Chapter 19.

Rainbow flew to the watchtower unaware that there were two watching her movements intently on a cliff outside of ponyville. One of the two who were watching Rainbow intently turned to the other one saying to her as she looked at her sister.

“Do you think our sister will come to fight in the war for Equestria?” One said to the other while they both watched the horror of battle take place down below.

The other stood on the cliff watching the events unfold completely dead silent.

“I hope she does show up then we can help her.” Her sister said to her as they both watched intently as Rainbow got closer to the watchtower.

Again the other one who was watching Rainbow Dash move towards the watchtower stood in dead silence as her sister said while Rainbow flew ever closer to the tower.

“If the three should show up then sister you and I will have little choice in the matter as our sister will have to die in order for the other to take her place.”  Her sister said coldly to her while she turned to watch the battle take place down below.

A slight smile escaped the lips of the one that was silent she nodded towards Rainbow Dash as the watcher and her sister stood there watching Rainbow reach the tower.  As Rainbow landed on the top of the tower she reached out with her front hooves and grabbed onto the rope that was attached to a large brass bell. Pulling with all her strength Rainbow began to ring the bell and yell out to the ponies below.

“Evacuate the town, Evacuate the town!” Rainbow yelled as she rang the watch tower bell.

Ponies all over ponyville stopped what they were doing and looked towards the watchtower. Pinkie Pie and Rarity raced towards the watchtower both knew the war for Equestria was beginning. As Rarity and Pinkie both got up to the watchtower Rarity called out to Rainbow Dash.

“Rainbow darling have you seen Fluttershy anywhere? We need to make sure she is taking the fillies and colts to the Everfree forest as Luna requested of her.” Rarity called out to Rainbow as Rainbow rang the watchtower bell.

Rainbow stopped ringing the bell then looked down at her two friends then raised her head and spotted Fluttershy by the mayor's office with several fillies and colts standing next to her. Looking back down at her two friends standing in front of the watchtower Rainbow floated down to them saying to both of them.

“I saw Fluttershy over by the mayor's office she has several fillies and colts with her. We need to leave now! There is an army of nine hundred thousand soldiers headed this way.” Rainbow said as she looked at her two friends.

“I am sorry darling but, uh did you just say nine hundred thousand soldiers are coming here?” Rarity asked with a shocked look on her face.

“Yes I did. We need to clear this town and we need to do it NOW!” Rainbow replied.

“We will be completely overrun, Ponyville has solders yes, but not that many. There are only about two hundred royal guards stationed here. Rainbow darling what are we going to do?” Rarity said as she looked at her friend with worry in her eyes.

“I don’t know, all I know is that we need to clear the town. Yet nopony is moving their all just standing around looking at me and the stupid tower. I thought when one pony would ring that blasted bell it was suppose to call all ponies to action and get them to leave the town.” Rainbow said as she looked on towards the stunned ponies in ponyville.

The two looked at each then back at Rainbow before nodding as Rarity turned to leave to go get Fluttershy while Pinkie remained behind to help Rainbow clear the town. Rainbow sighed deeply as she floated back into the air watching Rarity leave then turned towards Pinkie saying to her.

“Okay you take the west side of town I’ll take the east we will meet up with as many towns ponies as we can gather in the town's center. Got it?” Rainbow said as she started to fly off towards the east side of ponyville.

Pinkie didn’t have time to reply she started to run towards the west side of Ponyville and started gathering up all the mares and colts she could find there. Once she had gotten all the ponies she was able to find she started to direct them towards the center of town. Rainbow like Pinkie also gathered up the town’s ponies and like Pinkie she too directed them towards the center of town. Seeing that the entire town was now fully gathered up in the center of town Rainbow called out to them all as she flew over head.  

“Ponies of Ponyville I need you all to listen to me, there is a great threat coming here we need to leave NOW!”

Pinkie looked around at the crowd that had formed in the town center seeing that none of the ponies were moving she climbed on top of the water fountain. Located in the very middle of Ponyville and called out to her fellow ponies saying to them all.

