The Path of Absolution - Punishment

Chapters

i - Strike One
ii - Strike Two
iii - Strike Three
iv - You're Out!
v - Forest of the Exiled
vi - The Forest of Despair
vii - The Forest of Medusa
viii - Storm of Boreas
ix - Scylla and Charybdis
x - Athena's Shield
xi - Hera's Doubt
xii - Alexander's Conquest
xiii - Ares' War
xiv - Limos' Famine
xv - Thanatos' Death
xvi - Mnemosyne's Gamble
xvii - Dual Sided Hypnos
xviii - The Treachery of Eros
xix - Hymen's Preperations
xx - Chronos' Return.
xxi - Sisyphus' Cycle
xxii - Helen's Gift
xxiii - Pollux Reversal
xxiv - Theseus and the Labyrinth
xxv - Ariadne and the Red String
xxvi - Cassandra's Vindication
xxvii - Asterion's Challenge
xxviii - Odysseus' Trojan Horse
xxix - Helios' Blade
xxx - Chione's Fall
xxxi - Romulus vs Remus
xxxii - Apollo's Breakthrough
xxxiii - Revelations of the Psyche
xxxiv - Orpheus' Strings
xxxv - The Gateway of Morpheus
xxxvi - Prometheus the Accursed
xxxvii - Damocles' Sword
xxxviii - Aphrodite's Love
xxxix - Artemis' Moon
xl - The Keys of Persephone
xli - Hercules, the Laborer
xlii - Jason and the Golden Fleece
xliii - Minos and the Cretan Bull
xliv - Castor and the Sibling's Truth
xlv - Karkinos and the Lernaean Hydra
xlvi - Cerberus, the Gatekeeper
xlvii - Hermes' Word
xlviii - Zeus and the Nemean Lion
xlix - Asteria and the Wishing Star
l - Amethystos and the Scales
li - Nike and the Scorpion
lii - Chiron and the Temple
liii - Amalthea and the Library
liv - Lyssa, The Herald of Wrath
lv - Ganymede and the Stymphalian Birds
lvi - Typhon and the Cord
lvii - Hades' Exit
lix - Hyperion's Stand
lxα - Harmonia's Triumph
lxΩ - Harmonia's Lamentation
lviii - Demeter, the Calm Before the Storm

i - Strike One

In the editing room of the Foal Free Press, Diamond Tiara could see the sun just starting to rise. "Where are they? They should have been here 5 minutes ago!"

"But it's only 7:00," said an ink-stained blue colt.

Just as soon as the colt had finished speaking, the Cutie Mark Crusaders burst through the door.

"Stop the Presses!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed.

"But they haven't even started yet," said the blue colt.

The three fillies handed Diamond Tiara a manila folder. She glared at them. "You're lucky I'm nice." She opened one of the drawers and took out another manila folder and moved toward another room.

"You're not gonna print it now?" Apple Bloom was worried. The three Crusaders knew that the folder their editor took out could lead to their ruination, just as well as they knew that the column they wrote would lead to their absolution.

"Why should I?" Diamond Tiara grew suspicious. "I read the last columns you gave me. And I'm sure that this column is full of nice juicy gossip." The pink filly waved the folders. "You can go now, Gabby Gums."

Apple Bloom, Sweetie belle and Scootaloo left the room, ashamed at the moniker of "Gabby Gums" they took while working at the press. Under the anonymity of that name, they wrote terrible things. Things that turned them from harmless, if over-enthusiastic, fillies looking for their purpose in life, into the town's unfettered sociopathic gossip-mongers.

"You think Diamond Tiara would actually read it?" Apple Bloom said as they headed to their classroom.

"No way," Scootaloo said. "We made sure we were late enough that she wouldn't have the time to read it, right?"

"I hope so," Sweetie Belle sighed. "We have to make this right somehow."

Meanwhile in the editor's room. Diamond Tiara opened both folders. The first one had some pictures depicting the three Crusaders in various embarrassing situations. The second one was the one those same fillies handed her. She adjusted her Tiara. The 3 fillies she hired to worked for her gossip column wouldn't dare betray her, not as long as she can print those pictures. She began to read the letter.

The pink filly was shocked. The column was an open apology the town. She read every line, every detail. "They'll pay for this!" she growled. She noticed a typewriter nearby and thought to herself. 'If you want something done right, you gotta do it yourself.'

The Cutie Mark Crusaders left for recess, still hoping that the town would accept their apology. They approached a small lean pegasus who was taking pictures of everything. The pegasus looked at the fillies and left without a word.

"That's strange," Sweetie Belle said. "Featherweight hasn't flown from us before."

"I wouldn't be surprised, given how everypony else feels," Scootaloo said. They looked around the playground and saw other that fillies were having fun. And saw that every mare and stallion that so much as looked at them gave glares of disapproval. The populace hated their guts, and they knew it. Well, everyone except maybe the other ponies working on the Foal Free Press. By now they knew the paper would have reached every part of Ponyville, Cloudsdale, and Canterlot. Eventually recess was over and the fillies finished their school day.

On their way home, they saw a mare with the paper and a phone. She was complaining about how cold it was, for some reason, but the fillies decided not to eavesdrop. Eventually they went their separate ways.

Apple Bloom went home to Sweet Apple Acres, despite the name, the mood around the farm was bitter. She saw her sister kicking some apple trees and noticed that she was kicking them so hard that the branches fell off along with the apples.

"Applejack?" Apple Bloom said, her yellow body slightly shaking in fear. "Is there something wrong?"

Applejack moved her orange legs to another tree to get some more apples. "Nope." She then took the apples and went to another field.

The small filly stroked her red mane and pink bow in confusion. She considered asking her again but she knew that Applejack wouldn't talk to her, not anymore. She knew that yesterday the identity of Gabby Gums had been exposed. She had noticed something in the trash and looked inside.

It was the Foal Free Press. Apple Bloom took the wadded paper from the trash and read the gossip column. She could not believe what she was reading. She took the paper and went to get Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle.

Scootaloo trotted on a small path. Normally Rainbow Dash, the orange pegasus' idol, would be training nearby. But she was nowhere to be found. On the bright side, she wouldn't be drenched by rainwater.

She noticed a sign on the ground near a copy of the Foal Free Press. The newspaper was in a case for some reason. The sign read, "If you happen to use the name 'Gabby Gums'' Get out! I don't want to see your faces anywhere near here anymore!" She saw some tears on the sign.

She heard a thunderclap. "But it was just sunny a few seconds ago," she thought. She looked up and there was a small storm cloud over her head. "Figures." She tried to read the paper which was turned to the gossip column. In her shock, she went to find her the other two crusaders.

Rarity was busy creating a snowsuit when she saw Sweetie Belle enter the Carousel Boutique. "What do you want?" Rarity said.

"Um, did you get the paper?" Sweetie Belle sheepishly asked, knowing full well that it was unlikely that Diamond Tiara would print their apology.

"Of course I did," Rarity said. She used her white horn to levitate the paper and rolled it up into a scroll, then dropped it in front of her similarly-colored sister.

"So, um... got any new customers?" Sweetie Belle asked, though not expecting a response. She knew that Rarity was the one who found out that she and the other Crusaders were Gabby Gums.

Rarity was still putting the ensemble together. "Well if you must know, I got a request to create the most fabulous winter wear. And I absolutely need to be alone," She said.

Sweetie Belle noticed a picture on the wall with her sister and her friends on it. She felt even more regret upon seeing it. Since she found out that their column drove Fluttershy to tears, and Twilight to seal off the Library from the rest of town.

"By the way," Rarity said. "You better get some more blankets. The pegasi say that a large cold front is passing through the Unicorn Range and you might need them just in case."

The white filly was confused. She said, "but why are the pegasi scheduling a blizzard this early?"

"They didn’t, the weather team are looking over it to see why it’s treading so far from the north."

Rarity said, "I have to go. I have to meet with my friends tonight." She then went out, turning the open sign on the store afterwards.

Sweetie Belle was worried a bit about the weather. She took the paper and read the gossip column. She went through every page and said, "My word." She was shocked by what was written in place of their apology letter. Too shocked to notice the picture of herself in one of Rarity's designs. She went out to see Apple Bloom and Scootaloo.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders met up and went to their clubhouse. There they began discussing today's paper. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle noticed that Scootaloo was wet. The three began to place the copy of the paper that Apple Bloom brought on the table and began to double check it.

The gossip column read, "The Truth Behind Gabby Gums." at the top of the column.

"Dear Ponyville, I'm sure by now you know that 'Gabby Gums' is actually three fillies: Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo. And we would like you to know that we don't care. We know you want the scoop and we know you want it now. So mark our words: We will leave no stone unturned, no trash can un-dived, and we will not rest until we bring you the latest scoop on all Ponyville. And to show we mean business, here's some dirt on ourselves."

There was a picture of Scootaloo covered in mud at the top of the page, with a picture of Sweetie Belle in an odd outfit at the middle and one of a baby Apple Bloom at the bottom.

"This is a disaster! There's no way we can show our face here now," Scootaloo said.

“That’s convenient,” Apple Bloom snarked.

“I suppose you knew about the blizzard?” Sweetie Belle said.

“Well at least the school will be closed for the next few days,” Scootaloo said.

“It will give us time to think up how we can fix this mess,” Apple Bloom said.

The three fillies began brainstorming until the night fell; they left the house shivering from the frigid breeze of the night.

In the Evening, Applejack and Rarity went to Sugarcube Corner, then a certain blue pegasus flew down to the the entrance.

“Are they coming?” Applejack said.

Rainbow Dash went inside the bakery. “Yeah, I managed to get Fluttershy to stop crying. She should be here in a few.”

“What about Twilight?” Rarity walked near the counter of the bakery. “Do you think she’s coming?”

“I don’t know. She has a force-field over the library,” Rainbow Dash said. “I asked Spike to give Twi the message though.”

Just then Pinkie Pie bounced in from another room. She had a copy of the paper in her mouth and a somewhat angry expression. She tried to smile, “Alright, is everypony here?”

“Not yet,” Rarity said.

Applejack looked at the gossip column. There were hints of betrayal and confusion in her eyes. “I just can’t believe this, I never thought that Apple Bloom would do something like this.”

Twilight Sparkle was lowering the barrier to her Library. “Spike, can you make sure no intruders can enter while I’m gone?”

“Of course,” Spike said.

Twilight then left for the bakery.

On the way to Sugarcube Corner a white pegasus approached her. “Excuse me miss, but do you know where Cloudsdale is?”

