Episode 2: The Return to Flatts

Chapters

The Class
Called Home
The Conditions
Welcome Home
The Invasion
Morning Preparations
The Sins of the Father
The Protectors
Helioselene
Conclusion: Forgiveness
When You Leave Us

The Class

In the main atrium of Canterlot Castle, there were two banners draped over the banisters on either side of the grand staircase. The banner on the left held an emblem of Princess Celestia’s cutie mark. It was a blue banner that matched the midday sky, and within it, a yellow sun with orange rays floated in the center. The banner on the right held an emblem of Princess Luna. The blue of that banner bled into black, and a crescent moon hung in the middle of it. Beneath Princess Luna’s banner was a doorway that led to her side of the castle. The hallway consisted of numerous doors and a staircase at the end. As one ascended the staircase, there was a doorway that led to a large room. Inside that room, there was a series of beds, and next to the beds was a small desk with a chair. In the corner of the room, in a chair that faced a small window, Edger sat and looked out the window. The window did not have a good view of Canterlot proper, but it did have a view of the Canterlot gardens. It was in this garden that Edger saw Princess Celestia as she stood in front of a small platform. At the end of the platform was a golden altar that contained a cutout circular shape with golden rays that spread out from its center. Edger watched as the small crowd of ponies who stood there looked on with awe as Princess Celestia unfurled her wings and rose into the air. The sun rose from the east and matched her ascent into the air.

“Hmm hmm.”

Edger gasped and turned around to find the source of the cough and saw that a dark grey thestral stood behind him. For a moment, Edger stared into the thestral’s eyes that burned yellow as bright as Celestia’s sun. The thestral’s eyes moved across Edger’s body until they came to rest at Edger’s flank. Edger cringed and moved his tail to cover the scares over his cutie mark. Edger was still upset that Princess Luna had refused him from wearing slacks.

“I’m sorry,” Edger said, “I was just watching Princess Celestia raise the sun.”

“Princess Luna has returned from the watch of the night and has requested you to give her audience.” The guard said.

Edger looked up and nodded and was slightly relieved that the thestral had taken his gaze away from his mutilated flank. He moved from the chair and began to follow the guard through the room and into the stairway. The guard stood at the foot of the staircase and motioned with his head for Edger to go up the stairs.

“It’s okay,” Edger said, “I can follow.”

The guard’s eyes moved back to Edger’s flank for a moment and then back to Edger’s eyes. He nodded and then climbed the stairs. Edger followed just behind him until they reached the top of the stairs, where another guard stood by the doorway to Princess Luna’s chambers. The guard that came for Edger moved back to his original post on the other side of the doorway and motioned for Edger to enter. As Edger made his way through the door and into the chambers, he heard the guard whisper to the other in a low voice that made Edger realize the guard thought he couldn’t hear him.

So the story is true.

Edger closed his eyes and continued forward into the room where Princess Luna sat on a bed of cushions surrounded by three other unicorns. A green unicorn held a small seed in her hoof, and as she held her free hoof over it, the seed slowly grew into a small pink flower, bloomed, and then closed and retreated back into the seed. A red unicorn levitated a small rock in front of him and concentrated, but nothing happened. A black unicorn drew chalk images on the floor using his magic, and when he completed it, the circle in the middle of the drawing began to glow.

“That’s enough, Shale.” Princess Luna said.

Shale nodded his head and brushed his hoof against the drawing, and the glowing stopped. Shale took a deep breath, and looked at the entrance towards Edger.

“Ah,” Shale said, “The gelding’s here.”

“Shale,” Princess Luna reprimanded him, “You are never to refer to Edger as the gelding. Do I make myself clear?”

“Princess Luna,” Edger asked, “Can’t I just have my pants back so ponies don’t see, well, all of this?” He motioned towards his flanks.

“No,” Princess Luna replied, “Those scars are the source of your nightmares, and until you accept their reality, you will never be able to truly control your abilities.”

Edger paused for a moment.

“This is revenge for what I wrote about you, isn’t it?”

“You think we would be so petty?”

Edger could see that Princess Luna’s eyes had taken on a slight glow.

“No, it’s just that I hate it when other stallions look at me the way they do.”

“I cannot change what you are, Edger,” Princess Luna said, “The only thing I can do is help you accept it.”

Edger sighed and made his way to the circle of cushions that the other ponies sat at. As he made himself comfortable, he saw a ray of sunlight hit Princess Luna’s face. She motioned towards the window, and the shade drew down to allow semi-darkness to pervade the room.

“Hear, hear,” Shale said as he clapped his hooves together, “Princess Celestia’s sun has always been too garish for my tastes.”

“Shale,” The green unicorn cried, “What a thing to say about our princess’s sun.”

“Oh please Leila,” Shale replied, “You just like the sun because it helps you with your magic.”

Leila huffed and cupped the seed in her hoof. Edger looked over to the red unicorn that remained silent and stared at the small rock in his hooves. His mane was a combination of earth brown and blood red, but his fur was the shade of fire. The red unicorn’s eyes remained concentrated on the small red stone, and it began to emit a small light. Edger looked down and saw that the red unicorn had four pairs of red dots that ran down the side of his flank. He didn’t notice that Shale had leaned over next to him.

“See something you like?” Shale whispered.

“Shale,” Leila shouted as she shook her head, “Can’t you try just a little bit of tact for once?”

Edger tried to shrink down as small as he could while Shale let forth a bellow of laughter. The red unicorn continued to focus on the small stone.

“The only reason I am letting this nonsense go on is because I want you to get a feel for each other-”

“Get a feel for each other, haha!”

“Shale,” Princess Luna said calmly, “That is enough.”

Edger watched as Shale immediately calmed down and looked at the floor.

“Of course, princess.”

“We should help Edger understand why he is here. Aloga, why don’t you start by telling hi, a little bit about yourself?”

The red stallion looked up from the stone and around the room at each pony. He sighed and turned to Edger.

“I'm Aloga. I was born in Unicorn Range, so unique and powerful magical abilities were expected of us. Many of us are actually very powerful – some can levitate an entire building or even small hills. Others can freeze lakes solid, even in summer. Others are even able to make trees grow or shed leaves with their will. When I was younger, I was able to control all of the elements of earth, fire, water, and air.”

“But there are other unicorns who control more than one element.” Edger said.

“Yes, but they can’t focus as much as I can.”

Edger watched as Aloga forced his two hooves together and concentrated on the small stone that he held. A white light emerged from the stone, and a moment later, the stone turned into ice. Aloga sighed and then smiled.

“I can focus on the base elements within, and change the nature of them. I’ve heard of Princess Twilight Sparkle doing such things, but so far as I can tell, she can’t make it permanent. I can. I can change anything. Well, anything except for living things.”

“That’s where I come in,” Leila said as she held out her hoof that held the small seed, “Leila's the name. Grew up just outside of Baltimare with a family of florists. Princess Celestia came to town and we were going to present her with a bouquet, and I couldn’t decide whether or not I wanted to give her roses or lilies. I stood in front of her and waved my hoof like this.”

Leila whirled her hoof over the seed and a small rose grew from it.

“But then I changed my mind and decided lilies would be best.”

She whirled her hoof in the other direction and the rose converted back into a seed. She then closed her eyes and whirled her hoof in the other directions again and a white lily grew from the same seed.

“Princess Celestia looked at me for a moment. She went in to have a conversation with my parents, and they agreed to send me here. I’ve been here ever since. That was about a year ago.”

Edger nodded his head and then turned to Shale, who used his magic to levitate a piece of chalk onto the floor. Before he could start his drawing, however, Princess Luna reached a hoof forward to stop him.

“Shale,” Princess Luna warned, “You know that your ability is not to be used like that.”

“Very well, Princess,” Shale sighed as he turned his attention to Edger, “I was born in Hollow Shades. Think of it like the Everfree Forest but with us being able to control the environment, and it being always dark. Most unicorns there have an ability to control light to some extent, but usually it’s just us mimicking sunlight.”

Shale moved from his cushion and stood on his hind hooves and threw his fore hooves into the air, to which Edger watched the other ponies in the room roll their eyes.

“And then I, Shale, was born with the ability to not only mimic light, but to create it, to really create it. Why, such a magnificent ability could perhaps one day rival the sun lifting force of Princess Celestia herself, and-”

“If Celestia gets wind of what you are saying," Princess Luna said, "I will not hold back on what she does. Trust me, Shale, she can get pretty angry if you threaten to take her day away.”

Shale lowered his body back onto the cushion. Edger shook his head. Am I in some sort of magic kindergarten, he thought. Edger looked down at the piece of discarded chalk on the floor.

“But how does that explain the drawings you make?” Edger asked.

“That’s a good question, Edger.” Shale answered, “Has Princess Luna explained to you what old magic is?”

“We would be best to not describe your abilities as ‘old magic’.” Princess Luna replied.

“But I thought our unique abilities were to be celebrated and cultivated, Princess.”

“Edger,” Princess Luna said, ignoring Shale’s comment, “Do you remember what I told you at the ruins?”

“To break the surface of things.”

“Right.” Princess Luna replied.

The four unicorns watched as Princess Luna lifted her head and a swirl of light appeared above them. Edger could see four small forms appear in the light: a diamond, a drop of water, a gust of air, and a small flame.

“Common unicorn magic involves geomancy.” Princess Luna said, “Unicorns can change water to ice, regardless of temperature, or they can crush a stone, or change the size of a flame.”

Edger watched as the four small forms combined into one.

“However, the ability to change an element into another, that is one form of forgotten magic. Unicorns can create the illusion of changing one element into another, but it is just that – an illusion. Aloga is capable of focusing his magic further than most unicorns so that he can rearrange forms at their most basic level.”

“So,” Edger said, “Aloga breaks through the basic elements in a way that hasn’t been accomplished since the days of forgotten magic.”

“Exactly.” Princess Luna replied as she turned to Leila, “As far as Leila is concerned...”

“I like to call my ability moiramancy.”

“Excuse me?” Edger asked.

“Moiramancy.” Leila huffed, “Because I can control fate. I can take something, revert it to a point in its life, and then change it how I want. I'm not very good at it, so I can't change the life of any sentient being, yet.”

Leila lifted her hoof, and the seed opened once again, but this time, Edger saw a white daisy emerge from it. She closed her hoof, and the plant reverted to a seed.

“I also have other gifts, but Princess Luna says that they need to be better controlled, so I have intensive meditation techniques that I have to practice.”

“Oh don’t be modest,” Shale said, “You can tell him about your ability to see into the future and control minds.”

“That is enough, Shale.” Princess Luna said.

“You can do what?” Edger asked.

“I refuse to use it, though.” Leila replied as she looked over to Princess Luna, “It’s not right to have that power. I hate it. I hate it when I see things and know that I can change them but know I shouldn’t.”

Leila lowered her head to the floor and let out a sob. Aloga reached over and placed his hoof over her shoulder, but Leila shrugged it off.

“I’m fine.” Leila said as she sniffed.

“So you can break through time?” Edger asked.

“I… guess that’s a way to put it.” Leila said with a sniffle.

Edger looked over to Shale, whose attention had turned to the clock over the main door. It was almost seven o’clock in the morning. They had already been sitting here for half an hour, and Edger was still confused as to his purpose for being here.

“Well,” Shale said as he turned to Edger, “If the story you wrote is true, then I don’t think we need to worry about your introduction, do we?”

“Why are you so mean, Shale?” Leila shouted, “Edger hasn’t done anything to you.”

“I don’t see how pointing out how things are can be mean.” Shale responded as he raised his hooves, “I’m just saying that we may as well get to why he’s here. So what do you do?”

Edger looked over to Princess Luna, but when she didn’t offer assistance, Edger simply looked down to the floor.

“I don’t know what it is that I do, really. I just see things when I’m around ponies. Sometimes, I see them as all white like a ponnequin, and other times I see them as all shadowy. Some bad things happened before I was brought here, and some of the shadowy things attacked us, and-”

“Wait a minute,” Shale interrupted, “What sort of glyphs were you using?”

“Glyphs?”

“It’s obvious that you’re some form of necromancer, but you’re saying that you just think them into existence and they break through the shadows?” Shale lifted a hoof to his chin and stroked it before he turned to Edger once again, “What did you make them do?”

“I didn’t do anything!” Edger screamed, “It wasn’t my fault!”

The doors behind Edger opened, and the same thestral from before trotted into the room. Princess Luna and the four unicorns stared at him for a moment as his gaze remained trained on Princess Luna.

“Princess Luna,” the thestral said, “Your presence is required downstairs. Princess Celestia needs to speak with you.”

Princess Luna rose from her seat and made her way across the room. She whispered into the thestral’s ear before she reached the door. The thestral held the door open for Princess Luna, and then closed the door in front of him while he remained in the room. Edger noticed that the thestral’s gaze zeroed in on him, but he occasionally made glances towards the other unicorns. Edger saw that Shale had moved to the corner of the room and had created a small orb of light which soon melted into a ball of shadow. Aloga and Leila started a game where Aloga would hold the stone, turn it into an acorn, and then toss it to Leila, who would then force it to bloom a small flower. He focused his mind for a moment and began to think about the visions he had. He opened his eyes. Instead of the white ponnequins that he had expected, all three of the unicorns had turned into the batkin creatures, as he called them. Strange, Edger thought, usually only the foals turn into batkins. Edger turned around and saw a large white form in front of him. At least I know the guard has a good soul. Edger made his way across the room and towards the guard, who simply lowered his gaze towards him.

“I’m sorry, but Princess Luna requests that you remain here while she attends to business.”

“I need to use the restroom.” Edger said.

“We aren’t supposed to let you out of our sight.” The guard replied.

“Oh, so you’d like to go with me and find out how a gelding urinates?”

Edger watched as the guard’s face changed into a torrent of features – shock, realization, disgust, pity, and then nervousness. He opened the door and nodded at the staircase.

“You go down two flights and then it’s on your right hoof side.”

“Thank you.”

Edger looked over at the guard, who had once again regained his stoic pose. A shiver ran up the guard’s back, and Edger knew immediately what he had imagined. He shook his head and made his way down the staircase, making sure to be as loud as possible. When he reached the flight of stairs with the restrooms, he opened the door and slammed it shut while he pretended to go inside. When the door closed, he edged further down the staircase, careful not to make any noise. He finally reached the bottom of the staircase and made his way down the hall where his sleeping quarters were. Edger felt his hooves carry him faster and faster down the hallway until it felt that an invisible force led him there. He reached the main atrium of the castle, but stopped beneath Princess Luna’s banner when he heard voices above him. The voices were whispered, but they just reached Edger’s ears as he stood beneath the grand staircase.

“How did he escape?” Princess Luna whispered.

“We don’t know,” Princess Celestia replied, “But Lighthoof said that he saw numerous other ponies down there, as well as a glyph he had written in his own blood.”

“Does that mean he also uses the same magic as the unicorns we have collected? Do you think he could be heading towards-”

“We don’t know, but he may be one of the vessels.”

The word vessel rang into Edger’s thoughts as he remembered that night four years ago. Images of the barn rose in his mind, as well as an image of the white drawings that he had seen over his head. Vessel, Edger thought. Edger had a feeling his old village had a part in this. For years, Edger had fought the urge to go back, but while he was in the ancient ruins, he knew the bursts of energy weren’t coming from there. Now he knew that the princesses knew it, too. Given the information, Edger knew that the princesses intended to keep him prisoner here, as well. Edger made his way back down the hallway to his sleeping quarters. He flung his saddlebags across his back and fumbled through it to make sure he had everything he needed. Edger closed his eyes and focused his energy, as within moments, he was outside of the Canterlot train station. He looked up at the clock and saw that it neared eight o’clock. If he could find the right train, he could reach Flatts by nightfall.

Edger knew that the things that had happened to him originated from Flatts. He hoped he knew how to stop it from happening to anypony else.

Called Home

Discord chuckled as he hid behind a leaf and peered into the window of Mayor Mare’s residence. He waited patiently as the shower turned off and a light tan hoof reached for the towels and pulled them into the shower. A moment later, Mayor Mare emerged from the shower room and made her way into her bedroom. She went to the vanity, and Discord held his breath and watched as she considered herself in the mirror. A moment later, she reached over and pulled over the white collar she always wore and placed it around her neck. Discord’s eyes widened and his body vibrated with laughter as she reached up to pull the towel off of her mane. His grin widened until it stretched across his face as Mayor Mare looked in horror at her reflection. She shook her head back and forth and then squinted her eyes. Her mouth turned to a grimace as she charged out of her room and down the stairs. Discord’s laughter finally burst through as he lowered himself to the street in front of Mayor Mare’s door. A moment later, the door swung open and Mayor Mare emerged. She stomped on the ground and her nostrils flared.

“Discord!” She yelled.

“Oh, Mayor Mare,” Discord said as he contained a chuckle, “Fancy seeing you here. Love the new do.”

“Change it back! Now!”

“Just a minute,” Discord said, “I promised a friend I would get a picture of this.”

There was a bright flash, followed by the shutter of a lens, and Mayor Mare closed her eyes at the light. She heard Discord snap his fingers, but when she opened her eyes, Discord was gone. She tried to look up to her mane, but she couldn’t see anything. She ran back into her home and made her way to the nearest mirror. She was relieved to see that her mane had returned to its normal grey hue. Mayor Mare rolled her eyes and shook her head as she made her way back up the stairs.

Discord reappeared moments later in front of Fluttershy’s house. He fell onto his back and rolled back and forth as he opened the camera and pulled out the film. He snapped his fingers, and the film turned into a single picture. He looked at the picture for a moment; Mayor Mare’s face was contorted into a snarl, and her nostrils were still flared. Her eyes had widened until they took up most of her face. But Discord laughed the hardest when he turned his attention to her mane, which he had turned into a series of blue scales thanks to a special shampoo he had placed in her shower the night before. He had promised Fluttershy he would get a picture, and he was glad that he had been able to draw out Fluttershy’s mischievous side. He remembered the way she looked at him when she had said she wanted a picture.

When his sides began to hurt from the laughter, Discord finally moved to his feet and made his way to Fluttershy’s. He knew she wouldn’t be home because Rainbow Dash and Applejack had promised to take her to therapy this morning. He had promised to take care of the animals for her while she was gone. Discord decided he would leave the picture on her dresser for when she returned home.

“Let’s see,” Discord said out loud, “Fluttershy said that around noon, it would be time to feed the indoor birds and mammals, and then Angel gets his tail brushed and curled. After that is feeding the outdoor critters, then Angel’s foot massage.”

Discord stopped the moment he saw Twilight Sparkle’s face in the window. He could see that her eyes looked at him, but they didn’t register him. Discord moved back and forth and waved his paw in the air, but Twilight Sparkle didn’t acknowledge it, either. There wasn’t a twitch in her lips, nor even a blink. Discord snapped his fingers and appeared inside, where he saw Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Rarity. Rarity sat on the chaise lounge with a hoof over her eyes. Applejack and Rainbow Dash paced next to the staircase.

“Why hello, everypony,” Discord said as he chuckled, “I just came from the mayor’s house, helping her out of a hairy situation.”

Rainbow Dash and Applejack glared at Discord. Discord snapped his fingers and a small cloud appeared over his head and began to snow over him.

“My, that is certainly a cold stare. You know, I did promise Fluttershy that I would take care of the animals, so while your lack of faith in my abilities to care for animals is charming, I must-”

“Shut up, Discord.” Rainbow Dash yelled.

Discord willed the cloud away and looked around the room. Twilight Sparkle hadn’t moved from the front window and Rarity’s shoulders began to tremble. From behind her fore leg, Discord watched as Angel appeared and rubbed his paw across her hoof.

“Rainbow Dash, Applejack,” Discord said, “Why aren’t you with Fluttershy at her therapy?”

“Fluttershy’s gone.”

“I know that,” Discord replied, somewhat annoyed, “She’s not supposed to come back from therapy until this evening… therapy which you promised to be with her for, Miss Element of Loyalty.”

Discord closed his eyes and huffed. A moment later, he felt a hoof hit his jaw with a powerful kick.

“Rainbow Dash!” He heard Rarity exclaimed in between her sobs.

Discord opened his eyes and turned his attention to the blue mare in front of him. She shook in front of him as though she fought to hit him again. Her mane had become even more ruffled than usual, but she ignored it to continue to glare at him.

“Loyalty?” Rainbow Dash said, “You come here every night to be with her, it’s your fault this happened! You are always here! You should have been here last night, too!”

Rainbow Dash continued to yell at him as Applejack pulled her away. Rainbow Dash struggled against her and managed to pull away from her and fly towards the door.

“I see I won’t get anywhere with you ponies,” Discord said as he rubbed his jaw, “Angel, can you tell me where Fluttershy is so we can end this mess?”

Angel looked up to Discord, but then he hid his head behind Rarity’s hoof again. Discord willed a carrot to appear in front of Angel, but the bunny ignored it.

“Upstairs,” He heard Applejack say, “We’re all just tryin’ to figure out what to do, is all.”

Discord looked up the staircase to Fluttershy’s room. He gulped as he ascended the stairs. He knew he could have simply snapped his fingers, but he felt nervous going up there. He had never been in Fluttershy’s bedroom before. Besides that, he felt a strange energy from upstairs. He reached the second floor and pushed open the door, but when the door opened, he covered his mouth.

He knew that smell.

