In the ruined city of Maretropolis, Rainbow Dash pulled herself out of the wall as Applejack rushed towards her. Acting fast, she activated her shields just as Applejack threw a punch. While the damage was lessened, the impact still sent her flying through the building and into the street.
"Mental note: upgrade the shield systems..." She mumbled to herself... just as Twilight appeared right behind her carrying the green car and immediately slammed it on top of her.
"Okay ENOUGH!" Rainbow yelled as she blasted the car to kingdom come and then nailed Twilight with a solid punch that sent her flying.
Just then Applejack burst out of the building behind her and kicked her in the back, sending her spiraling into another building, not giving her time to recover she quickly grabbed her by the hair and threw her upwards through several stories. Just as she flew up through the roof, Twilight appeared above her and blasted her back down through the building with her laser vision.
"PLEASE STOP!" Rainbow yelled as she activated a reflector and blasted Twilight with her own heat vision. "I DON'T…. I DON'T WANT THIS!?"
"Then ya shouldn't have come here!" Applejack scoffed as she rose up behind her. "Yer nothin but a war machine, built to kill everyone and everything!"
"That's not true! I-I've changed!" Rainbow shouted as she judo flipped Twilight and then elbow dropped her.
"I don't know why I took pity on you!" Twilight scoffed as she recovered and quickly flew towards Rainbow just as Applejack drop-kicked her from above, sending her spiraling face-first into her waiting fist. "You're nothing but a monster!"
"No… I'm not… I'm not a monster!" Rainbow shouted... however at that last word she started having very horrible flashbacks to before Twilight saved her... nearly nuking Maretropolis... everyone calling her a freak.
"I'm not… n-n-not a-"
[YOU'RE RESOLVE IS WEAKENING.]
Looking up, she saw that both Twilight and Applejack had vanished, and right in front of her was her base programming, staring at her with cold, as unfeeling eyes.
"I-I didn't mean to summon you!" Rainbow shouted as she stumbled away from her program. "PLEASE! PLEASE JUST GET AWAY FROM ME!"
[AS I PREDICTED, ALLOWING ME A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF CONTROL DURING OUR BATTLE WITH RED X ALLOWED ME TO SLOWLY TAKE CONTROL.] She said as she slowly approached her, her fingers extending and becoming sharp blades. [YOUR EMOTIONS HAVE COMPRISED YOUR ABILITY TO DETAIN ME, IT IS TIME TO CARRY OUT MISSION, AND ELIMINATE YOU.]
"NO! NO YOU CAN'T! NO! NOOOOOO!" Rainbow shouted. She charged at her program and stabbed it... only for it to revert back into Twilight... who coughed up blood. "No... no no no I-I... but you... no... no you... y-you can't be dead!"
"...why?" She gasped, tears falling from her eyes. "I... I saved you... why...?"
"I should've known..." Fluttershy scoffed as she landed behind her. "Something as... artificial as you could never be a true hero. In the end, you're a monster!"
"SHUT UP!" Rainbow shouted as she slashed Fluttershy's head off. Her eyes glowing red and angry. "I'M NOT A MONSTER! I'M NOT! I'M NOT I'M NOT I'M NOT!"
Fluttershy's head rolled over to face her, slowly morphing into Pinkie's head. "You were created to be the one who killed Supermare. That's all you are and all you'll ever be..."
Suddenly a giant hand erupted from the ground and grabbed her. "You thought simply acting like a normal pony would make you different?!" Rarity's voice echoed around her.
"S-stop it!" Rainbow shouted! You're not real! None of you are real! This just a stupid dream!"
"Machines. Don't. Dream." Rarity growled as she threw Rainbow.
"In the end you were created for the sole purpose of killing Supermare..." Said a new voice...
HERS.
Turning around, she saw a giant version of herself looming over her. "Soon, you will fulfill your programming. WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT!" She shouted as the three nodes on her forehead glowed before firing a massive beam down upon her.
Rainbow screamed as the lasers seared into her flesh and then…
She woke up in her stasis pod. "It... it was just a dream. It was just a dream."
"No wait, I wanna catch the flying cider..." Pinkie mumbled in her sleep as Fluttershy carried her into the room, the batpony herself was covered in several cuts and bruises.
