Gilda patrolled beneath Rainbow Dash's cloud mansion growing more annoyed with every passing minute. “I writ very clearly midday. I've been waiting at least an hour!” She picked up a stone in her talon and threw it at a nearby tree indenting the wood. “If that stupid postmare screwed up AGAIN, she will wish she never crosses me again.” A sound of distant crashing broke Gilda's train of thought. “Perfect timing.” She grinned aggressively as she hid behind a bush.

Ditzy brought herself back into the air as she approached Rainbow Dash's house. 'I just need to deliver this and go.' She struggled but made her way to the cloud mansion and managed to post the letter. She breathed in relief as she closed the postbox.

Suddenly Ditzy felt herself in a powerless hold, she couldn't speak due to a talon holding her mouth shut and her fears were realized when she saw the same talon on her hoof that cut her shoulder earlier. “Well it seems you DO know where her postbox is.” Gilda menacingly shouted. “Let's see what she has then.” She gave a quick swipe to Ditzy's hoof causing three minor cuts forcing her to recoil in pain from the postbox. Gilda began throwing out the few pieces of mail Rainbow Dash had. “Her parents, Wonderbolts fan-club, fan-mail, oh do you know what this box is missing? MY LETTER!” She clenched her talon and struck the mailpony's face. Letting her go allowing her to fall to the floor.

Ditzy managed to regain her flight before hitting the floor, hitting the ground only slightly as she stared up at the looming shadow above her. The grey mare tried to fly away but soon found herself gripped by the neck by the bully. “Please, I swear I posted it she got it from me personally!”

You liar!” Gilda forced Ditzy into a nearby tree. “If she got the letter she would have been here an hour ago. She would be here NOW!” She clenched her talon for a second time causing her prey to close her eyes. The hit never came, the quivering mare cautiously opened her eyes to see her attacker looking to the sky, she gazed up to see a rainbow blur flying towards the cloud mansion. Ditzy dropped to the floor as Gilda walked away from her. “Get out of here, I don't want her seeing you.”

“Hey Gilda!” Rainbow Dash lowered herself to the floor when she noticed where her old friend was. She noticed Ditzy running away in the distance looking bruised. “Is that? Hey Ditzy are you ok?!” She tried flying towards the mailpony but Gilda grabbed her tail stopping the pegasus in her tracks.

“Derpy's fine she just hurt herself and I helped her up, she said she's going to get some rest.” Gilda lied not caring for the nuisance getting in their way.

“You do know she doesn't like being called that right? You should call her Ditzy.” Rainbow lowered herself to the floor.

“Yeah, Ditzy, I got it.” Gilda stared down at the bandaged pegasus. “You got in a good fight I take it? Who's flank did you whoop?”

Rainbow Dash looked down her body, she somehow forgot about Pinkie Pie's overcautious first aid, she happily noted that the pain was minimal now, or at least masked by the soreness of the previous day. Rainbow turned away blushing as she noticed the bandages around her haunches had been torn off. “It wasn't a fight it was just a flying error.” She replied forcing her blush to subside.

“You mean a crash.” Gilda stated brushing aside her feather fringe grinning. “What was it this time Rainbow Crash? A new stunt, a high speed?”

Rainbow could feel the friend she once knew trying to get her to laugh, though it was in bad taste. She thought for a second whether to tell the truth or not, but decided to just admit her foalish mistake. “I landed on a trampoline and it, well it ended badly.”

Gilda fought her desire to laugh at the rookie mistake to fail on the landing as the other word caught her mind. The trampoline, reminding her of the interruption the last time she tried talking like this. Gilda wasn't prepared to let such a thing happen again as she remained silent symbolising the end of the subject. She felt sufficient time had passed as the pegasus looked at her with a emotionless expression as if waiting the inevitable talk. “Say Dash, you know why I called you here right?”

Rainbow Dash sighed to herself as she looked up to her old friend. She knew this was coming and had to ride the storm if she had any chance of reaching the calm conclusion. “I take it you want to be friends again? You really didn't leave me on a good note you know, they were my friends you shouted at.”

Gilda thought to herself what she didn't want to say. 'They deserved it, they were all dweebs trying to get in the way of us. Especially that stupid pink pony.' “I got treated badly myself Dash, I couldn't help but speak my mind about them.”