“Sure.” Twilight’s lavender body slightly shivering from the cold of night. “Just leave Ponyville and head north.” She noticed that her cutie mark was a storm cloud with the sun partly above it.

“I have an urgent matter to attend there.”

“Is it about the snowstorm?”

The pegasus was about to take her leave. “Indeed. Thank you for the directions.”

Twilight found the snowstorm itself strange. Normally pegasi control the weather in Equestria. She decided to worry about it later and meet her friends at the bakery.

In a few minutes Twilight Sparkle met up with her friends in the bakery. She saw the newspaper on the counter. Twilight said, “So what’s going on?” Rainbow Dash handed her the paper and she read the column, her blood boiling with every word. “What?!” She was downright furious.

“Calm down, darling,” Rarity said.

“Calm down? Calm down?” Twilight said, as her mostly dark blue mane began to burn a blazing bright orange. “How can I calm down. I must make barriers for Ponyville. They must not invade ponies’ privacy anymore.” She dropped the paper and tried to run out but bumped into Fluttershy as she opened the door and tripped. Her mane had cooled off and returned to its usual blue, with pink and purple streaks.

“Um, is everything okay?” Fluttershy asked.

“No,” Rainbow Dash said bluntly. She took the newspaper off the floor and gave it to Fluttershy while Rarity was helping Twilight up.

Applejack and Rarity were a little concerned. They weren't sure if they could trust the town’s citizens to be near them at the moment.

Twilight stood up and said, “Sorry, got carried away.”

“Alright y’all,” Applejack said. “I talked with Rarity before this and I think we need to get out of town for a while.”

“But why?” Fluttershy said uncomfortably.

“We need to talk with the Cutie Mark Crusaders about this and I don’t think we can do this here,” Rarity said. “Considering the previous ‘Gabby Gums’ articles this is highly unusual even for them.”

Twilight read through the paper and noticed that it was done by a typewriter, well except for one piece that seemed to be ripped out of another paper.

“I just think we need to get out of Ponyville for a while and soon,“ Applejack said.

“What?” Pinkie Pie said. “I have to go help the Cakes for their entry into the national baking competition next week. Do you know how hard it is to make a cake as delicious as...”

“So when are we leaving?” Rainbow Dash said. She was feeling a little enraged that she has to spend time with the three who forever ruined her reputation.

“I just don’t know.” Applejack said. The group eventually left the room having nothing further to discuss tonight.

Author's Note

Okay then this is an Alternate Continuity to "The Path of Absolution - Forgiveness" And not a rewrite of that fic. I just wanted to let you know in-case you're pre-reading this.

ii - Strike Two

The next day, the Cutie Mark Crusaders were looking for ideas how to apologize now that their column plan failed. They walked around town on a sunny but slightly cold day. They could feel the winds blowing at the small village of Ponyville. And they could see most of the townsponies locking their doors and retracting their mats in fear and hatred of them.

The three fillies sighed at their notoriety. They decided to head to the marketplace for ideas, and to prepare for the snowstorm.

Elsewhere in Cloudsdale, the white pegasus with the cloud and sun cutie mark flew to a tower, followed by a violet pegasus.

“Over Cast,” said another pegasus. “What took you so long?”

“Sorry,” Over Cast said. “I had to rest in Ponyville. Did you examine the storm?”

“Not yet. We haven’t seen anything like it. The weather teams assigned to take care of the Crystal Mountains went to find out what happened, but we haven’t heard from them since.”

“So what did you find out?”

The pegasus next to Over Cast spoke up. “It came from the Frozen North and is moving down western Equestria.” Her pink mane was getting wet from the increased humidity around Cloudsdale.

The other pegasus was surprised. He said, “Over Cast, who is this and what were you doing near Ponyville in the first place?”

“I went there to warn Los Pegasus about the storm,” Over Cast said. “And this is-”

The violet pegasus interrupted Over Cast. “I am Star Song.”

Over Cast then continued and said, “as I was leaving, I had to take the long way around Ghastly Gorge and had to rest in Ponyville for a while.”

Just then, two pegasi went in the room. One of them said, “sir we found some ponies frozen in Unicorn Range.”

“What do you mean, frozen, Cloudchaser?” Over Cast said.

“It’s the storm sir. It’s getting worse,” the other pony said. “Ponies are being frozen alive.”

“Take it easy Flitter,” Cloudchaser said.

“This seems unlikely,” Star Song said. “the weather teams have made sure that the snowstorms wouldn't freeze ponies, right?”

The pegasus stallion said, “That would be the case if the weather ponies were able to control that thing. Anyway, you four should keep an eye out for the storm.”

“Roger, Gale Force,” Over Cast chuckled.

“That’s Commander to you.”

Over Cast, Star Song, Flitter and Cloudchaser left. Gale Force looked at the sky above and wondered how the snowstorm was able to go south. The pegasi there should have been able to keep the weather in the Frozen North, away from civilization. He thought of several possibilities but discarded all of them. He said, “there’s no way. They should have been gone long ago.” But he couldn't stop thinking about it.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders were sitting at a table in the marketplace. Some of the ponies there glared at them, others just avoided the tables, and a few were just shopping like they usually would.

“So what do we do?” Apple Bloom said.

“We could try apologizing individually,” Sweetie Belle said.

“Nah,” Scootaloo said. “They wouldn't let us finish. We could try a public announcement.”

“I don’t think so,” Apple Bloom said. “The Mayor wouldn't let us make any announcement after that ‘mane dye’ column. There has to be a way we could fix this.”

The Crusaders’ stomachs were growling. They went to find some food. They saw a stand selling asparagus and waited in line. They went to the back of the line.

An earth pony saw the Crusaders. “Hey, you’re cutting in line.”

“No we’re not,” Apple Bloom said.

“Yeah, you are,” the earth pony said.

“But this is the back of the line,” Sweetie Belle said.

“Oh really?” the earth pony said. The fillies saw several ponies behind her. “Now back of the line!”

The Crusaders were disheartened, but they went to the back of the line. Slowly the customers in front have made their purchases, while an even longer line had amassed behind the fillies. When they made it to the counter Apple Bloom said, “3 bunches please.”

“Sorry kid, we’re sold out,” said the clerk.

“But there’s some behind you,” Sweetie Belle said.

“No there’s not,” The clerk lied. “We’re sold out.”

Scootaloo pointed her orange hoof to the walls of the stand. “But there’s some asparagus over there.” She noticed a copy of the Foal Free Press to his left.

“Look, kid,” The clerk said. ”I don’t sell to sleazy gossip writers, so scram!” He then closed the shack, and after a few minutes, took his shares and left.. The bitter line behind the Crusaders also left.

“Well that sucks,” Scootaloo said.

“Ah well,” Apple Bloom said. “There’s still some other stands here.”

They went to a nearby cherry stand. There was a sign that read “Cherries: Five Bits.” the fillies went up to the stand.

Sweetie Belle took out of a bag of bits and placed it on the counter, “we’ll have some cherries please.”

The stand owner counted the bits and shoved the bits back. “That’s not enough money. The cherries are fifty bits.”

“But the sign said they were five bits,” Apple Bloom said.

“That sign is old,” The stand owner lied. The fillies looked at the sign and noticed that it was brand new. They also saw the newspaper below it. “Now pay me sixty bits each or no deal.”

“Sixty bits?” Scootaloo said. “That’s ridiculous!” Her stomach was growling.

“You’re really hungry, aren't you?” the stand owner said.”In that case, six hundred sixty six bits.”

“Um, we don’t have that much money,” Sweetie Belle said.

“Too bad,” The stand owner said. “Now get out so that other ponies can have their cherries.”

The three fillies sighed and left the stand.

The pony behind them said, “I’ll have some cherries for ten bits.”

“Deal,” the stand owner said.

The fillies overhead that, and saw the transaction. The stand owner in turn noticed that the Crusaders hadn’t left and said, “you know, these could have been yours if you kept your trap shut, Gabby Gums.”

By that point the Crusaders had given up on getting lunch. They left the marketplace knowing full well that they were not welcome there.

iii - Strike Three

At the Cloudsdale Weather Tower, Star Song was taking a tour of the place, humming a few bars. Over Cast noticed her and decided to talk with her.

“So, how do you like the tower?” Over Cast said.

“It’s beautiful,” Star Song said. She landed on the cloud floor. “Cloudsdale is so different from what I’ve seen in Los Pegasus.”

“What is Los Pegasus like? I haven’t really paid attention.” Over Cast blushed, her green mane contrasting with her now pink face.

“Well, there’s casinos, concert halls, film studios, music halls. These halls are very beautiful, though some say the ones in Canterlot are much better.”

“Well, I’m sure that they look beautiful.”

Meanwhile, Cloudchaser and Flitter were in another hallway. They took a copy of the Foal Free Press.

Flitter skimmed through the gossip section. “Man, sleazy journalists will write anything these days, huh?” She passed the paper to her sister.

Cloudchaser read the gossip section. “Wonderbolt member seen gorging on pie?” Cloudchaser said. She read through more of the gossip section. “Mare-Do-Well resurfaces? Local pegasus claimed to have started winter storm?” She saw her friend Thunderlane being harassed by some protesters and rolled her eyes. “We leave for Cloudsdale for a week and now the school’s become a tabloid. I can’t wait to see Ponyville when we return from this weather group thing.”

“Aren’t you going to try out for the Wonderbolts?”

“Yeah, Thunderlane’s coming too. Maybe the tabloids won’t harass him at the academy.” Cloudchaser handed the paper back to her sister.

Meanwhile, Over Cast was continuing her conversation with Star Song. “So you like to sing?”

“Of course,” Star Song said. “I just think that music is a wonderful thing.”

“Well maybe when this is over, you can invite me to one of your recitals. I would like to hear you sing.”

“Of course I will,” Star Song said. Several minutes passed and the pair had met up with Flitter and Cloudchaser. The four pegasi were a little anxious.

“So are we really going to research the storm up close?” Flitter said.

“‘Fraid so,” Over Cast said. “We need to find out why the ponies in Unicorn Range froze and get them out of there.”

“Did anypony find out how a storm like this was able to freeze the ponies this fast?” Flitter asked.

“Not yet, but Gale Force asked for an elementalist to help us withstand the cold there.”

“Um, I think I should stay out and research it from here.” Flitter shivered.

Cloudchaser noticed the fear in her sister’s eyes. “Don’t worry, I’m sure that we can make it out of the storm out okay.” She tried to comfort her.

