Always connected- Aftermath- Chapter 3

Rainbow Dash and Applejack opened the door to the special ops tent, finding the Doctor, Derpy and Luna inside. Derpy cradled her foal in her arms and Luna and the Doctor were huddled over a map, discussing strategies. Luna greeted them as they entered and Rainbow and Applejack nodded in response, determined to get the truth out of the Doctor. Rainbow slapped her hoof on the table to get the Doctor's attention. He looked up at her surprised.
"Rainbow, is everything okay?" asked the Doctor, looking at her nervously.
"No Doctor, everything's not alright, you see, AJ and I need some answers. And you seem like the pony to give us those answers." She said forcefully, and Rainbow could see Derpy give her a look out of the corner of her eye. The Doctor gave her a look of sympathy.
"Girls, I understand your need for answers, but sometimes it will all be revealed if you are patient." Said the Doctor, making Rainbow more frustrated then she already was.
"Fine! I'll just have to ask somepony more honest." She said turning to Derpy;
"Well, are you going to help us, you are the element of honesty after all." Said Rainbow mockingly. Applejack stood beside her and whispered into her ear;
"Rainbow, what happened to taking it easy on everypony now?" she asked. And Rainbow nodded, taking a deep breath to compose herself. She turned back to the Doctor, who was looking at her with annoyance.
"I'm sorry Doctor, I'm just so frustrated about not knowing how my friends became the way they are now." She told him and the Doctor's expression turned back to a look of sympathy. He sighed, looking at Derpy, who nodded, as if sensing his plan. The Doctor tuned to Luna, whispering something into her ear. Rainbow's eyes narrowed. Luna nodded at the Doctor, before bowing her head. Magic glowed around the horn and a small box appeared on the table in a flash of purple light. Derpy got up and walked over to the Doctor, standing beside him as he pulled the box toward him and opened it. Rainbow's eyes went wide when she realised that it was the box containing the elements of harmony. The Doctor and Derpy pulled theirs out of the box and Rainbow was shocked to see a golden silk tie instead of her usual necklace, as well as the fact that the gem in Applejack's had changed from a red apple to three diamond bubbles.
"Derpy and I have been talking, and since she can no longer fight, and I don't want to, we think it would be better if you took back your status as elements of harmony." Said the Doctor, placing the tie on the table in front of Rainbow. Derpy placed the necklace in front of Applejack, smiling. Rainbow looked at Applejack, whose mouth was agape; neither of them were expecting to be given back status as elements of harmony so quickly. Applejack moved closer to Rainbow, and together they both slowly reached out towards the elements. As soon as her hoof touched the immensely magical object, Rainbow felt a spark of electricity shoot all over her body, causing her pain. She was blasted away from the tie and flung out of the tent. A few seconds later, Applejack was blasted out of the tent and landed on Rainbow. She groaned in pain, both from the electrical shock, as well as the fact she had landed on her broken wing. The Doctor, Derpy and Luna all rushed out of the tent, helping the two shocked ponies back onto their feet.

"What happened?" asked Applejack weakly. The Doctor shrugged, before producing a silvery pen shaped object. A light appeared at the end of it and it emitted a strange whirring noise. The Doctor shined it at Rainbow and Applejack, before putting it away with a smile on his face.
"Well, there was no damage done, although I'm curious to know just how just why the elements didn't accept them as easily as they did me and Derpy." He said to Luna, who was still a little shocked.
"I have no idea Doctor. My sister always had more to do with the Elements than I. So I know little about their inner workings.' She told him, and the Doctor walked back into the tent, followed by the others. He pointed his device at the tie and turned it on. The same whirring noise followed, but it was different, a higher pitch and then it suddenly became very deep. Rainbow jumped as the device sparked, before stopping completely.
"Well isn't that curious. The sonic doesn't know what to make of it. Although that is to be expected, the time lords have never been able to understand the elements of harmony. All of our advanced science and we had no knowledge of the magic in these things." Said the Doctor. Rainbow looked at him with puzzlement. Frustrated, and out of patience Rainbow said;
"Enough of this! I need some answers Doctor. Why can't we use the elements of harmony?" she asked, the Doctor shrugged again.
"I'm sorry Rainbow." He said. Rainbow shook her head, not accepting that she couldn't be the element of loyalty anymore. She reached for it again, and the same thing happened. Blasted out of the tent, she stood, walking into the tent to the amused smiles of the others. Applejack hugged her, and Rainbow could feel her holding back laughter.
"I really am sorry Rainbow." Said The Doctor. Rainbow sighed angrily and was about to try again when a messenger pony entered, panting heavily and carrying a scroll in his mouth. He dropped the scroll in front of Luna and collapsed on the ground, exhausted. Luna picked it up and opened it, quickly reading the message while the other's waited. Her eyes narrowed as she neared the end. She rolled the scroll back up and placed it on the table. She looked at the Doctor and Derpy;
"Gather the other elements; Gregor wants to meet with us." The Doctor nodded and galloped out of the tent and Derpy went in search of a foal-sitter. Luna walked out of the tent, and was followed by Rainbow and Applejack. Luna went to the main tent to find Fluttershy and Rarity already there. Rainbow watched as Luna put her armour on, each piece that was carefully crafted by Rarity.
"We want to go with you." Said Applejack, as if reading Rainbow's mind. Luna stopped, looking at the two.
"I do not think that is wise." She said, and Rainbow could see Fluttershy and Rarity staring out of the corner of her eye.
"I don't care; we can tell Gregor the truth about what happened. Then the war will have to end." Said Rainbow, determined. Luna sighed, knowing she didn't have time for an argument.