“None of my friends are mean like that Gilda, you must have seen what was going on wrong. They are all nice they love making new friends. They wouldn't have done anything against you.” Dash tried getting into her old friend's mind, wanting her to understand.

'They were annoying.' “Look ok, I probably over reacted to it, I couldn't help it Dash you know what I have always been like I take ponies for what I see and I just didn't see good things.” Gilda struggled to keep her real thoughts secret.

“I like my new friends, they are nice and I love being with them.” Rainbow dash paced in a circle looking at the griffon she had honestly hoped not to meet again. “If you apologise to my friends and they like you, then we can try getting our friendship going again. But I just don't want anything happening between them and you, so it's for all of us that I ask this.” Dash knew her last year with her new friends was the best year of her life. They helped teach her happiness and to enjoy life, it even lead to her loving Pinkie Pie. Though she hated thinking it she knew she would rather not deal with Gilda again, they had been friends in the past, but she didn't want her to ruin her friendships and definitely not her love.

“I got it Dash.” Gilda sighed. 'I have no interest in any of those weak ponies, all I want is you Dash. What is so hard to understand, all I want is to have you we don't need any other ponies. I love you, I want you. Why can't you accept my advances?' “Look Dash, the real reason I am here is-”

“Hey Gilda!” A large smiling face suddenly appeared before the griffon startling her. “Aww you look sad, turn that frown upside down!” Pinkie Pie bent her head down hoping Gilda would copy her.

Gilda gritted her teeth clenching a talon ready to retaliate against the pink pony that interrupted her confession. “Hey babe, I thought you were staying back with the others?” Rainbow Dash's attitude changed almost instantly showing her happiness for being near her partner. Gilda unclenched her talon sighing as she began pacing back and forth.

“You looked so sad I had to come with you! But of course first I saw that mailpony and she looked even more sad, so I had to give her a party invitation and a hug and she looked happier already! And that's when I came back to see you.”

'Parties parties parties is that all your feeble mind can come up with.' “Look pink pony we are trying to have a private talk here, can you leave us alone?” Gilda struggled to keep in what she really wanted to say to the pink nuisance, still hating her from stopping her getting Dash a year ago.

“That's perfect as me and Dashie are private to!” Pinkie replied bouncing around happily.

Gilda grew increasingly agitated. 'Her name is DASH.' “This is between me and Dash, it doesn't concern you.”

“Nuh-uh.” Pinkie interrupted bouncing around the blue pegasus. “Me and Dashie are together so it concerns me to!”

Gilda gave a sarcastic smirk. “Right, dream on cotton candy brain. Dash would never get with a looser like you.”

“She's not a looser!” Rainbow Dash shouted in defense for her lover. “She's a great pony and I love her.”

Gilda became disgusted as her old friend leaned over to kiss the pink nuisance. Her mare being stolen by the same pony that ruined her confession last time. Gilda's frustration grew as her plan unfolded before her eyes, everything she had tried so hard to accomplish lay in dust. “Dash! Clouds! Now!” Gilda yelled as she flew up into the sky.

Rainbow noticed the anger in the griffon's voice as she disappeared from sight. She looked over nervously to her still happy friend. “I best go talk to her, I think I upset her.” Dash sighed as she launched herself into the air, flying from her lovers sight.

Rainbow landed on a cloud next to the visually annoyed griffon. “What do you call this?” She stated pointing down at the ground. “Is this meant to be a joke? Having a good laugh at me? Why did you kiss HER?!”

“I already said the answer, I love her, we are fillyfriends. I don't see what the problem is you said you were fine with me liking fillies at flight school what's changed?” Rainbow Dash tried reasoning with her old friend to no avail, still unaware of Gilda's desires.

“Of course I liked you liking fillies! As I liked you liking me!” Gilda continued yelling as she stared at the confused pegasus. “Are you saying all that time together meant nothing to you?!”

“We were friends, we spent most of our time together. Of course it meant a lot our friendship made me happy back then, but now. I'm not the same.” Rainbow Dash feared having to reach the subject, which luckily for her was cut off by another voice.