“I know you all must think that Rainbow is just playing a practical joke but, I can assure you all that Rainbow wouldn’t joke around about something like this. Please for the love of Celestia we all need to leave Ponyville right now.”

“What's so bad that we all need to leave the town for Rainbow?” A voice called out to her from the crowd.

“I didn’t want to have to say anything but, I will if I must. Airghith the destroyer is coming and he is coming with a large amount of undead soldiers.” Rainbow said as she floated in the air above the towns ponies.

“Yeah right you are obviously playing some really cruel joke on us Rainbow Dash.” Another voice called out from the crowd.

As the crowd started to leave the center of town a loud horn was heard coming from the mountain lots of stomping and screaming could also be heard coming from the mountain as well. Rainbow smirked to herself when she heard the horn and the stomping from the undead army getting ever closer to ponyville. As each of the towns ponies all stopped dead in their tracks one called out from the crowd saying in fear.

“What was that?” The voice called out.

Rainbow looked towards the mountain seeing a long line of torches and hearing the screams of the undead soldiers. Rainbow looked back at the town's ponies saying to them all as they all stood there frozen with utter fear plastered on each of their faces.

“Now do you believe me we need to leave now!” Rainbow said.

No sooner had Rainbow finished her sentence than the dragon  Arighith was seen flying over head. He looked down and let out a mighty scream as he sent a fireball hurtling towards the watchtower. When the fireball hit the tower it exploded sending debris in all directions Rainbow ducked just in time as a large piece of the watch tower nearly took her head off. Rarity and Pinkie were both covered in falling bits of wood and mortar. Fluttershy seeing the watchtower explode from the fireball froze on site leaving the fillies and colts helpless and defenseless. Rainbow seeing that her good friend was scared out of her mind and left frozen as the dragon banked upwards for another attack on the town flew to her friends side. As she came down near Fluttershy Rainbow heard the dragon yell out to the towns ponies.

“THAT’S IT LITTLE PONIES RUN, RUN FROM ME! YOU’RE FEAR WILL ONLY INCREASE YOUR TASTE AS I EAT YOU ALL  ALIVE.”Arighith screamed out as he banked upwards for another attack on the town.

“Alright solders as he pass’s over head let lose your magic and hit that beast with everything you have.” Yelled one of the soldiers as the dragon banked up and to the right.

Airghith came in just as the solder had predicted seeing their chance had come the soldier yelled out only one word as the dragon swooped in low to the ground.

“NOW!” The soldier yelled as he and the others all let loose their magic.

The soldiers realized all too late that their magic wasn’t enough to stop the beast as he was able to grab onto each of them ripping them in half as he ate them all. The screams of both the soldiers and other ponies dying from the dragon's attacks filled the air and was carried throughout all of Equestria on the cold icy wind.  

Other royal guards that were stationed in ponyville each ran to a different spot in the town. Each one of them getting there magic ready for a counter attack. Rainbow saw this and although she wanted to help her first concern was to help her fallen friend. Looking down at Fluttershy she said to her sternly as the fillies and colts cried out for their mothers and fathers to protect them.  

“Fluttershy pull yourself together you have a job to do. I know you are scared right now but, these little ones need you.” Rainbow said as she looked at Fluttershy.  

Fluttershy didn’t move a muscle leaving Rainbow to look around for anything that might get Fluttershy to move. Spying a sharp looking nail lying just a few feet from the two of them Rainbow walked over to it picked it up in her teeth then walked back over to Fluttershy. Spitting the nail into her hooves Rainbow said to Fluttershy while holding the nail in both of her front hooves.

“Sorry about this flutters but, you need to move and move NOW!” Rainbow said as she jabbed the nail into Fluttershy's rear end.

As Rainbow stabbed her friend in the rear end with the sharp nail she heard some of the remaining soldiers yell out.

“Look out he’s coming back!” The soldier yelled out as he tried to duck for cover only to be grabbed by the dragon's tail.