Discord looked on the other side of the room at a small tuft of pink mane that lay on the floor just past the bed. For a moment, he could feel the walls start to bend as he tried to step forward. Discord shook his head and took another step. Blood had pooled around the pink hair. Discord thought he heard the sound of voices behind him, but they seemed to speak in slow motion. Discord instinctively snapped his fingers, and then room turned into a foal’s room, complete with stuffed animals piled to the ceiling. He snapped his fingers again, and the floor turned into a chessboard and the furniture turned into large chess pieces. He continued to snap his fingers together until he felt a hoof on his shoulder.

“Discord, please,” Rarity begged, “Please stop.”

“I don’t like this feeling.” Discord said as his stare became blank, “Even under my rule, I never caused this feeling.”

Rarity backed away for a moment, unsure of what the draconequus would do.

“I remember a feeling like this, thousands of years ago,” Discord continued, “I forget what it’s called. What is the feeling, when your chest feels like a timberwolf is clawing at it while it bites at your skull?”

Discord turned to Rarity, who simply looked at him as though she was confused by the question. He racked his brain to figure it out, but he couldn’t recall it. The room started to spin around him and he braced himself at the foot of Fluttershy’s bed. His attention turned to the corner of the room, and he felt the energy from before pulse from it. He reached forward to touch the wall, but a flash of light blinded him. He heard Rarity scream and fall to the floor. The light faded, and Discord could see in the corner of the room and small drawing on the wall. He knew that drawing from somewhere.

“Shadows.” Discord said.

“I beg your pardon?” Rarity asked from behind him. “Like the ones from the night before?”

“How do you know about those?” Discord asked as he turned back to Rarity.

“There were ponies here,” Rarity said, “From Manehatten. Edger-”

Rarity began to stutter as she backed away from him.

“Rarity,” Discord asked, “Please tell me how you know about this.”

“Edger kept talking about how he could see shadows and his agent, Script, gave him prescriptions to stop it. But the shadows… the shadows came to life.”

“Where are these ponies?”

“Princess Luna… took them back… to Canterlot.”

Discord made his way out of Fluttershy’s room and down the stairs.

“Discord,” Rarity called, “What do you know? Please, tell us. Please, as our friend, tell us what happened!”

Discord was already downstairs by the time Rarity reached the door. He looked around the room and saw that Applejack had moved in front of him.

“Where are y’all goin’?” Applejack asked as Rarity made her way down the stairs to join her.

“Tell us what you know, Discord!” Rainbow Dash yelled.

“They have to know about this.” Discord said to himself, “If they know that there are ponies who can create death, then they know that there are ponies who can create life.”

“Create life?”

Discord and the ponies turned to the purple alicorn who had remained silent throughout the entire exchange. She still stared out the window, but Discord knew she had begun to pay attention. He cocked his head for a moment before he turned back to Rarity and Applejack.

“I can’t be here anymore! I can’t!” Rainbow Dash yelled as she flew out the door and into the sky.

“I will return.”

Discord snapped his fingers and disappeared. Rarity and Applejack looked at each other, but the sound of Twilight Sparkle’s voice sent a shiver down their spines.

“There are ponies who can create life.”

*****

Caramel opened the door to Sugarcube Corner and looked around. The lights were off, but with the sunlight as it was, he figured there wouldn’t be need of any lights. The blue sky of morning gave way to the clear sky of midday. It was strange for an autumn day to be without clouds, but Caramel figured that the pegasi felt that Ponyville needed for it to be a nice day out, considering the news that Mayor Mare had given the citizens of Ponyville that morning. Caramel rubbed the barrel of his chest as he thought about the night before last. Though he had taken off the bandages, he could still see the light marks on his body from the whip. It wasn’t a dream at all, Caramel thought as he made his way to a corner booth. He couldn’t stand to be out about town anymore; he couldn’t stand to hear the citizens talk about timberwolf attacks when he knew the truth about what had happened. He thought back on how he came across the bodies of the flower girls. And we all lied to Mayor Mare, Caramel thought. The sunlight peered through the window, and Caramel reached up to the blind and yanked it down so that he could sit in darkness for a while. The soft melody that Lyra had played before the service rang in his ears, and he thought of how they had gathered all of the roses, lilies, and daisies that the three mares had collected in their shops and made them into bouquets. Caramel felt his upper body grow heavy as he fell onto the table and sobbed in the darkness.

Caramel looked up. He had expected Pinkie Pie to be here, since she wasn’t at the service nor at the town meeting Mayor Mare had held to deal with the “timberwolf problem”. He was relieved, however, that his friend wouldn’t have to see him like this. He knew that he had to be the strong one, especially with what had happened. He had to leave the town hall meeting, however, once he became physically ill at the constant shouts from the townsponies about controlling the timberwolf population. If only they knew what really happened, Caramel thought. But after the meeting with the mayor, they had decided that lying about the issue would be best for “stability”. He had sided with Rainbow Dash and Applejack, but they were outvoted. Rainbow is going to be mad when she finds out about patrol duty. Caramel slowly stood to his hooves and looked around the room.

The smell of burnt chocolate ran through Caramel’s nose. As he made his way across the room, he noticed how heavy his hooves sounded on the wooden floor. Caramel looked over the counter and saw that the oven door was still open, and a chill ran down his spine.

“Pinkie?” He called out.

Caramel waited for a moment before he made his way into the kitchen. He looked down at the trashcan and found the source of the smell. Pinkie Pie had made brownies, but she had chopped them into tiny pieces. Caramel looked around the room. He knew that Pinkie Pie had been prone to making mistakes in cooking, mainly mistaking sugar for salt, but he never knew for her to make a mistake like cutting. He knew something was wrong.

He left the kitchen and began to make his way towards the staircase up to the bedrooms, but a piece of paper on the front counter caught his eye. The paper had been folded like a letter, and Caramel reached over to open it. His eyes scanned the letter:

Pinkamena,

I don’t know who else to turn to. Father has always been upset about you leaving, so he forbade contact with you. But something is wrong with Father and Mother, and I don’t know what to do. A lot of other ponies have left town since you left. There aren’t many of us here anymore. Flatts is dead. We’re scared of the night.

Please come home,

Bellamine

Caramel set the letter back on the counter and took a step back. An image of the welcome sign to Flatts entered his mind, as did images of the creatures he had seen from that night. He remembered the two ponnequin creatures he came across when he was in Pinkie’s foalhood home. Bellamine, Caramel thought, Pinkie’s sister. Caramel’s eyes widened as he thought of the other ponnequin who was in that room, the one who had turned to shadow. That must have been Isabella, Caramel thought. He had to go there and stop Pinkie from going back. She had no idea what waited for her back in that village.

Caramel left Sugarcube Corner and began to trot towards the Ponyville Train Station. He wouldn’t have time to pack; he didn’t need to pack anything; all he wanted to do was get to Pinkie Pie before she got into the village. He knew it was close to Dodge Junction, so maybe one of the townsponies there would help him.

“And just where are you going?” He heard Rainbow Dash call from above him.

“Uh, nowhere.” Caramel lied; the fewer ponies that knew about this, the better.

“Nowhere, huh?” Rainbow Dash asked as she lowered herself to the ground, “Well, how was the service?”

“I couldn’t stay,” Caramel replied as he slowed to a trot, “I couldn’t just sit there and listen while the mayor lied about how they, well, how things happened.”

Caramel and Rainbow Dash looked around. Most of the ponies had returned to their homes, leaving the town square empty. Caramel heard a train whistle in the distance, and he began to run again.

“Wait,” Rainbow Dash called behind him.

“I have to prepare for patrol duty soon.” Caramel yelled behind him.

“What!” Rainbow Dash yelled, “I’m going to have a talk with the mayor about that.”

Caramel ran past the shops and stalls until he came to the wooden platform of the train station. He reached into his saddlebag and handed his bits to the stallion in the ticket counter.

“Dodge Junction, please.”

“o’course, Caramel. Catchin’ up with Pinkie, are ya?”

“Yes,” Caramel replied as he attempted the small talk, “When did she leave?”

“She took the seven o’clock train, which means she got there ‘bout an hour ago.”

“Do you know how long it takes to get to Flatts from there?”

“Ta where, son?”

“To Flatts. It’s where she grew up.”

“Can’t say I ever heard o’such a place. Ya sure that’s where she’s goin’?”

“I’ll find her.”

“Good luck, then, son.”

Caramel nodded his head and made his way to the train. It would take a while for the stallions who helped pull the train to separate the cars into two trains so that one could go to Appaloosa while the other could get to Dodge Junction. It was Thursday, so that meant the Dodge Junction train would have just one car. He wondered if he would be able to convince the conductor to stop the train whenever he saw any signs of the village of Flatts. Caramel made his way to the back of the train to the car that would be detached so that it could continue on to his destination. As soon as he entered it, he saw that a small blue stallion with a blue and black mane was seated in the back corner seat. He stared out the window as he used his magic to adjust his glasses.

“Edger?” Caramel asked.

The stallion turned his gaze from the window for a moment, and then smiled at Caramel.

“Hey Caramel.”

Edger looked down at his seat and then slowly crouched over. Caramel made his way to Edger’s seat and was about to sit next to him when he realized Edger wasn’t wearing his pants like he always did. He tried to ignore the scars as he sat down next to him. For a moment, neither stallion spoke.

“Princess Luna forbade me from wearing my pants. She said I was using them to deny what had happened to me, and that I could only control my magic if I learned to accept what happened.”

“I see.” Caramel said as he reached over to wrap his friend in his arm, “I know it’s only been a day, but you still needed a hug anyway.”

“Thanks,” Edger replied, “I had to escape from Canterlot.”

“Escape?” Caramel asked, “What do you mean?”

“It’s a long story,” Edger said, “I’ll explain on the way. Why are you here, by the way?”

“Pinkie went to Flatts.”

Edger’s eyes widened. The train whistle blew, and they both heard the larger train begin to move away from them. Their car would begin to move in a few more minutes.

“When?”

“This morning.”

“When we get close, I’ll teleport us out of here and onto the tracks. She’s probably coming from Dodge Junction, so we can intercept her.”

“Can’t we just ask the conductor to stop?”

“No, he wouldn’t know where to stop anyway, and he could think we were crazy if we asked him to stop. There is something terribly wrong with that village.”

A few moments later, the single train car left Ponyville, and from the main building on the platform, Rainbow Dash looked out the window in anger as she watched Caramel and Edger as they talked near the back window of the car. Rainbow Dash held her hooves to her face, as though she had mentally mapped her train of thought on them.

“Okay,” Rainbow Dash said to herself as calmly as possible, “Two ponies appear with weird magic. Their magic kills the flower girls and Fluttershy. The two ponies get taken to Canterlot. Discord talks about creating death and life. Now Caramel is with one of the ponies whose magic killed Fluttershy.”

Rainbow Dash flew out of the train station and shook her head. She knew these pieces fit together somehow, and she would get to the bottom of it, no matter what.

The Conditions

Princess Luna paced back and forth in her chambers. The other unicorns had gone back to their rooms, leaving behind two thestral guards who stood at the entrance as far away from the angered princess of the night as they possibly could. Princess Luna’s shadow whipped across the room as she passed either side of the fireplace. She turned her gaze up to the mantle where a large painting of her and her sister was placed. Princess Celestia’s gaze was turned towards a rising sun, and her own gaze was turned towards a crescent moon.

“Why do we even have guards?” Princess Luna mumbled to herself, “How did you let him get by you, Sergeant Greywing?”

Princess Luna shot an angry glance at one of the guards.

“Your highness,” Sergeant Greywing replied, “All he said was that he needed to use the restroom. I heard the door close behind him.”

“And you did not stand guard?” Princess Luna asked, “We told you that he and the others’ protection is of utmost importance.”

She watched as the guard shifted his hooves, as though he were ashamed. Good, Princess Luna thought, he ought to be. She paused and observed his actions further. He showed something else, and she knew he still hid something from her.

“What did he say to you that made your own standing in the Royal Guard to not guard your task?”

“Well,” the guard said as he swallowed at the implied threat to his job, “He asked if I wanted to be near him so that I could find out how a gelding urinates, your highness.”

Princess Luna watched as the two guards shuddered. She shook her head.

“And you felt it best to leave him alone after that.” Princess Luna turned to the other guard, “And you just gave the same reaction that he did, Corporal Night. I take it you feel the same way?”

“I did feel the same way, your highness.” The Corporal Night replied, “I’m sorry. It was highly unprofessional of me.”

“The unicorns we gather here need to feel safe, protected, and most of all, cared for. Edger even more so. When you reacted how you did, did you consider how it made him feel?”

The guards looked at each other, and then turned back to Princess Luna.

“Corporal Night,” Princess Luna said, “Patrol around Canterlot and see if he is hiding somewhere in town. Though after the way you’ve made him feel, I would highly doubt he is anywhere near public.”

Corporal Night shifted his gaze downward for a moment, but then saluted and trotted out the door. Princess Luna then turned to Sergeant Greywing.

“Sergeant Greywing, go to the Canterlot Train Station and see if any unicorn matching Edger’s description has left anytime this morning. And please, try not to make it seem like he’s a criminal or whatever it is you view him to be.”

Sergeant Greywing nodded and saluted Princess Luna.

“Yes, your highness,” he said, “And if I find him, I will be sure to apologize for my reaction to his… condition.”

“He doesn’t have a condition, sergeant,” Princess Luna huffed, “He is still a stallion, just like you.”

The guard saluted once more and then left her chambers. Princess Luna’s aura wrapped around the doors, and they slammed shut. She leaned over to her desk and sheets of paper and a quill lifted from the desk and flew over to the fireplace. Princess Luna moved to the large cushion and began to write in the tables she had created. She had already written under Leila’s, Shale’s, and Aloga’s sections, but now needed to add what information she had obtained from the past few days.

Leila, the first student, had immediately excelled in psychokinesis, clairvoyance, and moiramancy. Given her start, it would be easy to train her to work with additional abilities. This made her a clearly viable candidate as what she learned was a "vessel". Likewise, Along had easily learned the four elemental magics, but had only recently learned to transmute them to one another. However, his abilitiy to concentrate on physical phenomena would not necessarily translate into "vessel" abilities, but she still categorized him as likely. Shale, though highly expert in the abilities of necromancy and photokinesis, did not seem to share the work ethic of his two peers, nor the matching ability of umbrakinesis. This left him in the category of negligible. Edger, on the other hand, only knew of photokinesis and umbrakinesis. However, if his short story he wrote was to be believed, clearly, the citizens of his hometown thought him to be a "vessel".

Princess Luna traced the edge of the quill against her chin as she considered what to write next. She had the evidence she needed to conclude that Script was another user of old magic, and that he used either necromancy or umbrakinesis. She settled with writing “potential” under each category, and left it at that. She realized that he would now be the most difficult to reform. She wished she had known he was an old magic user when she met him. She wouldn’t have treated him like a common criminal. That would explain why he used his powers to escape, Princess Luna thought, he is just scared of us. When she finished writing, she rolled up a scroll, and imagined it in Princess Celestia’s bedchambers, where she would read the updated report.

“Hello, Luna.”

Princess Luna looked around the room to find the source of the voice. She then looked up to the mantle, only to find that instead of her and her sister’s images, she found Discord in a top hat and coat while he sat in an armchair and drank tea.

“Discord,” Princess Luna said, “What are you doing here?”

“Honestly, I could say the same for you.”

“It is daytime,” Princess Luna replied as she forced a smile on her face, “I came here to rest. What can I do for you?”

“Well, that depends,” Discord said as the teacup in his claw began to chatter against the saucer, “Are you trying to bring back Helioselene?”

“You know,” Princess Luna said as she held a hoof to her chin, “The Canterlot Gardens are missing some statuary. I’m sure we can find a place for you there once again if you continue to speak of that name. Twilight would be more than happy to gather the Elements of Harmony to do it once again.”

Discord disappeared from the painting and reappeared in front of Princess Luna. She watched as the red in his eyes began to dilate until it replaced all of the yellow around it. His body trembled with anger as he stood before the princess.

“Princess Luna,” Discord continued, “Maybe your millennium on the moon has made you forget some things. Need I remind you again of what Helioselene is capable of?”

“We do not know of what you speak, subject.” Princess Luna replied, “And need I remind you of the fact that you submitted to Princess Celestia willingly and have thus given up your right to address us in such a manner? Princess Celestia thought it best to try to reform you using Fluttershy’s kindness, but maybe we should have tried a different approach.”

"Flutershy's dead."

"Excuse me?"

“Fluttershy’s dead, Luna. I saw the glyph. And the other Elements admitted to your spiriting two of them away somewhere in this very castle.”

Princess Luna’s eyes grew white, and Discord heard the sound of hooves as they banged against her chamber door. Discord snapped his fingers, and everything went black. When Princess Luna’s vision returned, she stood at the edge of a desert. In front of her was a large field covered in green and purple squares. The outcroppings that surrounded them were bent in unnatural angles, and some areas of earth hovered above the ground. Princess Luna looked behind her, and when she saw the Macintosh Hills and Appaloosa Mountains, she knew where he had taken her.

“This area is quarantined for a reason, Discord.”

“Did you not hear what I just told you, Luna?” Discord asked, “Fluttershy has been killed, and I found the evidence of the old magic near her. When I saw her, I had a feeling that I hadn’t felt in a long time, and I don’t like it.”

Princess Luna watched as Discord stared out onto the field that he and the two alicorns had fought on millennia ago. The green and purple squares of earth flipped over each other until they occupied each other’s spots.

“Do you honestly think that this was a battle, Luna?” Discord asked as he waved a paw over the site. “I am the spirit of discord, one of the most dangerous beings in this world, as you believe. But these things that you are trying to resurrect do not even believe in what I believe.”

“If this is part of some elaborate plan to bring discord between my sister and I, then I regret to inform you that our bond is much stronger than when we last fought you.”

“Luna, I know that you and your sister believe that you can reform whatever beings controlled this magic because you are the spirits of order and harmony, but please, listen to me. They have no concept of what you are.”

“Enough!” Princess Luna shouted, “If you do not return us to our bedchambers this instant, I will ensure that your punishment is expedient and severe.”

“Very well,” Discord sighed, “Have you at least found a unicorn with the ability to create life?”

Princess Luna said nothing but simply stared back into Discord’s eyes. The red had retreated back to their original size. She saw Discord close his eye and slump his shoulders. He snapped his fingers and everything went black again. Princess Luna opened her eyes and looked around the room. The guards had opened the doors and looked around the room as well.

“You had called, your highness,” one of the guards said, “And there was shouting. Do we need to inspect the room?”

“No, everything is fine.” Princess Luna replied.

“Is that the source of the argument?”

Princess Luna saw that the guard pointed towards a cushion on the floor. She looked down and saw that a rock had been placed on it with an inscription carved into it.

“I hope this does not symbolize the productiveness of our conversation.” Princess Luna read, only to turn her head at the guards who looked at her anxiously. “I was not speaking to that rock.”

“Of course, your highness.” The other guard said, “Did you need our assistance?”

“No,” Princess Luna sighed, “You may leave us.”

Princess Luna listened as the door closed and then turned back to the rock.

“Everypony is out to make us look crazy.”

Princess Luna gritted her teeth and focused her magic to transport the offending rock to the Canterlot Gardens. She then levitated a scroll from her desk and began to write.

“Dearest sister,” Princess Luna said to herself, “It has been brought to my attention by none other than Discord that a terrible fate has befallen Fluttershy. We must send guards there at once before the ponies of Ponyville discover this event. He mentioned a glyph. Your ever loyal sister, Luna.”

Princess Luna sent the scroll to Princess Celestia’s bedchambers. Discord watched the scene from a nearby window. He knew, at least, that the princesses had found unicorns that carried the old magic within them. He had to put a stop to this. You can’t let what happened to Fluttershy happened to anypony else, he thought.

“Since when did I become the voice of order around here?” Discord said to himself as he lowered himself down to the bottom of Princess Luna’s turret.

A flash of light to Discord’s side caught his eye. He waited behind a bush as the white flash turned purple. Twilight Sparkle appeared out of the light and began to make her way from the main castle doors and back to Canterlot proper.

“Ugh,” He heard her say, “No books there at all. There is only one other place that I can think of, and of course it’s too far for teleportation.”

Discord watched as Twilight Sparkle made her way into Canterlot proper and tried to follow as inconspicuously as possible. However, as the only draconequus in Equestria, he was certain that he stuck out. He willed himself to a smaller size and flew by the buildings as he followed Twilight Sparkle to the Canterlot Train Station. She gave a few words to a thestral guard, shook her head, and continued on her way. He listened as she reached the ticket counter and placed a few bits on the counter.

“The Crystal Empire, please.” Twilight Sparkle said.

*****

Pinkie Pie entered the Cherry Hill Ranch just as the sun moved to the center of the sky. She had been in Dodge Junction for the past hour as she tried to find the right desserts to bring home to her family. It had been four years since she had seen them last, and she hoped that cherry was still their favorite. As she rode the train from Ponyville, she thought about how much better it would have been had she been able to make her own pies for them, but under the circumstances, she knew she had to leave Ponyville as soon as possible. The letter that had been written to her sounded too urgent. Still, she knew that it would be bad manners to arrive back home to help her family without some delicious treat. She entered the bakery and ran to the counter. As she gathered her bits to pay for the dozen cupcakes and four cherry pies, a familiar voice called out to her.

“Pinkie Pie,” Cherry Jubilee called out to her.

Pinkie Pie looked up and saw Cherry Jubilee behind the counter; her face was covered in so much flour that even her beauty mark had disappeared, but her red mane still looked impeccable.

