Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

Trixie's ear twitches with every beep of the clunky machine strapped to Braille Lulamoon. Every beep is met with a hiss, click and whir, and another segment of jagged lines are printed out on a thin roll of paper that collects in a bin on the floor. The doctors already changed the bin three times and took the printed sheets away, looking more concerned and worried with each collection.

So, when a unicorn stallion walks in wearing the doctor's coat, Trixie's heart sinks even lower. Especially when he rips the paper out of the machine and slides a fresh basket in its place.

“Eclipse Lulamoon?” says the doctor.

“Yes?” says Eclipse quietly, refusing to break eye contact with Braille.

“I apologize for doing this, but I need to have a word with you in private about your wife,” says the stallion hesitantly.

Eclipse looks at the doctor, then at Braille. The mare's eyes are barely open, and her curly dark brown mane has fallen limp with clumps missing, and her blonde coat has become pale, with her fur and fuzz missing on and around her horn, revealing dark, crystalline spots around the fluted extension. Trixie has been laying in front of her for hours on end, refusing to move and barely eating, like her mother.

Eclipse sighs and reluctantly stands up. He gently grabs Braille's hoof and pats it, sniffling when she swallows and barely places her other hoof above his, giving him a tired, toothless smile. He then rubs Trixie's mane and starts towards the door, where an earth pony stallion wearing a suit stands.

“Keep an eye on them, please,” says Eclipse.

The stallion nods and stands in front of the door as Eclipse and the doctor exit, leaving Trixie and alone with Braille. She stands up on the bed and watches him with massive, wet eyes, ears drooped and a terrified whimper leaving her.

“Daddy,” calls Trixie, her voice cracking and lips trembling with her legs.

Eclipse stops and turns, placing his hoof against the door frame, and he smiles reassuringly at Trixie with a shimmer in his eyes.

“I'll be back, Trixie. Keep mommy company for me, please,” he says.

Trixie sits down on the bed and nods, and Eclipse leaves. The stallion looks at Trixie and Braille for a few seconds before stepping out of the room and closing the door.

“Trixie,” says Braille faintly.

Trixie snaps to Braille and cranes her head up to look into her eyes, a smile of relief spreading. She is talking, so she must be getting better!

“Yes, mom!” says Trixie eagerly.

Braille coughs in such a way that it sounds like someone is ripping at her lungs with a fork, and swallows what can only be a glob of mucus. Just hearing those horrible sounds and seeing the pain in her expression and eyes brings Trixie's smile down and her eyes water as she searches her mother's face for signs of something good. She finds no such things.

“I know you are sad... and I know you are afraid... but don't be,” whispers Braille, her voice light and wheezing sickly with each passing breath . She smiles wearily at Trixie and her baggy eyes struggle to stay open, much less focus on her as her hoof brushes her silver mane. “Mommy will be better, soon, I promise.”

“When? When will you be better?” whimpers Trixie, not believing her mother's words, but not wanting to say that aloud, either.

“I don't know, sweetie... but I know it won't be long.”

Braille takes a deep, shaky breath and swallows heavily as she blinks tears out of her eyes and feebly pulls Trixie close to her. The filly thoughtlessly climbs closer to her mother and nuzzles against her chest while placing a hoof on her shoulder and looking into her sickly eyes.

“Promise me you will always be a good filly,” says Braille, her voice growing weaker by the second.

Trixie swallows and her little body trembles as she hugs her mother and cries quietly against her neck, wetting her cheeks and Braille's neck with her tears. “I promise, mama.”

“Good,” sighs Braille. Her eyes drift shut and her breathing becomes hoarse and shallow as her hoof struggles to pat Trixie's mane.

The little filly can feel her mother shake and hear her heart beating slower as her movements become sluggish, and she looks up at her with beady eyes shining in the light. Braille's eyes are closed, and lines of tears shine on her cheek as her last movement is her hoof sliding around Trixie's body for a hug. The machines still beep, but the little mountains printed on the paper are far and few in between, and Trixie's beady, wet eyes dart between Tears roll down her cheeks and she whimpers as she crawls up Braille's body so that her little hooves are on her shoulders and their noses are almost touching.

“Mom,” whimpers Trixie.

She shakes her Braille's shoulder, her heart beating faster and her eyes and throat burning as tear pour down her face and her shaking becomes more frantic, more desperate to see her mother's eyes once more.

“Mommy, wake up!” wails Trixie.

“Let her rest,” says a stallion from behind.

Trixie looks over her shoulder, then gasps in fright and curls up as tight as she can on her mother's lap, hoping she will wake up and chase the Shadow Stallion away.

The Shadow Stallion is standing in the doorway, but he makes no movements. He only stares at Trixie with his solid black face, no signs of eyes or lips or a nose. If he had not had a horn protruding from his head, he would actually look like an earth pony made of onyx.

“She will not leave you, and neither will those that truly care about you. You will see this when you are able to forgive yourself and find your way back home,” continues the Shadow Stallion.

“Wha-What do you mean?” stammers Trixie fretfully. “Did I do something bad? Did I hurt mom!?”

The stallion's horn lights up to create a soft glowing, white orb on its tip that blinds Trixie. “It is time for you to wake up.”

Trixie's eyes snap open to the painfully bright light of the sun burning through the window, searing her eyes with its cruelty.

Trixie groans and lifts her hoof to rub her eyes, only for it to stop abruptly with a clank!

She blinks and looks to see a metal cuff holding her down. In fact, all of her limbs are cuffed to the metal railing of a hospital bed, giving her just enough room to wiggle, and her body is covered in a thin, blue sheet. She also has IVs all over her fore-legs, sensors strapped to her body to measure her vitals, and her body feels like someone shattered her bones, glued them back together, then threw them on the floor to see if the glue would hold. As for her muscles? They feel almost the same, only replace glue with stitches and and floor throws with a washer machine filled with metal beads. But the worst of it all is the pinching feeling she has on the base of her horn.

She does not know what it is, and while it is not as physically painful, it feels strange and makes her sick in the gut from a sense of helplessness and alarm. Wanting to get rid of the pinch, she closes her eyes, focuses on the source of the pinch, and tries to remove what ever it is with her magic. What she gets is an electric zap right at the base of her horn that makes her brain feel like it has been stabbed with a cattle prod.

Trixie yelps from the intense pain and slumps in her bed, whimpering as fear, panic and pain claw at her brain, stuff her lungs and beat at her heart. She whimpers and tries to shake herself free with frantic movements, rattling the bed with her, but the pain becomes too much and she collapses in the sheets, crying softly.

“Ya ain't goin' anywhere, miss,” says an orange earth pony stallion next to her, his eyes lifting from a book with a white cover and a golden sun stamped on it. He as a heavy Ozark accent and is wearing an armored vest with a stetson sitting not too far from him on a nightstand. “And even if ya do manage to break out of the bed and take me out, ya still gotta deal with the twenty agents, local guards and hospital security. So, you should probably relax while ya still can. Besides, ya might tear a stitch, and that'll be nasty.”

Trixie stares at the stallion, her tired eyes widening in disbelief of what she is seeing before her. Aside from his perfect pelt, the color of his gorgeous eyes remind her of pistachios, which is a bit of a downer because she hates pistachios, but it looks amazing on him. His mane and tail, while messy like a controlled bedhead, has a great blend of amber and blonde, and his figure is not freakishly buff or sickly skinny, but she sees not one ounce of fat on him, either. His build, his muscles, his relaxed face, his sexy accent, it is all perfect!

