Hey, guys. Look who's back? That's right, it's me. I bet at least half of you have forgotten about this story, yeah? I wish I had a good reason why I haven't been updating, but I'd be lying. I just haven't had the motivation to write anything for this, I guess. I've been working on some of my own stuff and haven't really thought about this story... I'm really sorry about how long it's been. But I SWEAR to you I am NOT leaving it behind. This will NOT go unfinished, I promise. It just might take a little bit. Never this long again though. Deal? Okay. Big thanks to idkwhatname, Guest, and Random-stranger53 once again for the reviews. You guys all rock!/

I haven't seen Twilight this distraught since the Remedy Mishap. After she was taken out of the hospital by Nurse Redheart, she locked herself in her own private section of her castle, alone in her guilt, refusing to eat anything for two weeks. She nearly starved herself to death. By the time she finally came back the only thing we could do was feed her until she gained her normal weight back. Then Rainbow Dash returned and everything went straight to Tartarus.

The only difference was this time the death wasn't her fault.

Twilight brushes a hoof across Trixie's face, gently pushing her eyelids closed. I join her quietly.

"We should bury her." I offer, my voice soft.

Twilight nods. Tears drip from her tired eyes and hit the sand softly. I wrap a gentle wing around her and signal for the girls to get a move on. Pinkie moves first, pushing a hoof into the ground and digging a slow hole. The others help while I stay beside Twilight, letting her cry softly into my shoulder. Once the hole is deep enough, Pinkie grabs Trixie by the scruff of her neck and starts to drag her away. Twilight clings to her body.

"No!" She screams.

"Twilight," I say softly, pulling her back. "It's for the best."

Twilight sobs harder, still clinging to Trixie's body. I finally manage to pull her away and Pinkie begins filling the hole back up. I can hear Twilight muttering to herself. "All my fault..." She says. "All my fault..." I pull her closer to me and let her bury her face in my shoulder. Pinkie fills the grave to the top and sits down, hanging her head. Even she looks legitimately sad.

All of us gather around Trixie's grave and sit in empty silence. I hear sniffling from Applejack and Rarity's mascara runs. Cadence emerges from the tent, a new bruise grazing her cheek. She's angry.

"The medics have too many patients right now. We'll have to find somewhere else to get help for Trixie." She says, coming up behind Twilight and I. "Where did she go?"

"In the ground," Pinkie says coldly, gesturing to the mound of sand."

"Sweet Celestia!" Cadence cries. "Twilight... I'm so sorry. I wasn't fast enough."

Twilight shakes her head. She leaves my side and stands beside Cadence.

"It's my fault. I killed her faster. But... At least she isn't in pain anymore. She's with Celestia and Luna now. They'll take good care of her."

"Well girls, let's get a move on. Rainbow Dash isn't going to save herself now, is she?" Rarity stands up, dusting herself off. "Twilight. You didn't happen to bring that book of yours along with us, did you? The one Sunset Shimmer used to contact you for help?"

"I... I... I don't have that one. It's back in the castle." Twilight admitted. "Why would we need it?"

I think for a moment.

"Well... If Sunset Shimmer used it to contact you when the sirens were attacking... Perhaps you can use it to contact her now that the war's gotten worse. She's skilled in magic, isn't she?" I ask.

"You're right. You're right! Girls, stay right here. I'm going back to the castle to grab that book."

"Be careful, darling!" Rarity cries as Twilight's magic aura envelops her and she disappears.

"Twilight, darling, you must eat something. Here..." Pinkie Pie held Twilight's mouth open while Rarity gently force fed her.

"I deserve to die. I deserve to suffer. I killed somepony." Twilight muttered, reluctantly accepting the food.

"No you don't, silly. It was all an accident. I'm sure Rainbow Dash understands. Of course you didn't kill her mother, make her suffer more on purpose." Pinkie said solemnly. This was when her mane had just barely started to deflate.

"Pinkie!" Applejack hissed, whacking her over the head.

"Sorry..."

I passed Rarity a spoonful of medicine to give to Twilight.

"Don't worry, Twilight. Rainbow Dash knows it was an accident." I assured her.

As if on Equestria's most ironic cue, Rainbow Dash burst in. She stormed about the castle, kicking things over and muttering angrily to herself. Twilight jumped and cowered in a corner, shaking. Anything concerning Rainbow Dash terrified her after that day. Pinkie and I ran to Rainbow's side to calm her down while Applejack and Rarity tried to coax Twilight out from the corner. Rainbow shoved Pinkie and I away and stormed to Twilight.

"Rainbow Dash! Darling, it's been too long! All of us are ever so sorry for your loss-" Rarity tried.

"Can it, Rarity." Rainbow snarled.

"Okay." Rarity stepped back and pulled Applejack with her.

Rainbow yanked Twilight out of the corner and loomed over her angrily. Their noses just barely touched and more tears filled Twilight's tired eyes. She'd been doing everything in her power to try and avoid this moment.

"I trusted you, Twilight! I trusted that potion would work!" She screamed.

"I... I thought it would..." Twilight stammered.

"Well, it didn't! My mother is dead because of you, Twilight!"

"Now, Rainbow Dash... This is not fair." Rarity stood between Twilight and Rainbow. "You know Twilight tried her hardest. What happened to your mother was a tragic accident, but that's the thing. It was an accident. You don't honestly think our dear Twilight would do something like this on purpose, do you?"

Twilight collapsed on the ground in tears. Rainbow Dash shot her a crazed, angry glare and pushed Rarity into the wall.

"Who knows, huh? Maybe that's exactly what she did! Maybe she made that poison on purpose!"

Rarity composed herself and darkened her gaze. I could tell she was getting angry, and when Rarity got angry, nopony was safe.

"Well then, Rainbow Dash, if you feel that way about Twilight you surely feel the same about all of us!" She shouted. "Twilight tried to save your mother, and it is not her fault that she failed. In fact, I am absolutely positive that your mother was so sick of your pathetic attempts to save her that she killed herself!"

Obviously this was untrue. Rainbow's mother had been in a coma the whole time. But everypony says things when under tension, and even the lack of truth in the statement didn't stop it from striking a nerve in Rainbow. She stalked away and kicked her respective throne over.

"Consider me off the friendship council."

And with that, she left.

Twilight returned after such a frightening time we all feared she had died. She's battered and bloodied, but alive and in fair condition. She has the book. She sits and flips the book open.

/Huzzah, more backstory! The next chapter will NOT take this long. That is a promise this time. I'm so sorry for making you guys wait so long. I love you all!/