“Aww less arguing more playing!” Pinkie Pie's head burst through the centre of the cloud, bouncing from a trampoline. “We may be divided.” Her voice trailed of as she returned to the ground before bouncing into hearing range again. “To remember we're all hoofed.”

Gilda screamed in annoyance. “HIGHER! NOW!” She flapped her wings violently almost pushing Rainbow Dash of the cloud.

“She's really annoyed.” Rainbow gulped as she flew up to continue being yelled at.

“Do you only care about yourself? Do you not care about my feelings Dash?” Gilda shouted as Rainbow Dash landed on the second cloud.

“Look I'm sorry but I don't understand why you are so angry, I didn't do anything!” Dash replied sitting down clearly upset. “You asked me to come so I did, you left shouting at all my friends I don't see what I could have done, none of it was their fault. I could have tried looking for you but I didn't and I'm sorry if that's why you are angry.”

“Those dweebs had it coming they weren't cool like us Dash, you used to be cool, then you started dating that weakling? What the hell is wrong with you?” Gilda stomped the cloud causing it to shake.

“You haven't changed at all have you.” Rainbow began to tear up. “Is me loving a cute happy pony really a problem for you? All my other friends have accepted it and they are happy, they love me loving Pinkie Pie!” She looked down to the fluffy surface. “Maybe when you find someone you will understand.”

“Aww Dashie don't cry.” The party pony rose to the cloud hanging from several balloons fitting her cutie mark. She let go of the balloons jumping onto the pegasus landing in a hug. “It's ok Dashie, she's just being a meanie we all still love you, I love you.” Pinkie leaned in to kiss Rainbow Dash, the pegasus accepted the kiss as her tears dried behind her lovers emotional lips.

Gilda could feel herself raging, the pony that ruined everything was taking advantage of Dash, kissing HER pony. Her fury exploded in a loud roar, powerless to her own rage she swung her talon sharply against the earth ponies face, blood sprayed from the triple wound that struck both ponies causing them to recoil in pain. Pinkie could barely focus, her eye sight blurred from the attack. She could no longer feel her lover's strong grip, she could no longer feel anything. As she screamed in pain she knew she was falling.

Rainbow Dash brought herself back up, her face glanced by Gilda's attack she also felt the blood dripping from her wound. She gazed into her attackers eyes still seeing the furious blood-lust looking ready to pounce. “Dashie!” Rainbow broke her gaze as she heard the distant voice of her lover, she quickly flew to the side of the cloud as her fears were realized. Pinkie Pie was falling to her death.

“NO!” Rainbow Dash tried flying down to the falling pony but couldn't move, her wings flapped to no avail as she saw Gilda grabbing her by the tail.

“She's finally out of the way we are talking NOW!” Gilda coldly stated stopping Rainbow from saving the pony she loved.

Rainbow Dash's emotions clouded her judgement, with a powerful thrust she bucked the griffon away, kicking her backwards against the cloud in pain. She couldn't bring herself to apologise as she forced herself towards the floor, flying as fast as her renowned wings could physically allow. She couldn't feel her pain as her mind concentrated on the slowly closing pink speck in the distance, and the closing ground beneath that. 'I will save you.' Her wings strained as she continued flying faster every second. 'I will save you.'

Pinkie began crying as she worried for her life, never before had she ever felt so threatened. She had no safety net, nothing planned to protect her. 'Dashie?' Pinkie saw the blur in the distance quickly approaching her, though her entire vision was red from blood she could still make out her lover. 'Please Dashie.' She continued staring up at the approaching figure as much as it pained her eyes to open, it gave her hope.

Rainbow Dash could see the ground approaching. The air around her contorted as she felt herself approaching the sound barrier, but knew she couldn't reach it in time. 'I have to.' Rainbow reached out her hooves, her wings beating faster than ever before as her heart pushed her to save Pinkie Pie. She extended her reach seeing her lover merely meters away. “Pinkie!” Dash yelled staring into her partners crying face.