Seeing he had another pony soldier in his grip Airghith broke the back of the solder then ate him. One by one by one the soldiers stationed in ponyville all fell to Airghith’s attacks. Only three remained out the two hundred that were all stationed at Ponyville. The soldiers all ran towards Rainbow and Fluttershy as one of them yelled to her Rainbow plunged the nail deeply into Fluttershy’s flank as she heard the soldier yelling out to her.

“Move you fools move.” The soldier yelled to Rainbow and Fluttershy as the dragon came back in for another attack.

The nail sank deeply into Fluttershy’s rear end causing the custard colored pony to yelp and jump six feet in the air holding her rear end with her front hooves as she came back down. Hitting the ground hard on all four hooves Fluttershy rubbed her rear end tenderly as she glared at Rainbow who had a very sheepish grin on her face. Fluttershy heard the dragon screech as she watched in horror while he swooped in low cracking his tail into the mayor's office causing the building to explode. Rainbow covered Fluttershy with her body as huge amount of brick and mortar came flying towards them. Getting hit in the back of the head Rainbow was knocked out while Fluttershy had to muster up her courage. Looking at the fillies and colts that were standing next to her still crying out for their mothers and fathers Fluttershy while holding Rainbow in her hooves said to them.

“Get behind me NOW!, When that monster comes back for another pass we must make a break for the forest.”

The dragon flew upwards then banked to the right then to the left as he turned around flapping his wings causing a large amount of wind to be blown towards the town. His fireball having completely destroyed the watchtower now began to spread setting the rest of the town on fire. Ponies all over the town ran for their lives. Fluttershy was forced to watch in horror as several ponies were burned alive. The very parents to the ponies she was gathering had all run into a house to try to escape the fire caused by the dragon all died when they were burnd to death by the fire caused from the dragons attack. Fluttershy could almost feel her heartbreak as she heard the screams of the ponies inside a house as it caught fire reducing the occupants to ash and splintered bones.

“MAMA, PAPA!!!” Screamed one of the little colts in Fluttershy's care as he watched his parents burn alive in front of him.

The little colt was about to race towards the burning house when Fluttershy grabbed him and slowly began to drag him away from the battle raging in the town. Applejack was coming up the the path way with her sister and her sisters two friends in tow. Applejack after hearing the bell in the watch tower ring rang to her sister's school and although Ms. Cheerly put up a fuss. Applejack removed her sister and both of the other two crusaders from class. Taking them home was not an option for Applejack. Applejack looked at her sister as she ran towards the center of town to help her friends out saying to Applebloom. .

“Go now to the Everfree forest. Do not come out until I send for you.” Applejack called to Applebloom as she ran towards the center of town.

“But sis I want…..” Applebloom was cut of when her sister yelled at her.

“I SAID GO NOW APPLEBLOOM DON’T ARGUE WITH ME ABOUT THIS. JUST GO NOW!”

“Applebloom come on your sister is a big pony who can fully handle this.” Sweetie belle said as she started to run towards the forest.

“Yeah Applebloom besides do you really want to fight that?” Scootaloo said while pointing to the dragon who was flying right at them.

Applebloom looked up just in time to see the dragon pass over head. His powerful wings caused a large amount of wind to blow up and effectively pick up all three of the crusaders tossing them around like ragdolls. Each of them came crashing down into a small outcrop of trees just outside of the town. Applebloom slowly climbed out of her tree shaking herself trying to rid her body of the sheer pain she was in. Saying as her left back hoof touched the ground while trying to get her right back hoof onto the ground as well.

“Anypony get the number of that lizard that just tossed us like toys into these trees.”  Applebloom said as she stumbled about.

