow kept on smirking, speaking up in an unusually calm and deep, and a tad bit sensual tone, very daringly.

"Do you know, how the old saying goes about "assumption"? What happens when you assume?"

Applejack's eyes widened. It dawned to her. The others were shocked (with the diesels getting more and more impressed).

Rainbow leaned closer, her nose, her eyes, and her mouth in the same level as her's, mere inches away. The others' eyes widened, and they subconsciously began to hold their breath...

When Rainbow spoke up, she barely whispered, still, the others could tell what she said:

"It makes an ass out of "u" and me..."

The orange pony gasped, a blush spreading on her cheeks and above her muzzle, her pupils shrinking, as the cyan pegasus leaned closer. Seconds passed like minutes. The others' pupils dilated at the sight. Applejack's fur was bathing in her own cold sweat. Rainbow didn't even blush, but a devilish smile was present on her face, her own reddish-magenta eyes not reflecting light anymore, but having a rather eerie glow to them, locked in a wicked, piercing gaze, disarming as Fluttershy's Stare. The next second, Rainbow's muzzle slipped pass the cowmare's, not touching it, but being irritably close, as she leaned to her ear, whispering, so that only she could hear it:

"But, out of the two of us, you're the bigger one."

In a second, the farmpony realized what the other just said, her face reflecting her feelings, as she stared at Rainbow furiously.

In return, the other mare just sneered back, and spoke out, loud that everyone could hear.

"No, Applejack, I wasn't busy napping, I was busy MOPING, after you guys brought me down to tears."

The others were taken aback. Rainbow NEVER showed herself being weak, let alone talk about it! And also, her accusing manner stung them like a dagger.

"But, WHAT is a few feeble tear between good friends?" she asked in the same manner. The reaction was instant: Applejack stepped back again, baffled, but then recovered, and stepped forward with a stern look.

"Now hold on just a second, Sugahcube--!" she was cut of, as Rainbow climbed into her face, pushing her back, noses and foreheads touching. It was an uncomfortable position, and although A.J. would've never admitted it, she felt intimidated. Rainbow's eyes were shaded, but they still had that red glow to them, while she glared daggers at her, still smiling, which just creeped her (and everyone else around, pass the Iron Twins) out.

"What? Ya think I deserved it..." she uttered, ominously quiet "Don't you, Applejack?"

"I..." before the cowmare could continue, Rainbow went on.

"Do you thing I deserved to be depressed for weeks on end?" she muttered, her smile turning into a grin. Whatever confidence Applejack had suddenly vanished, without a trace, and she felt herself shudder.

"Do you think it was fun for me to HATE myself, to be confused, and to have myself isolated from not only my best friends, but from everypony?" the grin was visibly forced by now, and her eyes were throwing sparks. Fluttershy squeaked, and hid behind the others. Even the diesels reversed a bit. A new feeling began to bite the ponies, spreading it's venom: guilt.

"HOW do you think it feels when you work your hardest to make up to your friends, then come to the ground to find that somehow everypony knows about what happened, and all thinks that you and YOU ALONE are responsible?"

Applejack gulped.

"Do you think it's fun, always trying to live up to who I'm DEMANDED to be by everyone and have NOTHING in return, but having myself constantly found with my "element down", ALWAYS by my BEST friends, who ALWAYS feel the need to criticize me for it, 'cause, "what are friends for, if not helping you to learn from your mistakes"?"

Rainbow Dash' grin twisted into a snarl, her face more and more contorted with anger.

Applejack felt terrified, and hadn't noticed that Rainbow had been steadily pushing her backwards, as her legs froze up, holding her on all fours, but not in the same place. Rainbow's wings slowly arose, as she grew more and more furious.

The others were scared two, and sick down to their stomachs with guilt. Their friend's face was darkened, her eyes blazing red. Slowly, she pushed Applejack up against Spamcan's buffer plate. At that moment, the diesel was just as intimidated as his driver. But with his grimy, but soothing cool front behind her back, Applejack didn't felt alone, and managed to gather the strength to speak up, raising her hoof apologetically....