"Fine, you may join us, but let me do the talking. Do not speak out of turn or interrupt. Are we in agreement?" asked Luna. Rainbow and Applejack nodded. The others soon arrived, Pinkie refusing to look at Rainbow Dash. Rainbow stood next to Applejack as all of the elements got their armour on. They then all followed Luna out of the tent and towards the battlefield, where a small battalion of ponies and minotaur faced off, not attacking, waiting impatiently for the orders of their superiors. The ponies and Luna stood in a line, facing the group of Minotaur, waiting for Gregor. Rainbow and Applejack stood next to Luna and Rainbow started to feel anxious, until she felt Applejack move closer and rub against her side. She looked at her and smiled, knowing that no matter what, Applejack would be there for her. They waited for at least half an hour before Gregor finally arrived, and Rainbow took a moment to take in the sight of him. She had met him before, but it had never been revealed that he was emperor of the griffins. Rainbow had known him as a loving father, a griffin of sophistication and laughter. But she looked at him now, and could see none of that former life, she could only see the disgusting mess of a creature that he now was. Gregor walked up to Luna, bowing in respect;
"Princess Luna, it is an honour to finally meet you, and my deepest condolences on the loss of your sister." Said Gregor, sounding genuinely sorry. Luna bowed her head in response, accepting his sympathies.
"Thank you Gregor, it is nice to meet you as well. Now what did you want to discuss with me?" she asked and Gregor smiled.
"Well Princess, I was hoping that you might see reason and put a stop to the war." He told her. Luna narrowed her eyes, suspicious of the old griffin.
"And what is your motivation for such a truce?" Asked Luna. Gregor became very casual, walking closer to Luna and putting his hand under her chin.
"You see Princess, because you are new at this I'm going to give you the same offer that I gave Celestia. Hand over the one called Big Mac for execution and we all go home today." He said, his smile growing wider. Luna looked back at Big Mac, at the forefront of the pony forces, standing next to Black Diamond.
"No Gregor, it is your daughter that is to blame for all of this. And should you require proof, we have her victim her with us today to tell you the whole story." Luna replied, gesturing to Rainbow.

"Hello Gregor, it is nice to see you again, although I wish it was in our usual setting." Said Rainbow to the shocked griffin.
"Rainbow Dash? You… You are the pony they all say Gilda attacked?" Gregor stammered, lost for words. Rainbow nodded, and the Griffin stepped back. Rainbow proceeded to tell him the story, about Gilda's first trip to Ponyville, and her subsequent return and devastating attack. When she had finished, Gregor was speechless, hearing the story from such a trusted family friend was a blow to his ego. After a moment, her turned and whispered something to one of his guards, who immediately flew off in the direction of the camp. Gregor turned back to Rainbow, and cleared his throat before speaking;
"Well Rainbow Dash, while you do tell a harrowing tale of victimisation, I'm afraid I cannot take your word on face value. I need to hear the other side of the story." Said Gregor and Rainbow could almost feel the gripping of blades on either side of her. She stepped forward, trying to distract Gregor, lest he notice and get scared.
"Please Gregor, you know me. You know when I am serious." She pleaded, looking behind him and seeing two dark shapes approaching. They got closer and Rainbow could just begin to make out the shapes of griffins. As they landed, a gust of air mixed with the dust of the battlefield caused Rainbow to avert her gaze. She looked back and saw her; Gilda, exactly the same as the day she attacked Rainbow. Her angry yellow eyes darted around as she spread her wings, an intimidation tactic that she loved to use. Her eyes rested on Rainbow and suddenly went wide.
"Dash…?"She said quietly. Rainbow's eyes narrowed as pure, unadulterated rage spread through her body, turning her coat dark blue and her beautiful magenta eyes blood red. Rainbow spread her wings, the left one somehow miraculously healed. She stretched them, listening to the soft popping sound at the joints loosened up.
"GILDA!!" She screamed, and charged at Gilda, feeling no control over her actions. Rainbow tackled Gilda, flying upwards with her. Gilda tried to push away, but Rainbow just punched her in the face. Rainbow flew as high as she physically could. Below, she could barely make out the sounds of fierce battle.
"Why Gilda. I thought we were friends?" said Rainbow, still holding up Gilda as she took deep breaths, griffins not being suited to the higher altitudes that pegasi frequent.
"Because…. I…. hate…. You…. Dash…. You…. Betrayed…. Me." She gasped out. Rainbow stared straight into her eyes.

"I did no such thing, you betrayed me, you were just a jealous featherbrain who couldn't stand the fact that I wasn't still clinging to the dreams of idiotic rebellion and stupidity." She said, the anger distorting her voice. Gilda swung her talons and they raked Rainbow's stomach, opening up deep gashes. Rainbow cried out in pain, before tearing some feathers out of Gilda's wing and dropping her. Gilda fell, spiralling out of control, the loss of vital feathers making it hard to slow her descent. She hit the ground still maintaining serious velocity. She was still able to stand, running off towards the griffin camp. Rainbow watched her go, the wounds in her belly healing fast enough to see. She closed her wings and went into a dive, straight at the ground, wanting to do some damage to the Minotaur. Suddenly, she felt the rage subside, used up. Her eyes went back to magenta and her coat returned to its natural cyan colour. Panicking, she pulled up sharply, just missing the heads of the clashing Minotaur and ponies. She rose into the air again, looking out for Applejack and her friends, and found them in a circle being surrounded by ponies, many dead ones piled up around them, burnt and smoking. She landed next to Applejack and moved back further towards her friends. Luna bowed her head and teleported them back to the camp. Applejack turned to her, her eyes wide.
"Sugarcube, do you know what you just did, who you just were?" she asked, as Rainbow looked at the angry and confused expression on Luna's face.
"Yeah AJ I do. It was what Pegi-jack turned me into wasn't it. It was Rainbow Dark."