Appleblooms friends Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo both were having just as much trouble as she was having and they both like her were just as dizzy from getting tossed about. The dragon flew back towards ponyville as the crusaders all headed for the forest looking down he spotted his next target. Rainbow was lying in Fluttershy’s front hooves when Applejack came around a corner of a burning house.The young colt that had tried to run towards one of the burning houses to save his ill begotten family from the dragon's wrath was lying on his belly with his face buried in his hooves. Applejack wasted little time if any getting up to Fluttershy. When Applejack got close enough to Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash she picked up Rainbow with her two front hooves and placed her onto her back. While carrying Rainbow on her back Applejack then directed Fluttershy to grab the young colt and do the same with him. The other fillies and colts that Fluttershy was looking after all followed them as Applejack and Fluttershy began to lead them out of ponyville and into the Everfree forest. Pinkie Pie and Rarity, Applejack noticed were nowhere in sight looking to Fluttershy Applejack said to her friend as they got to the edge of the forest.

“Go get the little ones to safety I will go back and look for both Pinkie and Rarity.” Applejack said as she started to head back to ponyville.

As Applejack was turning to head towards ponyville she heard the dragon yell out to anyone below him that was still alive.

“MY QUEEN HAS DEEMED PONYVILLE UNWORTHY TO LIVE THUS I WILL END YOU ALL WITH THIS FINAL  ATTACK!” Airghith said as he reared his head backwards then let out a massive fireball.

Applejack looked up just in time to see a large crystal blue fire ball leave the dragon's mouth and fly towards the center of town. The fireball slammed with all its fury into the center of ponyville causing a massive shockwave as it exploded leveling the town to little more than broken boards, mortar and broken pieces of glass. Applejack was picked up by the shock wave and hurled through the forest slamming into several trees as she came back down to the ground rolling to a stop. Hitting the ground hard Applejack broke her left back leg and badly cut the right side of her flank and lower jaw. Seeing her sister hit the ground Applebloom raced towards her sister yelling out as she ran towards Applejack.

“SIS OH, BY CELESTIA’S MANE PLEASE BE ALRIGHT.” Applebloom yelled out in fear.

Rainbow was just coming too as her vision blurred in and out she just barely saw the dragon fly overhead and head toward Canterlot. Trying to stand but falling back to her knees Rainbow stumbled back and forth as she fell back to her knees several times before Fluttershy said to her.

“Rainbow you need to rest your hurt.” Fluttershy said as she watched Rainbow try again to get up only to see her fall again to her knees.

“Can’t…. Canterlot….. needs …..me……. Fluttershy.” Rainbow squeaked out as she fell back to her knees for a fourth time.

Both Rainbow and Fluttershy heard Applejack scream out in pain as her sister was dragging her over to them. The rest of the fillies and colts that Fluttershy was able to save all huddled around Fluttershy and began to sob. The dragon made his way to canterlot as his undead soldiers slaughtered any that remained in ponyville. The screams of those dying either by dragon fire or by being slaughtered from the undead soldiers filled the days air and was carried on the wind. Fluttershy laid on her stomach covering her ears with her hooves desperately trying to block out the noise made from both Applejack and those that were dying. As the dragon flew ever closer to Canterlot castle he suddenly stopped in mid flight when he felt pain throughout his body. The dragon heard within his mind a telepathic message from someone that he didn’t count on showing up.

“You will turn back! Go back to the mountain and await further orders. Do it not and you shall feel more than my foulness within your body.” The voice said within the dragon's mind.

Looking around as more pain arched its way over his body Airghith let out the loudest scream that he had ever done so in the past. Turning around and heading back towards the mountain Airghith thought to himself as he summoned his soldiers to follow him.

“What or who ever you are you will regret toying with me!” Airghith thought to himself as he flew over what was left of ponyville.

Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo all tried to help Applejack as Rainbow Dash again tried to stand but was only able to fall back to her knees. Breathing heavily Rainbow decided to lay on her stomach for a few minutes as she watched Scootaloo run towards a large thicket of grass. Scootaloo looked at the grass then with her teeth pulled up several small mouth falls and brought those over to Applejack. Spitting them out she said to Applejack.