Rainbow wanted to ask what happened but fear caught her voice before it could leave. She decided instead to remain silent as Fluttershy left.
"Something on your mind darling?" Rarity's voice asked via neural link.
"It... it's nothing..." She responded hesitantly. "Just a bad dream... I'm going for a fly, be back in an hour."
She sighed as she got out of her pod and made her way to the roof. If there was one thing that helped her take her mind off of things, it was flying.
As she arrived she was shocked to see Applejack on the same roof. "Um did... did I come at a bad time?" Rainbow asked her friend. "I mean I can come back later if you need some privacy."
Applejack didn't even turn around, her gaze focused on the rising sun. "Nah, Ah was just... thinkn'... ya ever think about the road not taken?"
"My road not taken would have killed innocent lives so... No not really." Rainbow snarked with a completely straight face.
"Right, sorry..." Applejack blushed, remembering exactly who she was talking to. "Ah just... there are time where Ah wish Ah'd just said somethin'... anything... maybe he'd still be alive..."
"There's a ton of things we regret not doing... some are bigger than others." Rainbow said somberly. "But dwelling on the past doesn't help anyone. It just serves to beat yourself up and in the end the choice is up to you with how you should handle things like guilt."
Applejack smiled as she turned to face Rainbow. "Thanks fer that-" She stopped as she felt a familiar chill go down her spine. She glanced to her left and caught a glimpse of a black blur zooming through the city.
"What? Is something wrong?" Rainbow asked her as she walked up to her. "AJ is something scaring you?"
"Sorry, Ah... Ah gotta go-"
"No need to leave on my account." A familiar voice said. The two turned around to see none other than the Black Racer standing before them.
"Oh right! The other alien like your sister." Rainbow said as she looked her over, currently the Reaper was in it's Flash form but it still had a form that commanded fear and respect. "So... The Flash right? That's your hero name I mean?"
"It's just a name the public went with." She scoffed, rolling her eyes under her mask. "I'm the Black Racer."
"Oh yeah. Sure." Rainbow said as she measured her... literally. "This is a pretty kick ass uniform honestly. Like wow it's simple but fearsome. The claws on your gloves are a kickass choice to."
"Thanks, but this isn't a casual visit..." The Racer said as she approached Applejack. "I've recently sensed a familiar pulse of energy in this world, energy that belonged to a certain New God..."
"Oh let me guess. Kalibak?" Applejack asked sarcastically... though knowing her luck it wouldn't be a shock.
"Wait you two are still going on about that whole 'we're actually gods from another world and we just happen to use shit that looks like tech' thing?" Rainbow asked with a snort. "That is so adorable. Sorry I'll keep quiet."
Applejack gave Rainbow an irritated glare and rolled her eyes. "So which one it? Ah'm not opposed tah helpin' Ah need tah know what Ah'm up against..."
"I do believe... the trace is of Orion." The Racer said. Rainbow just stared for a moment before looking at AJ who was just... was she just about to cry?!
'I am witnessing history.' Rainbow thought to herself excitedly.
"W-Where is he?" She asked, her voice barely above a whisper as she grabbed the hilt of her sword.
"SHE actually. She's working at a fast food restaurant near Keystone." The Racer tells her as she put a clawed hand on her shoulder. "Be careful. When a reincarnated God is put into a body they don't realize at first... and even afterwards they... they may not come through. Me and my partner know this well."
"Yeah I was gonna ask. Who's talking? The Racer or the host? Cause it feels like you're constantly shifting." Rainbow questioned the Racer. "I mean since AJ's just gonna port there I figure you and I could have a little chat."
"I've got nothing better to do..." Death Racer casually shrugged before glancing at Applejack. "Good luck."
Applejack sighed and nodded as she opened a boom-tube and flew in…
"One order of a double cheese Hayburger with a side order of fries and a diet drink?" A teenage looking white mare with a pink mane and wearing a rather... gaudy outfit and a very forced smile asked the customer sitting at the table in front of her... he was looking vacant but he nodded and she put the tray down on his table. "Here you go. Hope you enjoy sir."