Star Song said, “besides, the storm seems to be heading to Ponyville. It would have to pass through Cloudsdale to get there.” She started to feel a little bit scared as well. “Though I think we should keep a safe distance, just in case.”

“We’ll wait until Gale comes back with the elementalist, then we’ll decide how to approach the storm. Okay?” Over Cast said. Flitter and Star Song were a little relieved but Cloudchaser was a little saddened. The group flew to the central room to wait for Gale Force.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders were trotting near Sugarcube Corner.

“So do you think that they are gonna accept our apology this time?” Scootaloo said.

“I don’t know,” Sweetie Belle said. “But we can’t just give up.” In her saddle bag was a piece of paper.

“But how are we gonna get it printed now?” Apple Bloom said. “Diamond Tiara will be extra careful not to let us anywhere without--” She noticed a group nearby.

The mob had been knocking on the gingerbread-like building. Pinkie answered the door. “Yes?”

The mob seemed to be made of various ponies. Several of them had torches, while others were holding pitchforks and signs that read, “Celestia hates Gabby Gums” and “Gossipy Hens go to Tartarus."

One of the ponies took out a picture of the three Crusaders. “Have you seen these fillies?”

“Nope,” Pinkie said. “Why are you looking for them anyway?”

“We think that these brats need to be taught a lesson.”

The Crusaders overheard and hid behind one of the corners.

“Well I haven’t seen them all day,” Pinkie said. “Have you checked Carousel Boutique?”

The leader of the mob took a careful look and the group went down the road behind them. The Crusaders saw them heading their way and ran around the building as the angry mob passed them. They took a look around to find them gone. They breathed a sigh of relief.

“There they are!” One of the mob ponies had noticed the Crusaders. The fillies gulped and ran as far away as they could from the mob.

Pinkie looked outside again and noticed the mob were chasing the fillies. “Ooh, are you teaching them a lesson in tag? Can I go play?” But the chase was too far away for them to hear her. She bounced after the group blissfully unaware that they were trying to exile the Crusaders.

The chase went on for a few minutes, passing Sweet Apple Acres along the way. Applejack saw her sister and her friends running from the mob. She was baffled by this turn of events.

Applejack was about to go after the mob when Pinkie Pie bounced by. She said, “hey Applejack, do you want to play tag?”

“Tag?” Applejack was confused. “Pinkie, I don’t have time for this right now.”

“But you’re gonna miss the lesson.”

“Lesson? What lesson?” By the time Applejack asked that question, the mob and the Crusaders were already far from the farm.

“Those ponies said that they want to teach the Cutie Mark Crusaders a lesson in tag.”

Applejack was baffled by Pinkie’s response, until she remembered what the ponies were holding. “Oh no. My sister’s in trouble. Pinkie go find the others.” She then went after the angry mob.

“Okie dokie lokie.” Pinkie then bounced to Carousel Boutique.

Gale Force had returned to Cloudsdale. Behind him was a unicorn on a hot air balloon.

“Alright, Element Shield. These are the ponies coming with me to investigate the snow storm.”

Element Shield took a look at the pegasi. His windswept blue and yellow mane stood out from his red coat. “So these ponies are going to brave the storm huh?”

He noticed that Flitter and Star Song were scared and said, “Don’t worry, these spells are harmless.”

He began his spell.

Green light began emanating from his horn as a light green wind began to envelope the pegasi. Flitter and Gale Force were floating as the winds blew around them. When the spell was finished, each pegasi was in a bubble of wind.

“Now then, some of you will benefit more from these spells than others,” Elemental Shield said.

He began another spell, and this time the light was both yellow and purple. A small thunderstorm appeared from the cloud ceiling. Most of the pegasi cringed as the lightning bolts hit them but Cloudchaser took the blast head on. When the spell ended, lightning flashed around the wind barriers.

“Kinda tickles,” Cloudchaser joked.

The electricity buzzing around her barrier was purple. The other bolts were yellow.

“Was that really necessary?” Flitter said. “You could have hurt us!”

“No,” Elemental Shield said. “These spells only give an illusion of that. An illusion that those attuned to a particular element can see through. Watch and learn.”

His horn began to glow an icy blue. The water below the clouds began to freeze below the pegasi. Gale, Star Song, Flitter, and Cloudchaser tried to escape the ice, but Over Cast remained in the same spot. Eventually the ponies were frozen by the spell, but the ice quickly melted until only rings were left around the ponies. Star Song had the most elegant one.

Element Shield finished the spell. “The subconscious is a tricky thing. It defines who we are. Our hopes, our dreams, and our emotions. Yet those three things can and will be changed by reactions to the environment and to what we say and do. This spell is different from the last three. It requires you to think of your friendships and bonds or it can and will fail. This is not a spell that creates elemental barriers from nothing, but rather one that makes your bonds manifest as power.

“I’m sure you are familiar with this type of magic. The Elements of Harmony are the most potent and famous example. But there are other forms of magic that are fueled by your bonds, like the Fires of Friendship, or the long lost Crystal Heart.”

“And why are you telling us this?” Over Cast said. “Let alone trying to cast it on us?”

“Because this magic came by special request.” Elemental Shield looked at Gale Force. “Quantity of friendships does not matter with this spell, but quality does. If your bonds are tarnished then the spell will collapse and your heart will freeze from the inside. Are you ready?”

The pegasi nodded. Elemental Shield began his spell. The light on his horn glowed a fiery orange and red, and infernos blazed around the pegasi, covering their barriers in fire and flames.

Flitter and Cloudchaser thought about each other, and the stallion named Thunderlane. They also thought about his little brother. Star Song began thinking about a pink earth pony with pastel colors in her mane and tail, well as a cheerful green pony with a pink mane and a thing for socks. Over Cast and Gale Force thought of their familes.

The flames began to extinguish themselves, leaving only a single wisp above each of the barriers.

Elemental Shield said, “Now remember, the flames, the ice, the lightning and the wind are illusions. Indicators of how much you can take of a certain element, and only you can see them. Also note that the spell will recharge over time, but if you take too much damage then they will break and you will take the strom’s full strength.”

“Got it,” Gale said.

“Good. Now I must go. Princess Celestia wants me to supplement Shining Armor’s spell for his upcoming wedding.” Elemental Shield then took his leave.

The pegasi had noticed that his cutie mark was a bunch of triangles.

After Elemental Shield left, Gale approached the other pegasi. “Alright. We are going to Unicorn Range now. It should take a few days to fly there.”

Star Song looked at his cutie mark: his green flank had a small twister on it. She wondered about his special talent.

“We must be vigilant. Under normal circumstances an elementalist’s skill would be unnecessary but if we’re facing what I think we’re facing, we’ll need all the help we can get.”

Over Cast was suspicious. Flitter and Star Song were scared. Cloudchaser, on the other hoof, was pumped up for this.

“Our goal is to go to Unicorn Range and help the other teams divert the storm back to the North. I asked someone to cover for us here at base until we return alright?”

The other ponies agreed, and together, they headed for the Unicorn Range.

iv - You're Out!

The Cutie Mark Crusaders were running away from their pursuers. They galloped all around Ponyville.

Apple Bloom and her friends turned left and saw a wall with a hole. They quickly went into the opening. The stampede of angry ponies passed them, too blinded by their rage to notice that the fillies weren’t there.

The Crusaders exited the hole.

“Phew,” Apple Bloom said. “That was close.”

Applejack, who was chasing the mob saw the fillies. Unfortunately so did the angry mob.

The leader of which said, ”Get ‘em!”

The chase resumed as the Crusaders ran from the torches and pitchforks toting mob.

Elsewhere, Pinkie Pie went to the Carousel Boutique. She opened the door to find Rarity and Twilight inside.

“Pinkie?” Rarity said. “Whatever are you doing, darling?”

“Applejack wanted me to warn you that Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo are being chased by an angry mob,” Pinkie said. “At first I thought they wanted to teach them a lesson in tag, but then I thought ’Huh, what game of tag would use pitchforks.’ and then--”

Twilight interrupted Pinkie. “Where are they?”

“Dunno. They were running all over town.”

Rarity was close to fainting. She didn’t think that the hatred for the column would escalate into a mob. She ran out of her home and tried to find them.

Just then Rainbow Dash entered the building. “Hey guys what’s up?”

“Not much, except the Cutie Mark Crusaders are chased by a mob and Rarity and Applejack went to find them,” Pinkie said.

Rainbow Dash took a while to process the information, then doubled over in laughter. “Really Pinkie, an angry mob? That’s ridiculous.” and continued to laugh some more.

“Says the mare who drenched them in water every time they crossed your path,” Twilight snarked before realizing that her reaction to the fact that the Crusaders were Gabby Gums was no less overblown.

“But seriously, an angry--” Dash had heard a noise behind her.

The three mares saw the Cutie Mark Crusaders running toward the edge of town. By the time the fillies passed she said, “Are you sure they’re not playing tag?”

“That’s what I thought!” Pinkie said. “But look!” The mares saw a mob with torches, pitchforks and picket signs heading along the Crusaders path.

The mob in turn noticed Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle and Pinkie Pie and approached them. One of them held out a picture of Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. “Hey have you seen these three fillies?”

“Maybe,” Rainbow Dash said. “Why’d you ask?”

Rarity and Applejack finally caught up to the group.

“We felt that these fillies need to be taught a ‘lesson.’ Gabby Gums must not be allowed to write her nasty columns anymore.”

“That’s no reason to scare three fillies like that,” Twilight said.

“It’s a perfectly good reason!” said a mare in the group.

“Listen here,” the leader of the mob said. “Those three fillies are dangerous. They destroy everything they touch, ruin everything they see all just to get their cutie marks?! We’ve had it up to here with this.” Everyone felt the temperature fall with his words. “And you haven’t done anything to stop this at all! Those fillies are a menace and you haven’t stopped or disciplined them in any way.”

The crowd was getting riled up his words as the rage directed at the Crusaders grew.

The fillies were listening from behind a street corner. Hearing every hateful vile word spewed by the mob leader’s mouth. They went out of hiding and were immediately noticed by everypony here.

“You really think that?” Apple Bloom said. Tears ran down her cheek.

“What do you think? You almost killed somepony with a bowling ball, nearly infected the town with a dangerous disease, and now now you’ve shown no regard for everypony’s privacy and dignity! Equestria would be better off without you if you asked me,” the leader said.

“Now you listen here you--” Applejack was enraged by the mob’s contempt for the fillies. But she was interrupted by the leader.

“No you listen!” the mob leader said.

The Crusaders were about to cry. The sun was setting as the night began.

“Fine then!” Apple Bloom said. “We know where we’re not wanted!”

