/Well hello my kind readers! I apologize for the wait, I got busy/slightly lazy. Huge thanks to the two guests for the lovely reviews! Well, I shall get right on the chapter now. Hope you all enjoy!/

Don't think I didn't hear what Applejack heard before we were sent off. I've been thinking about it since we crash-landed in the sand. From what I've gathered, whoever does the brainwave spells on Rainbow Dash isn't nearly as experienced as Twilight, so the spells are weak. Familiar faces or names can penetrate through the defense of the spells, which is why she recognized me back in the Crystal Empire and, upon hearing her name, recognized Fluttershy. In a way. Her memory is obviously screwed up, but maybe if we can find a way to get her away from that army, away from Lightning Dust and Gilda, we can pull her back to us.

But honestly, that's the last thing I care about right now. Just because she's a victim doesn't mean we can trust her. Rainbow Dash is strong. She always has been. That means she should have tried to fight a little bit, or there should at least be some of her still in there. She didn't look to be hurting, though. She didn't seem to be fighting, or trying to get out of the murderous shell she is now. Like I am. Yeah, I'm not going to sugarcoat it. When Rainbow pounced on Fluttershy, I lost my mind. I wanted to kill her, and I would have if she hadn't managed to get me off her.

And I'm not biased towards Fluttershy or anything like that. I had a special connection with all my friends, and even New Pinkamena will jump to their defense at a moment's notice. Believe me, if Rainbow had done anything other than kick Applejack I would have attacked her then, too, but that was all she did. She was beating Fluttershy harder than any villain we've ever faced together, and that's what did it for me.

"Oh my gosh. Trixie, speak to me! If you can hear me, blink twice!" Twilight cries. I get to my hooves, joining her and the others in the huddle around the trembling Trixie.

"T-this is a-all my f-f-fault..." The injured unicorn stammers, blood dripping from her mouth. "If I was m-more c-c-careful none of this would've happened... I sh-should've just sent you all away... Now you're in d-d-danger..."

"Don't say that, Trixie. We've been in danger from the moment this whole war started. All they know for sure now is that we're alive, and I don't think they've wanted us dead to begin with. Think about it, Gilda hasn't killed Rainbow Dash. All she's done is..." Twilight trails off uneasily.

"Brainwashed her." I say. "You have to say it. We can't hide from it."

"Not just you all, though... They were listening in on our conversation. They know about Zecora now. She'll be sentenced to death, and it's all my fault." Trixie whimpers.

I balk. I didn't even think of Zecora.

"We have to go back." I say.

"Pinkamena, are you insane? If we go back now, we're going to die!" Rarity cries.

"And if we don't, we'll lose Zecora anyway!" I scream.

There she goes again. That Pinkie Pie, clawing her way out. Zecora and I have always been close, even though I was afraid of her. I hung out with her a lot. She made potions to calm me down. Zecora was always kind of like my therapist, I guess. I've had a lot of problems with depression and... This side of me for a really long time. Zecora helped me deal with it. She helped me hide it. I guess even this side of myself doesn't want to let her die.

"It's to late for her now. We'll just have to keep goin'." Applejack insists solemnly.

"None of you are even trying! What if it was one of us stuck back there, about to die? We'd have to go back! But I guess Zecora's just not as important to you guys, huh?"

"Why are you so attached to Zecora then? If it's important we get her back, we might as well know why you care so much, Pinkamena." Rarity snarls.

The way she says my name sends a pang to my heart. I shouldn't care about anypony, should I? It doesn't matter, does it? With our luck at the moment, this war will end with us dead, or worse. Nothing should matter to me anymore. Fluttershy limps toward me, smiling softly.

"Everypony, please! Stop fighting!" She says, extending a wing in front of me. "Pinkamena is right. Zecora is our friend and we must go back to her, reason or not!"

"I appreciate it, Fluttershy, but just forget about it. Applejack is right. It's too late for her now." I mumble.

Fluttershy slowly pulls her wing back in. Everyone stares at me. Eyes, peering deep into me. I cannot escape their gaze, nor can I escape the truth. But I can avoid it for as long as I must. As long as need be. Nopony needs to know, and there is no need to save Zecora. We're all going to die anyway, so we might as well grant her an easy exit to the astral zone. I wish I could go that fast. Or already be gone. But Twilight says we need to try, so we will try.

"Come on," I say. "let's get Trixie fixed up."

I pull Trixie onto my back and carry her slowly forward. Twilight gets on my right side and helps hoist me up. Fluttershy joins on my left side. Applejack joins Fluttershy and Rarity joins Twilight. Cadence takes to the sky.

"I'll lead us to the medics. I know Saddle Arabia." She says.

I follow our sky-guide, glancing at each of my friends on my sides. I find that this is the first time since the war started that we have truly been united.

/I am so sorry for the short chapter, I just had to cut it off there or it would be dead air and the next chapter would hold no relevance. You're getting it really soon, though. I'm already working on it. Oh, and I'm sure some of you probably think Cadence is useless, but I promise, she will play an enormous part later on. Trust me./