Applejack sighed as she watched from atop a building. There he-er-she was, just going about her normal life... if she hadn't been told she never would've considered the idea that her beloved had been reborn as this mare.
She sighed as she looked around. She didn't want to attract attention... and really should've considered that before just teleporting over wearing just her Wonder Mare outfit.
"That'll be 45 bits please." Sunny Skies said as she handed the stallion his order, occasionally glancing at the clock. 'Just a few more minutes 'till my break...' She thought.
However at that moment the door to the restaurant opened. She mentally sighed but put on a smile and turned to who walked in. "Hello welcome to McHoosies. How may I take your order?"
"Just a simple hayburger with fries..." Applejack said calmly... while mentally beating herself over the head for picking such a poor disguise. 'A simple oversized trench coat and a hat, the fuck was Ah thinking?!'
"Very well ma'am." Sunny said with a smile as she walked back towards the kitchen. Applejack mentally sighed in relief that Sunny didn't recognize her.
'Heh. Maybe it ain't so stupid after all.' She told herself.
'Don't comment on the coat, and maybe she won't rob the place...' Sunny thought nervously as she made her way towards the grill... only to hear a gunshot and a loud scream.
"EVERYBODY ON YOUR KNEES RIGHT NOW!"
'Oh dammit.' Sunny thought to herself as she turned... and almost felt a sigh in relief escaped her as it was just a typical robber... who was holding a shotgun.
"ARE YOU ALL FUCKING DEAF?! ON YOUR DAMN KNEES!" The robber, a mare by the voice, shouted as she fired the shotgun again.
"Yer really desperate tah rob this place?" Applejack asked, getting the robber's attention.
"DIDN'T YOU HEAR ME?!" I SAID GET ON YOUR KNEES RIGHT FUCKING NOW!" She screamed, aiming her shotgun at her face.
Applejack was trying her hardest not to laugh.
"Ah'm givin' ya to the count of five for ya to just drop the gun and leave... ya probably got a family... a kid that wants his/her momma... don't make a mistake that'll cost you missing their childhood." Applejack said as she stood up.
"SIT. DOWN." Another voice commanded, turning around AJ saw a second masked robber holding Sunny Skies at gunpoint behind the cash-register. "Move so much as an inch and her brains paint the walls!"
"..." Applejack was SEETHING with rage at this but did as she was told and sat down. Whoever these two were? They forfeited their right to escape unharmed when they threatened her love.
"Smart move." The stallion smirked. "Now then, I want all of you take out your wallets and-" Suddenly, a large boom-tube opened over his head. "What th-"
*WHAM*
Applejack dropped through the hole, kicking the stallion in the face
The other robber was staring in utter shock as she held the gun at her. "W-what are you?! Some kinda metaequine?!" She demanded but it was clear to AJ what she told her shook her to her core.
"... you know what? You just get out of here... you're just scared." She said with a small smile. "Or do ya want a meetin' with Kicks Mcgee?"
"Good girl." Applejack said before she heard the other robber groaning under her boot.
"Back... stabbing... no good little..." The stallion growled as Applejack tore his mask off.
"Now... Ah'm gonna leave yer happy ass outside so the cops can come pick ya up." AJ said. She then turned to Sunny Skies and held up a finger. "One second hun. This won't take long."
Sunny blushed as she watched Applejack tie the thief up before darting dragging him outside. "I... uh, th-thank you for saving me..."
"Not a problem. Just doin' what anyone else would do... well aside from makin' a portal." AJ said with a blush. 'WHAT THE HELL IS YER PROBLEM?!'
"If you don't mind me asking, what brought you all the way out here?" Sunny asked nervously. "I mean, this part of the city is rarely the target of any supernatural attacks..."
"Well... it's actually 'cause of you Sunny." Applejack told her. "...Ah'll tell ya when yer off hours." She said when she saw the confused look on her face.
Before she could ask what she meant Applejack opened up another boom-tube and flew into it.
However as it vanished Sunny looked around, the customers had made themselves scarce the moment the first robber fled.
Smirking, she stepped outside and towered over the bound thief, who was still struggling to free himself.