“Why, as I live and breathe, it is you.” Cherry Jubilee continued, “Oh my, whatever happened to your ear?”

Pinkie Pie reached up to the bandages on her ear. She knew that she had planned on making a joke of losing an ear by pretending not to hear the ponies that spoke to her, but now every time somepony mentioned her injury it made her feel strange.

“Oh, it’s a long story.” Pinkie Pie replied.

“Well, I have time to listen.”

“No,” Pinkie Pie answered to a shocked Cherry Jubilee, “I mean, thanks, but I really need to take these pies to my family. I haven’t seen them in a few years and I know they just love cherries.”

“Why of course,” Cherry Jubilee said, “Everypony loves cherries. So where are y’all from? I know I only got to see you for a few days, so I didn’t get to know you too well.”

“They live in Flatts.”

The register dinged and the drawer opened, but Cherry Jubilee didn’t move.

“I’m sorry,” Cherry Jubilee said, “Did you say y’all were from Flatts?”

“Yes.” Pinkie Pie replied.

“Nopony ever leaves Flatts. And y’all are going back?”

“Yep,” Pinkie Pie said as she reached over to grab her purchase.

“Pinkie,” Cherry Jubilee said, “Y’all said you left Flatts a few years ago? Were you the only one?”

“No,” Pinkie Pie said, “A few of my friends left, too. But I need to go see my family.”

“I see.”

Cherry Jubilee shook her head, and a cloud of flour rose from her features. She flashed a smile to Pinkie Pie as though the exchange hadn’t taken place.

“Well, of course nothing is more important than family, I suppose.”

“Do you know of any carriages that can take me there?”

“Nopony goes near there. You have to either hoof it or you can take one of the hoof-powered carts to get there.”

“Oh, I see. Well, I took that cart all the way to Ponyville last time, I’m sure I can do this easily, too.

Pinkie Pie smiled back to Cherry Jubilee as she reached into her saddlebag and pulled out a small vial. The contents of the vial were filled with a pink glittering substance that glowed even in the shadows of the bakery. As she opened the vial and poured the contents onto the frosting of her purchases, Cherry Jubilee’s hoof stopped her.

“Oh dear, Pinkie,” Cherry Jubilee asked, “What in Celestia’s name are y’all doing?”

“Oh, I once confused one of my pastry books for Twilight’s magic spell books, and ended up making an ingredient that makes ponies extra happy. I put it on all of my frosted goodies now. No matter how sad or angry a pony is, one bite of this dessert will now make them so happy they can’t help but smile. Speaking of which, do you think you could put some frosting on these pies?”

Cherry Jubilee raised an eyebrow but nodded anyway. Once all of the desserts had been covered in Pinkie Pie’s special ingredient, she turned to Cherry Jubilee and waved her hoof. Before she left the bakery though, Cherry Jubilee stopped her.

“Pinkie, why don’t you take this hat?” Cherry Jubilee offered, “Nopony as pretty as you should have to walk around with that ugly bandage.”

Pinkie Pie’s face froze for a moment, but she accepted the hat and tilted it on her head enough so that it covered the bandaged area. She smiled back at Cherry Jubilee and made her way to leave Cherry Hill Ranch. She made her way towards the train station to find a hoof-powered cart. She was only thinking of your best interests, Pinkie Pie thought, the bandages are ugly, and you should cover them so it doesn’t make other ponies feel bad. She knew that once she got started on the cart, she would be able to reach the entrance to Flatts in an hour. She would still be able to make it before sundown.

As Pinkie Pie’s form became smaller in the distance, Cherry Jubilee continued to watch until she reached the exit and made her way to the center of town. She turned back to the bakery, but then back to Pinkie Pie. Cherry Jubilee began to run off of the front porch, but then shook her head and turned back around to go back inside.

Welcome Home

Pinkie Pie struggled to move the hoof-powered cart off of the train racks. When she finally moved it, the wheels landed in the sand with a thud as it sank down a few centimeters. She used her hat to fan herself as she looked around. She knew that this was the place, but she remembered that there used to be a sign for the village of Flatts nearby. As she reached the tree line, she noticed the remains of a broken post where it used to be. The trail ahead was overgrown with brambles. Cherry was right, Pinkie Pie thought, seems like nopony has been here in ages. The sun was still bright overhead, but it had begun its descent towards Dodge Junction. She knew it was about another four miles to Flatts, but she needed to make sure to get there as soon as possible. While she pushed the cart, the thought of being with her family had made her speed up rather than tire out. Still, she hoped to arrive soon so that she could rest before her sister told her what was wrong. As she made her way into the forest, the brambles began to wrap themselves around her hooves.

“Ouch,” Pinkie Pie shouted, “Stop scratching me up, you brambles.”

As Pinkie Pie struggled, she noticed that the brambles simply moved with her. She stopped her struggles for a moment and looked down at the plants that had surrounded her. The brambles were dead, but they had been piled up in the middle of the path for what could have been months. She stepped over the brambles and slowly pushed them to the side so that she could squeeze the rest of the way through. When she reached the other side, she heard the sound of scratches on the ground on her left side. When she turned her head, however, the scratching stopped. Pinkie Pie shrugged her shoulders and continued on her way. The path in front of her turned a few times towards the Everfree Forest, and the closeness of the trees made the path darker until the trees became sparser a little way further into the forest. Even though it was hot, Pinkie Pie was glad that somehow a few clouds had managed to move in. Pinkie Pie continued on until she reached the covered bridge.

“Oh my,” Pinkie Pie said.

The covered bridge in front of her was still the same as when she had left almost four years ago. The shingles on the roof were covered in moss that had eaten away enough of the roof to let shafts of light pass through and onto the warped wood of the floor. The wooden walls were so old that they looked sodden, even in this day's heat. Pieces of wood at the bottom of the walls and floor had broken off and fallen into the small river that ran beneath the bridge. It wasn’t the state of the bridge that shocked Pinkie Pie; it was the white unicorn stallion who had just turned around and met her gaze.

“Script,” Pinkie Pie said, “What are you doing here? Did Edger come with you?”

“Why would Edger come with me?” Script asked.

“Because,” Pinkie Pie replied, “I know Princess Luna took both of you back to Canterlot for something, so I assumed he was with you.”

“No, he and I were put into very different places.”

“Did you get into trouble?”

“Miss Pie, you do remember that I wasn’t the one responsible for those shadowy creatures. If you recall, I was, in fact, trying to stop that from happening, remember?”

“Oh yeah.” Pinkie Pie said as she pointed to his fore leg, “Did you get caught in the brambles, too?”

Pinkie watched as Script rubbed one hoof in front of the gashes on his fore leg.

“Yes,” Script replied, “Those things are insufferable. Please, let us walk and talk. I do not wish to be out here when it gets dark.”

Pinkie Pie nodded and they made their way into the bridge. The only sounds that could be heard now were those of their hooves and the sound of water as it bubbled beneath them. I should have been able to remember that Script was doing things in everypony’s best interest, Pinkie Pie thought to herself, why couldn’t I remember that? Pinkie Pie prided herself on her eidetic memory and how it helped her remember all of her friends’ birthdays and such, but for some reason, when she tried to remember the other night, only the most blurry of images came through. She looked up at the rafters as they passed by them.

“You know,” Pinkie Pie said, “When I was a foal, my sisters and I would stand in front of this bridge and shout to see how much of an echo we could make. Like this – Echo!”

The sound of Pinkie Pie’s shout reverberated a few times before it dissipated.

“Too many holes,” Script said, “Let’s be glad for that.”

Pinkie Pie turned to Script and they made their way to the other side. She knew that after the covered bridge it was another three miles to Flatts and that they would arrive within the next half hour.

“Miss Pie,” Script said as he raised his hoof to stop her, “Stop.”

Pinkie Pie saw that Script had focused his attention on a small bush at the bend in the path.

“Do you hear that?” He asked.

“Hear what?”

“Of course you didn’t. Try turning your good ear towards the end of the path.”

Pinkie Pie squinted at Script but did as she was told. She heard the scratches again, and this time, she knew they were too numerous to come from one pony. She began to step forward, but Script stopped her again.

“Miss Pie,” Script asked in a hushed tone, “What are you doing here?”

“I came to see my family.” Pinkie Pie replied, “What about you?”

“I’m here to finish a job. I guess you could say it’s an assignment from Princess Luna. So visiting family is your only reason?”

“Yes.”

“I see." Pinkie Pie felt Script consider this information for a moment, "And are they expecting you?”

Pinkie Pie turned towards the bush again, but the scratching had stopped. She watched as Script took a few steps forward and then motioned for her to follow him. They continued down the path, but she could see that Script turned his head back and forth every few steps.

“Script,” Pinkie Pie asked, “How do you know about Flatts besides from Edger?”

“Flatts has a bit of a history, you could say.”

“What kind of history?”

“You don’t worry about that.” Script replied, “You just worry about finding your family.”

Pinkie looked up when she felt a raindrop fall on her fur. The clouds had gotten thicker in the past few minutes. She hoped they would make it there before the rain really started. Then she heard it again, the scratching sound beneath the bushes that surrounded them. Script stopped a step ahead of her and turned around. Pinkie Pie pointed to the source of the scratches at a bush a few feet to her left. Script nodded and a white light grew at the tip of his horn. He took a few steps towards the bush, but a crash of thunder ripped through the sky. The bush burst open and a colony of rabbits leapt into the air and towards Script, who screamed and tried to get out of the way of the rabbits that charged towards him. As soon as the rabbits cleared the path and disappeared into the underbrush on the other side, Pinkie Pie made her way to Script and held out her hoof.

“Come on,” Pinkie Pie said, “We’re nearing Flatts.”

The rain had slowly increased, and the trees had become thick again, but Pinkie Pie could still make out the line of a building that led to the entrance to Flatts. As they passed through another turn in the path, they saw the small sign that bore the village’s namesake. Pinkie Pie looked over to her right and saw one of the farms as well as the storage unit of the Elder Fields’ farm. Through the rain, Pinkie Pie could just make out the silo that stood at the corner of her family’s rock farm. They continued on the path until they reached the main square and the four cabins of the enforcer’s on the other side of the communal fire. Behind that on top of a hill, there stood a large barn. Pinkie Pie wondered if it was the rain or something else that made the entire village look like it had been abandoned. When they approached the communal fire, Pinkie turned to her companion.

“Script.” Pinkie Pie said, “I don’t like this. Where is everypony? Did they all leave?”

“No,” Script replied as he pointed to the fire, “The logs used here are too fresh. The village comes alive at night.”

“Script, I know you called me naïve,” Pinkie Pie said, “But I think you know why Flatts is like this.”

“I promise I will tell you the next time I see you.” Script replied, “In the meantime, I need to do some research to confirm my suspicions, and you need to go cheer up your family.”

“Pinkie promise?”

“Do I what?”

Script’s eyes squinted as his head cocked to the side while Pinkie Pie went through the motions of her promise.

“Yes. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.”

“Fine.” Script said as he rolled his eyes, “Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.”

“My house is over there,” Pinkie Pie said as she pointed towards the silo. “And it’s the part of town where the ponies live. Up ahead is where the enforcers stay.”

“Very good.” Script replied, “I wish you luck.”

“You too.”

The rain continued to fall down like mist, neither getting stronger nor letting up. Pinkie Pie watched as Script circled the fire pit a few times and muttered to himself before she turned around and made her way down the main road of the village. To her right was the general store. As she passed by it, a gust of wind moved the line of rocking chairs back and forth, and the sound of their creaking filled the air. Behind the general store was the house of Elder Fields. The town hall and the small clinic stood on the left. With the few ponies who lived here, only one or two hospital beds were necessary. As she passed by each building, Pinkie Pie caught herself looking down each corridor between the buildings. Though the clouds had cast everything around her in a grey tone, she still noticed the shadows in the corridors. Another gust of wind blew past, and Pinkie Pie watched as the curtains in the windows of the town hall lifted and reached out towards her. She reached the end of the main road and turned around. Script had left the fire pit.

“Hello?” Pinkie Pie called out, “Hello?”

The sound of a crash echoed down the street, and Pinkie Pie turned back around. Ahead, at the end of the road, was the old schoolhouse. Another crash echoed through the street, and Pinkie Pie watched as a shutter crashed against the side of the building. The road went off in two directions. To her left was the farm shared by Elders Smith and Hoofton, and it was also where the smithy was. Pinkie Pie turned right to get to her house. She entered from the west field and took note of the rocks’ positions. That can’t be right, Pinkie Pie thought, the limestone is supposed to be in the south field in autumn. Pinkie Pie brushed her hoof against the limestone piece and was shocked because when she lifted it she could see the dirt that had accumulated on the sides of the limestone. She dropped it back in place and looked around. The house was in the middle of the field. As she made her way to the house, another sound stopped her. She turned to the place where the west and south fields met, where the silo stood. She could see small holes in the silo and in the roof, and when the wind blew, she could hear a soft moan echo from within its walls. Something didn’t seem right about the sound, and so Pinkie Pie decided to investigate it.

The door to the silo landed against the wall with a thud. Pinkie Pie entered the silo and was greeted by the smell of dried urine and feces. She flipped the light switch, but nothing happened. Despite the difficulty seeing, Pinkie Pie could tell that the silo was empty. There was nothing stored against the walls and only a few stalks of hay and torn ribbons lay scattered about the ground. In the middle of the room was an old table with a checkered tablecloth. A phonograph sat on the table, and when she reached it, she noticed the record. This is the same record I played for my family, Pinkie Pie thought, I remember leaving home soon after that.

The sound of something shuffled in the darkness. Pinkie Pie looked up but couldn’t see anything. The few holes in the silo let in little light, but whatever was in the silo with her did its best to avoid it. The shuffling sound was joined by another, and another. The noise sounded like bird feathers. Pinkie Pie went to leave, but when she did, she saw that a large figure loomed over the door. A pair of large, yellow eyes opened and glanced from side to side, and came to rest on her. The eyes were as large as a pony’s, but these eyes glowed in the darkness. The sound of claws on metal rang through the air as the claws from the creature dropped in front of the door. Pinkie Pie gasped and backed away, but crashed into the table. The phonograph fell to the ground with a smash, and screeching filled the air. Pinkie Pie looked up and saw more eyes appear in the darkness. The screeching continued as the eyes grew larger and began to circle around her. She felt something scratch at her face, then at her barrel, and within moments she was covered by claws. Pinkie Pie tried to scream but nothing came out.

“Get away from her!”

Pinkie Pie looked up to the door. A pony stood silhouetted in the doorway. She held a lantern in her hoof and swung it at the creatures. One by one, the creatures retreated to the darkness above them, but their hisses continued. Though she only got to view them briefly in the light, the sight of them froze Pinkie Pie. They looked so much like ponies, but their grey bodies were held up by limbs that ended in neither hooves nor claws, but some amalgam of the two. The wings were furry, with no feathers like a pegasus nor even bat-like as a thestral’s wings would be. The webbing between the joints of the wings looked like somepony had taken skin and stretched it so thin to the point of it being translucent. Pinkie Pie knew she would never be able to forget the sight; for the first time, she hated her near perfect memory.

“Pinkamena,” The pony said, “We have to get out of here.”

Pinkie Pie looked over at the pony. Her light grey hair hung limply over the side of her pale blue face. Every part of her body looked as though it was in the process of fading away. The only part of her body that seemed to be lively were her chocolate brown eyes.

“Bellamine.” Pinkie Pie said.

“Yes, sister?”

Bellamine held out her hoof to help Pinkie Pie off of the ground, and they left the silo as quietly as possible. Bellamine reached inside for a moment and then shut the door. The rain had stopped, but the clouds still hung overhead.

“We need to get inside.” Bellamine said, “It will be dark soon.”

Pinkie Pie turned towards the silo again, and then turned back to follow her sister into the house. She shook her head as she reached the side door of the house. Bellamine had already entered, and she could hear her as she moved about the kitchen. When she finally entered, she saw the dirty dishes and cups that had been stacked next to the sink. Bellamine stood in front of the stove and placed a kettle on the burner.

“Bellamine,” Pinkie Pie asked, “Where’s Isabella? Where’s mom and dad?”

“Father’s at the barn.” Bellamine said, not turning from the stove.

“And mom and sis?”

Pinkie Pie watched as Bellamine ran a hoof through her mane. She made her way to the table and sat in front of her. Bellamine turned around.

“Pinkamena, a lot has happened since you left. It’s as though when you left, an invisible glass dome had been placed above us, and we’re finally running out of air. I’m sorry for bringing you back here, but I didn’t know who else to turn to.”

Bellamine walked into the living room, followed by Pinkie Pie. She looked over the room; all of the furniture had been overturned, and the cushions had been torn apart.

“Bellamine, what happened in here?”

“Mother did this when she-”

Bellamine stared into the fireplace and clutched at her barrel.

“Sometimes,” Bellamine said, “It’s so hard to keep hope. Ever since… he… left.”

“Ever since who left?” Pinkie Pie asked.

Bellamine’s eyes shot from the fireplace to her sister.

“Tiller. He was supposed to save us, but then he had to go off and sully the position of the vessel.”

The kettle in the kitchen started to hiss. Bellamine turned away from the fireplace and stepped slowly towards Pinkie Pie, who noticed that her sister’s brown eyes had turned to black.

“Ever since he chose that disgusting path,” Bellamine said as she began to sob, “He doomed us... all. The elders have looked for a replacement, but... it's just... so hard… gah!”

Bellamine wheezed and fell to the floor. The kettle began to shriek throughout the house. She tried to pull her body off of the floor, but her body began to convulse. Pinkie Pie stared in horror as her blue fur began to drain of its color and turn to charcoal grey. Pinkie Pie instinctively reached into her saddlebags and pulled out a cupcake. By the time she reached her sister, she could see that her teeth had already started to elongate.

“Blinky!” Pinkie Pie shouted out her sister’s nickname, “Time for Pinkie Pie’s ultra-happy-cake!”

Before her sister could protest, Pinkie Pie shoved the cupcake down her throat and pushed herself away. She stared at her sister and pressed her body against the wall as she watched the convulsions continue. The kettle’s screaming continued and Pinkie Pie ran to the kitchen to take it off of the burner. When she returned to the living room, the convulsing had stopped. Pinkie Pie watched as her light blue began to return to her body. Bellamine slowly reached her hoof up to pull herself into a sitting position.

“What… was… that?” Bellamine coughed, “Everything went black. But then I was suddenly filled with this bright feeling.”

“Yep,” Pinkie Pie replied, “I covered them myself with my special happiness frosting.”

“I almost… joined them.” Bellamine said as she stared out the window to the silo, "Keep hope... I must keep hope."

“Bellamine,” Pinkie Pie asked, “What happened to mom and sis?”

Bellamine swallowed but continued to stare out at the silo. Pinkie Pie and Bellamine jumped at the sound of a hoof as it beat against the front door. Bellamine shot to her hooves and pushed Pinkie Pie.

“That means they’re here for me. Pinkamina, you have to hide.”

“But sis, I-”

“There’s no time,” Bellamine replied as she opened a door that led to a small closet, “They can’t find you, they just can’t.”

“Blinky-”

Pinkie Pie gasped as she fell into the darkness of the closet. Bellamine closed the door until it almost closed.

“Listen,” Bellamine said, “Tiller’s not here, but I have faith in you. Find a way to stop the elders from continuing to do this. Maybe they’ll listen to you.”

Before Pinkie Pie could protest, Bellamine shut the door. Pinkie Pie heard her hoofsteps fade as she made her way to the front door. Pinkie felt her tail start to twitch. Not now, she thought, twitchy tail, something’s going to fall. Pinkie Pie heard the sound of muffled screams, and then hooves leaving the front porch. As she reached for the handle, the sound of hoofsteps made their way through the house, and then stopped in the kitchen. Pinkie Pie’s tail started to twitch again, but she tried to hold it in place. She heard the hoofsteps move from the kitchen to the living room, and then the sound of somepony rifling through a saddlebag. Pinkie Pie felt her sides and realized that she had left her saddlebags in the living room. She heard a loud sniff, and then the hoofsteps started up again. Pinkie Pie’s tail twitched again as the hoofsteps stopped in front of the closet door. Pinkie Pie closed her eyes and waited for the door to open.

“Ah!” A voice yelled.

“What happened?” A voice from outside called back.

“Stupid piece of roof collapsed on me.”

Pinkie Pie heard the hoofsteps move away from the closet door, out of the living room, and through the kitchen. A door slammed, but Pinkie Pie waited for a minute before she left the safety of the closet. Whatever had just happened, Pinkie Pie knew that she was now alone in the house. She ran to the living room and grabbed the saddlebags. She had to find Script; she didn’t need her Pinkie sense to tell her that he knew something.

The Invasion

Caramel stood at the end of the covered bridge on the side that led to Flatts. The sun had lowered to the horizon, and it bathed the sky in orange and red. Through the chinks in the bridge, a ray of light reached Caramel’s determined face. He held his hooves firm in place as he stared ahead.

“I don’t care what you think,” Caramel said, “You are not going back in there.”

“I am not some defenseless mare that needs your protection, Caramel.” Edger shot back.

Edger looked up into Caramel’s eyes and attempted to look as assertive as the tan stallion did, but he failed miserably at it. His head barely reached Caramel’s neck. The aggression in Caramel’s eyes caused Edger to breathe faster.

“You know what they will do to you if they see you.” Caramel said, “You even wrote about it, remember? I’m just going in there to get Pinkie, and then we leave.”