Trixie never thought she would see such a sight, but she has. She has laid her eyes on the sexiest stallion of all time.

Now she is kicking herself mentally because she is cuffed to her bed and the stallion is wearing an EIB badge, so that says enough about him. She is a prisoner, and the universe has decided it would be hilarious to have her guarded by someone she cannot ogle at lest things get really weird.

“Er, are ya done starin' at me like that?” asks the stallion uneasily.

Trixie averts her eyes sharply to the light blue blanket covering her bruised and scratched body.

“Sorry,” she mutters, sheepishly running her bandaged, sensor and IV covered hooves over the cheap fabric. Seconds later, she dares to look at the Agent, if only for a second. “Where am I?”

“Well,” begins the stallion, closing his book in the process, “yer at Hollow Shades District Hospital, about to be transferred to prison once we get you to a point where ya won't die in the cart. You should be on your way to prison very soon, though, seein' as how the docs think yer good enough for travel.”

Trixie's countenance falls to a gloomy frown. She recalls kicking Pinkie Pie to her death, then witnessing Twilight roast Gray Muffin to a charred pony right in front of her eyes.

“Its a miracle that ya didn't die on the spot, but miracle or not, ya got yourself in a whole helluva a lotta trouble,” says the earth pony sternly.

“I know,” sniffles Trixie.

Right after, the door opens and a unicorn stallion enters. He is in his forties with black spots covering his white coat enters, and a cutie mark of a hat sitting on top of sunglasses, like a cartoony spy. On his persons is a vest and a radio pack like the earth pony.

The Agent and Trixie both look at the newcomer, only the earth pony smiles and nods politely, and Trixie glares as hard as her beaten body will allow, which isn't much. She looks more like a weary drunk who had her tail yanked out and shoved down her throat in some alley than a recruit for a militant vigilante organization who got her flank handed to her.

“Apple, we're moving out,” says the unicorn, carrying with him a Trottingham accent.

“Gotcha, Boss,” says Agent Apple, quickly hoping to his hooves and slinging a revolving rifle across his back, much to Trixie's surprise and worry.

The machines speed up with her accelerating heart and print out rolls of tighter packed jagged lines on the thin sheet, which Boss completely ignores while Apple casts a worried glance at her. A moment later, a team of doctors and nurses come in with EIB escorts and the medics quickly free Trixie from the machines and IVs, save for one connected to a medicine bag on a rolling pole.

She swallows nervously, looking at all the guns and cold expressions around her, and when the cot lurches forward, wheels squeaking and items clanking against each other, she shrinks into her bed. Her ears droop and she feels as though she is going to puke out her frantically beating heart.

The one known as Boss moves next to her when they go out in the hall, guarded by more ponies in armored vests, all armed with mini-Gatling guns, and he uses his magic to press a button on his headset.

“This is Suit. We are bringing out the prisoner,” says the unicorn. He nods a second later, replying to the other end with: “Roger that.”

He sighs, orders the agents to move forward, and with the help of the doctors and nurses, Trixie begins her long journey down the hall, her spirit sinking lower and lower, and her mind racing faster as each room passes.

She wonders where the League is. Shouldn't they be here by now? Shouldn't Adanz or Wazza be here rescuing her?

So lost is Trixie in her panicked thoughts that she barely notices that they have gone through a large set of double doors to the outside world. She only registers this when acold rush of wind freezes her colt, and her eyes widen to mortified shock at the convoy of ten armored vehicles with the EIB seals on them guarding an ambulance.

With this open area, surely the League will come out of hiding, ambush her captors and rescue her from their custody.

A pair of stern looking ponies dressed in white hop out of the ambulance and quickly move down to the back.

A smile of hope spreads across Trixie's face and her heart starts feeling lighter. This has to be them! They will open the door and her new family will hop out, gun down everyone and take off with her to their headquarters!

The pair of ponies open up the ambulance, and Trixie's smile drops to an open mouthed whine of disbelief. It is completely empty.

She has been abandoned.

Again.

The cot stops in front of the back of the ambulance, and the pair of ponies quickly work to load her up, with Agent Apple standing guard outside and Suit hopping in next to her so he can lean over her.

“Well, Lulamoon,” says Suit, “are you ready to go to Hell?”

“No,” squeaks Trixie, shrinking as far as she can go into her cot.

“Too bad.” He nods to the pair of ambulance ponies. “Lets move!”

“Yes, sir,” says one of ponies.

Suit hops out and slams the doors shut, leaving Trixie locked inside the vessel taking her to her new home. Her eyes quickly fill with tears, and when the vehicle lurches forward with a booming pop, she bangs her head against her pillow and screams in anguish, then breaks down into terrified sobs as she desperately shakes in her cuffs.

But on her trip to Hell, no one hears her cries and pleas for mercy.

In the distance, watching the prison convoy speed away from the hospital using a pair of binoculars, is a lone earth pony mare. No one can see her cutie mark underneath the red, body length dress with a black belt looped around her waist, but they can see her other features. The simple dress also covers her front hooves almost completely, leaving only the very bottom exposed. She has a mint green coat and a wavy pink mane and tail, with her mane having a sunflower clip, and around her neck is a smiling sunflower pendant.

The pony lowers her optical enhancement device and smirks mischievously to herself. Then she packs her item in a small saddle and limps down the road towards a trolley stop where a group of other ponies wait, some more patient than others. She winces as she eases herself on a bench, and then she casually takes a schedule from a nearby slot. After, she glances in Canterlot's direction to look at the rising skyline, and the skeletal structure of a massive building in its baby stages being built near the palace.

She hums with some interest and looks down the other direction, cocking an eyebrow with some exaggeration. After seeing nothing for some time, she nudges a pale white unicorn mare with an electric blue mane, sporting sunglasses.

“Hey, isn't the trolley supposed to be here by now?” she asks.

The unicorn snorts a goodhearted laugh. “You must be new here. This trolley is always late. Just give it another fifteen minutes.”

The mint green pony smiles coolly and relaxes in her seat, watching storm clouds in the distance loom over Ponyville. “Okie dokie loki.”

Rainbow Dash stares at a casket sitting on a raised platform before her, her eyes hollow from the despair eating away at her. Hard rain patters on her blue and gold trimmed formal Wonderbolts uniform, soaking it to her body, and the Equestrian flag resting on top of the pink and dark pink trimmed casket droops over its edges, covering the engraved balloons. She barely notices the gathering crowd, but when she sees Celestia and Luna approach with a two rows of Royal and Night Guards flanking them, that gets her attention.

The two alicorns are wearing black attire with pendants representing their respective celestial bodies hanging around their necks, and large hats cover their faces and manes from the cold rain. In between them, a mare and a very old stallion Rainbow Dash has never seen before move to the casket's front, directly in front of the wreathed picture of Pinkie Pie, and they are flanked by four guards each from the Celestial Sister's entourage.

The mare looks to be a few years younger than Pinkie Pie, has a gray coat and a dark gray mane and tail. She is wearing a long black dress with a white undershirt and a pink ascot scarf wrapped around her neck to keep her warm, as well as a saddle with an umbrella attached to it that shields her and the considerably older earth pony stallion from the rain.

The stallion accompanying the mare has to be at least in his late seventies, and his old knees tremble, threatening to put him to the ground. His near white mane and tail have balded, leaving strands of mane and a stubby tail, and unlike the mare, who is holding back her tears, his golden eyes are bloodshot and drenched in tears. Rainbow Dash also notices that covering his old suit and balding head, is a layer of ash, some of which has formed streaks along his face and suit from the falling rain that got to him before the umbrella could.