“Alright Applejack I hate to do this to you but, we need to sew up those cuts on your flank and jaw. As well as set your broken leg which is going to to hurt and hurt like tartarus coming down on you like a raging bull.” Scootaloo said to Applejack.

Applejack had slipped into a state of delirium as her mind shifted from what was real to what was fake. All she really heard from Scootaloo was.

“Pain hurt tartarus.” Before she was left screaming out as Scootaloo began to sew up her wounds.  

Seeing her sister thrash about and Scootaloo ducking to avoid getting kicked by Applejacks powerful hooves. Applebloom raced over to try to calm her sister down only to receive a hoof to the lower jaw which sent the little fillie sprawling head over hooves into a nearby tree. Sweetie Belle watching this and not wanting to see her two good friends get hurt by Applejack thrashing about. Ran over and kicked Applejack in her right temple knocking her out cold. As Applejack slipped into unconsciousness Sweetie Belle turned her attention to Rainbow Dash who was again trying to get back up. Seeing her intent was clear Sweetie Belle ran over to her and held her on her shoulders while Scootaloo and Applebloom both attended to Applejack. Rainbow looked at Sweetie Belle then over at her two friends closed her eyes and slowly began to make her way to the edge of the forest. Sweetie Belle went with her to help her stay upright as the two of them got to the edge of the forest they saw what was left of ponyville. Sweetie Belle fell to her stomach and cried out.

“RARITY!”

Looking at the horror of the ruined town Rainbow took Sweetie belle into her wings although doing so caused her pain she didn’t care. The little fille needed a friend and more importantly she needed a loyal friend. Sweetie Belle began to sob in Rainbows shoulders as she cried out again for her sister only to receive in return for her calling out to her sister her voice echoing throughout the ruined town. Rainbow soothed Sweetie Belle as best as she could when she heard lumber and bricks shifting off to her right. Setting the little filly down she readied herself for an attack when Pinkie popped up from underneath a pile of wood and bricks. Pinkie looked at Rainbow then at Sweetie Belle and nodded as Rarity also began to slowly emerge from the debris. Sweetie Belle seeing her sister was alive raced over to her and jump onto her exclaiming out as she took a hold of her sister.

“You're alright, you're not dead, you're alive.” Sweetie Belle said as she took a hold of her sister.

Looking down at her sister Rarity said to her gently as she embraced her little sister in her hooves and pulled her tightly into a warm hug.

“Yes my darling little sister I am alive and I am ooooh, a bit sore but other than that I am alive.” Rarity said as she set her sister down then rubbed her ribs with her front hooves.

“I don’t understand how either of you survived when that monster tore apart our town like that. I mean that fireball was well huge neither of you should have been able to survive that attack.” Rainbow said looking at both Pinkie and Rarity.

Both Rarity and Pinkie lowered their heads as they each let a few tears fall from their eyes. Looking out toward the destruction of their once beautiful home Rarity said to Rainbow as she cried.

“We survived dear because the mayor gave her life for us. There was and is a cave system under the town the mayor discovered this system and had tunnels built into it in case something like this happened. She died giving her life for us. Please Rainbow tell us how many actually made it out of the town before the dragon let lose his final attack.” Rarity said as she looked back up at Rainbow while tears fell from her eyes.  

Rainbow limped over to a broken piece of wood then pushed it over with her nose and sniffed before turning back to face her friends saying to all of them.

“Eighteen fillies, ten colts, Fluttershy, Applejack, Sweetie belle, Scootaloo and Applebloom. All of whom are at the Everfree forest right now. That also includes you and Pinkie and myself. We are all that is left of our town.”

Rarity lowered her head again as she whispered out.

“No.”

“My best account is that four thousand four hundred sixty four are either dead or missing in action. Right now I don’t have time to worry about this I have a mission that needs to be completed and I must see it done.” Rainbow said coldly as she tried to hobble off towards Canterlot.