“And then what?” Edger asked, “I know there is something going on here, and I know it has something to do with the things that I see.”

“And what are you going to do?”

Edger’s mouth dropped and his eyes widened. He took a few steps towards Caramel and then pushed him aside with as much strength as he could, which meant that Caramel stayed in one place. Edger shook his head and then continued past the bridge.

“Edger…” Caramel started.

“No!” Edger shouted, “You think that because of this…”

Edger lifted his hind leg and pointed to his mutilated underside and cutie mark.

“Because of this, that I’m less than you are. You think I’m incapable of protecting myself.”

“Edger, that wasn’t-”

“I’m not useless!”

Edger lowered his hind leg and ran off through the forest. Caramel reached his hoof out to call him to stop, but decided against it and just ran after him. The distance to Flatts closed within minutes at the speed Edger raced. The path bent in so many ways that Caramel couldn’t see Edger. He looked to the west at the setting sun. It was almost below the horizon. Luna’s moon already peaked over the horizon to the east, but Caramel still hoped they would reach the village before Celestia’s sun was gone completely. Caramel heard a gasp ahead of him, and he sprinted the rest of the way, only to find Edger trembling behind a large bush.

“Edger, what-”

“It’s him.”

Caramel joined Edger behind the bush and peeked through. In front of him was a clearing next to an old storehouse. In the clearing, a white stallion with a red mane circled a freshly lit fire. His lips moved, but Caramel couldn’t make out any of the words. He estimated that his build was similar to his. He continued to circle the fire until the flames grew above his head.

“Who is that?” Caramel asked.

“It’s Ag,” Edger said, “I know it is.”

Caramel watched as Edger continued to tremble next to him. He lowered himself until his body pressed next to Edger’s and then reached a hoof over his neck to embrace him.

“I’m here, Edger, I’ll prote-” Caramel hesitated, “I’ll help you, okay?”

Edger looked up to Caramel and nodded his head. Caramel moved to continue, but Edger held him back.

“There are more of them.”

Caramel watched as other ponies made their way from the main street to the fire, where they all sat down in a circle. Their lips moved, and when they spoke together, Caramel could hear whispers as they rose with the fire.

Helioselene

Enas alithinos theos

Perimenoume

ankalia sas eikosi oples

“Caramel?” Edger asked.

“Yes?” Caramel replied.

“All of the other ponies are white, but Ag is black.”

Caramel turned to the other ponies. Ag was clearly white, and the other ponies were mainly different shades of grey or blue, but he didn’t see any of the ponies as having black fur.

“I don’t see it.” Caramel said.

“No, his soul,” Edger replied, “He’s like a shadow, but he’s not wavy like the shadows I’ve seen before.”

“Edger, listen,” Caramel said, “I know you feel that you need to do something here, but please, let’s just find Pinkie and go.”

“No,” Edger replied, “I have to do this. Everything bad that I have experienced has come from here, I cannot stop until I know that it is no longer a threat. If you want to find Pinkie and go, then that’s fine. HEr house is the one by the silo.”

“You mean the silo that a bunch of things are flying out of?”

Caramel watched as Edger turned his attention to the silo just as the sun sank below the horizon. In the moments between dusk and night, he could make out the shapes of large winged creatures as they flew out of the silo into the night sky. A shriek filled the air. Caramel and Edger turned towards the source of the sound. In the moonlight, they saw the barn door in the distance open and a yellow stallion with a black mane left the barn. He carried a smaller pony on his back.

“We have to get closer.” Edger said as he left the safety of the bush and made his way to the storehouse.

Caramel followed him. A moment later, they stood at the side of the storehouse that faced away from the fire. Edger peered around the side and watched as the yellow stallion carried the mare closer to the fire.

“That’s Apiaris.” Edger whispered to Caramel.

The shrieks continued as Apiaris carried the mare to the fire and as he and some other villagers tied her up to a large pole. The pole was lifted above the fire.

“Another one has turned to the darkness!” Apiaris shouted.

Caramel watched as the mare’s body began to change in the light of the fire. Her hooves elongated and separated. Another shriek ripped through the air as two wings grew from her back. A few sparks flew up from the fire and singed her mane. The ponies that surrounded the fire began to chant.

Helioselene

Enas alithinos theos

mas katharisei apo ti̱n amarti

na mas kanei katharo gia sas

“Mother of Celestia, are they-?” Caramel started to ask, but was unable to complete his question.

Edger stared at the fire. Break through the surface, he thought, break through the surface. Edger imagined the fire as separate particles. He saw the fire as a collection of atoms, each binding to and separating from one another. The shrieks continued and Edger watched as the flames licked at the mare’s fur. He closed his eyes and continued to focus on the fire. He imagined heat; he imagined the heat dissipating into the night air; he imagined the night air combining with the heat of the fire and becoming one. The fire disappeared a moment later, but the mare’s body continued to writhe on the stake. The villagers looked around as the light of the moon replaced the light of the fire.

“Where’d the fire go?”

“Apiaris!”

The mare on the stake screeched. The ponies looked around as more screeches filled the air and then looked up as shadows circled around them. Edger and Caramel looked up and saw the creatures that had fled from the silo hover above them. Screams of ponies filled the air as a bell rang in the distance.

“Quickly!” Apiaris yelled, “To the schoolhouse!”

The ponies ran from the fire pit and ran down the street, but the creatures began to swoop down from the air. One of the ponies tripped and was quickly picked up by one of the creatures. Edger and Caramel looked up as the pony and the creatures became a silhouette against the moonlight. Another creature surrounded her and scratched at her as she struggled and screamed against their claws until they all became one mass of darkness above them. Bones snapped and Edger and Caramel reached their hooves to their faces when they felt something warm fall onto them.

“Get in the storehouse.” Caramel whispered.

“But, the mare-” Edger started to say.

“Get in there now!” Caramel yelled.

Edger looked into Caramel’s eyes. He wanted to argue, but the way Caramel towered over him and stared him down suppressed all urges to argue. He nodded and together, they entered the storehouse. Edger lit his horn slightly so as not to draw attention to the creatures that flew outside. He could still hear the screams of the villagers and the ringing of the schoolhouse bell as it rang down the street. Above them, rusted scythes hung precariously from the rafters and the scent of rotted grain filled the air. As soon as they entered the storehouse, Caramel swung it shut.

“Caramel,” Edger pleaded, “Please don’t look at me like that again.”

“I just wanted you to-”

Edger’s sob filled the storehouse. Caramel reached over to touch Edger’s mane, but another light began to glow in the corner of the room.

“So you truly are a vessel.” The voice said.

Edger and Caramel looked at the source of the light as it made its way down the single aisle in the storehouse. Script emerged from the end of the aisle and faced them.

“What are you doing here?” Edger asked as he choked down his final sob.

“The same thing you are.” Script replied.

“How did you escape Canterlot?” Edger asked.

“How did you?”

“Wait a minute,” Caramel asked, “You were imprisoned there?”

“We both were,” Edger said, “The princesses must have put us in separate places, though. He wasn’t with the other unicorns I met.”

“Why would they do that?” Caramel asked.

“To learn how to control the unicorns with the power of old magic, I suppose.” Script replied as he turned to Caramel, “Mister…”

“Caramel, just Caramel.”

“There are some things that I need to discuss with Edger. If you would be so kind…”

“Sure, let me just excuse you both and go outside where those bat pony things are.”

“Vesperqui.” Script replied, “They are the ponies that were… rejected… by Helioselene. The ones who are hopeless.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

“Miss Pie is out there.”

The ground shook. The scythes above them rustled back and forth. As the metal scraped together, Edger shivered.

“Where is Pinkie?”

“At her house, I suppose. The one by the silo.”

“Oh, here,” Script reached into a saddlebag and tossed a scroll at him. “I do suggest that you study the map I just gave you before you go rescue your mare in distress.”

Caramel unwound the scroll and looked it over. A moment later, he had his hoof at the door.

“Oh, and I also suggest that you find something with which to protect yourself before you go barreling in after her. Who knows what the vesperqui would do with somepony like you?”

“Edger,” Caramel asked as he placed a hoof on Edger’s shoulder, “Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

“Go get Pinkie.” Edger replied as he pulled away.

The door closed again a moment later. As the sound of Caramel’s hoofsteps grew fainter, Edger turned to Script. The shrieks of the ponies outside had died down, and Edger had assumed they had made their way to the schoolhouse. The only sound was the occasional moan coming from the mare that was still tied to the stake.

“We have to save her.” Edger said.

“It’s too late for her.” Script replied as he pulled out another scroll from his saddlebag, “Dim your horn. We don’t want to attract too much attention.”

Edger did as he was told. Script unwound the scroll and placed it in between the two of them.

“Why did you do it?” Edger asked; the question had weighed on him even more so than what was occurring at that moment.

“Why did I do what?”

“The pills.”

“I did it to stop the princesses from getting to you.” Script replied, “A lot of good that did.”

“Why do they want us?”

“Because they are the created ones,” Script said, “They are the created ones, and the magic that we possess comes from the uncreated ones. They want to control that.”

Edger looked down at the scroll Script had unwound. On it, he saw his crude drawing of the image that had been burned into his mind; it was the image of Helioselene that had been painted onto the roof of the barn. Surrounding this image were images of the creatures that Edger had just seen flying outside. They carried off ponies just like he had just seen.

“The ponies here believe that Helioselene is the true god, and that Celestia and Luna are merely placeholders, waiting for his return.”

“How do you know all of this?”

“I’ve had a long time to study this, Edger.” Script sighed, “They want to bring Helioselene back, and they want to use you to do it.”

“Vessel?” Edger asked.

Script nodded. Another moan tore through the air from outside.

“They tried using the villagers for it, but they end up like her.”

Script’s horn dimmed and Edger heard him pick up the scroll.

“There’s nothing we can do tonight.” Script continued, “We’ll talk with Caramel and Miss Pie in the morning, if they’re alive.”

Edger suddenly realized how tired he was. The thought of Caramel and Pinkie Pie out there had him turning towards the door.

“I wouldn’t go out there, if I were you.”

“I have to find Caramel.”

“Caramel is going to have a difficult enough time trying to protect Miss Pie. He doesn’t need you slowing him down.”

Edger’s hoof remained on the door handle. His shoulders slumped and he turned back to lie down on the floor.

“Edger,” Script asked through a yawn, “Why don’t you tell me about the other unicorns you met in Canterlot?”

*****

Caramel peeked out of the corner of the general store. In the distance, he could see faint light coming from the boarded up windows of the schoolhouse. Luna’s moon was now high in the sky, and it cast everything in its grey light. All of the noises were gone now; the shrieks of the ponies had stopped, as had the flapping of the wings of the vesperqui. Caramel turned around and saw another light from the storeroom where Edger and Script were hidden. The light from the storeroom dimmed and Caramel sighed as he turned back down to the alley.

Caramel jumped as the sound of something crashed behind him. A brown box had fallen from a stack and now lay on the ground, its contents of discarded metal strewn across the ground. He turned back around and made his way past the backs of buildings and houses. Is the entire village in the schoolhouse, he thought. As he passed another alley, Caramel saw a shadow dart across the other side of it on the main road. He stopped for a moment and peered back down the alley, but there was nothing there. Caramel looked back at the end of the road, at the small building near the farm at the north of town. Just before the farm is the smithy, Caramel thought, I can make it there, and then find Pinkie. Caramel stood in front of a field in between the buildings he used for shelter and the smithy. The grass hadn’t been tended to, and it grew to the height of his cannon. Caramel stared in the direction of the smithy as he heard the sound of wings beating lazily in the tree that stood nearby. Just as he prepared himself to run, he felt a hoof on his shoulder. Caramel spun around and prepared himself to kick, but he saw who it was.

“Pinkie,” Caramel whispered as he embraced his friend, “What are you doing here?”

“I’m looking for my sister. Were you about to run through the cemetery?”

Caramel spun back around. A wind blew through the field and between the blades of grass Caramel could just make out the tips of stones. He pointed to the smithy.

“We have to get there,” Caramel said, “I have to make something to protect us from the vesperqui.”

“Vesper-what?” Pinkie Pie asked.

“The flying things.”

“No,” Pinkie Pie said, “Those creatures were the ponies.”

“I know.” Caramel replied as he remembered the scene he came into town to see.

“But,” Pinkie Pie continued, “They’re my family, you can’t kill them.”

“They aren’t your family anymore.”

“But-”

“Come on.”

Caramel edged his way out of the shadow of the building. The wings in the trees ruffled, but they didn’t take to flight. Their hooves trod along the ground, but their breathing stilled. Caramel felt his hoof sink deeper into the ground and he struggled to pull it out.

“Hold it,” Pinkie Pie said, I’ll help.”

Pinkie grabbed onto his fetlock and began to pull along with Caramel.

“It’s a fresh grave.” Pinkie Pie said, “Somepony died recently.”

“Or maybe they were preparing the grave for somepony about to die.”

Caramel continued to struggle against the ground, but the sound of wings in the distance made them stop. Both ponies

looked up and saw three sets of yellow eyes in the trees.

“Pinkie,” Caramel said, “Get to the smithy.”

“No.” Pinkie Pie replied as she began to dig around the dirt to free his hoof.

A shriek rang in the distance. Caramel continued to pull as Pinkie Pie continued to dig. The yellow eyes squinted as the sound of wings beat through the trees. Caramel finally urged his hoof free as three vesperqui emerged from the tree and flew towards them. More vesperqui descended from the direction of the schoolhouse.

“Run!” Caramel yelled.

He had made it a few feet before he realized that Pinkie Pie wasn’t behind him. He turned around in time to see Pinkie Pie throw three cupcakes directly at the vesperqui that had flown from the tree. The cupcakes hit their faces.

“Pinkie!” Caramel shouted, “We don’t have time for this!”

“Just watch.” Pinkie Pie said as she caught up to him.

They continued to run as the sound of more vesperqui filled their air. Caramel charged through the back door of the smithy, and the door burst open and hung on the hinges. He pulled Pinkie Pie inside and shut the door. One the other side, Caramel could hear the sound of scratches against the door as the creatures tried to get in. Just as suddenly as the scratches started, they stopped. Pinkie Pie made her way to the window and motioned for Caramel to look. Caramel eased away from the door and to the window. Near the middle of the field were three small ponies. They looked at their hooves and turned to one another.

“Pinkie,” Caramel asked, “How did you?”

The sound of wings stopped his question and a look of panic covered Pinkie Pie’s face. The three ponies looked up as shadows grew beneath them. As Caramel watched one of the vesperqui pick up one of the ponies, he dragged Pinkie Pie away from the window.

“No!” Pinkie Pie yelled, “We have to get them!”

“There are too many of them, Pinkie!” Caramel shouted back, “Don’t you understand that?”

“But,” Pinkie Pie whimpered, “They’re my family.”

More shrieks filled the air, but Caramel held down Pinkie Pie’s body with all of his weight. Pinkie Pie struggled against him, but he refused to let her go. In a matter of moments, the shrieks once again ceased and the sound of beating wings could be heard as they grew fainter in the distance. Caramel released Pinkie Pie, who took off to the window. Caramel noticed the intense heat in the room and turned his gaze to the forge. Do they keep it going at all time, Caramel thought. He looked around the room as he recalled the blueprints for his invention. A small metal tube and cone lay in the corner with other discarded metal. He looked up at the worktable and found a roll of copper tubing. In a large jar on a shelf he saw steel shots of ball bearings. Perfect, he thought as he reached for the items.

“They’re gone.” Pinkie Pie whispered.

“Yes,” Caramel replied, not looking towards her, “For now.”

Caramel immediately began to heat up the metal tube and cone until they became hot enough to mold together. He didn’t look up, but he heard Pinkie Pie make her way towards him.

“They’re dead.” Pinkie Pie said, “And it’s because of me.”

Caramel moved what he was working on aside and made his way to Pinkie Pie.

“Don’t you dare think that you’re to blame for this.” Caramel said, “We have no idea what’s going on here. Look around, Pinkie. You and I both know that there is something wrong here.”

Caramel watched Pinkie Pie’s eyes darken and her hair deflate.

“Script and Edger will explain everything to us.” Caramel said.

“Edger’s here, too?” Pinkie Pie asked.

Caramel cocked his head as he wondered how Pinkie Pie knew Script was in Flatts.

“Of course he is.”

Caramel hugged Pinkie Pie once more and continued with his work. He grabbed a length of copper tubing from the roll and a steel shot and was glad to see that the steel shot rolled right through the tubing. Caramel began to sweat as he started to put the pieces together.

“Caramel, have you seen my sister?”

“I can’t say that I have.”

“She’s about my size, pale blue coat, light grey hair?”

“I haven’t seen her, Pinkie.”

“It’s just that they took her from our home and I’m sure they took her to the barn and I know there are bad things going on there so I really hope they didn’t take her there.”

Caramel tried to control his facial features and continued to work on his project.

“They took her to the barn?”

“Yes?” Pinkie Pie replied, “Are you sure you haven’t seen her?”

Caramel set down his project and stood still for a moment. He thought back to the mare that Apiaris had been carrying. He thought of the burns she had on her body before the fire went out. The sounds of her shrieks still filled his head.

“No, Pinkie,” Caramel said, “I haven’t seen her.”

Caramel watched as Pinkie Pie turned back to the window. Caramel shook his head and turned back to his work.

Morning Preparations

The spires of the Crystal City castle rose against the horizon; the light of Celestia’s Sun shone through the prisms and sent spectrums of rainbow colored light through the streets of Crystal City. In the distance, multicolored ewes leaped on the hills and were immediately corralled by a lavender pony as she waved a shepherd’s crook in her hoof at them. As the ponies went about their daily routine, a multi-cart train made its way into the station. Tufts of smoke swirled in the air as the engine hissed to a stop. Out of the smoke, Twilight Sparkle emerged and turned her head towards the castle. If Shining Armor and Princess Cadence found out she had come here and hadn’t visited, they would be upset with her. Twilight Sparkle closed her eyes and imagined the front steps of the Crystal City Library. Twilight disappeared in an orb of purple light and immediately reappeared in front of the library. She took a moment to consider the two stone griffons that stood guard at the entrance before she ascended the stairs.

Inside the library, Twilight Sparkle had to contain the excited squeal of delight at the thought of so many potentially unread books. The circular stairs in front of her led to even more books. This is going to be even more difficult than finding The Crystal Empire’s History, she thought.

“Is there something I can help you with?” An elderly voice asked Twilight Sparkle, “Oh, it’s you!”

Twilight Sparkle turned and saw that the librarian stood in to her side as she adjusted her glasses.

“Oh,” Twilight Sparkle replied, “Yes, I’m looking for a book.”

“Well, this is certainly a good place to look for one, Princess Sparkle,” the librarian said, “I’m Agatha, and I run the library here, thanks to you and your friends.”

Twilight Sparkle winced for a moment, but regained her composure.

“Yes,” she said, “That is actually the reason I’m here. One of my friends has gotten sick, and I’ve gone through all of the books on magic that I could get my hoofs on, but I could not find any remedy. I was hoping that you would have a book from the earlier ages, perhaps?”

Agatha’s face immediately furrowed into a frown. Her eyes turned to glass for a moment, but the light of the morning sun broke through the front window and her eyes regained their luster.

“I’m sorry, dear,” Agatha replied, “But we don’t have any books from that period anymore. We do have a collection of works from Starswirl the Bearded’s earlier period, before he began to write…”

Twilight Sparkle watched as Agatha’s face darkened once more. She waited to see if Agatha would continue her sentence, but Agatha stood still for a few more moments.

“Before he began to write about what?” Twilight Sparkle asked, “I’ve already read up on his time travelling spells. Believe me, those things are more trouble than they’re worth.”

“Right,” Agatha replied as her eyes shifted back and forth, “His time travelling spells. Yes, everything after that was taken by Princess Celestia and placed in Canterlot.”

“Oh,” Twilight Sparkle replied with a huff, “I’ve read those, too. Are you sure that all of his books were taken to Canterlot?”

“Yes.” Agatha replied. “But please feel free to peruse our selection of magic books. You’ll find the healing books based on healing on the third floor, just past the section of defensive magic techniques.”

Twilight Sparkle watched as Agatha made her way down the hall and towards a foal asked her for a book about crystal structures found in the farmland of the upper empire. She stood and looked up towards the books in the corner of the third floor.

She wasn’t very helpful now, was she?

“Discord?”

Twilight Sparkle watched as a group of ponies turned in her direction with wide eyes. Twilight Sparkle blushed and her wings unfurled. She began to back away with a sheepish grin until she backed into a bookshelf and sent the contents falling to the ground on top of her. She emerged from the cascade of books in a daze.

Oh really, Twilight, you are just so much fun to surprise. Why don’t I do it more often?

“What are you doing here?” Twilight Sparkle whispered.

Listen, I know you, so I’ll cut to the chase. You’re looking for the magic that destroyed Fluttershy, aren’t you?

“Destroyed?” Twilight Sparkle whispered.

Please, just think, Twilight. We don’t want ponies thinking you’re crazy now, do we?

Twilight looked back and forth at the other ponies in the library.

Now, the only reason that I am going to impart this information on you is because I know that you are the only one close enough to talk about this with the princesses. Do you understand?

Twilight Sparkle nodded.

You don’t have to nod. I’m here, and I can understand if you simply think.