“We’re leaving!” Sweetie Belle said.

“Jerks!” Scootaloo said. The fillies began to trot toward the Everfree forest.

“All we did is write some gossip and you can’t even talk to us without a barrier, a raining cloud, or pitchforks,” Apple Bloom said. Tears rolled down her cheeks.

Applejack and Rarity tried to comfort their sisters.

“Sugarcube--” Applejack said.

“We didn’t even want to write the gossip in the first place! You did!” Scootaloo said. “We were just giving you what you wanted!”

“But I guess that wasn’t enough for you jerks. You want us gone? Fine then,” Sweetie Belle said. The three fillies then galloped away from the group, crying the entire time.

The leader of the angry mob was content. “Well, good Riddance!” he shouted. Everypony glared at the leader. The mob disbanded, some contented at the day’s outcome while others were disgusted not just by their behavior today, but by the preceding days as well, for now they knew that the cruelty was not just uncalled for, but unjustifiable.

“Well,” Twilight said. “Now Ponyville can be known as the town that ran out three foals.” and left to go find Fluttershy.

“My sister was taught to have some degree of empathy. You on the other hand need some more lessons,” Rarity scoffed at the ex-mob leader before following Twilight. The other three followed soon after, leaving the ex-leader to go home in triumph.

Fluttershy had managed to pull herself together enough to feed and care for the animals. She was giving them their dinner when she heard a knock on the door.

Her rabbit, Angel, went to answer the door. He knew how to answer the door, and he knew what he wanted to do if he saw three certain fillies.

The door opened to reveal that Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack there. Angel was sorely disappointed, but he let his owner’s friends in.

A few minutes later, the six mares discussed the events of the day.

“...Goodness,” Fluttershy said. “They were chased by a mob?”

“Yeah,” Pinkie said. “They chased them all over town.”

“That’s horrible,” Fluttershy was unaware that her friends had also contributed to the problem.

“We’re going to the Everfree Forest to find them,” Applejack said. “And nopony knows the forest and it’s inhabitants better than you.”

“Well I guess I could help,” Fluttershy said. She know how vicious the town could get at times, but never once have been the subject of an angry mob. “But what about the animals? I have to get someone to pet-sit for them.” At that moment Angel Bunny fainted in dread.

“It’s okay, I’ll have spike take care of them,” Twilight said.

Angel Bunny jolted up in even more dread. The ponies agreed to start their trek in the morning, after they were rested and prepared. Though Applejack and Rarity were worried about their sisters. Fluttershy’s friends left her cottage and returned to their own homes to prepare for their journey.

v - Forest of the Exiled

Now exiled from their homes, the Cutie Mark Crusaders wandered the Everfree Forest.

“Oh,” Apple Bloom said. “This is a disaster.”

“Look on the bright side,” Sweetie Belle said.

“What bright side?” Scootaloo said. “Our friends hate us, our town hates us, and we’re stuck in the Everfree Forest!”

“Maybe we can get our cutie marks,” Sweetie Belle said.

“Hey, that’s right,” Apple Bloom said. “There’s tons of things we haven’t tried here in the forest.”

“Like what?” Scootaloo said.

“Well, there’s exploration. I betcha that there’s places that nopony’s been to here.”

“For good reason,” Scootaloo whispered.

“Well we can’t return to Ponyville,” Sweetie Belle said. “Not after what we wrote in the Foal Free Press, and especially not with everypony hating us.”

“It’s worth a shot,” Apple Bloom said.

The next morning, Twilight, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie, Fluttershy and Applejack were packing for the Forest. Twilight was at her library packing her saddlebag with some books.

Spike took out some extra books nearby. “Are you sure you want to go to the Everfree Forest? That place is dangerous and it’s cold out...”

He took out the Supernaturals book and handed it to Twilight.

“And besides, how are you going to find Apple Bloom and her friends anyway?” Spike asked.

“I don’t know, Spike,” Twilight said. She used her telekinesis to place the books, then to wrap a scarf around her neck. “But I have to do something.” She left the library fully packed, and Spike closed it down and followed her.

Meanwhile, Applejack was busy harvesting her food. She let her brother and Granny Smith know that Apple Bloom ran away from the town last night. She was busy harvesting the south field. Rarity had just entered the farm with several dozen suitcases and bags.

Applejack took a long look at her luggage. “You have got to be kidding! Rarity, this is a rescue mission, not a month-long camping trip!”

“Well, excuse me for making sure to bring my bare essentials,” Rarity said. “After all, who knows how much dust can get on our hooves?”

Applejack rolled her eyes and continued harvesting.

“That seems like a lot of apples, darling. I can help you with this," Rarity said.

“Well,” Applejack said. She remembered the last time she tried to harvest the field on her own, and the urgency of their new goal. “Alright, Rarity.”

Rarity used her magic to separate the apples form the branches and placed them in nearby baskets.

“So why are you harvesting so many trees now?” she asked.

“Well I need to make sure that the family has harvested enough apples for the next two weeks while I’m gone.” Applejack sighed. “I’m worried about them y’know.”

“Darling, we’ll find them.” Rarity comforted her friend. After they harvested the field they took two days’ worth of food and headed to Fluttershy’s.

Twilight Sparkle and Spike were at Fluttershy’s home.

Fluttershy was outside feeding the chickens. Spike saw Angel glaring at him from the window and knew that he would like the next few days.

Fluttershy went out of the chicken coop and saw Twilight and Spike there.

“Oh, thank you for helping with the animals, Spike,” Fluttershy said.

She then gave him a list of things to do, including a shopping list for the pets and some details on their care. Spike then went inside the cottage.

Rarity and Applejack were a few feet away from Twilight and Fluttershy and approached them. The latter two ponies noticed Applejack’s saddlebags were full of apples, and that Rarity was carrying even more stuff. By this point, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie were entering the area, carrying 6 large canteens full of water.

“So is everypony ready?” Rainbow Dash said.

The other five nodded.

“We’re ready,” Twilight said. She then levitated the canteens and gave them to everypony.

Applejack glanced at Rarity. “Some might say too ready.”

“So, what are we doing first?”

“Well I was thinking we should visit Zecora,” Twilight said. “She may know where the fillies went.”

The Crusaders saw a patch of blue grass. Their stomachs were growling.

“Maybe we can eat the grass?” Sweetie Belle said.

Apple Bloom took a look at the patch of grass. “I don’t know.” She knew that she had seen it before, but her stomach was growling too loudly for her to think. “I think we should avoid that grass.”

“Oh, but they look so tasty,” Scootaloo said.

They tried to leave the patch, but they couldn’t stop thinking about the grass. They hadn’t had anything to eat since they left last night and they hadn't seen any food to eat since.

Scootaloo couldn't wait to have some lunch, and she ate the grass. In a few seconds, the other Crusaders chomped down the grass as well. They were eventually finished with their meal.

Sweetie Belle let out a burp. “Wow, that grass was tasty.”.

The three fillies were walking on the patch. Apple Bloom still felt uneasy over the grass. She knew she had seen the grass before, but for some reason couldn't recall what they were. Eventually she let the thought go.

“You know, that grass wasn't that bad,” Scootaloo said.

“Yeah,” Sweetie Belle said. “At least we know where to find some food.”

“I’m sure we’ll get our survivor cutie marks in no time,” Apple Bloom said.

The Crusaders left the flower patch and went east.

Twilight and her group went to a small hut in the forest. She knocked on the door.

Inside, a zebra was busy making a potion when she heard the knock. She opened the door. “Ah, Twilight and friends, how do you do? And what pleasure I have to owe you?”

“Hi Zecora,” Twilight said. “We’re looking for Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. We were wondering if you’ve seen them.”

“I’m afraid I haven’t seen them here, what makes you sure they’d be so near?" she said.

“Cause an angry mob drove them to the Everfree Forest,” Applejack said. “They were writing for the school paper, and the town didn’t like what they were writing.”

“So you wish to find them, but haven’t got a clue. I’m afraid that I cannot help you. I’m preparing a brew to protect from the weather, and as such, we cannot find them together.

“I see,” Applejack said. “Thanks anyway, Zecora.”

Zecora said, “I wish you luck finding your friends, be careful, or your journey may end.”

The ponies left Zecora alone to brew her potion. A few hours later they were at a blue flower patch. The 6 mares recognized this place. It was a field of poison joke.

“Better steer clear of that,” Applejack said. “Last thing I want is to be the size of a mouse again.”

“Agreed,” Rainbow Dash said. “My flying was shot after walking through that patch.”

“And I was unable to speak at all,” Pinkie Pie said. “I mean can you imagine how hard it was to talk...”

The ponies walked around the patch to the western path, being careful not to let the grass touch them. Applejack noticed that some of the grass was missing but didn’t pay much attention to it.

The Crusaders were walking on the eastern path. Scootaloo felt itchy as they trotted further on the path.

“Ugh,” Scootaloo said. “I can’t believe this.” She scratched herself. “I think I’m allergic to something.”

Sweetie Belle chucked.

“Not funny,” Scootaloo said.

“Here,” Apple Bloom said. “I’ll help.” She scratched her friend’s wings, then her back, and finally her belly.

Scootaloo breathed a sigh of relief. “Thanks. I needed that.”

“You’re clewoem,” Apple Bloom said.

“Huh?” The other fillies were baffled.

“I said ‘you’re welcome,’” Apple Bloom said.

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo shrugged. They then continued on the path.

The rain began to fall as the Crusaders continued down the pathway. They ran and looked for shelter. Eventually they saw a cave and went inside for shelter.

“Well hatt was lceos,” Apple Bloom said.

Sweetie Belle let out a laugh after that sentence.

“What?” Apple Bloom said.

Sweetie Belle continued laughing. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were confused, though the latter was busy rubbing her back on a wall.

Eventually they went deeper into the cave and slept for the night.

vi - The Forest of Despair

The next day, the Cutie Mark Crusaders woke up in the cave. Scootaloo scratched herself on the walls of the cave.

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were a little puzzled seeing Scootaloo itching her body like that. The latter, however, was laughing uncontrollably.

“That’s so not funny!” Scootaloo said.

“I’m sorry...” Sweetie Belle doubled over in laughter.

“So sorry...” she said.

She laughed for a few moments more. “I can’t help it.” She still laughed for a few more minutes.

Apple Bloom noticed several blue spots on Scootaloo's orange coat.

“Oh no.” Apple Bloom said.

Sweetie Belle finally stopped laughing, and said, “What’s wrong?”