Rainbow Dash studies them for a few more seconds, trying to figure out who they are, but when her mind comes up with a blank answer, she looks back at Celestia. She is talking to the Ponyville General Hospital manager, Doctor Horse Heartbeat, and from the way their backs are turned and how Celestia has lowered herself, she is guessing that the conversation is a private one. Not that Rainbow Dash's numb mind has any words formulated to say to the Sun Goddess, anyway.

The Element of Loyalty looks to Luna and notices that she is staring at the casket. A few seconds later, Shining Armor is taken to it in his wheelchair with the help of Cadence pushing him and Twilight walking next to them. Luna spares just a quick glance at the three before she looks back at the casket with a growing frown.

Like with the gray mare, the Sparkles and Cadence have umbrella attachments on their saddles, with Shining's just big enough to cover him and his chair, and the mares covering their bodies. Twilight and Cadence are wearing dark dresses, with a dark lavender trim on the unicorn and dark pink for the alicorn. Shining Armor is wearing his military uniform, but has bulging casts covering his right fore-hoof and horn. His eyes are distant and his frown is deep. The regret is clear and the sadness driving him closer to madness is growing, but he tries to hide the guilt and heartache with his angered look. It only makes him look more defeated, as his eyes are red and swelling with tears, and sickly, dark brown bags sit underneath his eyes. His nostrils flare with his breathing and his body trembles as cheeks move like his mouth wants to open, but is not being allowed to.

When everyone is in place, a white and gold mare in her early fifties makes her way to the podium in front of the casket. She is wearing a white robe with a blue trim around the collar and solar flare like patterns on her attire's trim. Unlike the majority of the mourners, she is going without an umbrella, and she removes from her pocket a waterproof book.

“We stand here, in this day of mourning, as friends and family of Pinkamena Diane Pie, the Element of Laughter and trusted associate of Princesses Celestia and Luna,” says the white and gold pegasus, known as Mother Glory. “To say we are upset will be... an understatement. But, while our sadness and anger and confusion drives us to the darkness of our hearts, we must remember that this day is a day of rejoicing, for she has found her way home at last.”

The priestess takes a moment, watching the expressions of the mourner. Rainbow Dash does not look at her, though, for her eyes are focused on the framed picture of Pinkie Pie. Her big, blue eyes make her smile all the more brighter, but with the rain pattering against the photo, it looks like her friend is crying, even in the Afterlife.

“The Book of Paradise says the Kingdom of Paradise is made of rolling green hills, and a city paved of gold with eternal warmth and happiness,” continues the robed mare. “I believe it. I believe Pinkamena has found her way to Paradise. So, let us grieve for losing a great pony in this world, but ultimately, our sadness must be put aside for joy, for she has been called to the greatest place anypony can be. Let us be happy that one more pony is free of the tribulations of these trying times.”

Rainbow Dash stares at Mother Glory, not sure if she should hate her or agree with her for her words. Pinkie is dead, that is no call for joy, and if the Higher Powers of Paradise truly cared than none of this would have happened. But, if anyone deserves a house in Paradise, it is Pinkie Pie.

With that thought, Rainbow Dash lowers her eyes, thinking of another scenario. Maybe all the good ponies are being taken away so the bad ones will suffer judgment like the overly religious wackos proclaim is coming very soon. Which, if that is the case, Fluttershy should be dead, too, or dead soon.

That thought is quickly expelled from her mind with a shudder, though. That, and Mother Glory's voice breaking through the downpour brings her out of the sadistic pit she has explored.

“Father Igneous Pie and his daughter, Octavia Philharmonica, have traveled from Miner's Country and Canterlot to give their final words,” says the white and gold pegasus. She nods to the old stallion and steps away from the podium. “Father...”

Rainbow Dash and everyone else at the funeral look to Igneous and Octavia, watching with interest and sympathy as his daughter helps him to the podium, protecting him from the cold rain with the umbrella.
Once in position, she bows her head and swallows the tears that try to escape, and he nods to the priestess.

“Thank you, Mother Glory,” says old stallion, Igneous.

Igneous puts a hoof on the podium, but quickly retracts it and takes a breath. His labored breathing is heard over the falling rain from the place speakers around the mourners, and his glazed eyes scan the crowd.

The gray mare puts her hoof on the old pony's shoulder. “Father, if you-”

Igneous shakes his head. “No, Octavia, let me do this.” He takes another breath and focuses on the casket when he starts speaking. “Life... Life is both cruel and gracious.”

He takes a moment to swallow and wipes the tears from his eyes and the snot from his nose.

“My happiest memories are the ones I have with my wife and daughters, and my most painful are when they left this world,” continues Igneous, his voice cracking and fresh tears rolling down his wrinkled cheeks. “We are never sure when it is time for our loved ones to leave. All we can do is cherish what we are given because of them. All we can do is treat them with more love than we give ourselves, and be grateful for the blessing that they have given us.”

He pauses, his eyes shifting between the crowd and coffin, mouth moving, but no words leaving.

“I will forever be thankful for the memories Pinkamena has given to me,” says Igneous shakily. “I know she has touched the lives of many at home and in Ponyville and all of Equestria. She was always there for us, always ready to cheer us up and always did right by others. Her kindness is unforgettable, her generous spirit unmatched and her loyalty unbreakable. She prided herself with honesty, and her desire to make others laugh and to be their light is a magic that can never be replaced. May we never stop laughing and seeing the sunshine and rainbows that she has shown us. Be in peace, my child... My Pinkie Pie.”

The crowd is once again silent, save for the sniffles of sadness or the plague of cold going through the crowd. It is hard to tell which, but Rainbow Dash remains silent, staring back at the coffin, fully agreeing with every word of the old pony.

“Would Miss Philharmonica like to say anything?” asks Mother Glory.

Rainbow Dash looks at the gray mare, as do the rest of the mourners, and she gulps and reluctantly steps forward. She stares at the crowd, completely still and trembling with tears trickling down her cheeks. After almost ten seconds of silence, she sniffles and shakes her head, her hoof to her mouth and eyes closed.

“I wish I knew her better,” says Octavia.

Then she and Igneous leave the platform, and once she is on the ground, she collapses on her rump and weeps loudly. Her father is next to her the whole time, so he sits next to her, scoops her in his embraces and hugs her as tight as she can, letting her cry in his shoulder.

Rainbow Dash averts her eyes to look at the casket again, wishing her last memory of her murdered friend had been something more meaningful.

Rainbow Dash hurries down the polished hallway, heart racing at seemingly a hundred beats a minute as her hooves clip-clop and squeak against the tile. Past her on the brick wall, in a place where pegasi go to train, are signs ordering no flying. She really does not understand why such a stupid rule is in place, but with her time short, she does not waste any time complaining about stupid rules.

She veers the corner, doing a short spin around a passing stallion and bumping into a mare, both wearing the blue and gold Wonderbolt trainee uniforms. She offers a quick, halfhearted apology and completely ignores the curious looks the two pegasi give her. She takes another turn and uses her shoulder to push open a door with a silhouette of the new communications device popping up all over Equestria, only for her to screech to a halt and drop her jaw at the sight.

The dim room is completely packed! Every cushion, every bulky communications device and their headsets are occupied by recruits and instructors chatting with whoever on the other end. The dozens of voices talk over each other like ecstatic seagulls devouring leftovers from a beach party. No matter how much she strains her neck or no matter where her hooves take her, she cannot see an open slot. This is like getting sucker punched in the gut by minotaur, and it drops her to her rump as a distraught squeak of disbelief leaves her lips with her eyes watering and her ears and wings drooped.