Twilight Sparkle emerged from the books and turned towards them. She focused her energy and the books were surrounded by a purple aura. The books floated to the bookshelf and were placed in their correct order. Twilight Sparkle then turned around and made her way up the nearest set of circular stairs. The murmur of ponies continued around her, but she continued on her way until she reached the corner of the third floor. There was a line of bookshelves on her left and a row of tapestries on her right. The windows in between the tapestries gave light to the titles as she walked by them: The History of Pony-Dragon Relations, The History of Pony-Griffon Relations, Pre-Equestrian Pony Relations. In the shadows, Twilight Sparkle looked on as she passed by different scenes: an image of Princess Celestia as she stood before a large dragon, an image of Princess Luna as she stood before a griffon, and image of both princesses as they hovered above an earth pony, pegasus, and unicorn. Twilight Sparkle stopped in front of a tapestry that hung near the corner of the top floor of the library. The tapestry depicted Princess Celestia and Princess Luna in the middle, surrounded by Discord. What surrounded Discord, however, Twilight Sparkle couldn’t understand. Three sets of double circles surrounded Discord: one set was white, one was grey, and one was green. Twilight Sparkle looked left and right and then lifted the tapestry. She looked out the window and saw that the wall led only to the outside, and then looked toward the circular hole and the two oblong indentations beside it. She placed her horn in the hole and let her wings rest on the indentations. The wall immediately melted away and Twilight Sparkle tumbled onto the ground. A shadow emerged from her back and twirled along the floor. Out of the shadows appeared Discord.

“Welcome, Princess Sparkle, to the Princess Wing of the Crystal City Archives.”

Twilight Sparkle watched as Discord wrapped around the two aisles that lines the rock walls of the archives. On each shelf were ten books, and there were two shelves to each aisle. Orbs of light hovered on each edge and emitted enough light to make readable the titles of each book.

“Discord,” Twilight Sparkle asked, “What is this?”

“I’m glad you asked, Twilight.” Discord replied, “You see, there are events that are occurring with which I need your help. These books that you see contain all of the information that I know of what you ponies refer to as ‘old magic’.”

Discord snapped his claw and two books floated through the air and towards Twilight Sparkle. The orbs that surrounded them changed color for a few moments and Twilight Sparkle watched as Discord’s eyes grew red.

“Twilight,” Discord continued, “Be warned. These two books are only an introduction to the old magic and the gods that wielded it. Once you read them, I know that you will be convinced to help me speak with Celestia and Luna.”

“The princesses?”

“Yes, they know of these books. I wrote these books soon after I came into power. I didn’t want to forget the knowledge. I showed them to Celestia and Luna soon after I promised to use my powers of chaos for good. We placed the books in here and placed an alicorn lock on the doorway. But you will learn more of that in time. For now, I need you understand what it is that we face.”

Twilight Sparkle nodded and looked at the books that still hovered in front of her. Empolemitheon and Mageismoiras. Twilight Sparkle wracked her mind for a moment before she remembered the old language she had read about.

“War Torn Gods and Fate Magic?” Twilight Sparkle asked.

She looked up when she received no response. She looked around her, but Discord was nowhere to be seen. She collected the books, placed them in her saddlebags, and made her way out of the room.

*****

“Wake up!”

Edger tossed to his side and leaped to his hooves. Script stood in front of him with the door to the storehouse open. The fog that had settled on the ground began to seep in as he motioned for Edger to follow him.

“It’s morning?” Edger asked, “And nopony found us?”

“Yes,” Script said, “The ponies here seem to only come out at night, with the exception of the enforcers. We’re lucky, but we need to find the others. We need to find a way to defeat this by tonight.”

Script made his way out of the storehouse and Edger followed him. They looked back and forth along the main road, but Edger’s gaze stopped at the fire pit. There was no longer a pony tied to the stake, but rather a skeleton whose bones were blackened.

“How did that happen?” Edger gasped, “I stopped the fire last night.”

“The vesperqui can’t survive in sunlight.” Script replied, “It doesn’t matter if she had the form of a pony. Helioselene changed her. Come on, we must find the others.”

Edger watched as Script made his way towards the general store. His hooves clicked against the wooden porch before Edger found the ability to make his way towards him. Edger looked back and forth once more along the street and then entered the store. He heard the door click shut as Script followed behind him. The front of the store faced south, so most of the store was shrouded in darkness. The shelves were barren save a few homemade canned vegetables and stale loaves of bread. A mouse squeaked in the darkness and Edger heard the sound of its feet as it scurried away.

“There’s a backdoor that leads to the cemetery field.” Edger said, “It will take us to the north side of the village. I have a feeling Caramel took Pinkie to the smithy.”

Edger walked through the store and towards the backdoor, followed by Script. Behind them, they heard the sound of the front door being opened. Edger and Script turned to each other and then dove to opposite sides of the store. Edger hid behind the shelf of stale breads and tried to find a cabinet to hide in. The only thing there was a small alcove beneath an old sink. He dove in and pushed his body as far into the corner as possible. The sound of hooves clacked against the floor and Edger immediately knew it was the sound of two ponies. One set of hooves was heavy, and Edger immediately registered the sound as similar to Ag. The other pony’s hooves were lighter and quicker, and Edger traced the sound to Verdant. Edger cringed in the corner, but the sound of the heavier hooves made their way towards him. Tears formed at Edger’s eyes as he heard the sound of Ag’s hooves move closer and closer. He tried to focus his mind on his magic, but nothing happened. He couldn’t even focus enough energy to create the slightest distraction. Maybe Caramel and Script are right, Edger thought, Maybe I am useless. He tried to control his sobs, but they wouldn’t stop. His chest convulsed from the force he used to control the sound of his cries. The hooves moved closer until they were finally next to the sink’s alcove. Edger couldn’t help but shriek when a hoof fell on his flank.

“Oh, I’m sorry Edger.”

Edger looked out and saw Caramel in front of him. He sobbed once more and wrapped his fore legs around Caramel’s neck.

“You showed up and I couldn’t move, Caramel. You showed up and I heard you and I thought you were Ag and I couldn’t even focus enough energy to summon a cloaking spell. You are right. I am useless.”

Edger felt two hooves wrap around his and then he felt himself pulled away from Caramel’s embrace. He looked and saw that Caramel held his hooves in his own and stared into his eyes.

“I never said you were useless, Edger.” Caramel said, “I don’t think that, and neither should you. I don’t know what to do to convince you that you aren’t, but I know that you are special. You are so special that you have a magic that most ponies don’t even know exist. So stop.”

“This isn’t magic!” Edger yelled, “This is a curse!”

“Now don’t even start with that.”

Script appeared from the other side of the store and stood by Pinkie Pie. The two made their way across the store and the four ponies were together.

“Good.” Script began, “Now that we are here, I need to let you all know a few things. First off. Caramel, what are you wearing?”

Caramel spun around to let the others look at his invention. A conical structure hung on his side over his saddlebag. The structure connected to a tube that led to a straight pipe that pointed in front of him. Another tube connected the pipe to a small horseshoe on his right hoof.

“Whatever these creatures are can be stopped by physical means, so I created a device that shoots metal bearings at a high velocity. I undo the safety at my hoof and press down, then the air pressure sends a bearing through the pipe and pierces the fur of one of those creatures.”

Edger nodded his head, as did Script, but then he turned to Pinkie Pie, who simply looked down to the floor.

“Well then,” Script continued, “We have survived the night, but I do not think we will be as lucky tonight. We have to find one of the final pieces of information that I must collect in order to help Edger face and destroy Helioselene.”

“Come again?” Caramel asked.

“Right,” Script sighed, “Earth ponies. Okay, we are in the village of a group of ponies who believe that Helioselene is the true god set to take over for Celestia and Luna. They need a vessel in order to do that. They had Edger for that purpose. Then they banished him after they-”

Edger coughed in an effort to stop Script from continuing that sentence. Script looked to Edger and then hesitated.

“After they felt Edger was not a suitable vessel. So they have offered villager after villager to Helioselene, only to be rejected. Once they were rejected, they were turned into vesperqui, mindless soldiers of Helioselene. Those are the flying creature that you saw.”

“What about the others?” Edger asked, “The ponnequins, the shadows?”

“The ponnequins are the typical pony soul, which is why you only see them during your visions. The shadows, on the other hoof, are the souls of those filled with regret and despair. They have unfinished business or they cannot forgive themselves, so they wander the land until somepony opens a portal to assist them in fulfilling their purpose or righting the wrongs they have committed. They need bodies. That is why they rip apart the bodies of normal ponies in their search for a suitable vessel, and it is why only unicorns tend to see them.”

“Normal ponies…” Edger muttered.

“This is a lot to take in, Script.” Caramel said.

“Here is what I suggest we do,” Script continued, “Mister Caramel, you and I should take either Miss Pie or Edger, and-”

“No!” Edger shouted, “Pinkie and I are perfectly capable of taking care of ourselves!”

“Edger, perhaps Script-” Caramel began to say.

“No!” Edger continued, “Pinkie and I will search together… You go with Script.”

“Okay.” Caramel replied.

Edger made his way to the back of the store again. He kicked the door open and Pinkie Pie went to follow him. The door slammed shut, and Caramel and Script looked at each other for a moment.

“I think we should just give him a little while to cool off,” Script said, “He’s always been sensitive about his… condition.”

Caramel nodded and the two stallions made their way to the front of the store. The sun rose high into the sky, but there was still yet to be another pony in the streets.

“I’ve noticed the ponies tend to stay in the schoolhouse during the day.” Script said as though answering Caramel’s thought, “We should stay away from it, just to be safe.”

“What are we looking for?” Caramel asked.

“I want to know how they conduct their ceremonies,” Script replied, “The best answers will probably be in one of the elder’s homes. We will start with Miss Pie’s home, then work our way north.”

Caramel looked towards the east at the silo and the home that accompanied it and then followed Script towards it.

*****

The sun had long risen by the time Rainbow Dash awoke. She paced by her bed and muttered to herself.

“You can’t trust them.” Rainbow Dash said, “You don’t even know them.”

Rainbow Dash stopped her pacing and turned to look out her window. The winds had carried her home north so that it hovered above Fluttershy’s cottage. A Royal Guard stood at the front door to stop anypony from getting in to see what had happened. She could see that the guard was in the middle of an argument with Mr. Greenhooves, who gestured madly to the garden hose and the tulips. After many minutes of arguing, Mr. Greenhooves finally shook his head and left.

“You don’t even know which pony killed her.”

Rainbow Dash tore her gaze away from the window and made her way to a small desk where she had placed the letter that was left at Sugarcube Corner. Mr. and Mrs. Cake weren’t there at the time, so it was no trouble for her to take it. She had spent the night before at the library in an attempt to find the place called Flatts, but none of the books Spike had shown her even referenced it. Why haven’t any of us really talked to each other about our foalhood homes, Rainbow Dash wondered.

A whirring sound approached her and Rainbow Dash turned her head just as Tank flew up the staircase to her bedroom. He hovered for a moment at the entrance and then moved towards her.

“Not now, Tank,” Rainbow Dash said, “I have to figure this out.”

Tank blinked his eyes separately and then croaked.

“I have to figure out what is happening. Something is not right with Edger, I can feel it.”

Tank croaked again.

“I can’t help but feel that something awful is going to happen with Pinkie and Caramel if they are near him.”

Tank blinked again, followed by a long croak.

“Caramel got on the train with Edger yesterday morning, and now I have this letter that was given to Pinkie, so I’m pretty sure they’re all together. I just don’t know what for.”

Tank was silent, and the sound of the whirligig on his back filled the air. Finally, Tank gave out a long croak.

“Follow them? I don’t know if the train went to Appleloosa or to Dodge Junction.”

Tank stared at Rainbow Dash for a moment and then croaked one more time.

“Ask the pony at the ticket counter,” Rainbow Dash replied, “Of course. Tank, you’re a genius.”

Rainbow Dash took to the air and hoof bumped Tank’s shell. She flew down the stairs and was gone in an instant towards the train station.

The Sins of the Father

Edger squinted in the sunlight as he emerged from the general store. Behind him, the door slammed shut and Pinkie Pie took her place next to him. In the sunlight, Edger could see the state of disrepair the buildings around him were in. The planks of wood that held up the general store were warped and discolored. The windows of the houses on the other side of the graveyard that weren’t broken were covered in grime. The grass in the graveyard was untamed to the point that they nearly covered the gravestones. The only building that looked as though it had been kept up was the barn on the hill in the distance.

“Edger,” Pinkie Pie said, “You know I don’t think you’re useless, right?”

“Thank you, Pinkie.”

“Do you think our fathers are up there?” Pinkie Pie asked.

“Undoubtedly,” Edger replied, “They are probably looking for another pony to serve as a vessel.”

Edger and Pinkie Pie moved away from the general store and into the graveyard. They passed a stone with an image of a sleeping foal carved into the top. They paused for a moment to think about the foal that had been buried there, and then continued on their way. The sound of hooves as they crunched against the grass was the only sound for a few moments.

“My father was never a happy stallion.” Pinkie Pie blurted out.

“Oh?” Edger said.

“The only time I think I ever made my family truly happy was the day I got my cutie mark. I remember setting up a party in the silo. When they came in, they just stared at it for a few minutes. I was scared that they wouldn’t approve. But then they smiled and everything was okay.”

“How endearing.” Edger replied.

“After you and Forge left, though, my father forbade me from throwing those parties. I knew I had to leave soon after that.”

Edger and Pinkie Pie stopped at another gravestone. This one had an image of two hooves wrapped around each other. The two had died only a day apart from one another. Edger remembered that the two were the owners of the general store.

“Why did you tell me this, Pinkie?” Edger asked.

“I don’t know, really,” Pinkie Pie replied, “I guess after finding out what my father did to you, it’s hard to imagine that he was the same stallion that I was able to make smile like that. I felt like I had finally broken through to him, and that my father smiling was the real Clyde Pie, and everything else that I hear about him is some sort of spell.”

“Ponies are paradoxes, Pinkie,” Edger said, “They can be one thing to a certain pony and the complete opposite towards another pony. I don’t care which one is the real Clyde Pie. He’s still one of the ponies who did this to me, as well as my father.”

“Do you think you could ever forgive them?”

“How can you even ask me that?” Edger said, “They have no remorse for what they did, and seeing what has happened since I’ve been here only proves that they still show no remorse. These ponies need to be stopped.”

Edger and Pinkie Pie neared the edge of the graveyard. In front of them were two houses, both for the family members of Ag and Apiaris, the enforcers for his father and for Elder Smith.

“At least you made your father smile once.” Edger said, “I remember being told by the other stallions that the only time my father was happy with me was when I was born. But I was always smaller and weaker than the Earth Ponies, so I wasn’t of much use. Then he found out about me and Forge.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I told you that there’s nothing for you to feel sorry about. What they did were their own actions. You’re my friend, Pinkie. But the fact that you are upset at what happened shows that you do not need forgiveness. The last time I saw my father was when I was on that table. He could barely look at me. His eyes were dead, and I’m sure that I was dead to him.”

“Maybe if you see him, he’ll feel sad about what happened. Just wait and see.”

Pinkie Pie continued to walk out of the graveyard, but stopped when she realized that Edger wasn’t next to her. She turned around and saw him as he stared down at the ground. She returned to Edger and saw what he was looking at.

“Gardener Hoofton,” Edger muttered, “My father died last month. Apparently, they must have had another child after I was banished. It lists my mother and another pony, but nothing about me. What was that you said about my father feeling remorse, Pinkie?”

Pinkie Pie watched as Edger continued to stare at the grave of his father. He closed his eyes for a moment and began to tremble.

“Father,” Edger said trough gritted teeth, “Everything I ever tried to do was only a failure to you. I wish you were here so you could see what I’ve become. I wish you were here so that I could tell you that I am the one who is ashamed of you.”

Pinkie Pie took a step back as his voice grew louder. She looked around to see if anypony could hear him, but there were no other sounds – no approaching hooves of the enforcers, no birds in the trees, not even a gust of wind.

“Why did you let them do this to me, father? I couldn’t help being born a unicorn. I couldn’t help that I was smaller. And even the one thing that made me special you threw away just because I loved Forge. I’m glad my name isn’t on this rock.”

Pinkie Pie watched as Edger opened his eyes, only to see that they were completely black. She watched as Edger turned around, reared his hind legs, and crashed through the gravestone.

“You don’t deserve to be dead! You don’t deserve to go to the next life with what you’ve done! I hate you! I hate you!”

Pinkie Pie rushed to Edger’s side and wrapped her hooves around his body. Edger trembled in her embrace and Pinkie Pie felt tears land on her fore hoof. The gravestone now lay in pieces on the ground. She lifted Edger’s eyes up to hers and was relieved when she saw that they had returned to normal.

“Edger,” Pinkie Pie whispered, “I think you may have injured your hoof. Come on, the clinic is next to the general store. We need to see if there’s anything there to fix you up.”

Edger nodded and regained his footing. They turned back to the graveyard and slowly made their way back to the main street.

*****

Caramel and Script stopped in the middle of the field shared by Elders Smith and Hoofton.

“Did you hear something?” Caramel asked.

“Yes,” Script replied, “That was the sound of my patience for this place wearing thin.”

“I’m serious,” Caramel said, “I thought I heard yelling. Maybe we should find Edger and Pinkie to make sure they’re okay.”

“I’m sure Edger would appreciate that, after he made such a big deal about you thinking he was useless.”

“I never said that, and you know it.” Caramel replied.

Script ignored the reply and continued through the field. Caramel tipped over a few moss covered stones as they reached the house at the far end of the field. The floor boards moaned as they stepped onto the porch.

“You don’t have to say it,” Script finally replied, “He knows the way you look at him. You treat him like he needs to be protected. How do you think that would make you feel? Everypony in his life has tried to take on that role to him.”

“Including you?”

Script opened the front door to Elder Hoofton’s house. The front door creaked and landed against a countertop. Caramel turned to the wall and looked at the photographs. There was a picture of an elderly couple. The mother held a small foal in her hooves. Caramel looked closer at the details of the elder’s face.

“This is Edger’s father’s house, isn’t it?” Caramel asked.

“Yes it is.” Script replied as he made his way through the kitchen.

“He has his mother’s eyes.”

Script nodded but continued into the main hallway. Each room that they passed held the same scene; furniture lay overturned, wallpaper began to tear at the ceiling, and dust covered everything.

“Do you really know what happened here, Script?”

“These are earth ponies,” Script replied, “They don’t have the capability to handle the old magic. Helioselene is simply drawing power from them. Their actions are clouding their minds and bodies, turning this place into a nightmare. I need to find something that says how they learned of this magic and what they are really doing to bring Helioselene about.”

They made their way to the end of the hallway. Script began to ascend the stairs.

“Caramel,” Script said, “You search the first floor. Try looking in desks for anything that seems unusual. You’re observant, so I assume you’ll know it if you find it.”

Script continued up the stairs, and Caramel was left alone at the bottom of the flight. He looked around and made his way back to the front of the house. On the other side of the kitchen was a small parlor. All of the elders’ houses seem to have the same floor plan, Caramel thought as he entered. He continued to look at the wall at the numerous photographs. Why aren’t there any photographs of Edger, Caramel wondered. The scenes showed the small foal as she aged. She was a small blue earth pony with black hair. In each scene, however, the father’s eyes sunk in a little deeper, and the small remnants of a smile faded away. The final photograph was another portrait of the three of them as they stared into the camera in front of their house. The foal reached up to hug her mother, but the father’s eyes looked straight into the camera. Caramel shook his head and looked again. No, he didn’t look into the camera; he looked through the camera, as though his eyes were trained on something even farther in the distance.

A warm breeze entered the room through a broken window, causing the tattered blinds to wave through the room. Caramel turned around and looked into the corner of the room, next to a small desk. He ignored it for a moment, but just as he began to turn away, the shadows in the corner of the room coalesced. Caramel stood still, and his eyes widened. Script said earth ponies couldn’t see the shadows, Caramel thought as he watched the shadow take on the form of a stallion. The creature began to pace back and forth in front of the desk and began to whisper. Caramel couldn’t make out the sounds, but he was too afraid to take another step forward. The creature continued to pace back and forth, but occasionally turned his gaze towards Caramel. Caramel felt for a moment that the creature was trying to decide what to do, but after a few moments, he realized that the creature wasn’t looking at him when he turned his gaze up, but through him, into the distance.

“Gardener Hoofton?” Caramel asked.

The creature stopped his pacing and turned once more to Caramel. Nopony moved, but when the sound of hoof steps above them was heard, they both turned their heads silently up to the source. The two finally regained their gazes towards each other, and the creature pointed a hoof at the small desk in the corner of the room. Caramel took a hesitant step forward as he slid the safety off of his hoof trigger. The desk drawer opened with a creak and Caramel noticed the papers that lined it. Caramel reached in and pulled out the documents. Images of glyphs and ponies littered the edges, alongside words written in a language Caramel couldn’t understand. A glyph of what he could only imagine was a representation of Helioselene took up an entire page. One of the eyes in the image was circled, with only the word ‘crystal’ written around it in another ink. Caramel looked up to the creature and he could finally make out the words he had been whispering.

Forgive… Forgive… Forgive…

Caramel flipped through to the final page and gasped. Before he could read the body of the letter that had been written, a white light flashed through the room.

“Caramel!” Script yelled, “Step away from that thing!”

The creature began to shriek against the light. The soft edges of the shadow hardened into lines, and the creature took on the appearance of a fully formed stallion, but the eyes remained blackened. Caramel watched as the color reformed in the creature’s body until it resembled Edger’s father. The shrieks continued, and the creature reached down and picked up the desk. Caramel ran to the other side of the room next to Script and threw the papers into Script’s saddlebags.