“It’s that plant. I hitkn it’s psonoi keoj.”

“What?” Scootaloo said.

“I adsi ti swa soonpi ekjo.”

Apple Bloom covered her mouth.

She saw a stick nearby and used it to write “POISON JOKE” on the ground.

The other two fillies said, “Oh.”

“What’s poison joke?” Scootaloo said. Her itch having subsided.

The fillies smelled something nasty. Sweetie Belle began laughting.

“It’s like poison oak," Apple Bloom explained. "but nadsite fo ginpoonis, it plays a kaprn no us.”

“Um... I can’t understand you,” Scootaloo said. She started itching again.

Apple Bloom facehoofed.

She tried explaining again. “Poison joke is a plant that plays a prank on ponies who touch it. I think we were affected by it.”

Sweetie Belle stopped laughing.

“Well those are terrible pranks,” Sweetie Belle said.

“Is there a cure?” Scootaloo said.

“We nca kas Cazore,” Apple Bloom mumbled.

She was about to use her stick to communicate but the three had heard a roar.

A timberwolf burst out from a nearby opening. The Crusaders screamed and ran away while the beast gave chase.

Nearby a cockatrice heard those screams and went to find the source.

Elsewhere in the forest, Twilight, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Applejack were looking for the Crusaders.

Twilight Sparkle was reading Mythical Creatures of the Everfree Forest.

“Hey Twilight,” Pinkie Pie said. “Can I read that book? It looks super fun.”

“Um... sure, Pinkie.” Twilight said.

She handed Pinkie the book. The pink earth pony skipped through some pages until she was on a section for cockatrices. “Ooh. Hey Twilight, look!”

Twilight read the page, “A cockatrice is a beast with the head of a chicken and body of a snake...” Twilight read up to the next page. “...However, there are rumors of a special subspecies of cockatrice. The Gallus ophis amethystos, or amethyst cockatrice. Rumored to have purple eyes instead of red and a purple body.

“This subspecies is said to cure anypony of ailments upon petrification, but there is no proof of this as like all others of its species. It leaves after petrifying in search of more victims. There are several sightings of the amethyst cockatrice, but few are reliable.

“Researchers in Canterlot were able to venture into the Everfree Forest and find evidence of its existence, but were not able to prove that it can cure anypony of any ailment before or during the petrification process, though they did discover that the victims of its gaze have a characteristic that distinguishes them from most victims of a cockatrice’s stare: The eyes of the victims become the mineral amethyst, hence it’s name.”

“Pretty neat huh?” Pinkie said.

“Pinkie,” Twilight said. “Why did you have me read that page? What are the odds that we are gonna find such a rare animal?”

“I figured that it would be useful to know. After all, you never know when we may encounter one.”

Pinkie bounced merrily along the path. Rarity and Applejack heard the conversation and silently wished that their sisters would not ever meet with a cockatrice.

Fluttershy also heard Twilight and Pinkie’s conversation and feared that they would encounter one.

Later the group of six returned to the Poison Joke field. Applejack once again saw dirt where the grass would had been.

“Hold on y’all,” she said. “I gotta check something.”

She went around to the other side of the field, hoping that her suspicions were wrong. The others followed.

Applejack let out a scared whinny. She saw bite marks on the grass nearby.

“Applejack?” Rainbow Dash said. “What’s wrong?”

“I think that they might had had some poison joke,” Applejack said. “We got to hurry.” The group then went down the other path.

The Crusaders were running away from the timberwolf. Sweetie Belle was laughing the entire time. The beast had cornered them into the edge of a cliff.

“Any ideas?” Scootaloo said.

Apple Bloom saw some rocks nearby and pointed to them. “Hte crsko. Teh sorkc.”

Sweetie Belle stopped laughing long enough to help Scootaloo and Apple Bloom kick the stones at their pursuer. Only one of them hit the wolf’s leg but it was enough to destroy it, the plant-like beast then tumbled over and broke into lumber and branches.

“That was close,” Apple Bloom said.

But the parts of the timberwolf began levitating and reforming. The Crusaders were terrified. They ran away, but they didn’t noticed the rock. They tripped on a rock and fell over the edge of the cliff.

The fillies had hit several branches on the way down, softening their landing but they were still knocked unconscious by the fall.

The timberwolf left the area, unable to get its prey from there.

While the bearers of the Elements of Harmony were busy looking for the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Pinkie Pie was still reading the Mythical Creatures book. She itched her nose and said, “we better be careful.” She gave Twilight back her book and took out an apple from Applejack’s saddlebag.

A small swarm of parasprites had emerged from the left side.

Pinkie Pie was still eating the apple. “Oh, never mind.” She tossed the core to the swarm and they ate it and left.

The other ponies were baffled by this turn of events.

“What?” Pinkie said.

“You do remember what happened the last time we saw parasprites, right?” Rarity said.

“Of course, silly,” Pinkie merrily bounced along the path. The others were baffled.

The group let this moment go and moved on.

Later they found a cave. The mares looked inside.

“Do you think that they were here?” Rainbow Dash said.

“Oh they were here alright,” Applejack said. “But not anymore."

“Guys, look!” Pinkie said.

Pinkie Pie pointed to some hoofprints.

Applejack, Twilight and Fluttershy examined the prints and came to the same conclusion.

The mares followed the hoofprints.

The Crusaders had just woken up from their fall. Scootaloo woke up scratching. Sweetie Belle woke up laughing and Apple Bloom woke up remembering what happened the night before and sighed.

“Do you raylel kthni atht it worth all htit?” Apple Bloom said.

“What are you talking about?” Scootaloo said.

“Uro teceu sarmc, veen if we etg uro ctemi kasrm, ponnoy would still like us,” Apple Bloom lamented. She thought about what happened that fateful night, she thought about the mob’s anger. She then thought about how disappointed Applejack and Big Macintosh must be. She wondered if life would be better without her in it.

The three fillies went forward, unaware that they were being followed.

vii - The Forest of Medusa

The poison-joke-addled Cutie Mark Crusaders trekked along their path.

The three Crusaders thought of their lives.

“Hey, do you remember when we first met?” Apple Bloom said.

“At Diamond Tiara’s cuteceañera?” Scooaloo said.

Sweetie Belle stopped her giggling.

“Yeah,” she said.

“And that time we tried to enter the talent contest?” Scootaloo said.

“I still can’t believe our talent wasn’t comedy,” Apple Bloom said.

“And then there was that time where we asked everypony how they got their cutie marks!” Sweetie Belle said.

“Yeah,” Apple Bloom sighed. “Htseo were the yads.”

Scootaloo scratched herself again. She saw a scythe, a set of scales, and a sword in a sheath nearby.

“Hey,” Scootaloo pointed to the items. “Look at this.”

“That’s strange,” Sweetie Belle said. “I wonder who left them here in the first place.”

“Nduon,” Apple Bloom took the sword and sheath. “But I ebt that they’ll be lusefu ofr teghignar.”

Sweetie Belle took the scales while Scootaloo took the scythe. The Crusaders examined the items but couldn't find anything unusual other than their mere presence. Sweetie Belle began laughing again.

Apple Bloom took the sword out of the sheath and looked at the blade. She saw the blade was crimson with the blood of many. She thought about what kind of terrible things would have happened to stain the blade. She then thought about the terrible things she wrote as Gabby Gums, and the strife it caused. She wondered again if things in Equestria would be better off without her.

Scootaloo looked at the pale scythe. She could still see nothing wrong with it. She suddenly thought of the concept of death. She thought about the lives she ruined, and wondered if dying would be an improvement over her current situation.

Sweetie Belle stopped laughing and looked at the black set of scales, and saw that its cups were not on the same level. She tried to balance it, but one of the cups was still weighed down. She saw the words “Life” marked on the lower cup, and the word “Death” on the other cup. She wondered about the meaning of those two words, and then wondered about the meaning of her own existence, but her train of thought was interrupted by sudden giggles and laughter.

The three smelled another nasty smell, but hadn't paid much attention and moved ahead.

Back in Ponyville, Diamond Tiara was leaving the schoolhouse. She was alone, since the other foals have already gone home.

“You want glory, don’t you?”

Diamond Tiara heard a voice. “Who's there?” She shivered and looked around the empty room, but saw no one there. “Are you a ghost?”

“In some ways, yes. But do not be alarmed, I’m not here to hurt you.”

“What do you want?” Diamond Tiara asked. She could not see the specter. She gazed at the chalkboard. “Who are you?”

“Think of me as a benefactor of sorts. I know that you are destined not to be a lowly editor.”

“And what makes you think that’s not my destiny?” Diamond Tiara said. “I happen to like my job.”

“But I know you want more, Diamond Dazzle Tiara. If your destiny was to be the leader of a tabloid, then why is your cutie mark a tiara?” She looked at the empty desks.

“I just happened to like tiaras is all,” she said.

“I know cutie marks are more than meets the eye. They reflect not just one’s talent, they reflect one’s personality and ultimately one’s destiny. They are like eyes themselves, windows to the soul. And I can see that you want to be famed throughout Equestria.”

Diamond Tiara was shocked. She knew that she wanted to be famed throughout the land. But at the same time she didn’t know what to do, she was just a filly and deep down and she resented that. She wondered what her destiny might be “Alright then, what is my destiny?”

“Why, to be queen of course,” the spirit said.

“Queen? But Equestria only is led by princesses,” Diamond Tiara said.

“Come to the Unicorn Range and I’ll tell you more, and give you the power to become queen.”

“But why won’t you tell me now?” Diamond Tiara was getting impatient.

“Alas, my time is limited,” the spirit said. “I can’t stay here longer. But I can leave you a parting gift to lead you to our destination.”

A ball of energy appeared in front of Diamond Tiara, and embedded itself into the largest diamond on her tiara. She wanted to know what fate had in store for her. She knew what she had to do.

In the Everfree Forest, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Twilight Sparkle were at a cliff. The ponies were looking over the edge.

“Are you even sure they are even here?” Rainbow Dash said.

“No,” Applejack said “I’m sure that they were here. No timberwolf would go even half that fast.”

“Do you think that they were” --Fluttershy gulped-- “eaten?”

“I hope not,” Applejack said.

“Well, we can’t find them here,” Twilight said.

“Don’t you have any tracking spells?” Pinkie Pie said.

“Apart from searching for gems? No,” Twilight said.

Rarity thought, ‘But what if Sweetie Belle’s down there?’

“Twilight, can you bring us down the cliff?” she said.

“I can try, but why?” Twilight said.

“Call it a sister’s intuition.” Rarity said.