“Rainbow?” asks a familiar voice.

Rainbow Dash's head turns like a rusted Lazy Susan and her eyes grow in shock of who she sees in front of her, wearing the skin tight, blue and golden lightning uniform of a Wonderbolt Trainee. He has tired bags under his eyes, making his dark coat look pitch black, and his gray mane is shorter than she remembers, but here he is. Lazy Thunderlane. Sitting in front of a communications rig. Staring right at her.

“Thunderlane? What are you doing here?” asks Rainbow Dash.

“I was about to call Cloudchaser to see how she and Rumble are doing,” says Thunderlane.

Rainbow Dash blinks.

“My marefriend and brother...” says Thunderlane slowly, like he is gently easing information back into her.

Rainbow Dash frowns. “I know who Cloudchaser is. But you? What are you doing here at the Academy?”

“...Training to be a Wonderbolt...”

“Dude, you aren't the soldier type, though! You had a hard enough time waking up on time for work!” says Rainbow Dash, practically yelling at the surprise she is having a hard time swallowing.

Thunderlane chuckles awkwardly and rubs the back of his neck. That chuckle fades to a painful cringe and his golden eyes find a great spot on the floor. “Yeah, that got beat out of me pretty quick.” His eyes suddenly snap to Rainbow Dash's and he points at the rig. “Do you need to use this?”

“Yes!” Rainbow Dash cringes and steps back. “I mean, yes! I mean, I can wait, even though its very important that I use it so, yeah, can I borrow it?”

Thunderlane nods and is about to get up, but stops when Rainbow Dash holds out her hoof.

“Wait, are you sure you won't mind me using this?” asks Rainbow Dash. “I mean, I can wait-”

Thunderlane forces a chuckle. “Oh, no, I don't mind. Nope, not at all. Yeah, I'll be fine. I'll just use it tomorrow. I actually have to-”

“Yo! Lame Lane!” blurts a stallion suddenly. He has an olive drab coat and dark mane, also wearing a Wonderbolts Trainee uniform, and he pulls Thunderlane away from the rig with a vicious, one hoof buddy hug around the neck. “I just talked to my girl, and it turns out she isn't cheating on me! She said so herself!”

“Glad to hear,” says Thunderlane, his voice straining with a wheeze as he tries to pull away from the stallion. “Can you please let go, Bolt?”

Bolt snickers and starts walking without releasing Thunderlane. He does not even pass Rainbow Dash when he says: “Dude, a little advice from a fellow stallion. Don't flirt with lesbos. They're hot only in fiction.”

Rainbow Dash's face scrunches and her teeth grind as her face turns blood red with steam wanting oh so much to pour out of her ears. She really wants to tear into Bolt to give him a vagina of his own, but the only reason she does not try is because another mare tries to take the seat Thunderlane gave her. She is quick to zip in front of the would-be thief and jabs her hoof at her chest.

“Hey, back off! This one's mine!” snarls Rainbow Dash.

The mare holds up her hoof and backs away, and Rainbow Dash sits down and dials the appropriate numbers as fast as her hooves will allow. Once it starts ringing, she anxiously taps her hoof on the counter, muttering for someone to pick up.

“Sugar Cube Corner. How can we help you, today?” says Cup Cake.

“Hey, Missus Cake, its Dash, can you put Pinkie on please?” says Rainbow Dash worryingly.

“...One moment, please.”

There is a little commotion on the other end, followed by a moment of silence. The seconds drag on by, and as the time crawls by, her chest feels heavier with dread and her throat feels tighter. However, when a familiar voice sounds off on the other, end she exhales with relief.

“Hey, Dashie,” says Pinkie Pie, her voice tired and congested.

“Hey, Pinkie, how are you doing?” asks Rainbow Dash, feeling her eyes water with tears and a smile creeping across her muzzle.

“...Fine...”

There is a moment of silence between them, and Rainbow Dash's smile fades as she looks down and licks her lips, struggling to formulate the proper words. When the silence becomes nigh unbearable, she takes a deep breath and just goes with what she has right now.

“Look, Pinkie, I heard what happened,” begins Rainbow Dash. “I know what's been going on, and I just want you to know that what happened with Spike was not your fault, no matter what Twilight or Rarity or anypony else says.”

The other end goes silent, and the silence carries on for many seconds, taking with it an ever growing burden of concern.

“Pinkie? You there?”

Pinkie Pie sniffles on the other end. “Have you made any new friends at the Academy?”

Rainbow Dash scrunches her brow, very concerned about the distant voice her normally energetic friend has. “Uh... Well, I got my wingmates, but you are my best friend, Pinkie, that'll never change no matter what, alright?”

“...I think you should make some new friends.”

“What? Pinkie-!”

The phone clicks off on the other end and a dial tone rings in Rainbow Dash's ears, with that final sentence being the last she hears of Pinkie's voice.

Rainbow Dash glares at the coffin as it is gently lowered into its hole, silently cursing the ones who did this. Wanting nothing more than to see the ones who killed Pinkie Pie shot on the spot or strangled. That goes for the ones who brought her friend, her best friend to the point of willingly letting those monsters kill her. And for what? An event beyond her control?

Some friends they turned out to be.

Applejack cannot look away from the coffin as it descends into its pit, taking Pinkie Pie to her final resting place. The poison of regret is flowing through her veins in an uncontrollable surge, making her sick down to her soul. Out of all the things she has done, of all the things she has regretted, nothing tops this.

She knows she brought this day to them. She convinced Pinkie Pie to charge head on into Charon's grasp, and for that, there can be no solitude for her. It is a guilt she will always carry, and no amount of grace will save her from it.

Applejack sits next to Big Mac in the dim hospital room hours after the sun set with her stetson in her hooves. Fluttershy is curled up on the floor next to her with a bandage over her head and using a large cushion as a blanket. However, Big Mac is lying on a cot, covered in a paper thin, bright blue cloth sheet and bandages all over his limbs and face with sensors strapped to him. The sensors show everything to be steady, which Applejack is grateful for, but her teary eyes are focused on the scars that poke out from the bandages from around his eyes, ears and mouth. They are like burns that seared his red fur completely off and left jagged scabs of burnt skin.

Just thinking about the injuries and how Fluttershy described Big Mac getting them from a pegasus that used his hoof to generate dark magic sends a shiver up her spine. That thought leads to her looking down at her hooves and shaking from more than just the sadness inside her. She feels panic swelling up, too, and it is choking her. It is squeezing her heart and clogging her throat, and tears pour down her face as she hunches over and coughs into her hoof. It is a scratchy cough that leaves the taste of copper in mouth and tiny red droplets on her orange coat, serving her a reminded of her own problem.

Applejack's blood drains from her face and her hoof shakes as she quickly goes inside her saddle to grab a small container with a cork sealing it shut that is resting next to a fully loaded six shooter. After removing the container, she bites off the cork, spits it into a nearby trash bin and chugs its contents all in one sitting. Her trembling hooves barely keep it steady, but once the lukewarm, apple flavored elixir goes down her throat, the dozens of scratches inside fade and the copper taste is replaced with apples.

She gasps for air and her hoof still shakes as she wipes her mouth, but the shakes are quickly fading, and within seconds, she is back to her moping self.

“Jackie...” says a familiar voice.

Applejack looks over her shoulder and frowns when she sees Pinkie Pie standing in the doorway. She has a thin bandage around her chest, for she apparently suffered the same thing that Big Mac did, but how she is able to walk with just a flimsy bandage is beyond Applejack’s comprehension. It actually makes the farmer furious that a little mare like Pinkie Pie can withstand something her house moving, titan of a brother could not.