"Sugahcube..." she began, but Rainbow swatted her hoof away.

"DON'T you "sugahcube" ME!" she roared, dropping her composure. She headbutted the farmer, who fell onto her plot, now very frightened.

"Dash!" a voice called out. Rainbow, still threateningly hovering over the orange mare, turned her head towards the voice. It was Gilda, looking calm, but with worry shining through her eyes.

"Remember..." she spoke "It was ME who told you off. The others just joined in. Perhaps they had a reason too it. But if you're still angry at us because of it, talk to me. It's my fault then, after all."

This seemed to surprise and calm Rainbow, enough for her to leave A.J. alone - the mare gave a huge sigh of relief, and so did Spamcan.

"I'm not blaming you, Gilda." Dash muttered, and the other sighed with relief, as R.D. continued:

"Because you merely misunderstood me."

The others gawked. Gilda couldn't believe her ears.

"What?"

"You thought I ditched you for my "new" friends. I was still your friend back then, as I am now..." the cyan mare explained, smiling "We'd been friends since the Flight Academy, and I'd never pass you up for ANYONE!"

Gilda was perplexed, and now, a bit guilty, too...

"Can't say the same think about Pinkie, though..."

The griffon's eyes perked up, as Rainbow flew away from Applejack, past her, stopping not far from Pinkie Pie. The pink earth pony was visibly frightened, her eyes widely open.

"You set those traps up for Gilda, didn't you?" Rainbow hissed. Pinkie muttered something incoherent, tears forming in her eyes. Rainbow glowered at her sternly.

"I expected something better from you, Pinkie. But to stoop down so low, to be THIS spineless and selfish!"

"S-Selfish?" the party pony muttered.

"You embarrassed Gilda in front of EVERYPONY, got me angry at her, and make her feel like I ditched her, so you could NAG ME MORE?! HOW MORE SELFISH CAN YOU BE?!" the pegasus roared "All you had to do was to play the "innocent" role, knowing full well that Gilda would grew angry at me, and you hoped we won't be friends anymore! ALL FOR YOUR JOY, SO THAT YOU COULD CLING TO ME MORE!"

Dash looked at her with a mix of anger and disbelief. Mostly anger.

"Honestly, do you have a crush on me, or something?! Sorry, Pink, but this mare is NOT a filly-fooler, no matter how much you guys WANT me to be!" she grunted, shooting an angry look at the others, before returning her "Anyways, even if I WOULD like mares, I'd definitely wouldn't go out with a spineless, confiscating maniac like YOU!"

Rainbow spat onto the ground, then turned to the others.

"So..." she spoke, her voice dangerously low. The others jumped, but she went on "You said I'm not living up to my element... Well, at least I'm not ABUSING it for my OWN DESIRES!" she growled, looking back down at Pinkie.

Her last words hit the poor filly like a bolt of lightning. She slumped down to the ground, tears welling up in her eyes. Dash went on, relentlessly:

"She made everyone laugh at Gilda, hoping she'll get the last laugh! Well, TOUGH LUCK, Missy! Cause you're a laugh! The awkward laugh of the horrid joke you are! No wonder you party all the time, your life's EMPTY otherwise! Well, hope you had a GOOD laugh at that party. Because alienating my friend from me will be the LAST joy of your life!"

"Dash..." Gilda spoke up, with a hint of guilt "I've talked about it with her. It was all an accident... I've already forgotten it..."

"Yeah, "an accident", SURE..." Rainbow sneered "Like when you told me I'm a complete traitor, right?"

The griffon cringed, but the cowmare came to her aid.

"Ya were only betrayin' yerself, Sugahcube..." Applejack spoke up calmly...

"Yeah, the same way you keep lying to yourself, right, A.J.?" Rainbow jeered, stepping away from Pinkie... The orange mare quickly realized, that she just made a target out of herself, but she remained calm.

"Ah sure did, R.D.. Ah should of asked yer help earlier durin' Applebuck Season."

A.J. smiled, hoping that that did the trick.