Twilight looked for something to use for a platform. She saw a tree that looked like it had been dead for a few weeks. She checked her book for a spell for uprooting or cutting the tree.

Eventually she found the spell she was looking for and cast it. Her horn glowed as pink as Pinkie and the tree was levitated and brought down in front of the edge.

“Get on the tree and don’t let go,” Twilight said.

The other ponies were confused, but they went on top of the dead tree. Twilight then followed. Rainbow Dash decided to just fly down.

Twilight levitated the tree again. Fluttershy was tightly grasping the tree as Twilight gently moved it.

“Wow, I've never been on a tree ride before. Have any of you saw a tree ride before? I bet it must be super dup--”

“Pinkie,” Twilight said with a strained voice. “I need focus!”

“Oops, sorry,” Pinkie said.

Twilight’s tree platform was halfway down the cliff face. So far so good.

Fluttershy was still holding on to the tree as tightly as she could, until she saw a spider move. Sweat was running down from her pores and the arachnid moved towards her. The spider then went away from her.

“Phew,” she whispered silently.

Twilight still had a ways to go before it would be safe to jump off, but she was confident that she would finish the spell.

“SPIIIDDDDEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRR!” Rarity exclaimed at the top of her lungs.

Twilight’s focus was broken, and the spell with it. The tree fell and crashed into the ground.

Rainbow Dash flew down and went towards the group. “Everypony okay?”

“Yeah, we’re alright,” Twilight said in a daze.

Everypony then looked at Rarity who was stomping the spider.

“Icky, icky, beast. Die,” Rarity said. She saw everypony looking at her and the now destroyed tree. “Sorry.”

Fluttershy was a little horrified. Applejack and Rainbow Dash rolled their eyes.

“Come on, everypony,” Applejack said. “They can’t be too far ahead now.”

The ponies resumed their search for the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

Several yards away the Crusaders stopped and sat on a rock. Scootaloo used its surface to satisfy her itch. All three were thinking back to the day before yesterday. Back to the mob and their hurtful words.

“Do you think that everypony will ever forgive us?” Apple Bloom said.

“I doubt it,” Scootaloo said. “Everypony hates us.”

Sweetie Belle was chuckling again.

“I mean, It’s not just Gabby Gums. We also freed Discord, nearly brought a plague to Ponyville, and almost killed somepony with a bowling ball,” Apple Bloom said. She sulked some more.

Sweetie Belle stopped laughing.

“And then we tried to get cutie marks in surviving the Everfree Forest,” Sweetie Belle said. “but instead, we got poison joke and a timberwolf after us.”

“I just swhi ttah this merintagh would den redlayla!” Apple Bloom said.

The three Crusaders sighed. Apple Bloom looked at her sword and wondered what she would do with it. She inferred that the sword would be able to cut through skin and fur just from looking at the scarlet blood on the blade. She once again wondered if she and the others were just unable to get their cutie marks, and that even if they did, it wouldn't make a difference.

Sweetie Belle fiddled around with her scales with a chuckle. A chuckle forced upon her by the poison joke. She looked at the ”Life” cup and wondered what it could mean. She wondered if it was telling her something. ‘Is it telling me that our lives are imbalanced?’ she thought.

Scootaloo just looked at her scythe. She wondered what she could do with this pale scythe. The thought of death seemed comforting to her somehow. Death, the eternal rest. She thought about those that ran her and her friends out of town and doubted if their lives ever had any meaning.

They heard some rustling in the nearby foliage.

A chicken head popped out of a nearby bush.

“A cockatrice?” Scootaloo said, resisting the urge to scratch.

There was a thought in the back of each of the Crusaders’ minds telling them to gallop away as fast as possible as the cockatrice moved closer to the fillies. Its purple body glistened in the dim moonlight.

The Crusaders thought about the town. They wondered how mad the town might be if they returned. They wondered if getting their cutie marks was worth causing the town more trouble. They knew that they caused grief to the townsponies with the paper. They knew that the townsponies hated them for it. They marched towards the cockatrice.

“We’re sorry,” Sweetie Belle said.

“We just can’t do it,” Scootaloo said.

“It’s better off this way,” Apple Bloom said. “I’m just lucky to have good friends like you.”

“Yeah,” Scootaloo said.

“Cutie Mark Crusaders forever?” Sweetie Belle said.

“Yeah,” the other two fillies said.

The purple cockatrice opened its eyes and gave a glare to its victims.

The scales were slowly balancing themselves as the Crusaders were slowly turned to stone. When they were fully petrified, the amethyst cockatrice let out a loud caw in triumph as it left the fillies behind to accept their fate.

Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie went along the path.

“Over there,” Applejack said. “I think I heard something.”

She went ahead and the others followed her. They made their way through several yards of underbrush to find the source of the sounds.

Applejack stopped in her tracks.

“Oh no,” she whispered.

The other ponies stopped soon after. They saw statues in the pale light of Luna’s moon. Statues that looked too much like the Crusaders to be mere coincidence.

viii - Storm of Boreas

In the Everfree Forest, where ponies fear to tread, Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie were standing in front of three statues of the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

They were shocked.

“This cannot be.” Rarity said. “My sister, petrified?” She fainted in grief. Pinkie Pie tried to wake her.

Fluttershy was remembering what happened when she foalsat the Crusaders, She remembered their last foray into the forest, and the appearance of the Cockatrice. She couldn't help but draw parallels.

Rarity managed to wake up. She took another look at Sweetie Belle’s statue.

“It’s all my fault!”

She broke down in tears.

“No,” Applejack said. “It was my fault. none of this would have happened if I was able to catch that mob in time.”

“But I was the one who blew the whistle on Gabby Gums!” Rarity said. “I was the one who--”

“Enough!” Twilight Sparkle interrupted. “No one is at fault here. She sighed.

She examined the statues while the others were thinking of what to do now. Fluttershy was still thinking of that night she foalsat the Crusaders.

Diamond Tiara was in the editing room of the Foal Free Press. She went in front of her classmates.

“I decided to resign as editor in chief of the paper,” she said.

The other students cheered. Although Silver Spoon noticed something was different with Diamond Tiara.

“I’ve decided that the press...” She began her resignation speech.

Silver Spoon finally saw what was different from usual. Diamond’s tiara was as white as snow compared to her more silvery ones. It also resembled a crown with several snowflakes decorating it.

“That’s odd,” Silver Spoon said.

After finishing her speech Diamond Tiara left the classroom. Silver Spoon went to follow her.

“Hey,” Silver Spoon said. “Why are you leaving?”

“Oh, Silver Spoon,” Diamond Tiara said. “I’m going to take a trip somewhere. I’ll see you when I get back okay?”

She left her friend behind and headed out of the schoolyard. Silver Spoon was worried, she decided to follow her friend.

Back at the Everfree Forest Twilight finished examining the statues. She noticed that each of them has an item of sorts: a set of scales, a scythe and a sword. But the most striking thing she noticed was their eyes. The eyes of each statute were not tissues of cones and rods, but amethyst orbs of a deep violet.

Twilight them remembered something and took out her Mythical Creatures book, Turning to where Pinkie was when she asked her to read it-- the pages about the Galus serpens amethystos.

“Guess we better hit the road,” Applejack said, comforting Rarity. They were about to leave.

Fluttershy was finished remembering the events of that night. Thoughts of the Crusaders were racing through her head. It mustn’t, it mustn’t...

“It mustn't end like this!” Fluttershy said. Everypony was shocked by her words. “Twilight, let me see that book.”

Twilight lifted the book to Fluttershy.

She read the pages about the amethyst cockatrice and said, “I’ll find this cockatrice and make this right.”

“But how are you gonna find who petrified Sweetie Belle and the others?” Rarity said.

“I don’t know,” Fluttershy said. “But I know that we still have a chance to save them!”

“That’s right,” Twilight said. She remember her last encounter with a cockatrice. She knows that the effect is reversible, she wouldn't be here otherwise.

“We have to hurry,” Fluttershy said. “We have 108 hours to find the amethyst cockatrice or else Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo will forever be petrified.” She left to begin her search.

Twilight, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash began to follow Fluttershy.

Applejack and Rarity took a look at the petrified Crusaders.

“Don’t worry sugarcube,” Applejack said. “We’ll fix this, I promise.”

“Farewell, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo.” The two mares followed their friends in search of the cockatrice.

Diamond Tiara trotted through Ponyville. The townsponies were acting bitter and hateful. Without Pinkie Pie to cheer them up, the town fell into a state of dissagreement and distrust.

She didn’t mind. She wanted to know what awaits her at Unicorn Range. Silver Spoon on the other hand was concerned.

“I had never seen the town this...mad,” Silver Spoon said.

She had never seen the town mad enough to take it out on each other before. The experience was jarring compared to a few days ago. She was careful not to be spotted by her friend.

She saw Diamond Tiara speaking to nopony in particular.

“So what are you supposed to be exactly?” Diamond Tiara said.

“I am but a humble servant,” A voice from her tiara said. “I serve the windwalkers.”

“Windwalkers?” Diamond Tiara said.

“You’ll find out soon enough, your majesty,” The voice said.

Diamond Tiara did like the sound of that. She went ahead to Unicorn Range.

Silver Spoon was worried. She continued to trail her silently.

Diamond Tiara went to the train station and entered the train heading to the Range. Silver Spoon entered another car on the same train just before the doors closed.

Later, Over Cast, Gale Force, Cloudchaser, Flitter and Star Song were on the edge of the storm at Unicorn Range. They flew over the belt of the storm looking for survivors.

Over Cast was shocked. She knew the storm was big, but she ever thought it would never be this big. She wondered how this storm was allowed to grow, but she realized that this storm was unusual from the beginning, because the pegasi were unable to control the blizzard.

“Well this storm’s colder than I expected,” Cloudchaser said.

Flitter and Star Song were shivering in the cold.

“Y-y-y-yeah,” Flitter said. “It s-s-s-sure is c-c-c-cold.”

“You’re sure that these barriers will protect us?” Star Song said.

“Of course,” Gale Force said. “We just gotta get out of the storm at times to let them recharge."

He looked at the storm. He saw a frozen wasteland. He was still suspicious of the storm and what secrets lurk inside.

“Why did you include lightning protection anyway?” Over Cast said. “There’s no lightning in this storm.”

“You can never be too careful,” Gale said. “Anyway we should split up and cover more ground.”

Flitter rushed to hold Cloudchaser’s hoof. Star Song did the same.

“I’m with Cloudchaser,” Flitter said.

“Me too,” Star Song said.