“Shouldn't ya be in bed?” asks Applejack crossly as she puts the empty container back in her saddle.

Pinkie Pie lowers her eyes, nodding. “Yeah, but I wanted to check on Big Mac and Flutters since this whole thing was my fault.”

“I know its your fault, and if ya keep bugging us, Big Mac and Fluttershy ain't gonna get any better.”

Pinkie Pie looks at Fluttershy. The pegasus still has not made so much as a twitch in her sleeping, and she looks surprisingly peaceful for someone who recently suffered a traumatic event, and Applejack does not want that ruined by anyone for any reason. She also does not want Pinkie Pie near her or her brother or Fluttershy in case those nuts that hurt them with their black magic come after her again.

“Applejack, I just-”

Pinkie Pie stops when Applejack gets up from her seat, and backs up with her ears drooping and her eyes widening in fear when the farmer marches towards her, glaring the fire of pure hatred into her skull.

“Apologies ain't gonna work, this time, Pinkie,” sneers Applejack. She jabs the pink pony in the chest with her hoof hard enough to make the earth pony wince and step back. “What ever ya did, what ever mess ya got yerself into, it got Spike killed and now ya dragged my family into it! Now, I swear on mah parents' graves that if those lunatics come back and hurt Apple Bloom or Big Mac or Fluttershy more than they already have, then I'll personally escort you and the lot of them to straight to Hell, ya got it? Now, get on outta here before ya bring more trouble.”

Pinkie Pie opens and closes her mouth a couple of times, trying so hard to speak, but all she can do is stare at the emerald orbs, lit with the flames of rage burning through the farmer's being. Applejack sees the pain in her ex-friend's eyes as well as the growing tears and terror. What ever happened, whoever hurt Big Mac Fluttershy, it all revolves around Pinkie Pie, and they both know this.

They both know that she is to blame for Big Mac and Fluttershy's condition, and if Apple Bloom had been around, she would have probably wound up horribly injured, too, or worse. Applejack can't have Pinkie Pie around her, her friends or her family so long as she is still in whatever mess she got herself into. That means that she cannot even check up on them or else her brother and friend will be put in the crossfire again. However, despite this knowledge, and the strong hint that Pinkie Pie should not be near anyone she cares, she still stares at Applejack, frozen and shaking and her cheeks drenched in tears as her lips quiver.

“But, Jackie, I-”

“Go!” interrupts Applejack, her hoof pointing straight at the door that her former friend entered in.

Pinkie Pie remains still, but silent, and only when Applejack takes a threatening step forward, snorting and narrowing her eyes, does she turn tail and leave in a hurry. Applejack stares at the doorway, listening to the panicked scampering of hooves on tile in the dead tile. She hears Pinkie Pie sobbing, and only when the metallic thuds of a door opening and shutting reverberate from down the hall does Applejack relax enough to realize that she is shaking as well, and that tears have trailed down her freckled cheeks.

Applejack sniffles and slumps to the floor, and swallows a lump of air that forces more tears out of her eyes. She tries to get rid of them by blinking and wiping her eyes, but they keep coming and before Applejack can think about what has just happened, her vision is clouded with tears and her lungs start burning from lack of air.

Applejack takes another breath and rubs her chest as she slumps against the wall, choking on her tears and biting her hoof to keep her cries quiet so not to wake Fluttershy or Big Mac. They need their rest. They need to regain their strength. They can't afford to see her cry.

“The unforgivable sin,” mutters Applejack.

She adjusts her stetson and sulks away from the coffin, stopping by Big Mac's side and keeping her eyes on the drenched grass that continues to be beaten down by the rain. She sees Fluttershy carefully approach her, and once the pegasus is close enough, she pats her shoulder, then pulls her in for a hug.

Applejack closes her eyes and rests her head against Fluttershy's shoulder, returning the hug by lightly draping her hoof around her friend's neck. Seconds barely pass before her whole body trembles and tears flow past her shut eyes, her hooves gripping at Fluttershy harder as more tears rush out and rob her of her breath. Not even with help from the pegasus can Applejack's legs keep her up, and she collapses in the ground, taking Fluttershy with her and weeping uncontrollably into her shoulder.

“I'm sorry,” whimpers Applejack. “I'm sorry!”

“I know,” whispers Fluttershy, her hoof running up and down Applejack's back. “It's going to be okay, you'll see.”

Applejack wants to believe her, but she has a hard time believing it. The stone of guilt shoved down her throat is choking the life from her, and her lugs and gut feel like they are being ripped apart by little monsters, taking joy in the pain of her sins, turning her crying into raspy coughs.

She hears Big Mac gently order Fluttershy out of the way, and her big brother lays in front of her, cupping her face with his hooves. She opens her red eyes, having trouble focusing on him through the watery blur of her tears, and keeps her mouth shut to hide the hot, crimson liquid that wants to come out.

Fluttershy watches Big Mac brush Applejack's mane, and he winces slightly as he reaches in his saddle and pulls out a small container with a cork top. He bites the top off and hands it to Applejack, which she takes with shaking hooves and chugs it all in one gulp. The farmer hunches forward, gasping and shaking as her hooves dig into the wet grass.

“I hurt her,” whimpers Applejack, her cheeks soaked in tears, with more splattering on the grass. “I... I did this. I did this and I can't fix it.”

Fluttershy swallows and looks at the sinking coffin, her heart dropping lower into an abyss of misery with each crank, wishing her final moment with Pinkie Pie had been one of great joy instead of misery.

Fluttershy creeps down the hallway of the upstairs of the Sugar Cube Corner, wearing a bandage around her head. When she entered, she had asked Carrot Cake if she can see Pinkie Pie, just to talk. However, Carrot tried to dissuade her, saying that Pinkie Pie has not been herself lately, choosing to be a recluse and warning others to stay away from her. Even the twins told her that Aunt Pinkie has been acting strange and took a sudden liking to knives.

Fluttershy, despite the advice and her survival instincts telling her to flee, continues to walk slowly down the hallway. It feels longer and darker than it should, and she feels lightheaded as the walls give off an eerie vibe, like it wants to grab her and rip her limb from limb. She presses on, though. Her steps slow, her heart heavy with a mix of fear and determination, and her throat clogging as she gulps from the odd presence.

Once she is by Pinkie Pie's room, as marked by the balloon painted on the door, she raises her hoof to knock, but stops when she hears a conversation on the other side.

“I told you they were fakes,” says Pinkie Pie eerily.

“I know, but I was really hoping they were real friends, this time,” says Pinkie Pie again, though, in a tone that is burdened with pain and no trace of malice heard.

“But, but, but. Always a but. C'mon, Pinkie, you know out of aaaaaaaall your so-called friends, I was always there for you. I was aaaaaaaaaalways there to keep you safe from all those meanies and fakes, and because you ignored me THEY HURT YOU!”

There is a loud thump that makes Fluttershy gasp and recoil with her wings expanded and a sharp blade of fear piercing her heart. The screaming voice that comes from the room is made of pure malice, like an angry demon stuck inside the body of a child. She wants to run, now. She wants to fly down the stairs, get Twilight and tell her that Pinkie Pie is sick, but before her legs can move, the door creaks open, and Fluttershy is covered in the bright light of the room and the shadow of Pinkie Pie.

The yellow pegasus gulps and shrinks down, staring at the sick eyes of Pinkie Pie. Her mane is flat, and the fur around her eyes seem darker as she frowns tiredly at Fluttershy.