"I wasn't talking about Applebuck Season, 'Jack..."

A.J.'s smile faded...

"I was talking about the time you went searching for me, when I didn't showed up for weeks..." Rainbow went on with the same, devilish smile she had earlier "Oh wait... You didn't..."

"Ah was..." Applejack began...

"Too busy working?" Rainbow smirked "Guess what, A.J,? so was I. Despite being betrayed by my friends, I did my job, loyal to the citizens of Ponyville, even though THEY despised me as well. SOMEhow, they heard about what I've "done"." she snarled.

"Rainbow..." Applejack looked close to tears by now.

And THIS scared the others.

Their friend was transforming into a monster, right in front of their eyes.

All thanks to them.

The engines weren't happy, either. What seemed like a good banter coming from the polychromatic mare turned into complete moral terror towards their drivers. Even 'Arry and Bert didn't looked conceited anymore. They were worried.

But Rainbow Dash hasn't finished just yet.

"And DON'T TELL ME that you didn't even GUESS that something was wrong!" she continued, now looking at the others "Tank was staying in THESE sheds! And I DOUBT that the workponies knew that he's my pet. Besides, how could THEY know how to make a good berth for him? What to feed him, and remember to feed him?! The engines found him alright, but what could they do? TELL YOU, OF COURSE!"

The ponies and the griffon cringed.

"And speaking of engines, THEY SEARCHED FOR ME!" she yelled "AT LEAST, THEY kept looking for me while on their job! Did YOU guys even tried?!"

"We were bus--!" Twilight was quickly cut of.

"DON'T GIVE ME THAT CRAP!" Rainbow bellowed "SO WERE THEY, BUT THEY AT LEAST TRIED!!!"

"We thought you wanted to be alone!" Twilight explained, tearful as well.

"Oh, SURE you did! You wanted me to be as alone as possible, so you told EVERYTHING to EVERYPONY you know! Honestly, if you don't want to see me, you could've told me!"

"We DID want to see you!" Twilight cried "You're our friend, and we were worried for you!"

"REALLY?!" Rainbow yelled, with surprise mixing into his anger-fueled voice.

"Yeah, but we thought you'll want ta deal with this alone!" Applejack added, sniffing back some tears of her own. Rainbow span around, facing her again.

"DID YOU?! HONESTLY?!" she shrieked. A.J. looked away, unable to hold back her tears. Rainbow's eyes were still dry, her look ice cold. The Iron Twins exchanged looks.

"The threadbare excuse..." they muttered in perfect unison, scaring the daylight out of the others...

Once they all calmed down, Twilight did her best to get a hold on herself and explain...

"Actually..." she muttered "We didn't knew what to say. We felt guilty. Probably even more guilty than you..."

"Tol' ya so..." 'Arry muttered.

"Bl'udy psychics we are!" Bert added.

"Shu' up, Bert!" his brother grumbled at him.

"But please, Rainbo', TRUST me, when Ah say, "we didn't told the townsfolk about what happened"!"

Applejack's proclamation was as earnest as she could muster.

The others nodded in agreement... Just as Rainbow seemed to calm down somewhat, Twilight's eyes widened in realization.

"I... We told Scootaloo!" she exclaimed. The others winced, and Rainbow's eyes widened as well.

"No..." she uttered.

"Well, not just her, but the whole of Cheerilee's class..." Diesel grumbled "If anyone, it was those two snobbish brats, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon!

"Yeah, THAT explains it..." Twilight muttered, annoyance clear in her voice "I think I'll have a talk with Cheerilee later..."

"Don't bother..." Diesel rolled his eyes "There's nothing we can bring up against them. They weren't spreading lies, after all."

"Who knows?" the mare asked back, sharply "Diamond Tiara led the Foal-Free Press during the Cabby Gums fiasco. If a story wasn't juicy enough, she ordered the CMC to ad some more to it..."

"I see..." Diesel replied, narrowing his eyes, before glancing at Rainbow "Well, there you have it, Dash. We found the real perpetrators, so you can stop yelling and, perhaps, kindly BUGGER OFF?!"