As Rainbow tried to hobble away from the group her body still badly wracked with pain as she fell to the ground. Rainbow  then slowly tried to pick herself up again. Only to fall once more this time Rarity and Sweetie Belle both came to her aid helping her to her hooves Rainbow nodded to them. Rarity began to gently nudge Rainbow towards the Everfree forest seeing that her friends wanted her to go back with them rather than try to complete her mission in state she was in. Rainbow finally decided to let her friends have their way and allowed them to help her get back to the forest getting to the forest Rainbow turned and took one last long look at Ponyville then headed into the thick forest. Rejoining her friends Sweetie Belle asked Applebloom and Scootaloo upon seeing that Applejack was sleeping soundly next to a small campfire that the two had set up.

“How is she doing Applebloom, Scootaloo? How is Applejack doing?” Sweetie Belle asked her two friends upon getting inside the forest.

Applebloom began to sob and was unable to answer Sweetie Belle's question Scootaloo lowered her head and said to Sweetie Belle.

“Not good at all unless we can get her to a doctor and soon I don’t think she will survive the night. I am no doctor myself but, I have seen enough really bad wounds in my time to know that Applejack needs more help than what I was able to give her. My very limited amount of healing knowledge comes from old textbooks she needs a professional not some pony who thinks she is a doctor or likes to play ‘hospital’ with her two friends.”

Hearing this Sweetie Belle began to head away from her two friends and towards the edge of the forest. Rarity stopped her as Rainbow laid down on her stomach next to Applejack hoping that her body heat would help keep the fallen farmer warm. Watching the two of them Rainbow grinned to herself when she heard Sweetie Belle say to Rarity.

“Get out of my way Rarity our friends need our help now MOVE!”

Rarity stood stone cold and locked in place right in front of Sweetie Belle’s path as Sweetie Belle jumped from the right then to the left so to did Rarity replying to her sister with.

“I am not going to let you go out there by yourself Sweetie Belle.” Rarity replied as she jumped to the left countering Sweetie Belle's attempt to leave the camp.

“Get out of the way sister I need to help my friends.” Replied Sweetie Belle as she jumped back to the right trying to get past her sister.

“No I will not move and you will not go out there alone.” Rarity replied as she jumped in front of her sister again stopping her from leaving the camp.

“If we don’t get help and soon Applejack will die! Now get out of the way!!” Sweetie belle screeched at the top of her lungs as she jumped to right again.

“I don’t want Applejack to die any more than you do Sweetie Belle but, you need a plan otherwise you could be walking into a trap. I don’t want to risk losing you too. Besides you don’t even know what Rainbows mission is.” Rarity replied as she once again jumped in front of her sister halting her in her tracks.

Sweetie Belle finally gave up with the jumping and decided to charge her big sister only to stopped when her sister stuck out her hoof and simply held Sweetie Belle in place. Sweetie Belle flailed her front hooves around wildly trying to hit her sister yet it was all in vain. Exhausted and out of breath Sweetie Belle fell to the ground and buried her face into her hooves crying as Rarity gently laid a hoof onto her sister's shoulder. Saying to her as she slowly helped her little sister back up.

“Listen to me darling sister I know you love and care for Applejack we all do. But, going out there after such an attack not knowing if that dragon is still out there is not only foolish it is stupid. You need to let Rainbow rest then she can complete her mission and thus get help for Applejack as well.” Rarity said as she held her sister's face in her right front hoof.

“I just don’t want to loose my best friends sister I really like Applebloom and I really care about Applejack. I don’t want her death to be on my conscience.” Sweetie Belle cried as she grabbed her sister and pulled her into a tight embrace.

“I know Sweetie Belle I know. I don’t want to lose her either. Tell you want let me go over to Rainbow Dash and ask her what her mission was then I will set out with you to go get help. How does that sound to you?” Rarity said as she ended the warm embrace she gave her little sister.

“Alright but, if you really are set on helping with this then we need to hurry.” Sweetie Belle said as she nodded to her sister.