“Script!” Caramel yelled, “You said earth ponies couldn’t see the shadows!”

Script remained silent but kept his horn’s glow pointed at the creature.

“You need to destroy it,” Script replied, “Use that thing you made.”

Caramel leaned into the creature and pointed the sight at it. He stamped his hoof on the floor and a bearing launched into the air and pierced the skin of the creature. The creature ignored the shot and continued to throw items at Caramel. Caramel ran to the other side of the room and prepared for another shot, but the creature landed on top of him and began to tear at his neck. They toppled against the wall and fell to the floor. Caramel tried to find a flat surface to launch another bearing, but the constant movement from the creature made it impossible. Caramel finally reached forward and jammed his hoof directly into the creature’s body, sending another bearing into his flesh. The creature responded by slashing at his fore hoof.

“His eyes, you idiot!” Script yelled, “The other parts of him don’t respond to physical trauma. His eyes are the only parts that haven’t fully formed yet!”

Caramel nodded and threw his entire weight into the creature. The creature flew through the air and landed on the remnants of the desk. Caramel leaned in and aimed his sights at the eye. As the creature lunged forward, Caramel took his shot. The creature froze in midair, and the two stallions watched as the creature began to disassemble. The black hooves dissolved, as did his barrel, and finally, the head disappeared into the shadows once more. Script’s horn let go of the white aura, and the room was shrouded in darkness again.

“What… was that?” Caramel asked.

Script didn’t respond.

“Script!” Caramel shouted, “You said earth ponies can’t see the shadows. So what was that?”

“He’s getting stronger.”

Script reached into his saddlebag and pulled out the papers that Caramel had given him. He pored through the pages, as though the ancient pony tongue were second nature to him. When he came across the large glyph, he sighed.

“They know of it,” Script muttered, “This is worse than I thought.”

“Who’s getting stronger?” Caramel asked, “Is it this Helioselene guy?”

Script made his way out of the parlor and to the kitchen. When he reached the front door, he turned back to Caramel.

“No,” Script replied, “Edger’s getting stronger.”

*****

Edger sat on the bed in the clinic as Pinkie Pie wrapped a bandage around his hind hoof. Edger mumbled something under his breath, and Pinkie Pie turned to face her good ear at him.

“I’m sorry,” Pinkie Pie said, “did you say something?”

“What happened to me back there?” Edger asked.

“I don’t know,” Pinkie Pie said, “You were yelling pretty loud, and I was worried one of the enforcers would find us, but then your eyes went black, and then I had to shake you back to reality.”

“My eyes went black?”

“Yes.”

Edger leapt off the table and struggled to get to the door as fast as he could.

“Edger, what’s wrong?”

“We have to find Script and Caramel.” Edger replied, “I may have done something bad.”

Edger pushed open the door and made his way into the main road.

“Edger,” Pinkie Pie said, “We can’t just run around the middle of the street.”

“I don’t care,” Edger shouted, “We have to find them before something bad happens.”

In the distance, a door slammed, and Edger knew that it came from his old home. He turned course and ran down the street towards the field. When he got there, Script and Caramel emerged from the house and looked around. They all met in the middle of the field.

“Edger,” Script asked, “What did you do?”

“I didn’t mean to.” Edger replied, “I saw my father’s grave, and so many things just came out and I lost control.”

Caramel and Pinkie Pie looked towards each other as Script reached forward to wrap a hoof around Edger’s neck.

“It’s okay,” Script replied, “You’re learning how to use your skills. We just need to learn how to control them.”

“Isn’t that what Princess Luna is trying to do?”

“No!” Script shouted, “They have other motives for learning how to control you.”

“Like what?” Edger asked.

“They want power.” Script replied, “The power isn’t theirs to have.”

“Script,” Caramel said, “Maybe it’s not a good idea to speak like this about the princesses.”

Script turned to Caramel to say something, but the air was filled with the ringing of the school bell.

“They know we're here.” Script said, “We have to find a place to hide.”

The three other ponies nodded and they ran towards Elder Field’s house. As they entered through the back door, Script motioned towards the other to follow him.

“At all costs,” Script said, “We need to make sure that Edger is not found.”

“But-” Edger started to say.

“No buts,” Script cut him off, “They know how to bring Helioselene forth. I don’t know how they got it, but they have the tools necessary to do it. We have to make sure you stay away from them. Now, everypony, hide.”

Pinkie Pie dove into the grandfather clock that stood near the entrance to the back door. Caramel opened the door to the cupboard under the stairs. Script and Edger ran down the hallway and Script immediately hid inside the fireplace. Edger looked around and saw a cabinet door in the kitchen that hung askew. The moment Edger closed the cabinet door, the front door of Elder Field’s house flew open. The sound of hoof steps filled the air. Edger closed his eyes and focused his magic. Invisible, Edger cried to himself, invisible.

The cabinet door swung open and Edger held his breath. Apiaris stood in front of him; his eyes stared into the darkness of the cabinet. For a moment, their eyes met, but Edger watched as Apiaris’s eyes moved back and forth through the cabinet. His black mane ruffled as he threw his head back and forth, and he reached into the cabinet to feel around. Edger knew that the invisibility spell wouldn’t take away Apiaris’s ability to feel him, and he cringed into the corner as tightly as he could. There was a crash on the other side of the house, and Edger watched as Apiaris pulled his head out of the cabinet and moved towards the sound. There was another thud of a door opening, and then the sound of hooves being dragged away. Edger could hear the sound of his friends screaming as they were dragged out of the house, but his body wouldn’t move to go investigate. A few moments later, the sound of hoof steps left the house, and Edger left the confines of the cabinet.

“Pinkie?” Edger whispered, “Caramel? Script?”

There were no noises, and Edger stood alone in the kitchen. Edger shook his head, but the sound of hoof steps filled the air once more. Before he could turn around, everything went black. Before he slipped out of consciousness, he heard Apiaris.

“He’s finally come home.”

The Protectors

“Well wouldn’t you know it,” Cherry Jubilee exclaimed, “Rainbow Dash. What brings y’all back around these parts?”

Rainbow Dash smiled at the sandy-colored mare and nodded. Cherry Jubilee looked back and forth at the empty bakery and brought over two cherry smoothies. The chairs scratched against the floorboards and they took their seats in the corner of the bakery. The clock outside rang four o’clock.

“I’m actually here looking for Pinkie Pie,” Rainbow Dash said, “Do you remember her?”

Cherry Jubilee took a deep gulp from her smoothie and looked back at Rainbow Dash.

“I saw her yesterday morning.” Cherry Jubilee replied as the smile withdrew from her face, “Terrible about what happened.”

“What do you mean?” Rainbow Dash asked, “What happened to her? Is she okay?”

“I meant about her ear, dear.”

“Oh, right.”

Rainbow Dash shuffled in her seat as Cherry Jubilee turned her attention to the window. They watched as the street filled with ponies as they left their jobs. Two foals entered the store; one was an earth pony with dark brown fur, the other was a white pegasus with pink hair. The earth pony immediately went to the counter to look at the treats, but the pegasus turned her attention to Rainbow Dash and squealed.

“Oh my gosh!” The foal said, “You’re Rainbow Dash!”

Rainbow Dash jolted upright at the attention and smiled down at the foal.

“Hey kid,” Rainbow Dash replied.

“I can’t believe you’re actually here!” The foal said as her speech became faster as she continued. “You’re here, in Dodge! I can’t wait to tell daddy!”

“That’s great, kid.” Rainbow Dash said.

“Daddy took me to the Best Young Flyers Competition. I can’t believe you were able to do a Sonic Rainboom!”

“Is there something I can help the two of y’all with?” Cherry Jubilee said as she got out of her seat.

“Can we get two slices of cherry pie, please?” The other foal replied as he continued to stare at the confections.

Cherry Jubilee made her way to the counter and pulled out the slices of pie. As she began to ring them up, Rainbow Dash noticed that the pegasus foal was trotting her fore hoof against the ground. She went to reach for her saddlebag, but then changed her mind.

“Daddy’s not going to believe that I met you.” The foal said as her smile left her face.

“Hey kid,” Rainbow Dash said, “How would you like an autograph to show your dad? That’ll make him believe you.”

“Oh my gosh,” the foal replied as her eyes went wide, “You’d do that?”

“Of course,” she said, “I can’t leave a fan hanging, now can I?”

The foal laughed as she pulled out a sheet of paper and quill from her saddlebag. She spun around in circles as Rainbow Dash began to write a message for her.

“What’s your name?”

“Rosewing.”

“Cool name,” Rainbow Dash said as she began to write, “To Rosewing, stay awesome. Rainbow Dash.”

Rainbow Dash gave the autograph to Rosewing, who clutched it to her chest as she turned to face her companion. When the two foals left, Cherry Jubilee joined Rainbow Dash back at the table.

“Listen, Mrs. Jubilee,” Rainbow Dash said, “I need to go find Pinkie. Can you tell me where she went?”

“I’d rather not, dear.” Cherry Jubilee replied.

“Please tell me,” Rainbow Dash begged, “I just know that something awful is happening to her, and I have to find out what. I have a feeling that I need to save her from something.”

“Something,” Cherry Jubilee asked, “Or somepony?”

Rainbow Dash’s eyes darkened. She reached forward and took another sip of the smoothie.

“I don’t want to say. But let’s just say that he did something to one of my friends back home, and I don’t want the same thing to happen to Pinkie.”

“And you think it’s your job to save her form what she’s facing, is that it?”

Rainbow Dash remained silent.

“Y’all really are the Element of Loyalty.” Cherry Jubilee laughed, “What that stallion did to your friend must have made y’all feel really guilty if you’re willing to follow Pinkie to that horrible place. Y’all think that if you help her and perhaps save her, then y’all won’t feel guilty anymore?”

Rainbow Dash finished the last of her smoothie and stood up to go to the door.

“Nevermind,” Rainbow Dash said, “I’ll find her myself.”

Rainbow Dash took a few steps toward the door but was held back by Cherry Jubilee’s hoof.

“Wait,” Cherry Jubilee said, “If you follow the tracks for a few miles, y’all will find a large pile of dead branches at the edge of a forest that shouldn’t be there. Behind it is a path that leads to Flatts.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Jubilee.”

“The village is cursed.” Cherry Jubilee said, “They say that the village used to have a protector, but the protector left.”

“Protector?” Rainbow Dash asked, “What would they need a protector for?”

Rainbow Dash watched as Cherry Jubilee shook her head and finished the rest of her smoothie.

“They needed a protector from themselves.”

“How do you know all of this?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“I once met a young stallion from there,” Cherry Jubilee said, “I don’t have the right to tell y’all the details, but needless to say, they’re an awful lot over there. Y’all best be careful.”

“I will,” Rainbow Dash replied, “I just need to find out what is happening.”

Rainbow Dash turned away once more from the mare and onto the porch. She turned towards the west where a small forest lay in the distance. Above the forest, a patch of wild grey clouds from the Everfree Forest had formed and floated outside of their natural habitat. She could feel the pressure the clouds were sending in her direction in the form of humidity. As she stepped forward, each floorboard creaked. Rainbow Dash opened her wings and took to flight in the direction of Flatts.

*****

Edger felt the hay poke at his back. He reached up to touch the back of his head and felt that a small welt had formed. Apiaris must have hit me pretty hard, Edger thought as he struggled to stand.

“Oh Edger, thank Celestia you’re okay!”

Edger looked up and through the darkness felt Pinkie Pie inches away from him. Pinkie Pie grabbed him and pulled him to the other side of the room, where Script sat with his ear pressed against the wall. Even in the darkness, Edger could tell that this was the same room he had been locked in years before.

“Will you please be quiet, Miss Pie.” Script said, “I’m trying to understand what they’re saying out there.”

The other two ponies made their way to the wall and tried to listen through it. Though it was slightly muffled, Edger could never forget the words the ponies outside chanted.

Helioselene

Enas alithinos theos

Perimenoume

ankalia sas eikosi oples

“This can’t be right,” Script said.

“What are they saying?” Pinkie Pie asked.

“First of all, it is a terrible bastardization of the old language.” Script replied, “But I can make out phrases, and that’s what doesn’t make sense. Helioselene, one true god, we wait for you, one with twenty hooves. It sounds familiar, but I can’t quite put my hoof on it.”

“Wait,” Edger asked, “Where’s Caramel?”

Edger watched as Pinkie Pie and Script shared a look. A cough echoed through the room and Edger turned to the other corner of the room. He made his way through the darkness and almost tripped over Caramel.

“Caramel,” Edger said, “Please, are you okay?”

“They thought he was Forge.” Script said.

“They thought what?” Edger shouted.

“They actually thought that Forge had returned and changed his cutie mark.” Script replied, “They obviously didn’t touch Miss Pie because of her father, and I get the feeling that they may try to use me if things don’t work out with you, as though I’m going to let them do that.”

A light burned in Edger’s mind. The light started out white and small, but then it began to turn red and orange until it took the shape of a fire. Edger turned his attention to the surrounding wooden walls. But when he began to focus on them, a headache formed in his mind and he lost his concentration. He fell to the floor and grabbed his now throbbing head.

“You just tried to use the geomancy skills you just learned, didn’t you?” He heard Script ask.

“Why didn’t you try to heal Caramel?” Edger asked.

“For the same reason your magic won’t let you burn down these walls.” Script explained. “From the information I gathered, the structure of this barn serves as a perfect barrier against outside magical influence. The anterooms that surround the main atrium were laid with spells. Don’t you remember doing that as part of the construction?”

Edger thought for a moment as he remembered how he helped build the barn. Each anteroom was built as a separate compartment, and Edger remembered reciting words in each one, but he could not remember them. And then he remembered placing a crystal inside of the main atrium in the roof.

“Yes,” Edger said, “We built each one, and then I was taken into each room as it was completed. They gave me something to say, but I can’t remember what I said. It was in that same old language that they are saying now.”

“Fortunately, it seems that they don’t have everything needed for the ceremony.” Script said, “They don’t have the proper crystal.”

“So that’s good, right?” Pinkie Pie asked, “That means they can’t do anything to us.”

“Oh no,” Script said, “They can still turn us into a vesperquus. Without a proper ceremony, Helioselene cannot be fully called, leaving the vessel incomplete as well.”

“Then what do we do?” Edger asked.

“We escape, plain and simple.” Script replied, “The ponies here are doomed anyway, so we let them destroy themselves.”

“No!” Pinkie Pie shouted, “I know how to save them! I just need to get my saddlebags back!”

“And what about Caramel?” Edger asked, “We need to find a way to carry him out of here.”

“I suppose we do.” Script replied.

Another cough echoed through the room. Edger made his way back to Caramel and placed a hoof on his mane. He wished he could generate light so that he could see the extent of the damages, but he was worried of what he would see. Caramel’s mane felt matted and sticky. Edger knew that had to mean he was beaten until he bled. He reached down and felt Caramel’s barrel. Edger could feel the bruises through the muscle and fur. Silence filled the room, and Edger could hear Script walk to the wall again.

“They’re saying something else now.” Script said, “It’s like a song. Helioselene, one true god, cleanse us of our sin, make us pure again. This doesn’t make any sense at all.”

“Okay Script, that’s it,” Edger said, “You know things about this place. There are things you aren’t telling us. You need to tell us now.”

Edger heard a sigh escape from Script’s muzzle and the sound of Pinkie Pie’s hooves as they moved closer to him. Caramel coughed as he moved his hoof off his barrel.

“Okay,” Script said, “Is everypony here? I’ll have to go off of what I saw on the documents I found here. But first, Edger, don’t you ever wonder where you get your magic from?”

“What do you mean?” Edger asked, “All unicorns of Equestria are given magic by the Celestial sisters.”

“Ha.” Script laughed, “And that’s why Princess Luna took us to Canterlot to study?”

Edger remained silent.

“I thought so. You know as well as I do that our magic abilities come from something older than the Celestial sisters. You know that the unicorns here are born with magic abilities meant to serve them and keep the balance of Equestria.”

“So there’s a power older than Princess Celestia and Luna?” Pinkie Pie asked.

“The Celestial sisters gained their powers when they overtook the previous rulers of Equestria.”

“So our powers come from Discord?” Edger asked.

“No,” Script replied, “It’s not like that at all. There is a power that precedes even Discord. But in this village, they only seemed to have gained the understanding of one of those older gods.”

“Helioselene.” Pinkie Pie muttered.

“Yes. There are numerous powers that we have been blessed with, Edger. But these ponies seem to think that Helioselene is some sort of savior figure or purifier. They can’t possibly know how to perform the ceremony if they don’t-”

A square of light appeared in the room that stretched until it reached the ponies. Edger looked down and finally saw Caramel. His eyes were half closed, and his hair was matted with blood. A trickle of blood fell from his lips. His barrel was splotched with bruises that discolored his tan fur. Edger ran his hoof down Caramel’s hind leg as he fought his curiosity to make sure that the enforcer’s hadn’t done to him what he feared most. What are you doing, Edger thought. You just want to make sure he’s okay, he argued with himself, somepony like him doesn’t deserve this. Does anypony, he asked himself. Edger shook his head and looked back up to Caramel’s eyes.

“I’ll be fine.” Caramel whispered.

Edger turned his attention to the doorway and saw a form in the doorway.

“Ag.” Edger said, “Have you come to finally use me as the village’s vessel?”

Edger stood up to face Ag. He took a few steps forward and stared coldly into Ag’s eyes. Ag began to laugh.

“Ha. We know that your body isn’t suited for that anymore. You fortunately brought another unicorn who can serve perfectly as the vessel.”

Edger turned his eyes towards Script, whose eyes grew wide.

“Excuse me?” Script said, “You will do no such thing.”

Ag entered the anteroom, followed by Iron. Edger focused as much power as he could and swiped directly at Ag’s muzzle. The sudden hit sent Ag back a couple of paces, but he soon regained his standing and turned to Edger.

“You little coltcuddler,” Ag said as he placed a hoof across his muzzle to stop the blood flow, “You’ll see what the elders do to you after that stunt.”

“Get your decrepit earth pony hooves off of me!” Script shouted as Iron wrapped his hooves around Script’s barrel.

“Hey, you let him go, Iron!” Pinkie Pie shouted.

“Pinkie, your father wants to see you.” Ag replied as he grabbed her.

Edger felt a pair of hooves wrap around him.

“Hey,” Verdant said, “It’s true. A gelding’s fur is just as soft as a mare’s.”

“What,” Ag laughed, “So you want to buck him now?”

“As if,” Verdant replied, “I’m pretty sure that nopony would want to have to deal with this thing.”

Edger began to yell, but the larger stallion was able to wrap a hoof around his muzzle as well as carry him out of the anteroom with Script and Pinkie Pie. As they were carried out of the room, he could hear the sound of Caramel’s breathing grow lighter. The light on Caramel’s body disappeared as the door was shut in between them.

*****

Twilight Sparkle stood in front of the Canterlot train station and stared at the conductor. Her wings ruffled with each breeze that flew by. For a moment, her horn glowed and then dimmed. Finally, she sighed and looked at the conductor.

“I understand. Trains do sometimes overheat. Do you have any idea how long it will take to fix?”

“Well,” The conductor replied, “We can get it up and running in an hour. From the looks of it, you’ve used a bit too much of your magic energy to perform a transportation spell.”

“That’s true.” Twilight Sparkle replied.

Why did it take so much energy just to get into that room, she thought.

“I am sorry for the inconvenience, your Highness.” The conductor said as he bowed.

Twilight Sparkle nodded to the conductor and opened her wings. She took to flight in the direction of the castle. Though her body wobbled back and forth to keep in the air, she knew it was much faster than galloping through the streets. She needed to hurry. It was sunset, the time when Princess Celestia would be focusing all of her attention of lowering the sun. Princess Luna was most likely at the top of her own tower, preparing the moon’s path for the evening. She knew that Edger and Script weren’t the only ponies being trained in old magic.

And what are you doing now?

Twilight Sparkle turned her head to see two yellow eyes. The rest of Discord’s body formed and together they made their way to the castle.

“I’m going to find the other ponies that have the abilities of old magic.” Twilight Sparkle replied, “I need to get some first-hoof knowledge before I continue.”

“I see.” Discord said, “Knowing Luna, I wouldn’t be surprised if they have been sworn to secrecy.”

“I am a princess now, you know.” Twilight Sparkle replied, “I’m sure that I can persuade them.”

“Well, here’s your chance.” Discord said, “There’s one, right there.”

Twilight Sparkle looked down at the balcony on the lower half of Princess Luna’s tower. Sitting at the edge was a small green unicorn. She stared out at the city of Canterlot, her attention not even turning for a moment as Twilight Sparkle tried to land as delicately as possible. Discord materialized on the balcony next to her.

“Hello, Princess Twilight,” the green unicorn said without turning, “And hello, Discord.”

The alicorn and draconequus stopped.

“You know of us?”

“No,” the green unicorn replied, her attention still on the city, “But I knew you were coming.”

The green unicorn turned away from the city and to Twilight Sparkle. Whereas her fur was a dark green like the leaves of an apple tree, her mane was a paler green like the sea, and her eyes an even paler green still. Twilight Sparkle could tell that she had been crying.

“What’s your name?” Twilight Sparkle asked.

“Leila.”

“And you know why we’re here?” Discord asked.

“I know why the two of you are here,” Leila replied, “And I know that you two are here for two different reasons.”