“Hi, Flutters,” says Pinkie Pie in the burdened, saddened voice she heard before.

“Pinkie? A-are you okay?” stammers Fluttershy,making the mistake of looking past Pinkie Pie to see a knife stuck in the floor, right next to a chessboard with all its pieces in the wrong spot.

Pinkie Pie shakes her head and lowers her eyes. “No...”

Fluttershy swallows nervously and looks for any signs of anyone else in the room, but she sees no one. “Who were you talking to?”

Pinkie Pie look up at Fluttershy again, frowning and her hoof grabbing her door. “Another fake friend.”

“Another...?” Fluttershy's eyes grow wide and she cautiously gets up and walks towards Pinkie Pie, hooves shaking to near collapse and her stomach churning to where she feels like she is going to vomit. But her friend needs her more than her comfort right now, and she tries to ease closer to Pinkie Pie by offering a weak, but genuine smile. “Pinkie, I-I am not a fake friend. I'm real. We can talk, if you want... I-I mean, I want to talk, but only if you want to talk to me about how you feel.”

Pinkie Pie steps back and grips her door tighter, her whole expression darkening with a defensive snarl. “Like I'm going to fall for that joke again.”

Then she slams the door shut in front of Fluttershy's face, trapping herself in the room with whatever is lurking inside.

Fluttershy looks away from the coffin, choosing to look at the grass instead, torn from the guilt of not trying hard enough to stop her friend's madness, and she barely lifts her eyes look at Applejack. She is still sitting, but is now rubbing her chest and has her head bowed with Apple Bloom and Big Mac rubbing her shoulder.

She looks at Rainbow Dash and sees her head following the coffin down, refusing to let Pinkie Pie out of her sight. The yellow pegasus brings her attention to Rarity and sees she is also looking at Applejack with great concern, but is not moving. She wants to move, Fluttershy can tell, but her legs will not work for her. That being said, Fluttershy sighs and looks down at the ground, feeling helplessness looming over her and wishing she could do something to bring everyone together for this tragedy.

Rarity glances at the Applejack's group, wanting to say something to them, but her eyes drift to Rainbow Dash. She really wants to apologize to her, for she had been closest to Pinkie Pie out of everyone. Their bond had been something that would appear to be unbreakable, but with the coffin lowered, she sees a look in her friend that she thought she would never see.

Loyalty's narrowed eyes are watching the coffin with unbreakable focus, her nostrils are flaring and her cheeks pulsate as her legs and wings tremble. It is a rage that she has never seen before in her friend. A rage that demands blood.

Rarity gulps and turns her focus to the cranking and squeaking system of simple machines lowering Pinkie Pie's casket down. She can't even bare to look at her dead friend, much less remember her last act towards her.

“You got spike killed!” screams Rarity while throwing one of her sewing machines at Pinkie Pie.

Pinkie Pie barely dodges the large device in time, and it crashes into the wall, leaving a massive dent in it that exposes the guts of the wall. Sweetie Belle screams at Rarity and Apple Bloom and Scootaloo also shout at her to calm down as they physically block her from approaching Pinkie Pie. She is now huddled on the floor in her bandages, staring at her former friend with wide, bloodshot eyes and a face soaked tears.

“Rarity, I'm sorry!” sobs Pinkie Pie.

“You think sorry will make things better!” screeches Rarity, trying to bully her way past Apple Bloom and Scootaloo while levitating a wine bottle. However, with Apple Bloom on the scene, she can barely move against the young earth pony while Scootaloo is there for support, her wings batting uselessly for some addition strength, and Sweetie Belle is tugging at the bottle with her own magic.

“Hey, cool it!” barks Scootaloo.

“None of this is her fault, can't you see that?” yells Apple Bloom.

“No, this is all her fault! Spike is dead because of her! Fluttershy got hurt because of her! And those psychos will come back and finish what they started and they will kill more ponies because of her!” rants Rarity.

It is then that her world is knocked into a blur of colors as a flash of pain erupts across her cheek like heated ball of metal. She collapses on the ground, too shocked to scream in pain. All she can do is press her hoof against her cheek and watch in morbid fascination as blood dribbles past her lips to stain her floor.

She lifts her eyes to Scootaloo and sees the teenage pegasus staring down at her, her eyes cold and unforgiving and the feathers of her underdeveloped wings ruffling in challenge. Her two friends also stare at her, surprised beyond words about what happened, and Scootaloo looks at them, also surprised, but for her own reason.

“What? She deserved it,” says Scootaloo.

Rarity looks to where Pinkie Pie had been laying, panting and blinking tears of pain and anguish out of her eyes, but sees only an open door. Her friend is no more.

Rarity rubs the spot where Scootaloo struck her as she watches from her peripheral vision the rest of the coffin disappear from view. She knows she deserves more than just a punch from a teenager, and now she's thinking she should just walk up to Rainbow Dash and let her beat her to death for what she did to her closest friend.

By this point, the rain has eased to a miserable patter. It is not enough to soak ponies down to their bones like before, but it is just enough to annoy those caught in it without an umbrella with its random pokes against the body. The rain, being as irritating as it is, does a fabulous job in souring Rainbow Dash's mood. She still does not know why the Pies allowed Twilight and the others in, or these other ponies, for that matter.

Rainbow Dash leans over the hole of the coffin, watching a picture of Pinkie Pie and her family flutter down to land on the sun and balloons decorating it, only for a clump of mud to splatter over it. She looks up, scowling at the pony who did that, but they do not care. The stallion looks bored shoveling the dirt in the grave, as do his companions.

A quiet sniffle reaches her ears, and she looks to the source and sees Octavia laying in front of the hole with Igneous next to her, his hoof draped over her and his body pressed against hers. He is resting his head on top of hers, and while he is crying, too, is gently shushing her and telling her that everything will be alright.

Rainbow Dash shakes her head and glances at the other mourners, noting how they have spread out to mingle about the good times they had with Pinkie. She briefly wonders how many actually knew her, or how many were only there because she gave them food and parties. It is through her scanning that she notices a mini-train painted in all black with tinted windows pull up.

She watches curiously as a pegasus in her fifties with an ice blue coat and a fading blue mane and tail bearing a slight curve crawl out from the vehicle. She is wearing a black suit with a white blouse underneath and frowns with distaste at the light rain. Why she chose to take a vehicle and fly is beyond Rainbow Dash for the most part. In fact, the only reason she can think of for the taboo entrance of the winged pony is that her wings are frail, which will be tragic. A pegasus who can't use their wings is hardly a pegasus, after all. However, the closer the newcomer gets, the more Loyalties eyes narrow, for her whole appearance just boasts a haughty attitude with a disgusting amount of pride. The fact that she showed up at the funeral does not give her any brownie points, either. If she is even supposed to be here, in the first place.

So transfixed is her gaze on the ice blue mare that she does not notice the surviving Element Bearers stepping next to her, also staring at the newcomer. When she is in front of them, she takes a breath like those of a hike would once they find a resting spot ad flashes a quick, relieved smile at the group. That one second of a smile really pisses off Rainbow Dash to the point of an eye twitch.

“Ladies, you have my condolences for your loss,” says the aged mare.

It is then that Rainbow Dash notices the other Elements besides her, and she gives each of them a dose of heated looks before giving her wings a quick flap and frowns at the elderly pegasus.

“I apologize for arriving late, but I have a hectic schedule and must return to work as soon as possible,” continues the mare. “My name is Brisk Wind, Director of the Equestrian Investigation Bureau, by the way.”