Cloudchaser was a little flustered.

“Fine,” Gale Force said. ‘We’ll split into two teams. Over Cast, with me. We’ll meet up back here in a few hours.”

The groups then went their separate ways and went into the blizzard.

Meanwhile, Diamond Tiara went off the train at the nearest station to Unicorn Range.

“You’re not gonna stop at Unicorn Range? Are you serious?” She said to the stallion asking for tickets.

“It’s too dangerous to go there right now,” he said. “Why do you need to head there anyway?”

“No reason.” She lied.

She exited the train knowing that arguing with the conductor won’t help her get there.

“Relax,” the voice in the tiara said. “We’re almost there.” She looked to see the storm a few miles off.

Silver Spoon was watching from behind a copy of the Foal Free Press that she found on the train. She cut out some eye-holes so that she could watch what Diamond Tiara was doing. She exited the train from a different exit and hid behind a beam.

The voice of the tiara said, “You know that a queen is nothing without her servants. And my people may not be enough.”

“What do you mean?” Diamond Tiara said.

“My people are powerful but they still need more than a queen. They need three others to bring out their full powers.”

“And those three are?” Diamond Tiara said.

“I can’t say much now. Not before your coronation. But I can say that the queen of the windwalkers need more than just someone who would lead our conquest. But someone who can bring forth death, someone willing to wage war and most importantly, someone to end our famine.”

“Very well then,” Diamond Tiara said.

She headed towards the storm.

Silver Spoon continued to follow her.

“Diamond Tiara,” she said, “What’s happened to you?”

Diamond Tiara had entered the storm. Her tiara was somehow preventing the weather from affecting her. The voice in the tiara lead her to a high point in Unicorn Range.

Silver Spoon was following her from a distance. She noticed that there were ponies, frozen in a state of anger, hatred and fear. The sight made her shiver more than the cold did.

Diamond Tiara went to the highest point of the valley.

“Diamond Tiara,” the voice said. “Are you ready to take your throne?”

She hesitated for a moment but she wanted to know. “Yes I am. Just tell me my destiny. Tell me what my cutie mark means.”

“Very well.” A spirit emerged from the tiara, and she began to float.

Nearby, Over Cast and Gale Force saw a filly and went to investigate.

Diamond Tiara was scared, but somehow she felt at peace.

The spirit said, ‘Diamond Tiara, O heiress to the throne of Ithaqua, the Wind-Walker, King of the frozen wastes. Thou art the one to lead us into our conquest!”

Diamond Tiara was being covered in a cocoon of ice and snow. Silver Spoon could not believe her bespectacled eyes. Over Cast and Gale Force saw something emerging from the clouds.

Gale Force was shocked. His suspicions were confirmed.

Ethereal horses swirled around Diamond Tiara’s cocoon.

The windwalker that emerged from the tiara said, “Queen Diamond Tiara, O heiress to the throne of Ithaqua. Thou shalt help engulf Equestria in hatred, and cover the land in ice.”

The ice that made up the cocoon began to shift and unfold.

“Queen Diamond Tiara, O heiress to the throne of Ithaqua. Thou hast been transformed.”

Diamond Tiara emerged from the cocoon, now with a pair of wings of ice attached to her sides. There a ice horn lies on her forehead.

“Queen Diamond Tiara. O heiress to the throne of Ithaqua. It is my pleasure to name ye queen of the windigos!”

The now-alicorn Diamond Tiara descended to the snow below.

Silver Spoon was shocked. Never before has she seen anypony transformed into an alicorn, especially one with icy wings and a horn to match. But she knew that her friend was no longer herself.

“What happened to you, Diamond Tiara.” She said.

She went into view of the windigos. Diamond Tiara was stunned by her friend’s appearance.

“Silver Spoon?” Diamond Tiara said. “What are you doing here?”

“I came here because I knew that something in you changed. You know that the windigos nearly froze Equestria before."

Gale saw Silver Spoon amid the ice. “Over Cast,” Gale pointed to the grey filly. “Get her, find the others and get away from here.”

“What are you doing?” Over Cast said.

“I’m gonna stop this. It’s too dangerous here.”

“Don’t be stupid! you’ll freeze to death before you get this far!”

“Look above!” Gale pointed to the windigos above. “If I don’t do something we’re all gonna die!”

Over Cast said, “No, I’ll stop her. You go save the foal.”

“But Over Cast--”

“But nothing. If you die here, who’s gonna manage the weather teams. They need you.” She turned her back “More than they need me.” She flew into the cyclone of windigos in an attempt to distract Diamond Tiara.

Meanwhile, Silver Spoon was still talking with Diamond Tiara. She could see in her eyes not the friend she used to tease the other fillies with, but a monster with a heart of ice. She felt betrayed.

“Why?” she said. “You were my friend. You helped me when I was a small foal. Why, Diamond Tiara?”

Her sadness was slowly being replaced with anger and hatred and she began to freeze over.

“I am not Diamond Tiara anymore,” the windigo queen said. “I am Queen Diamond Dust! And you shall all be frozen over.” She smirked.

“Diamond Dust,” her advisor said, “A perfect name for our queen.”

The windigos began to charge at Silver Spoon. She tried to run but her hooves were frozen in place. The windigos began to freeze her solid. She collapsed from the cold.

Over Cast descended between Diamond Dust and Silver Spoon, her barriers stopping the windigos.

Gale Force also descended and freed the unconscious Silver Spoon from her icy restraints and flew away.

“So you’re the cause of this storm, huh?” Over Cast said.

“Maybe,” Diamond said. “What are you gonna do about it?”

“I’m gonna stop you from hurting more innocent ponies.”

“We’ll see,” Diamond Dust said.

She used her newfound wings to fly into the stratosphere. Over Cast followed her into the clouds.

Gale Force carried the unconscious Silver Spoon across the storm until he saw Cloudchaser, Flitter and Star Song.

“Gale?” Cloudchaser said. “Who’s this filly, and where’s Over Cast?”

“No time,” Gale said. “Take this filly and get her out of the storm.”

“Where are you going?” Flitter said.

“I have to help Over Cast. Get out before the storm gets any worse.” Gale flew away.

The other three pegasi knew that they had to get Silver Spoon out before she froze. And so they went.

ix - Scylla and Charybdis

Over Cast followed Diamond Dust into the stratosphere. The windigos’ attempts to intercept her failed as her barriers repelled the windwalkers.

Eventually she caught up to the windigo queen at the eye of the storm.

“So you still plan on fighting me? A waste of time if you ask me.”

Diamond Dust was a few feet away from Over Cast. She looked like she was standing on the air itself. She could not believe her eyes. This was a filly she was about to battle, but that filly was capable of blizzards that could freeze Equestria over. She had to do something.

“No,” Over Cast said. Her barrier of winds was protecting her from the thin air and providing her with air to breath. “I plan on stopping you!”

Diamond Dust trotted on the air as her wings began to unfold. Ice shards formed on the wings. “Bring it!” She let fly a salvo of shards heading for Over Cast.

Over Cast narrowly evaded the shards and tried to fly toward Diamond Dust, but the windigo queen launched another barrage of ice and hail. She tried to dodge but some of the shards pierced her barriers and her flesh. The ice embedded on her legs and her front hooves.

Over Cast felt agonizing pain as she saw the blue and white shards turn purple and eventually red from her blood. But she didn’t care, she just wanted to stop the blizzard. She charged forward at Diamond Dust and broke one of her icy wings off..

“Spunky,” the ice queen said. “But useless.” She stood on the air as she watched Over Cast’s wind barrier give out.

“Damn,” Over Cast said. “She’s still flying?”

Diamond Dust trotted on the air and used her horn to cast a spell. A ethereal beam of light emerged from the horn and hit Over Cast's wing.

The beam froze her wing solid. Her ice and lightning barriers slowed the ice as it crept over over her body. Over Cast was in trouble. Her foe was a formidable one but she had to stop her. She charged forward and used her frozen wing as a weapon.

The wing hit Diamond Dust and knocked her back, but now Over Cast struggled to fly with the imbalance that ice provided. Her ice and lightning barriers depleted as she further engaged Diamond Dust in close combat.

Diamond Dust was shocked. Over Cast had managed to hit her several times. She galloped to get some distance from Over Cast and heal her wounds.

"Hey, get back here,” Over Cast shouted.

“Not my style,” Diamond Dust said.

Her one wing was changing shape, becoming sharper and bearing more resemblance to a sword with feathers of ice to the side and the blade of a scythe at the tip. She then turned a three hundred sixty degree angle as the ice shards flew off and hung suspended in the air. The moisture solidifying and assimilating into her wing.

Over Cast knew what she was doing. Her fire barrier spell was the only spell active and her right wing frozen. She knew that the winner would be decided soon. She knew all along that she would die fighting Diamond Dust.

Diamond Dust stopped spinning. Her wing made of ice blades and her six hundred sixty six molted feathers suspended between herself and Over Cast. She was getting tired of the battle, they both were.

Over Cast breathed shallow and heavily for the air was too thin at this altitude. “Alright then,” Over Cast said. She raised her frozen wing up. Her flame burning hotter than before. “Do your worst!”

Over Cast charged forward as Diamond Dust turned her ice wing so that the blades faced her opponent. The shards began to fly and shoot off towards Over Cast. While the windigo queen then charged forward.

The distance between the two shrunk as Diamond Dust stopped. The shards being blocked by Over Cast’s wing. The windigo queen began to turn again. Her opponent was ready to strike, but Over Cast was stopped. Diamond Dust’s ice wing pierced her other side and wounded her.

“Damn...you!” Over Cast said. Blood poured out of her wound, her flame extinguished.

Diamond Dust’s wing began to revert to it’s original shape and size, letting Over Cast fall to her death. The excess ice formed a new wing to replace the one that was broken off.

The windigos flew around their queen in triumph. The one that was in the crown said, “Well done. You certainly have proven yourself in battle. But that was a mere mortal pegasus. If you wish to fulfil your destiny, you still need to find the three servants.”

“And those three servants are?” Diamond Dust said.

“Sealed. They sealed themselves deep in what is now the Everfree Forest.”

“And how can I find them?”

“They bear the warrior's blade, the scales of life and death and the reaper's scythe. We must find them soon or else they will be forever sealed.”

“Very well, but you should know your place,” Diamond Dust said. Something else dawned on her “Hey, tell me how you knew where these ’servants’ are?”

“My dear, we are the spirits of the damned. We go wherever there’s hatred to feed on, and right now there’s no better place to feast on than Ponyville.”

“That still didn’t answer my question.”