“You’re the one with the gifts of Psukeineuma.”

“You don’t have to be clairvoyant to know it’s a bad idea to say that name out loud so near to the princesses, Discord.”

Leila turned away from the two and continued to stare on at the city. Twilight Sparkle watched as Leila’s body began to tremble.

“There are so many lives in this city.” Leila said, “They all truly believe that when it comes down to it, they are each an independent entity. But look, that red pegasus dropped a small stone from his saddlebag, it falls to the ground, where it hits a red pony and stuns him, giving the white mare a chance to run away from the mugging. And none of them realize that it was all part of a line that has been connected. Above all else, those connections need to be protected.”

Leila turned back and made her way into the castle.

“Being able to see these things is not a gift, it is a curse. I know what you both want to do, and that is why I’m not going to help you. Please, let things happen the way they are meant to. Nonetheless, it is ultimately your choice.”

Leila disappeared into the castle, leaving Twilight Sparkle and Discord alone. Discord’s eyes fell down towards the floor, but Twilight Sparkle’s eyes gleamed. She turned around so quickly that her hair tossed violently behind her. She ran to the edge of the balcony and took off as quickly as she could back to the train station.

Helioselene

Caramel felt the strength return to his hooves. He began to extend all four of his cannons. Thank Celestia, he thought, nothing broken. The taste of blood in his mouth left a coppery taste, and as he tried to stand, he felt his body shake back and forth from the sudden change in the position of his head. Caramel could have sworn that he saw light in the room just a few moments ago, but everything was black once again. Images of the past few hours began to run through his mind.

“I’m not Forge!” Caramel had yelled.

“I wanna know how you changed your cutie mark!” Ag had replied.

The ensuing fight had lasted a while, considering it was the four enforcers against only him. If only they hadn’t taken away his machine, he could have dispensed of them rather quickly. With the turn of events, however, they had taken it, along with Script’s gathered documents, and they had even taken Pinkie Pie’s remaining pies. Caramel knew that if were to have any chance at saving his friends, he would need to find his machine. A cursory glance over what Script had collected let him know that there were ten anterooms that surrounded the main atrium of the barn, and a hallway wrapped around the perimeter in between the anterooms and the atrium. Caramel stumbled as he made his way to the door, which he could just make out from the dim light that shone underneath it. As he reached the door, the familiar chanting rang in his ears.

Helioselene

Enas alithinos theos

mas katharisei apo ti̱n amarti

na mas kanei katharo gia sas

The sound of additional yells from his friends interrupted the sound of the chanting. He reached his hoof to the door. Locked, Caramel thought. He wanted nothing more than to kick through the door, but from what he knew of the construction and given his current physical state, he knew that would be pointless. Caramel shook his head and moved to the middle of the room.

Caramel heard the door unlock. He turned around just in time to see the door creak open. A sliver of light entered the room and came to rest on a black hoof. Caramel looked up and saw a pair of black eyes staring back at him. The black pony didn’t move, but continued to stare at Caramel with a black expression. It can’t be, Caramel thought.

“How long have you been in here?” Caramel asked quietly.

The black pony didn’t speak.

“I thought we destroyed you.”

The black pony tilted its head as though confused. Caramel took a hesitant step forward. Something on the pony’s neck caught the light, and Caramel turned his attention to a small necklace that matched his fur. No wonder I didn’t notice it before, Caramel thought.

“Why are you helping me?”

The black pony took a step towards the door and pulled it open further. The fur remained black as it entered the dim light of the hallway. It only changed grey when it came into contact with Script’s light, Caramel thought as he followed the specter of Edger’s father to a nearby room. He winced as his flank brushed against the doorframe, but then continued on his way. The black pony stopped at the next door and ushered Caramel inside. As soon as he entered, the door slammed shut behind him. Before Caramel could beat on the door, the sound of another set of hooves made him go silent.

“What are you doing here?” A deep voice asked.

Caramel backed into the far corner of the room and felt his hoof hit a saddlebag. This is where they hid our things,

Caramel thought. He made his way back to the door just in time to hear the sound of the latch being undone. He pressed his body against the wall as hard as he could and covered his muzzle to stop himself from crying out loud as the pain shot up his body. A moment later, the door opened, and Caramel heard the sound of the stallion as he made his way through the room. From the edge of the doorway, Caramel could see the black pony follow who Caramel learned was Ag. The stallion left the small rectangle of light to go to the corner of the room where the machine and the saddlebags were. Caramel tried to control his breathing as Ag’s hoof steps continued through the room until they finally came back to the entrance. The only sound Caramel heard was the continued yelling from his friends in the atrium. As Caramel tried to adjust his hooves, the door slammed hard into his body and then closed.

“I knew it! You let him out!”

Caramel felt hooves wrap around his neck as he fell to the ground. All feelings of pain left Caramel as he realized that Ag was trying to kill him. He swiped a hoof blindly in the air. By luck, it happened to connect with Ag’s muzzle. Caramel heard the sound of Ag’s body fall to the ground. Caramel had only a moment to collect himself as Ag’s body charged back towards him and pushed him against the wall. Caramel could feel that the walls had been doubly reinforced. Caramel couldn’t feel the wall give in any from the force of Ag’s thrust. Just as Ag’s hooves wrapped around Caramel’s neck again, he felt Ag’s body pushed away again. Though he couldn’t see anything, Caramel knew that it was Edger’s father who helped him once again. He listened for the sound of Ag’s body as it fell to the ground once more, followed by a shatter. He made his way to the source of the thud and charged full speed ahead. His body connected with Ag’s and together they tumbled to the corner of the room. Without thinking, Caramel reared up his forelegs and pressed down as hard as he could. As his hooves met with Ag’s body, he heard a series of snaps, followed by the trembles of Ag’s body. A moment later, there was only silence. The only pony that breathed in the room was himself. Caramel limped back to the door and swung it open to reveal the lifeless form of Ag in the corner of the room. He made his way back to Ag and realized what he had done. Ag’s eyes poked out of his skull and his neck bent in a peculiar angle.

The adrenaline left Caramel’s body. It is okay, Caramel thought, he was trying to kill you. It was you or him. Yeah, that’s it. Caramel’s body trembled as he held his hooves up to his face. The sound of his friends yelling turned his attention away from Ag. He took a step forward, but his hoof landed on something hard. Caramel looked down as saw the remains of a necklace on top of a small pile of ashes.

Celestia… forgive me…

*****

“I promise that if you let me go now, I will ensure you that when I destroy you all, it will be quick and painless.”

Edger couldn’t help but roll his eyes at Script’s statement. Script lay flat on the metal table, the same table on which both he and Forge had lain. Rather than show any sign of fear, Script was instead negotiating, and terribly at that. Script laughed as a damp cloth was placed over his horn.

“This will serve as an added precaution.” Elder Pie said.

“Father,” Pinkie Pie asked, “What is the meaning behind all of this? Where’s mom? Where are my sisters?”

“Your mother and sisters were taken by the darkness, Pinkamina.”

Elder Pie trotted over to Edger and pointed a hoof at him.

“Ever since that day,” Elder Pie said to Edger, “The day that you threw away your birthright. It was the day that the ponies here began to fall into the darkness.”

“We have been dealt with too many setbacks,” Elder Smith added, “With an unbroken vessel to serve for Helioselene, we shall finally have the world restored.”

Script continued to laugh to himself as Edger and Pinkie Pie watched what occurred. Elders Smith and Pie stood at opposite ends of the atrium holding a small bag. As they walked around in a circle, they opened the bag and let chalk fall from their hooves. When they were finished, Script lay in the middle of a circle. Edger looked up to see the image that still haunted him; the glyph of Helioselene, the twenty hooves that extended from each leg; that eye, something always about that eye. The eye is glistening, Edger thought.

Opos pio pano

Etsi kai kato

As dyo kosmous

Syndyazo

Edger turned back to Script. Three elders and three enforcers formed a circle around Script, and they continued to chant. Script simply laughed.

“You idiots!” Script yelled, “You don’t even have the proper tools to conduct this ceremony!”

The six figures that surrounded Script looked back and forth at each other. Elder Pie shook his head, and they continued. A door burst open on the other side of the barn, and a moment later, the blue fur of Rainbow Dash bolted around the room. She hovered above every other pony, her gaze turned from one to the next. Finally, it came to rest on both Script and Edger.

“Which one of you two did it?” Rainbow Dash shouted.

“Did what?” Edger shouted back.

“Pinkie Pie,” Rainbow Dash said, “I’ll get you out of here, I promise.”

Rainbow Dash turned her attention to Script, who leaned his head forward to point at the ceiling.

“Miss Dash,” Script said calmly, “Can you retrieve the gemstone that’s inside of the eye of that picture? I think this has gone far enough.”

“You did do it, didn’t you?” Rainbow Dash yelled.

“Somepony get her!” Elder Pie shouted.

“Just wait until Princess Celestia finds out about this, Script!”

“What happened?” Pinkie Pie yelled.

“Just get the gemstone!”

Rainbow Dash shook her head and reached up to touch the eye of the glyph. As soon as she touched the gemstone, the chalk turned bright until beams of light connected with the circle on the glyph. Rainbow Dash’s eyes widened and her mouth broke open, letting a scream rip through the building. Pinkie Pie covered her good ear, but Edger turned to Script, whose eyes had also grown wide. He looked back up as Rainbow Dash just in time to see the color begin to drain out of her mane.

“Where did you get that stone?” Script yelled.

“Somepony stop her!” Elder Smith shouted, “She is interfering.”

A shot rang through the atrium. The light that surrounded Rainbow Dash dimmed and she fell to the floor. All of the ponies turned to the source of the shot and saw Caramel at the entrance to the atrium with his machine strapped to him.

“Caramel,” Script shouted, “Keep shooting at it.”

“No!” Elder Pie shouted back.

Edger struggled to release the ropes that tied his hooves, only to realize that another pair of hooves was already working on undoing them. He turned to see Pinkie Pie undoing the restraints. Before he could thank her, Pinkie Pie already ran out of the atrium and into one of the anterooms. Edger ran over to Caramel and stood between him and the other ponies.

“Are you okay?” Edger asked.

“Can’t… stay… up.” Caramel replied.

“Please,” Edger said, “I’m not strong enough to hold that thing up. We have to destroy the seal.”

A moan echoed through the room, and the ponies looked up and saw that the area in the glyph on the ceiling turned to black. A figure emerged from the darkness, joined by another figure, and another. Five serpent-like legs emerged from the darkness, connected together by a large, flat hoof. Edger shook in horror, there is no fur on it. He noticed that the five appendages that shot out from the main hoof had thin, pointed hooves on each of them.

“At last!” Elder Pie shouted, “Helioselene has found a suitable vessel.”

“It will be a cold day in Tartarus before I let that happen!” Script shouted, “Caramel, shoot at it.”

Another shot rang through the air, but the appendage simply absorbed the ball bearing. Pinkie Pie returned to the atrium carrying her saddlebag.

“They didn’t throw them away!” Pinkie Pie said before she looked up to see the thing that had emerged from the ceiling, “Whoa.”

“Pinkie Pie, what are you going to do with baked goods?” Script asked.

Pinkie Pie lifted a pie from her saddlebag and threw it at the appendage. As the pie was absorbed into the creature, another moan ripped through the room, and the appendage began to retreat.

“I don’t believe it, “Script said, “Caramel, shoot at the crystal. They have magic protection on it, but nothing for physical attack. Pinkie, somehow those stupid cakes of your are working.”

Caramel leaned up and took another shot. The ball bearing broke through the ceiling just around the crystal. Another moan escaped from the creature, and another appendage shot out from the ceiling just over the heads of Elder Smith. The sharp hoof sliced through Elder Smith’s neck like a knife, sending it tumbling to the ground. Apiaris and Verdant began yelling as they moved to pick up their fallen elder, only to have the other appendage sweep down and slice through the two enforcers. Pinkie Pie took aim at the appendages again and threw another pie just as Iron ran out of the barn.

“He’s going to warn everypony!” Edger yelled.

Caramel took aim once against at the ceiling, blasting another hole near the crystal.

“Father,” Pinkie Pie said, “Don’t you see what this thing is?”

“He is the one who will purify us all!”

“How can you still believe that after what it has done to you? After what it has done to Flatts?”

“It is necessary.” Elder Pie said flatly.

“I get it now,” Pinkie Pie said, “But you’ll be okay soon, father.”

Pinkie Pie reached into her saddlebag but realized that she had only one cupcake left. In the distance, the school bell rang, and the sound of the other ponies drew closer.

“Pinkie!” Edger said, “Throw it! We have to get Caramel one more shot.”

Pinkie Pie looked and saw that Edger was holding Caramel up to help him take aim. But the strain in Edger’s eyes told her that he wouldn’t be able to hold it for long. She looked into her father’s eyes and saw that he had the same glow in his eyes as the crystal in the ceiling. In the corner of her eye, Pinkie Pie saw the last elder shaking in the corner of the room.

“Father,” Pinkie Pie said, “A friend once taught me that there is no need for forgiveness. But that doesn’t mean there is nothing to forgive. It is the feeling that you need forgiveness that makes forgiveness unnecessary. Goodbye, father.”

Pinkie Pie aimed high and watched as the figure once again appeared through the darkness. The creature’s head had no fur nor mane, its muzzle was shrunken to the point of being a mere dot in the middle of the face, and its mouth was filled with sharp teeth. Whatever this thing is, Pinkie Pie thought, it’s not a pony. She released the cupcake from her hoof and sent it into the creature’s mouth. The creature gagged and put its hoof-like appendages around its neck. As it retreated to the ceiling once more, one final shot rang through the atrium, sending a chunk of ceiling to the floor. Pinkie Pie ran towards Script and began to undo the restraints as more pieces of the ceiling began to fall.

“Pinkamina.”

Pinkie Pie turned once more to face her father. The color in his eyes was gone.

“I-”

Another chunk of ceiling fell down, landing on Clyde Pie. Script pushed himself off of the table and ran out of the atrium.

“Father!” Pinkie Pie screamed.

“Pinkie,” Edger said, “Get Rainbow Dash. I’ll take Caramel. Stay close to me. As soon as we get outside, I’m teleporting us to the railroad.”

“Where’s Script?”

“Script did it!” Rainbow Dash yelled, “Script did it!”

“I think Script is too busy taking care of himself.” Edger said.

Edger removed the machine from Caramel’s body and bent down to put Caramel on his back. He joined Pinkie Pie, who had Rainbow Dash on her back. Edger started for the entrance, but stopped to turn and see Pinkie Pie staring at the chunk of ceiling where her father once stood.

“Pinkie,” Edger said, “We have to go.”

Pinkie Pie nodded. Together, they made their way to the entrance of the barn, where they could hear the sound of the ponies as they continued through the street.

“Here we go, Pinkie,” Edger said, “You ready?”

“Yes.” Pinkie Pie said, “Let’s go home.”

Edger smiled at Pinkie and reached out his hoof. As their hooves touched, Edger let a dark blue aura consume the four of them, and a moment later, they were once again standing by the tracks. A moment later there was a scream, and then a large crash ripped through the air, followed by a blinding white light. Edger and Pinkie Pie felt both of the ponies on their backs tremble.

“He… killed her.” Rainbow Dash whispered.

Caramel broke into sobs.

“How long does it take to get back to Ponyville using the hoof-powered cart?”

*****

Script emerged from the anteroom with his saddlebags in tow and reentered the atrium. A pool of blood had formed from beneath the chunk of ceiling. He galloped to it and placed his hoof in the blood. As he began tracing a circle on the floor, another door broke open. The circle has been destroyed, Script thought, perfect. A small white aura surrounded the crystal, and Script levitated it over to him. Must be careful not to touch you yet.

“What have you all done?” Iron asked as he entered the room.

Script smiled as he finished the circle.

“You all said you wanted to be purified?” Script asked, “I’m just granting your wish. I promised that I would make your destruction quick.”

Script completed the glyph on the ground and began to laugh. A white light began to emanate from the ground. As it reached Iron, his hooves began to turn to stone. Iron began to scream and kick his hind legs, but he couldn’t move.

“As far as painless, however. I’m not sure about that.”

Script’s horn created a white aura that enveloped him. A moment later, he was gone. The white light continued through the barn, and the rest of Iron’s body turned to stone. The white light continued through the town at a faster rate. The rest of the townsponies didn’t even have time to scream before they realized what had happened. Luna’s moon began to rise into the heavens, casting a gray light onto the town of Flatts. A series of statues faced the barn as it continued to crumble to the ground.

Conclusion: Forgiveness

A single torchlight lit the way for Edger and Pinkie Pie as the cart made its way along the tracks. The circle of light traveled alongside of them, and bits of light caught on the leaves on the trees at the edge of the Everfree Forest. A pair of green eyes would occasionally peer out from the darkness, but the two ponies paid no attention to them. They knew that they would remain inside the confines of the forest. A breeze pushed against them; a chorus of leaves and the hum of sand particles joined the sound of the squeaking of the cart’s lever as it moved up and down.

“I think he’s finally asleep.” Pinkie Pie said as she looked down behind Edger where Caramel lay.

“Rainbow Dash is, too.” Edger replied as he looked down at the sleeping form of Rainbow Dash behind Pinkie Pie. “There’s a streak of white in her mane where there used to be red.”

“I saw that, too.”

The squeaking of the cart continued into the night as they left the conversation at that for a while. Edger looked to his right and saw the gleaming spire of the old ruins in the distance. As the moon continued on its path across the sky, Edger saw its light catch against the stones and glass. They were lucky that there were no night trains that went this way. They would have the rest of the evening to reach Ponyville. After that, Edger knew he would have to return to Canterlot to see Princess Luna. There were so many things that she hasn’t told him. He imagined she probably hadn’t told any of the others what she knows, either.

“Edger?” Pinkie Pie asked.

“Yes, Pinkie?”

“Do you think that our fathers acted the way they did was because they were being controlled by that thing?”

Edger thought back to the night of the gelding. In every memory, he had never remembered seeing that glistening in the eye of the glyph. He remembered seeing the blank expression on his father’s face, the expressions of disgust in Ag’s. But the glyph was merely that – a painted image that held no power over what they did. For Edger, they didn’t matter anymore. Anything that they had thought back then meant nothing now. They were all gone, including his father.

“I don’t think I can honestly answer that question.” Edger lied.

“I looked into my father’s eyes just before he died,” Pinkie Pie said, “He was about to say something. But I remember seeing that his eyes had changed. So maybe he was about to ask for forgiveness.”

“If you want to believe that he wanted forgiveness,” Edger replied, “Then why not believe it?”

“Do you want to believe that your father wanted you to forgive him?”

“I can’t bring myself to believe that.”

The conversation stopped again. As the wind picked up, Edger could smell the scents of Foggy Bottom Bog. The smell of rotten wood, decomposing leaves, and moldy water infiltrated his nostrils. I can’t bring myself to believe it, Edger thought, and it doesn’t matter if I could. Another memory flooded his mind. Something Princess Luna had said to him on that first morning. Those scars are the source of your nightmares, and until you accept their reality, you will never be able to truly control your abilities.

“The ponies of Flatts scarred me in so many ways,” Edger said, “Now that I know they’re all gone, it doesn’t matter. I don’t care about forgiving them anymore. They’re gone. Maybe that’s what it means to accept the reality of what happened.”

“Edger?” Pinkie Pie asked.

“Yes?”

“Nevermind.”

The pair continued to move the cart forward. Having almost reached the area of Foggy Bottom Bog, they knew that it was an hour’s ride to Ghastly Gorge. Once they reached the bridge over Ghastly Gorge, they knew they would reach Ponyville an hour or two after that. If all went well, they would reach home before midnight.

At the back of the cart, Caramel watched as the circle of light followed them. He watched as the rails disappeared into the darkness, as the light that caught the leaves left them a moment later. Every mention of Edger’s father made him want to move to tell him what he had found. He remembered reading the letter.

*****

My Dearest Son,

So many times have I tried to write this letter to you. So many failed attempts.

I remember when I first saw you, Tiller. I remember the first time holding you. Your blue fur bundled up in the clinic’s cloths. All I could see were your eyes and your horn. The other elders looked at your horn and told me how blessed I was. All I had to see were your eyes as they looked into mine to know that I was. I had been entrusted to take care of a child. My child.

I broke that trust. I broke that trust due to my own cowardice.

I remember, because you are a unicorn, how it was more difficult for you to do the work of earth ponies. I remember you never gave up. It was in your eyes. No matter what the other colts said, you never gave up that look of determination in your eyes.

I’m the pony who took that look away from your eyes that night.

I can never be asked for forgiveness for what I have done. I know that everything that is happening here is because of what occurred that night. And I know there is nothing that can be done to change that.

I’m sorry. What’s worse is that I know that sorry is merely a word. Just like forgiveness. They’re only words, and in this case, they cannot possibly erase what I have allowed to happen to you.

I had said that night that you are not to call me your father again. I’m right. After what I’ve done, how can you call me that? The elders say that you were the one who brought me shame. I am the one who made you ashamed to call me your father.

There are rumors that you’ve changed your name and that you’re in Manehatten. If I can discover those rumors are true, then maybe this letter will find you, somehow. But until then, I know that this burden is of my own creation. I will remain here as long as it takes to let you know how sorry I am.

*****

A lone timberwolf stood at the edge of a clearing in the Everfree Forest. He edged closer to the stallion that sat near a small fire in front of the ruins. The timberwolf licked its teeth and moved closer towards the unicorn. Before he leapt, the unicorn simply turned and faced it.