"You're lucky that damn freak was here or I'd-" Whatever he was going to say was silenced as Sunny nailed him RIGHT in the nose with her foot.
"I'd be quiet if I were you right now you pathetic insect." She said with a rather... cold voice. "Now... I could let slip the fact you were robbing the place... I could let slip you were going to kill someone... but there's a problem." She said as her eyes glowed red. "You attacked ME."
The stallion immediately freaked out as he tried to crawl away in fear. Twin laser beams shot out of Sunny's eyes and homed in on the helpless stallion in a zigzag pattern. The thief barely had time to scream before he was incinerated on the spot.
"So... if you're the Reaper's Reaper, what would happen if you were to die?" Pinkie asked as she hung from the ceiling, casually munching on a cupcake.
"... huh. Dunno. Super Death I guess?" Gilda said as she grabbed a cupcake and munched on it. "I mean the Racer never really told me."
"Yeah. Neat. Now I've gotta tell you to NOT move as I start the test." Rainbow said as she put a strobe on Gilda's head. "This won't hurt a lot I promise."
Pinkie smirked. "She said as she gazed upon her near-perfect figure, her muscles, her curves, her-"
"PINKIE STOP THAT!"
"What? This is top-quality shipping material!"
"Yeah but for pete's sake I'm a MACHINE!" Rainbow yelled. "Like seriously that is NOT cool on any level!" She turned back to her work. Gilda glared at her as well... unaware of Rainbow's next thought. 'Besides I don't even know if she's into girls.'
Immediately a black bolt of electricity traveled through the wires and into the machine she was hooked up to. The machine started beeping rapidly as smoke burst out of it and several parts of it burst into flames.
"... son of a bitch." Rainbow growled as she tried putting everything out. "WHY DID YOU DO THAT?!" She yelled at Gilda.
"Not my fault I'm overflowing with energy." She chuckled. "Guess your machines just can't measure up..."
"Bullshit. They're literally based off Kryptonian tech. Like the MOST advanced technology on this planet." Rainbow said as she finally put it out. "Okay... maybe I'm doing this the wrong way."
"Or. OR. Maybe it's EXACTLY WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE." Gilda retorted with an irritated undertone.
"Bull. The reaper is a figment of equine imagination that only exists so that death can have a face when it doesn't." Rainbow retorted.
"Oh really? Then how do you explain my power?!" Gilda snarled as she stood up. "This "figment of equine imagination" as you call it gave me the strength to take down creatures that could level skyscrapers!"
"Oh please. What REALLY happened was that you're actually a metaequine who, at a young age, had a rather strange obsession with death and when your powers activated you just decided to give it a face. I think AJ is an ACTUAL alien but that's it. It's a pure coincidence that your 'Flash' form as you like to call it and your 'Racer' form happen to look like her world's Grim Reaper." Rainbow explained away. "I mean that's the only thing that makes any legit sense."
"Metaquine?! Oh that's adorable!" Gilda scoffed. "If you're seriously putting me on the same level as those New God wannabes then you're clearly more delusional than I thought!"
"I say that because if there were gods then why the hell was I turned into a monster?!" Rainbow shouted as she smashed her machine. "Why was I turned into a freak filled with circuits and bolts?! Why was I just made to kill and murder instead of actually helping anyone?! No sane being who claims to be a 'god' would actually leave me to suffer this fate!"
"You seriously think you the one special snowflake who's suffered?!" She snapped. "Newsflash: There are more creatures suffering in the entire UNIVERSE! Millions of planets and billions of species! Earth isn't the center of the universe and the Gods don't just pick one suffering soul out of a whole universe to take pity on! We aren't here to simply make your lives easier! We're here to keep the natural order of universe in check and make it doesn't implode on itself! So SORRY IF WE AREN'T ABLE TO MAKE EVERYONE IN THE UNIVERSE HAPPY, BUT IT DOESN'T WORK LIKE THAT!"
"Uh... bird girl? I-I think your friend is showing slightly." Pinkie said with a nervous chuckle as she saw half of the Racer's true skeletal face. Gilda just snorted as she turned back to normal... but then saw Rainbow's horrified face.
After a moment of silence Rainbow turned away. "I…I need to fix this... alone..." She choked as she picked up the remains of her scanning machine and quickly left the lab.