Rainbow beat her wings a final time as her hooves brushed against Pinkie's coat. She threw her legs around the earth pony pulling her into a hug. She could feel Pinkie's tears trailing down her coat while she gripped hard for protection. The ground was to close, the seasoned pegasus knew she couldn't pull up in time. She beat her wings backwards attempting to slow her descent, managing to shatter the failed Sonic Rainboom to slow them further. It wasn't enough. Rainbow Dash folded her wings around Pinkie Pie, holding her lover into her chest, praying for her safety as the hard ground quickly approached. “Celestia please, protect my love.” Both ponies closed their eyes, holding each other tightly not wanting to loose what they cherished most. “Please save her.”

The ground was hard and cold, the grassy surface did little to soften the loud impact. The last sound Rainbow Dash heard was a single tear filled word from her lover. “Sorry.” The pegasus landed on her side but her instinctive roll did little to save her from such a violent collision, she felt an immense pain as her left legs broke taking the full force of the crash. Her suffering body begged to recoil but she forced herself strong, her wings still wrapped around the only thing she cared for, the only thing that kept her conscious. As she rolled in agonizing pain she could feel her lover still warm in her grasp. She was positive she saved her. She was positive. She had to. Rainbow Dash lost consciousness.

--

The world was dark. The concussion from the impact slowly left her as she strained to open her right eye, the world slowly came into focus to a endless sky of clouds. As her sight became clearer she realized it wasn't the sky she saw, but the bandaged coat of her lover covering her, protecting her. Pinkie Pie could barely speak, her tears had still been draining as she lay unconscious and the pain she felt barely allowed the usually energetic pony to move. “Da-shie.” Her voice churned with pain and sadness. There was no reply. “Dashie.” She began gently nudging the pegasus she loved hoping to feel her react. Even in sleep she flinched to her touch. But now, she did nothing. Pinkie Pie continued repeating the same sad word, becoming more painful with each time it was ignored.

As the pony continued trying to awaken her lover, a figure slowly descended from the sky. Gilda landed near both ponies rubbing her bruised neck, she stormed towards the pony that destroyed her chances, that stole her pegasus from her. Even her pitiful fall still couldn't get rid of her. She raised her talon preparing to get rid of the problem for good. But just before she lashed at her prey she heard a whimpering voice. “Please Dashie, you have to get up.” Gilda withdrew her talon as she gazed down at the wounded pegasus, She had seen Rainbow Dash fail in dangerous stunts when they were younger, she was used to the image that she usually saw carted into the nearby hospital. “Dashie, please we need to go home.” Gilda cooled herself down, she had a better idea. She had never hated anypony as much as she hated this one before her. Sending her to hospital wouldn't be enough, even finishing her for good wouldn't satisfy her. Not for how much she deserved.

Pinkie Pie continued crying trying to wake her lover up. She had never seen a pony so unresponsive, it was almost as if she wasn't alive. “Pinkie Pie, what have you done?” Pinkie looked up shocked still in tears at the looming griffon standing over her, her face was as cold as her voice.

“I, I didn't mean to.” Pinkie changed her gaze between Rainbow and Gilda, trying to understand what she had done. “I didn't mean for her to, it was an accident. She was saving me and, and.” She couldn't finish her thoughts before her crying took over the use of her mouth.

Gilda gently patted the small pony she despised. “Of course you didn't mean to, no one means these things to happen.” She stopped petting as she held Pinkie still, facing her prey's tear filled eyes into her own. “But Rainbow Dash is dead.” Pinkie Pie stood petrified as she heard the word she dreaded. “If it wasn't for you, she would still be alive.” Gilda drew the pony towards her until their faces almost touched. “You killed her.” She noticed her prey's mouth tremble.

“No, I, I couldn't, I wouldn't, I.” Pinkie stuttered unable to finish her thoughts, her entire world had been destroyed. The pony she lived for, the love of her life was no more, and it was all because of her. She didn't want to believe it, she couldn't believe it. It had to be a lie. “It's a lie!”

“This isn't a lie Pinkie Pie.” Gilda forced the pony away from her as she continued lying. “The pony you 'love' is dead and it is all because of YOU.” She hated using the word 'love' as if anyone other than her was allowed to love Rainbow Dash. “You are a murderer.”

“NO!” Pinkie yelled throwing her legs around her partner's body. “She is alive, she has to be!” Pinkie tried reaching in to see if there was a pulse, to feel if she was breathing or not. But as soon as she got close she felt herself pulled back.