She sticks out her hoof, and each of the Element Bearers take turns shaking it, some more enthusiastic than others, each offering their own greetings in their own style. Once the formalities are out of the way, Brisk Wind sighs and lowers her hoof.

“So, you're the head of the new spy agency?” asks Applejack, her tone darkening to scrutiny.

Brisk Wind smirks. “If you are referring to our undercover operations in our Civilian Defense Agency branch, then no, we are not spies. The EIB and her branches serve as the protectors of Harmony, seeking only nothing but safety for the public and the efficiency of the royal government and its role in the lives of its citizens.”

Applejack raises an eyebrow, appearing more hostile towards the Director while the others seem complacent. Rainbow Dash, on the other hand, ruffles her feathers and moves forward with heavy steps.

“Okay, you're a hotshot of some government agency, who cares. What do you want? It can't be for the funeral because its over,” says the vibrant pegasus, her energy fueled by growing annoyance and a desire to punch that smug look right off Brisk Wind's face.

Said pegasus offers an apologetic sigh. “I actually intended to attend the funeral, but work has kept me busy.”

The mares exchange looks, with Twilight, Fluttershy and Rarity seemingly able to understand the Director's plight, Applejack not impressed and Rainbow Dash completely unforgiving.

“But, I do have good news,” says Brisk Wind. “I came to tell you that you do not have to wait long for justice for I have in custody the one who murdered Pinkie Pie. She's been hospitalized, but has recovered enough for a transfer to a proper prison instead of a comfy hospital bed.”

Twilight's eyes practically explode from her eyes from the sheer shock of the news, and for once, Rainbow Dash smiled. It is an evil, revenge mostly satisfied kind of smile, but a smile nonetheless. That smile is quick to go, though, as she is sure Pinkie Pie would not like her smiling about a hospitalized pony going off to prison. She knows Fluttershy is mortified by that news just by looking at her. But feelings for others or not, she is still wanting the one who took her friend from her to suffer, and the ones who put Pinkie Pie down the path to suffer just the same.

“So, you got them, huh?” says Rainbow Dash, her feathers ruffled and jaw set tight as vengeance swirls like a fiery cyclone in her eyes. “Why are you keeping them in prison when you could just have Celestia turn them into stone?”

“Rainbow!” gasps Fluttershy, horrified by her friend's words.

Rainbow Dash glares at Fluttershy, making her squeak and shrink into Rarity's protective hug, and the Element gazes at all of her fake friends, thinking about how all of them need to be bludgeoned and tossed out of a building.

“For a crime as serious as this? It would shock me if petrification is denied,” replies Brisk Wind, her tone as grim as Loyalty's expression. Seconds later, Lock and Fuller walk up to the group, and she looks at both stallions for only a moment before returning her attention to the remaining Bearers. “I best be going. I have much work to do. Lock, you ready?”

“I waited a whole funeral for you to arrive,” replies Lock dryly, using his magic to adjust his suit for no apparent reason.

Now Rainbow Dash wants to punch two ponies, but through the almighty grace of Celestia, her hoof does not become acquainted with a pair of jaws. Meanwhile, Brisk Wind rolls her eyes and walks away with Lock in tow, leaving Fuller behind.

With Fuller next to Twilight, she looks up and down Fuller's body, more than likely searching for signs of injury since Rainbow Dash heard he had been shot the night Pinkie Pie died. However, if the Major has any injuries, his medal studded uniform is hiding it very well.

“You... recovered well. I think,” says Twilight, looking up and down Fuller's body for signs of injury, which none are present.

The older unicorn smiles thinly. “I have had worse injuries.” His expression shifts to remorse and he looks at all of the mares. “But I am not here to discuss my injuries. I am here to offer my thoughts to you, as all of you are suffering through a difficult time. I know what it is like to lose friends in such terrible ways. It never is easy.”

For some reason, that statement makes Rainbow Dash's blood boil. Maybe it is because of his voice sounding devoid of emotion, maybe it is because he is trying to flimsily connect with a bunch of ponies he barely knows. Maybe it is something else, entirely.

“Yeah, did you have asshole friends that made your best friend kill themself by going to a bunch of terrorists to get beaten to death?” says Rainbow Dash, earning shocked expressions from everyone except Fuller.

“Not quite,” replies the Major deadpanned.

“Then you don't know what it's like, so zip it!”

“Rainbow!” gasps Twilight. “He's trying to be polite!”

“Oh, fuck you, Twilight!”

“Rainbow Dash, really?” scolds Rarity.

“Yeah, really, Rarity!” snaps Rainbow Dash. “Egghead over there is talking about being polite, when you guys are the reason Pinkie killed herself, which is pretty fucking rude!”

“Rainbow, I'm sorry,” says Twilight, her hoof going on the blue pony's shoulder.

With a vicious snarl, Rainbow Dash bats Twilight's hoof away and steps back, teeth exposed from her growl and her wings expanded threateningly as trickles of tears slide down her cheeks with the rain.

“Don't touch me!” yells Rainbow Dash furiously. She points at Twilight and moves her hoof between Applejack and Rarity when they step forward. Fuller remains standing where he is, though, and the original Cutie Mark Crusaders arrive with Big Mac a moment later, curious about the scene. “You three stay the hell away from me!”

Twilight extends her hoof pleadingly. “Rainbow, I-”

“No! Just shut up! This is all your fault! This all your guys' fault!”

“Rainbow, I tried to make amends! I tried to help her!” cries Twilight as she points at herself. “I tried to get her to come back to talk with us, but-”

Rainbow Dash stomps her hoof on the wet grass. “She tried talking to you guys before she got herself killed! But I guess I was the only one with fucking ears!”

“Rainbow Dash, please don't yell,” begs Fluttershy as she walks up with Big Mac, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo following close behind, all carrying looks of concern.

“I agree with your friend. Your outburst is a very unnecessary escalation,” says Fuller calmly.

“I have every right to yell!” screams Rainbow Dash, her face red and eyes watering with tears. “Just like I have every right break in every one of your fucking skulls in!”

Fuller cocks a brow, and all but Applejack take a step back, gasping in shock. Applejack remains steadfast, but she has removed her hat and pressed it against her barrel, meeting Rainbow Dash's eyes with her emerald eyes shimmering in the light rain. The falling water has beaten her mane down to partially cover her eyes, but the earth pony does not make any motions to free her vision of them.

“Rainbow Dash, I admit I was hasty in my condemnation, and I wish I could change it all, honest,” says Applejack, her hoof now shaking and getting attention from everyone. “But, if ya wanna go and run off and never see us again for what we did, I'd fully understand.”

Twilight and Rarity balk at Applejack, and Big Mac and the original Cutie Mark Crusaders exchange worried glances at each other.

“What! But, Applejack-” starts Twilight.

“Say whatcha want, but she's right. We're all guilty of Pinkie's death and that ain't ever gonna change,” says Applejack glumly, her eyes now having trouble looking at anyone or anything. “The Elements broke as soon as we turned against her like we did. None of us are worthy of being the Bearers. I refused to listen to the truth and I turned my back on a friend, and nothin's ever gonna make that right.” Applejack removes from underneath her attire her Element of Honesty necklace and gives it to Twilight, which she reluctantly accepts. “Give this back to Celestia for me, will ya. There ain't no way I can look her in the eyes, now.”

Applejack looks at each of her friends, then looks at at Fuller, who is staring at her intently, unblinking with a neutral expression. The farmer swallows nervously and places her hat back on her head, tilting it with a shaking hoof and quietly uttering a farewell. She then sulks away with Fluttershy, Big Mac and Apple Bloom, leaving just the unicorns and pegasi.