Rarity walked over to Rainbow who was lying next to Applejack trying to keep Applejack warm with her body heat. As Rarity sat down Rainbow looked at her then down at that ground while she pulled Applejack closer to her. Rainbow said to Rarity while holding Applejack in her hooves.

“My mission if you must really know about it was to report to Luna about what I found on the mountain. When I got there I found both the dragon and Lady Galanthus each looked as if they were having some sort of argument over who should be in charge of the army. That army by the way Rarity is really big I would say it numbers in the tens of millions. That is why I want to get to Canterlot so badly to help out as much as I can.” Rainbow said as she held onto to Applejack.

It was then that Rarity glanced down and saw a disc glowing on Rainbows chest she looked up at Rainbow and smiled warmly to her saying softly.

“I will carry out your mission as will my little sister for now darling you stay here and rest with your mare friend. Both of you need to time to heal and heal you must if you are to be of any use to either Luna or Equestria in this war.” Rarity said softly to Rainbow as she slowly began to stand back up.

“There is more that I need…...no that I must tell you Rarity.’ Rainbow said stopping her friend in her tracks.

Turning back around Rarity looked at Rainbow with a puzzled look on her face before she said to her.

“What else is there for you tell me?” Rarity asked as she looked at Rainbow as Rainbow held her marefriend Applejack tightly in her hooves.

“Celestia and Twilight are both back although I do not understand why Celestia wasn’t apart of the battle to try to save our home. I can only guess that she left before the battle got started. If that dragon is able to reach Canterlot City he and his army will raise the city to the ground. I implore you do not fail in letting Luna know what she is up against Rarity.” Rainbow said as she looked at Rarity then down at her sleeping friend next to her.

Rarity swallowed hard at hearing that both Twilight and Celestia were both back. Questions started to pop into the unicorns mind as she stared at Rainbow for a few minutes. Rainbow saw the look on Rarity's face then sighed deeply to herself as she said to Rarity.

“No I don’t know how or even why either of them are back. I like you thought that Twilight was forever changed into Celestial Sparkle after she ascended when we got done with Celestia’s funeral. And like you as well I believed that Celestia was dead and gone now I do not know what to believe. All I know is that both Applejack and Equestria need me and therefore I will be loyal to both. So please Rarity take my mission and help Luna with this she is going to need all of us. Come back as soon as you can with help. I will remain here and try to keep her alive for as long as I can.” Rainbow said as she slowly brushed a few locks of Applejacks hair to the left side of her amber colored head.

Rarity stood up then turned to face her sister saying to her.

“Alright Sweetie Belle we are going to leave now I want you to do as I say when I say no arguments at all from you while we are out there got it?” Rarity said as she started to head towards the edge of the forest.

Fluttershy feeling a bit chilly slowly stood up and walked over to Rainbow while the fillies and colts all followed her. She directed each of them to take a place around the campfire and prepared to sit next to Rainbow when the colt she had saved from the burning house began to cry. Seeing how upset he was Fluttershy gently picked the little fellow up in her hooves and wrapped her wings around him then hugged him tightly until he cried himself to sleep in her hooves. Gently setting him back down near the campfire she laid down next to him and placed her left wing over him to act like a blanket as she watched Applejack breath in and out slowly. Scootaloo came back into the camp with more firewood in her hooves as did Applebloom. Seeing that Sweetie Belle and Rarity were gone they booth looked at Rainbow who gave them a look that said ‘don’t even think about leaving’. Neither of them wanted to fight with Rainbow about weather they should chance after their friend or not. Scootaloo slowly stepped near Rainbow Dash who moved over just enough to let her step sister lay next to her. While Applebloom laid next to Fluttershy on her right side. Once all were settled in, the group soon fell asleep as the sounds of the forest slowly began to creep in on them. Fluttershy being already scared as she was stayed awake while the others slept soundly. The only real noise that was to be heard was from Applejacks labored wheezing and Appleblooms soft snoring.

Next Chapter: Chapter 20. Estimated time remaining: 7 Hours, 20 Minutes