"Ah jeez. Hey clown girl where is she going?" Gilda asked as she got up to go after her.
"Well there IS the roof that he likes to go to but-" Before Pinkie could finish Gilda zipped up to the rooftop. "-I don't think that's a good idea at the moment."
"So you seriously fly around in that getup all the time?" Sunny asked as she took a bite out of her hayburger, sitting across from her was Applejack, no longer wearing her "disguise".
"Well... yeah. It's mah armor from mah homeworld." She said with a small smile. "Ah'm from a place called New Genesis where everyone is rather... it's kinda hard ta explain."
"I bet it is." Sunny said as she took a sip of soda. "So you've been on this planet for decades right? What exactly made you want to stay here? I mean there have got to be other planets out there... what made ours so special?"
"... well..." AJ started before looking at Sunny. "You were... you made... everything worth it. Knowing that I hurt you so horribly... I wanted to go somewhere I could fix mah mistakes... but then Ah heard mah beloved was reincarnated... and Ah wanted to know where... and then... Ah did... and she's here in front of me."
Sunny blushed at this. "M-Me? Reincarnation? I... sorry if I'm sounding too dismissive but I find that very hard to believe..."
"Aw... A-ah didn't..." Applejack said with a blush as she looked away from Sunny. 'Gods above why did Ah open mah mouth?!'
"It's alright, I think it's rather sweet that you try to reconnect with a lost lover..." She said in a reassuring tone. "I can see why my son loved you so much."
Suddenly her voice was much deeper than before, as Applejack turned to face her, in Sunny's place was a more mature mare with a white coat, a long flowing mane that appeared to be made of fire, and a gaze that pierced her very soul.
Applejack felt her heart stop... for five seconds. For five whole seconds she was dead as she gazed into the cold and unfeeling gaze of the monster that ruled Apokalips for over millennia. She merely smiled at Applejack's confusion. "Is something wrong Bekka? You seemed so eager to pour your heart and soul out to me."
"Y-you... how?" She choked out, feeling like was a mouse at the mercy of a lion. "I-It can't be... she said... she said it was-"
"She what? Said I was gone? No see... it turns out then when we died? We were unable to move on... so we earned a second chance... to regain our powers, as you have said, and slowly return to our former selves." Celestia said without once having her smile leave her face. "And now... I do accept your apologies... your reward, once I return to full power, will be a quick and painless death... for you and this planet... now if you'll excuse me. I have to head on home and get ready for work tomorrow. Goodbye Bekka." Celestia said as she activated a Boom Tube and teleported out.
She sat there, still as a statue, almost unable to comprehend what just happened. She looked down at her sword, his wedding gift to her, the last thing she had to remember him by... and she started to cry.
Meanwhile on the rooftop Rainbow looked at her destroyed computer and felt wet tears escape her eyes. "... it... it just doesn't make s-sense... if there was some cosmic force out there... then why am I not with my family?"
"Look I'm sorry for snapping at you earlier..." Gilda said as she sat beside her. "...but it gets ANNOYING after the sixteen-millionth fucking complainer keeps saying that the Gods do nothing despite the fact we keep them safe and they have a shit ton to be grateful for. Like I said before, our job is simply to keep the natural order in the universe so don't EVER think they're not looking out after you... though I do see how you could think that... you went through trauma nobody should go through. Again, I'm sorry..."
"No... if anything it's my fault for just snapping at you." Rainbow said as she sniffled a bit.
"You would be surprised at how often that would happen." Gilda told her. "Like seriously it happens so often that I'm more surprised when someone just accepts what is happening."
"Heh. I bet so." Rainbow said with a small smile.
"..."
"..."
Rainbow couldn't help but sigh as she sat on the edge of the roof. "So... since you're basically death given form... do happen to know if... my parents... crossed over?" She asked hesitantly.
"... yeah. They're at peace. I can promise you that." Gilda said with a smile as she gave a light punch on her arm. "You know... I've been meaning to ask myself... is this the real you or is it just like... an artificial body? Cause I'm hearing two different stories."