“Jump.” Script said.

The timberwolf’s green eyes dulled. Without thinking, it turned to the edge of the cliff and leapt off. A moment later, Script heard the sound of pieces of wood breaking apart.

“Well,” Script said to himself, “It looks like my powers are getting stronger, too. Now, to just learn how to truly control a pony mind.”

Script turned his attention back to the letter he was holding. He reread the letter written to Edger a few times before laughing to himself and tossing it into the fire. The old paper was immediately consumed by the flames. Script opened his saddlebags and levitated the papers and the small gemstone to his face. He took the papers but let the gemstone hover in front of him. The gem glowed dark purple to the point of almost black.

“Well now,” Script said, “I wonder how those earth ponies got their hooves on you. I know that one of the vessels had to have brought you to it in order to put you in.”

Script laughed again.

“No matter. You’re with me now, and that is all that matters. I have you, and I have Psukeineuma. I just need to search the Crystal Empire caves for the third, and then I’ll finally be able to finish what my dear king started. All I have to do is find a way to destroy the other Elements of Harmony.”

*****

Leila stood once again on the balcony just below the turret of Princess Luna’s bed chambers. Her eyes darted back and forth along the night sky, never settling on any particular location. Shale stood behind her and watched patiently as she continued to look up at the sky. The door behind them opened, and Aloga emerged from the hall and joined the other two.

“Quiet,” Shale said, “She’s reading.”

Aloga nodded and joined Shale.

“Is this like what happened when she interacted with-”

“No,” Shale replied, “She’s decided against doing that from now on. This is different. She’s just reading.”

Leila’s eyes darted faster and faster against the night sky. Her eyes went from Luna’s moon and then from star to star. In her mind, each star became connected by a line which formed patterns. To Leila, these weren’t simply constellations, but they were reading the stories of countless lives. The lines met up, ran alongside one another, and crossed over one another. Leila began to blink as the meanings of the lines began to coalesce into one story. She started sobbing as she fell to the floor. Shale immediately ran over to her and held her up.

“What is it?” Shale asked.

“They’ve made their decisions. Most of them have, at least.” Leila began to sob quietly. “And now, most of our strings are beginning to conjoin, too.”

Leila pushed Shale away and entered the castle. Shale and Aloga were left alone on the balcony.

“What did she mean by our strings?” Aloga asked.

“I get the feeling that we’re all going to be part of something together.” Shale replied.

Shale and Aloga looked at one another, and then to the sky. They tried to see what Leila saw, but to them, it was merely a collection of points of light in a night sky. They sighed and then returned to the safety of the castle tower.

*****

The bell at the entrance to Golden Oak Library tinkled, and Twilight Sparkle stood in the middle of the room. The entire library was sparkling clean, and she nodded to herself at Spike’s efforts. The sound of claws as they descended the stairs caught her attention, and she looked up to see Spike emerge from the bedroom.

“Twilight?” Spike asked, “Where have you been?”

Twilight Sparkle’s eye twitched, but she turned away from Spike before he could notice.

“I’ve just had to travel to gather some rare books. I was in Canterlot and the Crystal Empire.”

“Oh wow.” Spike replied with a yawn, “Did you find what you needed?”

“Yes.”

Twilight spun around and faced Spike again. She thought for a moment of how to get rid of him for the next few days. But he’s my number one assistant, she thought to herself. Besides, there are other pieces that I need help collecting to help restore her.

“Hey Spike?” Twilight Sparkle asked.

“What’s up?”

“You know how you’re my number one assistant?”

“Yes ma’am, that’s me, your number one assistant!”

“That’s great, because we’re going to try a brand new experiment.”

When You Leave Us

Celestia’s sun peaked over the horizon, and rays of sunlight made their way through the lands of Equestria. In the sky, the blackness of Luna’s night ebbed away to make room for the light blue of Celestia’s day. The space in between the two filled with orange, pink, and red hues, and each color bled into one another. As the sunlight travelled through the land, the shadows of the night stretched and faded until they disappeared.

In Ponyville, the streets were still silent. The only movements this early in the morning came from the café and bakery in the center of town, Sugarcube corner. Tufts of smoke billowed from the chimney, and as the door opened, Pinkie Pie emerged with a set of tablecloths in her hoof. She moved in between the three tables that lined the small garden in front of the building and held her free hoof towards the three tables.

“Okay Pinkie,” she said to herself, “Let’s get this on the first try.”

Pinkie Pie lifted her head and threw the three tablecloths into the air. As they fell back down, they all opened and then fluttered down onto the tables. Pinkie Pie moved forward and inspected each setting.

“Not even a wrinkle,” she continued, “Pinkie Pie, you are amazing.”

Pinkie Pie continued back into the building and emerged with three vases and a bouquet of flowers. Before she threw them into the air, however, she paused to consider the bouquet in front of her; she held in her hoof orange tiger lilies, red gerbera daisies, and pink celestial roses. She took a moment to sniff each flower. She had gotten this shipment of flowers from the flower girls a few days ago, and this was her last set of bouquets. Pinkie Pie sighed into the petals of each flower to get their scent and turned towards the sky. As she looked on, she noticed that the hues of the sky matched the bouquet perfectly. Celestia, Pinkie Pie prayed, please guide Lily, Daisy, and Rose safely to Elysia. She watched as the different colors disappeared and left behind the soft blue of the morning. As she turned back to the tables, Pinkie Pie decided to set each table up one at a time. After speaking with Mayor Mare, she and the girls had decided to wait a day before the town learned of the fates of the three because they weren’t sure how to tell the town about the deaths of the three girls. Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy had learned that Nurse Tenderheart overheard the rumor that the three had been killed by a timberwolf, and so they felt it was best to use that story. Applejack wanted none of it and felt it was more important to be honest with the townsponies as to what happened. Rainbow Dash argued that she didn’t want her friends’ deaths to be lied about as a simple timberwolf attack; she felt it was a disservice to their memories. Rarity and Twilight Sparkle argued that if the town knew what had truly happened, they may try to blame Edger for what had happened, as well. In the end, Mayor Mare agreed that the timberwolf story was the safest story to use. Rather than print it in the newspapers, Mayor Mare told the girls that she would have a public service this afternoon, followed by a town hall meeting to discuss the timberwolf issue so that the townsponies felt empowered.

Pinkie Pie made her way back into Sugarcube Corner and scratched the side of her head. Her scalp beneath the bandage where her right ear used to be itched, and Pinkie Pie hoped that she would be able to remove the bandage soon. The smell of her confections filled her nostrils, and Pinkie Pie made her way into the kitchen. She pulled a batch of brownies out of the oven and set them on the table to cool for a moment. She wasn’t into the mood to make anything extravagant today. Besides, if her Pinkie senses were correct, the townsponies wouldn’t be in the mood for sweets today. Pinkie Pie pulled a knife out of the drawer and slowly began to cut the single piece of confection apart. She pulled each piece away, and the main part grew smaller and smaller, but she continued to slice at each piece. Pinkie Pie lost herself in the monotony of the cutting.

A hoof beat against the front door. Pinkie Pie shook her head and looked down at the table. The brownie that was once before her had now become a mess of broken brownie pieces. She popped a piece into her mouth and carried the rest to the trashcan. She left the kitchen and opened the front door.

“Good morning, Pinkie.”

“Morning, Ditzy,” Pinkie Pie forced a smile on her face. “What brings you to Sugarcube Corner so early?”

“What happened to your ear?” Ditzy asked as her good eye focused on the bandage.

“It’s a long story.” Pinkie Pie replied.

“Nurse Tenderheart told me there were timberwolf attacks.” Ditzy said as she shuddered, “So, is it true?”

Pinkie Pie quickly turned away from the grey mare and to the front stand, where she pulled out a small chocolate chip muffin. Ditzy forgot about her question and fluttered to the stand. Pinkie watched as Ditzy shuffled through her saddlebag for the bits, but Pinkie Pie held out her hoof.

“Don’t worry,” Pinkie Pie said, “Think of it as a loyal customer discount.”

“Oh, Pinkie,” Ditzy blushed as she continued to shuffle through her saddlebag, “Thanks. I’m here to deliver a letter to you, by the way.”

Ditzy pulled a letter from her saddlebag and gave it to Pinkie Pie. Pinkie Pie looked at the letter for a moment and noticed that the envelope was aged and there were water stains on it.

“Ditzy,” Pinkie Pie asked, “Did the ponies at the post office forget this letter? It looks really old.”

“No,” Ditzy shook her head, “We all wondered why it looked like that, too. It arrived just yesterday evening like this. It may have gotten lost somewhere else. Since it looked like that, we thought it best to deliver it to you as fast as we could.”

Pinkie Pie held the letter in her hooves for another moment. The edges of the envelope were frayed, and the lining on the back where the adhesive was had yellowed. The part of the envelope that confused her was to whom it had been addressed. In the center of the envelope were three lines – PINKAMINA DIANE PIE, PONYVILLE, EQUESTRIA. The part that made her breath stop, however, was the single word written on the top left corner – FLATTS. She looked up and saw that Ditzy still stood in front of her, as though she was curious as to the contents of the letter, as well. Pinkie Pie set the envelope to the side and made her way to the front door.

“Ditzy,” Pinkie Pie said, “Thank you so much for bringing me the letter.”

“Pinkie?” Ditzy asked.

“Yes, Ditzy?”

“I, um, I want you to know that if you want to talk to somepony, I’m here.”

“Oh silly,” Pinkie Pie said, “I talk to everypony.”

“I-” Ditzy started to speak but stopped herself. “You’re right, Pinkie. I’ll go now. I have more mail to deliver.”

Pinkie Pie watched as Ditzy slowly made her way to the door. Ditzy’s good eye looked straight ahead, but her other eye slowly fell to the ground. Pinkie Pie raised her hoof to her ear and then realized what Ditzy truly meant. She rushed over and wrapped her hooves around Ditzy, who simply raised a hoof to her back in response.

“You’re going to be fine, Pinkie.”

“The other ponies aren’t going to treat me any differently, are they?”

“Oh silly,” Ditzy replied, mimicking Pinkie’s own statement, “Everypony already knows you’re different.”

Pinkie Pie and Ditzy laughed together for a moment before Ditzy prepared her wings for flight. Pinkie Pie didn’t notice the look Ditzy gave her as she closed the door, but Ditzy steadied her breath and then took off.

Pinkie Pie looked across the room at the envelope on the front stand. She rushed over to it and ripped it open. Her eyes scanned the contents. Pinkie Pie looked from the letter and made her way back into the kitchen. The clock on the oven clicked over to six-thirty. If she moved quickly enough, she could catch the train to Dodge Junction. She could be back home by late afternoon.

*****

The floorboards of the front porch creaked under Applejack’s steps as she closed the front door of her homestead in Sweet Apple Acres. To her right, some chickens clucked, and she nodded as Applebloom emerged from the chicken coop with a bucket of eggs. In the distance, Applejack saw the form of her brother in the morning light as he reared back and struck his hind hooves into a tree. She smiled as she watched all of the apples fall into the baskets. Inside, Applejack could smell the aromas of Grannie Smith’s cooking as she started on the Macintosh apple pies that were popular this time of year. Applejack’s smile faded as she looked in the distance towards Fluttershy’s cottage. She closed her eyes and made her way off of the porch. Applejack moved her attention up to the errant cloud that hovered over Sweet Apple Acres. It was already nearing seven o’clock in the morning.

“What in tarnation are y’all doin’ up there?” Applejack yelled.

She reached back to throw an apple that had fallen to the ground the night before. The apple flew through the cloud but then it hit something solid.

“Ow,” the cloud hissed, “Watch it with that hoof of yours.”

“What are y’all doin’ just sleepin’?” Applejack said as the frown turned into a grimace.

“I was just waiting for you.” Rainbow Dash's voice behind the cloud said. “I didn’t realize how long I had been waiting.”

“We gotta get over to Fluttershy’s cottage to help get her to therapy.”

“Okay, okay,” Rainbow Dash said as she emerged from the cloud, “I’m up.”

Rainbow Dash kicked the cloud and it disappeared. She flew to the ground so that she could walk with Applejack. Nopony spoke until they left the gates of Sweet Apple Acres.

“Are you still angry about last night?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Sure as shoot I am,” Applejack replied, “Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy I’m upset about, but they’re all alive, so it’ll be up to them to decide to tell the truth. But the flower girls…”

“What if the real threat is still out there?” Rainbow Dash cut her off, “What if he’s just waiting until the right time to attack again?”

“Now R.D.,” Applejack said, “I trust Twilight that she says that Edger whatever pony didn’t kill’em. Besides, Twilight told us Princess Luna took him back to Canterlot for some reason.”

“But how can we get the townsponies to prepare for a threat if they don’t even know what the real threat is? You heard the mayor, she’s just going to have a town hall meeting about timberwolf control. And I swear if this all turns into us having shifts at Ponyville patrol duty, then all bets are off.”

“I wouldn’t worry about that,” Applejack assured her friend, “Princess Luna assured us that whatever controlled Edger was gone.”

The two ponies passed by the Ponyville Clock Tower just as it rang seven o’clock. They knew they had to get Fluttershy to therapy by eight o'clock. Rainbow Dash was proud of her friend and at how she had managed to get herself out of bed, even after such a horrific accident. Rainbow Dash turned around to look at her wings. She splayed them out for a moment and admired how they matched the sky. She shuddered at the thought of losing her own wings. Applejack coughed beside her.

“Thinkin’ of Soarin again?”

Rainbow Dash blushed and closed her wings again. They continued on their way.

“No,” Rainbow Dash said, “I was just thinking about how brave Fluttershy is being with all of this.”

“Fluttershy’s a lot braver than she thinks.” Applejack commented, “I just hope that we can at least convince her of it.”

The two ponies crossed the small bridge just in front of Fluttershy’s house just as a small breeze blew behind them from the Everfree Forest. The wind wrapped around the two and sent the hair from their manes and tails flying. They moved faster until they reached the front door and pounded on it relentlessly until it opened. Applejack and Rainbow Dash looked around but couldn’t see Fluttershy.

“Fluttershy, where are-” Rainbow Dash started to call, but stopped when she felt something thud against her hoof.

Angel thumped loudly against Rainbow Dash and then sprinted upstairs. Rainbow Dash and Applejack turned to one another and followed the bunny. Angel stood at Fluttershy’s door and scratched at it. Applejack looked at the bottom of the door and could tell from the scratches that Angel had tried to get in all morning. Applejack turned the knob and opened the door. The two ponies gagged at the smell.

“No,” Rainbow Dash whispered as she held her hoof up to her nose.

The only thing that Applejack and Rainbow Dash could see was the tuft of pink hair that lay on the floor from behind the bed. Angel hid behind Rainbow Dash’s hoof, and only moved with each step the two ponies took. With each step, the ponies’ hooves grew heavier and heavier, as though they willed the bodies to which they belonged to stop moving.

“She just slipped,” Rainbow Dash muttered to herself, “Yeah, she just slipped. We just need to wake her up.”

Applejack had stopped moving, and Angel had taken safety behind her instead since Rainbow Dash had started to move again. Applejack slowly reached up to her head, removed her Stetson hat, and moved it to her chest.

“AJ, what are you doing?” Rainbow Dash said as she made her way to the bed, “She just slipped and fell, that’s it.”

Applejack could hear Rainbow Dash’s voice waver as she moved to the edge of the bed. She watched as Rainbow Dash’s eyes grew wide and her body trembled. Rainbow Dash squinted as she looked down, and her neck muscles tightened. Her head moved in a combination of nods and shakes and she finally lowered her body to the floor. Applejack still hadn’t moved enough to see what Rainbow Dash could see, and from the soft whispers and the sound of her feathers as they trembled, she wasn’t sure if she would ever want to see it. Angel buried his head into Applejack’s fore hoof.

It was a few minutes later that Rainbow Dash stood up. She turned to Applejack. Her eyes had grown darker, and she stared blankly for a few minutes at Applejack, but Applejack wasn’t even sure if Rainbow Dash even saw her.

“Get the others.” Rainbow Dash said.

*****

A tray of food levitated beside Sergeant Lighthoof as he descended the stairs into the lower dungeons of Canterlot Castle. As befitting his name, his hooves left no sound as they trotted against the stone steps. He continued his descent towards the one prisoner that it contained. Of all the stupid assignments, Sergeant Lighthoof thought, I get assigned to some kid who said something stupid to the Princess and sent her into a temper tantrum. Sergeant Lighthoof would never say such a thing out loud, especially not to Princess Luna’s face. Not after he witnessed firsthoof what could happen if he made her angry. Who gets arrested for blasphemy nowadays, he thought to himself as he reached his destination. He had always thought that Luna was a bit off, but he bet that it must have been from her thousand-year isolation on the moon. Sergeant Lighthoof chuckled to himself as he remembered the story he had read a few weeks ago. He and some of his other enlisted friends had gotten a good laugh at how the author had described Princess Luna. Sergeant Lightfoot composed himself and made his way down the hallway. If only that Poeny guy really knew how crazy she was, Sergeant Lighthoof laughed to himself as he reached the door in question. He pressed his ear against the door to listen if the prisoner was awake yet. He backed away and knocked on the door.

“Hey kid,” Sergeant Lighthoof bellowed out in a deep voice, “Get up.”

He pressed his ear against the door again. Still nothing.

“Kid, I got your breakfast.”

Sergeant Lighthoof sighed. The poor kid was probably just scared out of his mind. He was probably dared to say something to Princess Luna about her stay on the moon. The kid was probably just stupid, but didn’t deserve being down here, in the cell designed to separate the prisoner completely from the outside world. Sergeant Lighthoof worried that this poor kid would be scared to be outspoken about anything again. Sergeant Lighthoof wondered why they couldn’t have placed him in one of the standard cells with bars that he could see through instead of this cell with a magically enhanced door. He set the food down in front of the door and began to talk freely to the prisoner on the other side.

“Listen, kid,” Sergeant Lighthoof began, “I don’t know what you said, or why you said it, but I’m sure if you offer to apologize to Princess Luna, I’m sure she’ll release you from all of the charges of blasphemy… and… insurrectional speech.”

Sergeant Lighthoof couldn’t help but laugh a little at the last part of the sentence.

“Seriously, kid, don’t make this harder on yourself than it has to be. Just open the hatch, we’ll get you some breakfast, and then we can straighten this whole thing out. What do you say?”

Sergeant Lighthoof took a few steps back and waited for the food hatch to open. He waited a few more minutes, but when nothing happened, he scowled. The silence behind the door began to rival his own hooves.

“Kid, don’t make me open the door.” Sergeant Lighthoof sighed, “You know there will just be more charged added.”

The silence continued. Sergeant Lighthoof levitated the food tray to the side to the door and then reached for his keys. He turned the lock and opened the door as he prepared himself for a fight with an unruly and frightened kid. But when he looked around, he saw nothing. His attention turned from the sides of the cell to the floor.

Sergeant Lighthoof’s eyes traced the pattern that had been traced on the floor. He saw the circle at what he thought must have been the top of the image with a line that drew down until it reached a small curlicue at the end. He moved to see the ‘x’ that had been placed in the middle with five lines that extended from each edge. A small yellow feather rest in the center of the image, and Sergeant Lighthoof shuddered when he saw that it was covered in blood. The entire drawing had been made with blood.

The sound of the metal door closing behind him shook Sergeant Lighthoof from his investigation, and he ran to reach it before the door closed with him inside of it. He skidded to the door and reached his hoof out just in time to stop the heavy metal from slamming closed. Instead, it slammed on his hoof.

“Sweet Mother of Celestia!”

Sergeant Lighthoof growled and clenched his teeth as other explicatives flew from his mouth. Stupid kid. He moved from the cell to the hallway again. He was not going to let some unicorn kid get the best of him. He glanced from side to side, but saw nothing. The stairs at the end of the hall were still empty, and Sergeant Lighthoof knew that there was no way the kid could have gotten there that quickly. He decided to look in each of the other cells to see where he had hidden himself, but before he could move, the torches at the furthest end of the hall went out, followed by the next, then the next, until Sergeant Lighthoof was finally in darkness.

“Kid,” He growled, “You’re really doing something stupid right now.”

Sergeant Lighthoof could still see the light from the floor above the staircase, and that was how he saw it. He wasn’t sure if he really saw something, however. He squinted and wondered if it had just been a trick of light. It was as though the air in front of him was bent, or as though he looked out through a bubble. Sergeant Lighthoof felt something bite at his skin, and he yelled and flashed a bolt of bright light into the air. He looked around and began to shake. All around him were dark black ponies, but they didn’t seem to move. Their faces were blank, so he couldn’t tell if they looked at him. He began to sneak around each one towards the staircase, but every few steps he took, one of the shadowy ponies tilted its head towards him.

Sergeant Lighthoof made it a few more steps, but the light from his horn began to shimmer. A moment later, one of the shadowy ponies reached out and threw him across the room, through the cell door he had opened, and back into the cell. Sergeant Lighthoof watched as the light from his horn flickered on and off and the shadowy ponies edged closer and closer to him. He reached out to curl onto the floor as tears fell down his face. His hoof brushed against the drawing, and a moment later, the fires in the torches lit again, and the shadowy ponies were gone. Sergeant Lighthoof looked down at the drawing he had destroyed, shuddered, and ran towards the staircase once again. Maybe Princess Luna isn’t as crazy as we thought, Sergeant Lighthoof thought, or maybe I’m just as crazy as she is.