"Diesel!" the mares scolded him.

"What?! I want to sleep!" the jet black shunter snapped back, and the other engines agreed with him.

"Fine. I'll stop..." Rainbow gave in with a big sigh "There's no point in arguing, anyway..."

"Glad you've realized that..." Twilight smiled. The others gave a collective sigh of relief. The diesels just grumbled to their selves, most of them already asleep.

The mares and the griffon left the sheds, the baby dragon in tow. Once outside, they turned to the rainbow-maned mare. Dash had brought along Tank, the tortoise already sleeping inside his shell.

Oddly, Fluttershy was the first one to speak up.

"Oh, I'm so glad you're no longer angry at us, Rainbow Dash..." she exclaimed "When you were angry, you really scare me..."

"Yeah! Your eyes were all red and sharp and glowy!" Pinkie added.

"You completely turned out of yourself." Rarity declared with concern in her voice, before smiling "But it's good to have you back."

"Right, right..." Rainbow chuckled, trotting off.

But before she could leave, Applejack stopped her.

"Before ya go, R.D...." the cowmare spoke up "We got a mighty big after-season clean-up to do at Sweet Apple Acres. How 'bout ya come over?"

Rainbow knew where this was heading, but she acted clueless...

"What for?"

"Well, ya could help us out, maybe show us a few of yer tricks..." Applejack explained, selecting her words carefully "And we could... Talk about what bothered you. Us..."

There was a long silence.

Finally, craning her neck back, Rainbow slowly smiled at Applejack. It was a tense moment, but the farmpony thought she's still in the green.

"No."

This caught all of them by surprise...

"No? What do you mean by "no"?" Applejack was most confused. Rainbow's smile turned into a smirk.

"Ya heard me. I said "no". I won't help you with the clean-up. That's your farm, Applejack, therefore, your job. My job is to keep the sky clean, and to drive and take care of TWO engines, from now on. I also want to practice my stunts and moves for the Wonderbolts, and make up for lost time with Tank."

She paused for a moment.

"So, no, I won't come over. You'll have to manage without me." she finished with an innocent smile, before turning away from her...

Applejack sat down, and scratched her head under her hat. For her, it seemed like Rainbow was still acting weird...

Rarity, on the other hand, was infuriated.

"RAINBOW DASH!" she snapped. The pegasus stopped, and looked back at her with a blank look.

"How DARE you give your friend the cold-shoulder like that?!" the white unicorn spoke indignantly, not noticing the nonverbal symbols A.J. was showing her to cut it out "We had bared your tantrum back in the sheds, and, swallowing our own tears, anger and sorrow, decided to forgive you with the goodness of our hearts!"

"Did you?" R.D. asked simply. Rarity's eyes widened, she was lost for words.

"As far as I remember, it was I who forgave YOU for abandoning me after you told me off for not being perfect. Perfect that even YOU'LL never be!"

The others winced. By then, Rarity had realized what she had gotten herself into. Presently, Rainbow smiled again...

"But it's all right, it was a mistake..." she went on, soothingly...

Rarity gave an embarrassed smile, while the others let of another sigh of relief.

"Can't say the same about your... Trust, thought..." the pegasus uttered contently, catching the others off guard again.

"What?" they asked in unison. The mare smirked again.

"Now, I think we all know the difference between "trust" and "loyalty", don't we?"

Their blank expressions told her all.

"Loyalty is something not related to the heart. Loyalty is something I can promise and show towards ANYpony. ANYONE. It's my decision whether I stay loyal or not. Even so, I can be loyal against my will. Against my feelings." she uttered, the emphasis creeping them out. That didn't stop her, though:

"Then again, Loyalty is often deemed more... Saint, more noble than trust, which seems to be too common. Let me put this messed up view in order: Loyalty is something sworn, something kept alive by the will. Trust is something that roots from the heart. We put trust in the ones we work, play, and fight with..." Rainbow was practically whispering now, and the others, though reluctantly, had to come closer to hear her.

