/Heyooooo! Guess who's back from ThesCon? That's right, me! And guess who's got another chapter for you lovely people? Right again! Meeeeee! You asked for it, so here it is! Thanks to HarmonyDash9, SkyRider5, GUEST SM1, MarioBrosFTW, Obsurd Muffin, and therichardater for the reviews./

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So, Sunset Shimmer saved Rainbow Dash I guess. Brought Spike back to us, too. And now we're all together again. I can't say I'm particularly happy about this, actually. Especially not after Rainbow Dash recently attacked us. I'm not even happy to see Spike, honestly. Disloyal little meanie skipped out on us as soon as the war started. Just like everypony else, he's pretty scared of me now.

Sunset Shimmer and Twilight have been conversing for quite a while now, trying to come up with a spell to undo the brainwashing spell. Spike sits before us, recounting the tale of his brush with death. All but me listen with intent ears.

"I barely made it to the Crystal Empire conscious! I collapsed, blood pouring from my stomach and teeth, pooling out all around me." He speaks dramatically. "I could feel the life draining from my body as my vision went hazy. Before I blacked out, though, I saw hooves running towards me. I woke up on a table with that magical aura around me and Sunset Shimmer watching over me. And I've been helping her ever since."

Everypony stares at him in awe, like this was an amazing feat. I roll my eyes.

"You know, there wouldn't have even been a chance of you dying if you'd just stayed with us from the beginning." I say.

"Pinkamena!" Rarity cries, appalled. "Spikey-Wikey made his choice to leave with Sweetie Belle's camp, and the fates brought him back to us. Just like we all knew they would."

Rarity nuzzles the little dragon's scales and he blushes. I roll my eyes once again.

"He's just lucky Sunset Shimmer actually knows how to save lives." I glance in Twilight's direction.

I feel that appalled look on me again. Honestly, aren't they used to this by now?

"That's not fair," Spike points out, always jumping to Twilight's defense. Just like old times. "That potion was an accident and you know it."

"There's no getting through to her, Spike." Rarity sighs. "She's been like this for two years."

I roll my eyes and get to my hooves, kicking the ground and approaching Twilight. I nudge her side sharply.

"Yes, Pinkamena?" Twilight asks.

"Are we ready yet? I'm sick of waiting." I say.

Twilight glances at Sunset, and is met with a nod. They advance towards the rest of the group and gesture for Rainbow Dash to join them. She obeys and they both stand on either side of her. Spike stands behind Sunset and we all back up reflexively. Sunset sits Rainbow Dash in the dust and says something about the procedure getting messed up if she stands.

"Everypony stay down." She says. "You, too, Spike."

Spike hides behind Fluttershy as Twilight and Sunset fire up their horns. A blue and a purple aura surround Rainbow's body, enveloping her in magic. Another layer forms around Twilight's horn and spirals around Rainbow at almost hyperspeed. Sunset keeps her hold on Rainbow Dash as strong as possible as her own second layer escapes in a beam that hits the pegasus' body repeatedly. Twilight bites through her lip and tears escape her eyes. I can't help but wait for something to go horribly wrong, but nothing does.

"Nngh!" Twilight cries, pushing ever forward.

Like when she tried to save Trixie, the effort it takes to cast this spell is physically hurting all three of them. The difference? Nopony is giving up. The bright auras edge out from Rainbow Dash and gleam over us all, nearly blinding me in the process. I hit the dirt, shielding my eyes, and from what I can tell everypony else follows suit. A scream from our friend rings out across the sky, followed by silence quickly broken by a sickening THUD!.

I feel dust blow all around us, stinging my hide with every hit. I keep my eyes shut tightly until the stinging is gone. Carefully I remove my hooves from over my eyes, and am met with slowly fading white light and fog that spreads all across the land. I stagger to my hooves and fight to regain my balance while the fog spreads further, beginning to evaporate. Around me, the others stand as well. As the final dust clears, Rainbow Dash lies on her back and, several feet away from her on either side, Twilight Sparkle and Sunset Shimmer do, as well.

Fluttershy runs to Rainbow's side and helps her to her three remaining hooves. Rarity and Applejack run to Twilight while Cadence and Spike help Sunset. I stand still in the aftermath. I hear cries of horror from Cadence and Spike and rush to join them.

"What's wrong?" I ask, only to be answered immediately by Sunset Shimmer's bloody stomach.

She breathes heavily, blood dripping from the corner of her mouth and forming a pool around her. It stains Spike's claws as he tries to hold her up. She shakes like a leaf and smiles weakly up at us.

"I'll be okay." She says softly.

I glance back to where Twilight is. Applejack and Rarity have her up on her hooves and are walking her towards us. Blood trails down Twilight's forehead. Clearly being an alicorn has given her stronger resilience against injury. Upon seeing Sunset, she pushes away from her pony-crutches and rushes to her side.

"Sunset!" She says.

"Don't worry, Twi, we knew this would happen. I'll be fine."

Twilight shakes her head and turns to the side. I realize suddenly that her wings are gone. One of her two lives has been used up.

"No. I channeled part of my energy during that spell into making sure my alicorn magic would be lost. But just like matter, magic cannot be created or destroyed. If my calculations were correct, my alicorn magic is still in the air and will remain there until it finds somewhere to escape to. This spell was supposed to kill both of us, but it could only kill one and a half of us."

Cadence gasps.

"Twilight, are you sure?" She asks. "This is risky!"

Twilight nods, a determined look on her face. After a moment I understand. She's using her first life to save Sunset Shimmer. I move back and beckon for the others to join me as Twilight summons what is most certainly the most magic she's ever been able to after her battle with Tirek. Her light purple aura engulfs and swirls around Sunset Shimmer in a humongous display of lights. I look up to see what looks like tiny purple wings flitting about the sky. The wings are pulled towards the mess of magic. As the aura seeps into Sunset Shimmer, the wings enter her body through her heart. Twilight steps back as the alicorn magic does its work healing the other unicorn's wounds.

After a final blast of magic, Sunset gets to her hooves. Before she can thank Twilight, however, there's a stirring over by Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash.

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/Cliffhangers, glorious cliffhangers. Lots of things happened in this chapter, I'd say. Someone asked if we'd see Twilight give up one of her alicorn lives. Does this answer your question? Now, in all technicality, Equestria has no more princesses. See you all next time!/