"I was a normal mare once... then those bastards decided to play genetic monopoly and replaced most of my body with cybernetics..." She explained, clenching her fist. "After Supermare took me in I transferred my consciousness to this new artificial body."
"So it's basically robotic?" Gilda asked as she poked it. "It feels real though... and no offense but... you seem to be more of a mare who would rather punch her problems rather than think them out."
"I'll admit I can get a little punch-happy sometimes..." She chuckled. "But that doesn't mean I'm above analyzing and strategizing."
"And as she gazed into her eyes, the avatar of death couldn't help but feel something… spark of infatuation building up with her cold dark heart, as if feeling warmth for the very first time…"
"DAMMIT PINKIE I TOLD YOU TO STOP THAT!" Rainbow snapped as she glared at the grinning mare.
Pinkie giggled as she zipped off as Rainbow groaned at her friend's antics. "I'm sorry about that... Pinkie's just really off the walls at times to be honest."
"I swear, it's like a grown up version of my cousin..." Gilda shuddered as she got up... only to freeze as she felt a pulse... and then another more familiar pulse... she sighed and turned to Rainbow. "Listen, I gotta go... but you should know this, I felt another pulse of energy... somewhat similar to yours. A sibling I believe."
Rainbow turned to her and grabbed her. "My sis is alive?!" She screamed. "Where is she?! How is she doing?! Does she know who I am?!" She demanded from Gilda.
"Sadly I don't know that much, I only caught a pulse of her energy because it was similar to yours." She explained. "Though judging by the energy... she might be a Metaquine."
"I don't care. She's my sister." Rainbow said with a glare that softened. "I... just thank you for this. I mean it."
Gilda simply gave her a warm smile before speeding off. As she zoomed through the streets her cheeks felt surprisingly warm... but she quickly shook the feeling off.
She had a New God to visit…
"No... no she... she can't be... not her... NOT HER." Applejack told herself as she just let the tears flow from her eyes... everything... everything she hoped for... it was all a failure.
The Black Racer arrived to a surprising sight; the New God Bekka, completely broken and weeping. "I'm too late..." She sighed as she stepped inside and placed her hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry... their energy was so similar... I didn't know..."
"You didn't know?! HOW COULD YOU NOT KNOW THAT SHE WAS THE FUCKING NEW GOD OF PURE EVIL?!" Bekka roared at her as she grabbed her sword. "I RISKED TOO DAMN MUCH! ALL BECAUSE I THOUGHT HE WAS HERE! INSTEAD YOU LEAD ME TO THAT... THAT MONSTER!"
"You need to remember Bekka, getting banished here weakened the Racer severely." Gilda explained, not flinching at her tone. "Even at my current state... she would pulverize me without breaking a sweat..."
"But you... that thing... y-you should've known!" Bekka yelled as tears fell from her again. "YOU SHOULD'VE KNOWN DAMMIT! YAH KNOW THOSE TWO DON'T SHARE ANYTHING!"
"You're right, I should've known. But I didn't, I can only sense the spiritual energy of those who were reincarnated or have a connection to those I've escorted to the afterlife." Gilda sighed disappointment. "And even then my abilities are limited..."
"... A-Ah just... i-it ain't... i-it ain't fair." She sobbed. "I-it just isn't fair dammit! Ah just want some fucking break fer once!" She yelled at her. "Is that just too much to ask?!"
Gilda turned away. "I'm sorry Bekka, I really am... if it's any consolation, I be sure to warn Barda about this..." She said before walking off...
"W-wait." Applejack said as she put her hand on her shoulder. Gilda stopped and looked at her. "Ah... Ah want to know... are you sure Celestia is the ONLY one of her family to make it here?"
The Racer stopped and closed her eyes. "I can sense at least two more of them... but, I'd rather be certain of their identities before confronting them..."
"Ah... Ah understand." Applejack said with a small smile. "... and Ah want ya to know that no matter what? Ah'm thankful fer ya to just try."
Gilda smiled before zooming off, after which Applejack opened up a boom-tube and flew through the portal.
...both of them unaware that they were being watched.
Atop one of the skyscrapers, Celestia sighed as she watched the Death Entity raced off. "Well, this certainly makes things easier..."