She continued:

"We give out trust, putting our hearts on a silver plate to those who want to exploit us." she suddenly continued on her normal, everyday voice "Not me, not anymore!"

"Wha-Whatever do you mean, dear?" Rarity muttered. Rainbow smiled calmly.

"Simple. While I'm still your friends, and I'll still be there to help you WHEN you need me, the trust I laid in you guys is - temporarily - broken."

The others' eyes widened, as they realized what she meant.

"You... Don't trust us?" Pinkie whimpered.

"No." Dash replied simply "For the moment, not."

"But... Why?!" Gilda burst out, instantly regretting the question.

"You guys didn't had trust in me for a long time..." Rainbow exhaled in a calmness-before-the-storm manner "But I had my trust in you ALL this long, in EVERY and EACH of ya."

She took a deep breath, closing her eyes. Then, after a pause, she opened them slightly.

"You're in dept..."

"In... Dept?" Fluttershy muttered.

"Yes." the other pegasus replied "I trusted you guys, but ya didn't trust me back. Now, you're all on trial."

"T-Trial?" Twilight gasped.

"Do I have to repeat myself, ALL the time?" Rainbow sounded cold and impatient, but then sighed, and answered, anyway:

"Yes, trial. I've lost my trust towards you, so you'll have to EARN it back. Until that, you'll have to manage without me..."

"But... But this is impossible! How can we prove that we trust you if you won't let us near you?!" the lavender unicorn snapped, confusion clear in her voice.

"I never said I wouldn't let you near me..." Rainbow replied calmly "I just won't jump as you whistle."

"That's a bit exaggerative..." Twilight uttered...

"Perhaps..." Rainbow replied, trotting away...

"So... Are you going to abandon us like that?" Rarity snapped at her again, throwing the last thing she could object at the mare.

Dash stopped, and sighed. Slowly, she turned to face her friends.

"Our elements are just titles to the path we take..." she spoke, cryptically "I've had the time to think while I was... Hiding from myself..." she gave a sigh "...And I figured out a few things. Our elements are just ornaments without the emotions that power them, all within us. Loyalty, Honesty, Kindness, Laughter and Generosity know no master, they're their own reward."

She paused for a moment.

"But without the feelings, the emotions behind them - Trust, the sense of Justice, Empathy, Joy and Selflessness -, they're just big, hollow words..."

She turned away from them, trotting away once more.

"I hope that one day, you'll all understand this..."

Before she got out of earshot, Twilight spoke up again:

"But about me? What about Magic?"

Rainbow stopped again, thinking...

After a long pause, she looked back above her shoulder (or whatever horses have there).

"Your magic is the talent YOU master, but your element didn't became present until you recognized our elements... The Magic of friendship is not made out of Loyalty, Honesty, Kindness, Laughter and Generosity, however..."

"...But from the feelings that give power to the elements." Gilda finished, getting the picture "Which means that your element of Magic is friendship itself!"

She suddenly remembered what CoBo once told her...

"'The love of family is a gift, and the love of a nation is another, but both can become a burden through the course of pride... Friendship, however, is too sincere... Too simple and too different to be corrupted by pride...'" she cited, amazing the others with the deep thoughts.

"Exactly!" Rainbow called back, as she flew of.

"Well... That was... Interesting..." Rarity muttered to herself.

"Least we've got thin's sorted out..." Applejack sighed "Sort of..."

"Speaking of which, what's up with you, Twilight?" Pinkie asked.

Twilight was sitting on her haunches, looking very pale, her eyes dilated...

What was most unsettling that her pupils - they looked like black rings, with blinded whiteness in the inside...

"Ummmm... Twilight?" Fluttershy whispered.

"The Element of Magic..." Twilight uttered. The others exchanged looks.

"What is on your mind, darling?" the white unicorn asked.

"If I haven't met you guys, I would of never knew of the Magic of Friendship... But I still would of had my talent: magic... Something which I control..."

The others were silent.

"What would I've became then?"

The silence grew deeper, as it dawned to them, under the rays of the Moon.

Twilight exhaled...

"A monster..."