Gilda clenched her talon and struck the creature she hated forcing her to the floor. It felt good to the griffon, but it was the emotional pain she wanted to inflict more than destroying her body. “You dare to touch her? You dare to think she would want her killer to take advantage of her body? You are disgusting!”

Pinkie Pie dragged herself to her hooves, unable to feel the physical pain over her emotional distress. “No I wouldn't ever, I love her, I, she can't be.”

“Just wait until I tell your friends what you have done. They will hate you for killing their friend, they will come to make sure you die for what you have done.” Gilda continued forcing her lie even deeper into the weak pony. “If you run away, you might just be able to escape. But you will never escape what you did.”

“No, I can't, I can't leave her, I can't live with myself if I” Pinkie flew backwards as Gilda unleashed a second strike on the quivering mare. She tried returning to Rainbow Dash but saw Gilda land in front of her, readying to strike her again.

“You can either run now, or I will be your executioner little pony.” With that statement Pinkie Pie burst out crying even harder, turning around with her head low she ran towards the Everfree Forest.

“I'm sorry Dashie!” Gilda smiled to herself as she heard the ponies final words as she disappeared into the dense forest. It had been over a year, but she had finally made the pony suffer for daring to get between her and Rainbow Dash. She retreated back past the unconscious pegasus pleased with her victory.

“Oww.” The sound of painful grunting came from below the griffon's feet, she looked down to see the pegasus slowly gaining consciousness. “Why do I keep getting hurt today?” She softly asked to no pony in particular as she tried regaining her thoughts to the event that caused her the injury. A bright flash illuminated in her mind. “Pink!” She opened her legs, but there was no pony in her grasp. “I, I saved her. I did!” She brought her gaze across noticing the feet of her old friend. She raised her vision to notice the griffon staring down at her. “Where is Pinkie? Is she safe?”

Gilda pondered her answer for a few moments, hating the idea that Dash still cared more for the pathetic pony than for her. “You didn't save her Dash.” Gilda made up her mind, she wasn't going to allow any thoughts of another in her place. “You couldn't save her in time, she fell to her death.”

“NO!” Rainbow yelled loudly, causing herself pain from her injuries. “I saved her! I saw it! I felt it!”

“She fell from your grasp as you lost consciousness, she kept falling and.” Gilda truly enjoyed thinking of how to describe the 'dead' pony she hated. “It wasn't pretty.”

“No.” Dash looked around, noticing the traces of blood on the floor not knowing who they belonged to, but fearing the worst. “No it's not, it's not possible.”

“You've been out for a while, I took her into town, it's not something you want to see.”

“Pinkie.” Rainbow Dash's voice had only been so low once before, when she first discovered her love. The love she had lost forever.

“That's right Dash, she's gone.” Gilda didn't even try to fake sadness, pleased by her manipulation of both ponies. “She's out of the way, now it's just me and you like it should be.” Rainbow burst into tears, unable to live with the fact of what had happened. Her failure had cost her lover's life. “Come on Dash she was weak she could never be like me.” All of the griffon's words fell on deaf ears as Dash continued crying, she had never cried so much before, the entire point of her life was gone, and it was all her fault. “Dash! Seriously! Stop being such a cry baby she's just a pony there's thousands out there and none are even worth you!” Gilda was growing more annoyed, unable to grasp the true level of pain she had caused. “You are stronger than her stop being such a foal you don't cry!” The griffon finally snapped. “FINE!I thought you were cool Dash! I thought you were worth me! But you are just as pathetic as all the other ponies!” Gilda flicked her tail past the broken pegasus whipping her face. “If you start being cool, let me know. You stupid flip-flop.” Gilda beat her strong wings, quickly allowing her to leave the scene she found unworthy of her presence. “I can't believe I wasted my time on her.”

Rainbow Dash lay on the floor, staying still in the position the cruel tail had cast her into. “I'm sorry Pink.” Rainbow curled herself into a ball, still crying over the love she would never see again. She wanted to say she loved her, to say those three words. But knowing she failed to save her and how it was all her fault, she knew she didn't deserve them. Rainbow Dash lay alone, as she believed she forever would be.