Rainbow Dash watches the farmer leave, scowling and flapping her wings to get some of the accumulated water off.

There is a moment of heavy silence that comes between the group. No one says anything, and the light rain pattering against the stone and grass amplifies the misery in the air. The Element of Loyalty knows that these so-called friends still want to talk to her, to try to play the pity card, but it will not work on her. They betrayed Pinkie Pie, they betrayed one of their own. That act in itself is unforgivable. It is the unforgivable sin.

“Rainbow Dash?” asks Scootaloo suddenly, her voice meek like her demeanor.

Rainbow Dash looks at Scootaloo, frowning impatiently. “Yeah?”

The teenage pegasus swallows and runs her hoof on the grass. “Um... I was wondering if you wanted to go somewhere else? You know? Take your mind off of this and make you feel better?”

A very dangerous growl rumbles in Rainbow Dash's throat and she turns her glare on the stallions shoving dirt on top of Pinkie Pie's coffin while ruffling her feathers. “My best friend is dead, Scoots. Why would I want to take my mind off of that?”

Scootaloo opens her mouth, but no words come out, and she lowers her eyes and scraps her hoof against the grass, ears and wings drooped. Sweetie Belle swallows a lump in her throat, approaches her friend and gently pats her on the shoulder before escorting her away from the others. The two unicorns watch the teenage ponies leave, and when they are a good distance away, Rarity takes a deep shaky breath and steps forward.

“Rainbow Dash,” she starts, her voice quivering.

Rainbow Dash snaps her glare to Rarity and expands her wings explosively, visually threatening her with lots of pain shoulder she move one step closer. Rarity stops and quickly backs up into Twilight, who hugs her fellow Element tight while scowling at Rainbow Dash. Fuller steps forward, too, and stands in front of Twilight, his eyes locking on Loyalty, but his expression remaining the same.

Not saying anything, the Element of Loyalty bats her wings and rockets into the sky, soon to disappear in the gray canvas blocking the warmth of the sun.

Not too far away, near a mini-train that is being guarded by an earth pony mare with a yellow coat and brown mane wearing a black chauffeur outfit, is Brisk Wind and Lock. The three watch Rainbow Dash disappear into the sky, and the Director snorts and turns to the vehicle, which Lock opens with his magic.

“Always a showoff,” mutters Brisk Wind.

She crawls inside, followed closely by Lock, then the earth pony mare. Brisk Wind shifts in her seat, grunting in annoyance from the flat seat's lack of comfort, and makes a mental note to have her vehicle worked on. Which, now that she thinks about it, all of the EIB vehicles can use an overhaul. And some typewriters. Especially typewriters. It'll make the paperwork less of a bitch and more of an annoying skank.

“Gear Wheel,” calls Brisk Wind, her hoof dragging out a rag from a bucket she has bolted on the wall near her.

“Yes, ma'am?” replies the earth pony, her blue eyes looking at the Director through the rear view mirror.

Brisk Wind starts cleansing her hooves of the wet grass that clings to her hooves with hard strokes. “Take me and Lock home.”

Gear Wheel nods. “Yes ma'am.”

The mini-train sputters and hums as a combination of heated water, steam and magical energy flows through the pipes circling the vehicle. There is an explosive pop that makes Brisk Wind's heart miss a beat, and a puff of black exhaust flies from the back pipes. The vehicle trudges forward, following the caravan of other vehicles down the winding road leading out of the cemetery.

Brisk Wind sighs loudly and wishes her bones will disappear so she can just melt on the seat. It may be uncomfortable, but that pop before the go always makes her think someone is taking a shot at her. Which, given recent events, she knows it will happen soon. She is actually partially insulted that no one has tried to shoot her yet, but, either way, it is a relief that she has not been shot by a crazy person.

Brisk Wind moans and slams her head against the seat, ignoring the flash of discomfort and the odd look her unicorn passenger is giving her. “Oh, what a day, Lock, what a day.”

“It has been, but there is something you should know,” says Lock.

Brisk Wind groans in annoyance and resumes cleaning her hooves. “Is this about why you called me to Ponyville instead of going to Canterlot?”

“To be fair. You were in the next town over.”

“So? We have a headquarters for a reason. We could have waited.”

“Actually, it could not wait, for we got a tip from a named source who claims to be with the League of Justice.”

“Oh? And what is this tip?” says Brisk Wind disinterestedly, putting more focus on her cleaning.

Lock removes from his inner pocket of his blazer, an envelop, which he then pulls out a folder with the EIB seal on it. “The location of the League of Justice's headquarters, including the names and addresses of their associates and lieutenants in Miner's Country.”

Brisk Wind freezes, tosses the used rag in a trash bin hanging next to the bucket of rags and grins excitedly at Lock, hooves pressed together and a loud squee coming from her.

“Is the information reliable?” asks Brisk Wind, her voice raising and her eyes glowing with addictive anticipation.

Lock smiles thinly and looks down at the folder of information. “I believe so, considering she marked herself as the head of operations in Miner's Country.” He closes the folder and looks at Brisk Wind. “Should we inform Captain Sparkle and Princess Celestia about the information?”

Brisk Wind immediately shakes her head. “No, Lulamoon might know something this informant does not, and I'd rather give them the full picture instead of scraps.”

Lock raises a brow critically. “You do realize that Lulamoon is a rookie and the one we spoke to claimed to be the leader of the Miner's Country branch of the LoJ, right?”

Brisk Wind snorts. “Everypony knows something, and if the information for Miner's Country proves reliable, then we'll have more evidence against the League's headquarters for Sparkle to mount his assault.” The pegasus grins and rubs her hooves connivingly. “Besides, the more rats we catch, the more we'll find through them, proving the EIB's worth. Who is the informant, anyway?”

Lock opens up the folder again and scrunches his brow as he scans the file. “According to this audio transcript, she said her name was Maud Pie.”

“Pie?” Brisk Wind cranes her neck to look past Lock and sees Octavia and Igneous conversing with Celestia. A thin smile spreads as a giddy feeling runs through the Director's body that makes her want to shout joyously and prance around, probably give Lock a big, wet kiss for this news. She restrains herself, though, if only because she respects Lock just enough to not intrude on his preferences. Besides, she really cannot prance around in public. She has an appearance to keep, after all. “Oh, I do love it when there is a blood feud. It makes things all the more exciting! By the way, was she warned about the dangers of making her tip not-so anonymous?”

“We did.”

“And?”

Lock smirks and shows the transcript to Brisk Wind, and she can't help but giggle at that, too.

“That response is almost unreal,” she says.

“I doubt she will last long if they figure out what she did, though. The League of Justice has already proven to be populated by psychopaths,” says Lock as he puts the file away again.

“Well, with a response like that and her rank, I have every reason to believe she can take care of herself.”

12 FEB 12 LR

MCGEE: Ma'am, if I understood you correctly, you said your name was 'Maud Pie'?

MAUD PIE: Yes.

MCGEE: Ma'am, I am obligated to inform you that giving out your name for such an... immense amount of information without anonymity can be very dangerous.

MAUD PIE: I know.

MCGEE: Would you like to come in and talk in person? Perhaps we can discuss options regarding your safety. Does that sound good?

MAUD PIE: No.

MCGEE: But, ma'am, Miss Pie, without any form of Witness Protection, the League of Justice might find out about the information you gave us, and what will you do when they come for you without us to protect you?

MAUD PIE: Let them come.

Author's Notes:

Added 15 Feb 2015