“I was not the only windigo outside the storm, there are others that were searching Equestria for you and your servants while the rest of my kind waited here for your coronation.”

“Very well,” Diamond Dust said. “Now then, we march to find my servants.”

The storm over the Unicorn Range began to move southward faster than ever.as the windigos gallopped at Diamond Dust’s command.

In the storm, Gale Force was flying around the range looking for Over Cast. He saw something fall in the distance and worried. She flew to where the object fell. When he got there he was shocked.

It was Over Cast, halfway frozen and bleeding. She was dead. Gale Force wept for his fallen comrade and glared at the sky.

“Don’t worry,” Gale said. “I’ll stop them.” He tried to comfort the corpse but he knew his words would not reach her. He then flew out of the storm and headed east.

In the Everfree Forest, Twilight Sparkle and her friends were looking for the amethyst cockatrice.

“So,” Rainbow Dash said. “Even if we find this cockatrice, how do we get to unpetrify the fillies?”

“I don’t know,” Twilight said. “Fluttershy do you have any ideas?”

“Well um,” Fluttershy said.

Just then they heard a nearby bush rustle.

“it’s the cockatrice,” Pinkie Pie said. “Shield your eyes.”

A snake slithered outside the bush.

“Oh, nevermind then.”

The mares resumed their search for the cockatrice.

Later, after numerous false alarms the mares noticed the nearby bushes were rustling. Some chicken heads popped out of the bushes.

“Close your eyes!” Twilight said.

The mares walked around slowly, then the cockatrices cawed.

Twilight said, “Run!” and fled away form the cockatrices, the other five followed.

Being careful not to look in the red eyes of the Galus serpens.

x - Athena's Shield

Twilight and her friends were being chased by a flock of cockatrices. They ran throughout the forest being careful not to look back into their eyes. Pinkie saw a cave and led her friends into it. The mares hid in the shadows of the walls until the flock stopped and looked around for the ponies. Eventually the flock went away.

Applejack saw that among those leaving was a purple cockatrice. The other ponies noticed the coloration.

“Well, we found it.” Applejack said. “Now we need to separate it from the rest of ‘em.”

Twilight had an idea.

“Fluttershy,” she said, “Do you have any idea what they eat?”

Fluttershy began to think. She had never really gotten close enough to a cockatrice to know their eating habits. She took a look at Applejack’s saddlebags with some plan.

Applejack said, “Oh no. I ain’t gonna use my apples to lure these birds here!”

“Oh come on, Applejack,” Pinkie Pie said. “I’m sure it’ll be fun.”

“Nope, I ain’t gonna bait them with apples and that’s final.”

Later, Applejack placed a trail of apples on the ground and hid inside a bush.

“I can’t believe y’all talked me into doing this,” she whispered.

“Well,” Rainbow Dash said. “We didn’t have any other options.”

Twilight took out a book on barrier spells and began searching the pages.

“Aha,” she said. “Right next to the elemental barriers.” She began casting a spell, Six blindfolds made of magic suddenly poofed into existence in front of the ponies.

“These blindfolds should stop the cockatrice’s gaze from petrifying us,” Twilight said.

She put the blindfolds on and the other mares did the same. Then she cast a spell to allow one-way sight.

“So how long do these spells last,” Rarity said.

“Magical construct spells like the blindfolds would last around 24 hours before disappearing.”

“So what do we do if it takes the a bait?” Fluttershy said.

“I don’t know yet,” Twilight said. “I’ve read that their venom can be used to cure the petrification, but I don’t know if it has to be the same one or not.”

Fluttershy was a little worried. She knew the dangers of the reptilian birds very well. As did Twilight, having been petrified by one.

After 12 hours, the ponies heard some sounds and checked the apples. They saw a flock of cockatrices eating the fruit including the amethyst cockatrice.

“It worked,” Rainbow Dash said. There was a foul odor in the air. “Hey do you guys smell something?”

Pinkie Pie smelled around. “Hey you’re right I smell something fowl.” She laughed at her joke while the other ponies rolled their blindfolded eyes.

“Speaking of fowl.” Rarity pointed to the cockatrices. “Look.”

The cockatrices were fleeing the area.

Twilight and Applejack thought the air smelled familiar. They saw a pack of five timberwolves chasing the cockatrices.

“Figures it’d be too easy,” Applejack gathered up some small stones and placed them in her saddlebag. “Come on!”

The ponies went after the timberwolves.

Six hours later, the pack of timberwolves was still chasing the cockatrices. Most of the reptilian birds were able to hide from the wolves, but a few still remained at the wolves mercy.

The ponies were able to catch up to the timber wolves and began to pelt them with the stones. One of the timberwolves was hit with a rock and ran into another, destroying both of them.

Two of the remaining three timberwolves were still in pursuit of their prey, but one of them stayed behind to stop the ponies. The timberwolf tried to flatten Applejack with it’s paws but missed. Applejack tried kicking the stones but the wolf dodged the assault. Rainbow Dash tried a more direct approach but was pushed back by the timberwolf’s attack.

Fluttershy tried to pass the timberwolf, but she was blocked by the paws of the beast. She ran in fear of the beast. Twilight tried blasting it with her magic but for some reason it wasn’t affected, there wasn’t even a scratch on it.

Pinkie Pie bounced around the beast, dodging the attacks like a ballerina in a laboratory. The beast was baffled by her erratic movements. Rarity used the distraction to levitate some nearby rocks and launched them at the beast, Rainbow Dash and Applejack deflected the wayward shots with kicks.

The barrage of rocks destroyed the legs of the timberwolf. It fell and was destroyed by the gravity.

Twilight and Fluttershy went after the other two timberwolves. Rainbow Dash followed them. Pinkie Pie, Applejack and Rarity were about to follow but the foliage around them began to levitate. The trees and branches were gravitating towards where the timberwolf fell and began to form into a new timberwolf. One with three times the strength and size of the last three.

The three ponies were blocked by the gargantuan beast. They had to defeat it to aid their friends.

Twilight, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash found the flock of cockatrices cornered at a waterfall by the two timberwolves. Fluttershy whistled for the beasts’ attention.

The timberwolves heard the sound and turned to the ponies.

Fluttershy glared as she began to call out the beasts. “You two ought to be ashamed of yourselves! How could you even bring yourselves to hurt something as small as they are? you two--”

“Um Fluttershy?” Rainbow Dash said. “I don’t think they’re listening.”

The two timberwolves are now focused on the three ponies instead of the cockatrices, and Fluttershy was growing more scared as soon as she realized what they'd gotten themselves into. The timberwolves were the first to strike. One of them took their paws and tried to flatten Twilight, but she teleported out of the way.

Rainbow Dash took the opportunity to fly through the paw, but the other timberwolf intercepted that and grabbed Dash. It then flung her to the waterfall.

Dash was soaking wet. She arranged her blindfold and remembered that the cockatrices could petrify their predators. She took hold of the amethyst cockatrice and flew to the face of one of the timberwolves.

“Hey bark-breath,” Dash said. “Eat this!” She held up the purple cockatrice as it opened it eyes. It gave a glare as the beast’s wooden flesh began to petrify. Its eyes began to turn purple from the petrification. The beast began to crumble as wood turned to stone and it toppled over the other timberwolf, leaving rubble and foliage in it’s wake.

Twilight looked at the pile. “Well that was...anticlimactic.”

Fluttershy began to ask the amethyst cockatrice for its help. “Um I’m sorry but we kinda need you venom for a cure. See there’s these fillies you petrified and” --The cockatrice tried to petrify Fluttershy but the blindfold blocked its gaze.-- “We need your help in curing them. Would you please help us.”

The cocktrice tried again, but it’s purple eyes were strained in the futile attempt. Eventually it gave up and decided to follow Fluttershy. By this point the other cockatrices had already fled.

The rubble and foliage began to levitate. Twilight noticed this and said, “We have to go now!” The three ponies and one cocktrice began to flee the area.

Meanwhile, the large timberwolf was battling Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie. The three ponies were unable to make a dent in the beast. The stones and physical attacks did nothing.

“Something’s wrong here,” Applejack said. “This timberwolf should have timbered by now.”

Rarity dodged the beast’s swipes. “Didn’t the one Spike stopped choked on a rock?”

“On it,” Pinkie said.

She took a rock and began to climb the beast. Applejack and Rarity followed Pinkie’s plan. The large timberwolf tried to shake off the ponies. The beast tried to flick Applejack off but she kicked the paw away and it hit Rarity instead. She fell off the blow and glared at Applejack.

Applejack climbed the knees and looked back.

“Sorry,” she said.

Pinkie climbed to the shoulders of the beast and threw the stone. It hit its eye. the beast began to howl in agony as it covered its eye. The blinded timberwolf flicked Pinkie Pie off.

The beast began to howl as it began to knock Applejack off its body. She she saw a window of opportunity and kicked the rock upwards. The beast saw the large stone and closed its mouth. Applejack climbed down and kicked one of the beast’s legs, Rarity tried to kick the other leg. They both continued kicking the legs until the beast fell. It’s mouth opened in disbelief and it swallowed the rock.

The timberwolf was choking on the small stone. it tried to take it out of its system but it couldn’t, and eventually it exploded into lumber and branches. The ponies were tired and Pinkie and Applejack were wounded during the battle.

They heard a noise and saw Twilight, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash galloping past them. The cockatrice they were looking for riding on Fluttershy’s back.

“Run!” Twilight shouted.

The foliage began levitating and moving toward where the ponies were fleeing from. Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie were too tired to fight another timberwolf. They followed their friends and fled as fast as they could.

xi - Hera's Doubt

Twilight, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie and the amethyst cockatrice hid in a nearby cave to escape the newly formed timberwolf. The beast passed the cave not noticing the ponies and cockatrice were inside.

“Phew,” Applejack said. “That was close.”

It had been a day since Twilight first cast her spells. She began to use her magic to make new blindfolds and cast the same spells.

“Um Twilight,” Rainbow Dash said. “Why are you making new blindfolds?” Her blindfold vanished. “Oh.”

Twilight gave everypony the new blindfolds and they put them over the old ones.

The ponies and cockatrice went out of the cave.

Applejack checked the area. “Looks like that timberwolf’s long gone.”

She was getting worried. She looked back at the cockatrice. She worried that they would be unable to free the Cutie Mark Crusaders from their petrification. She knew that they have 86 hours left until the petrification is irreversible.

“Twi?” Applejack said. “How are we gonna get the venom from the cockatrice?”

“I don't know,” Twilight said. “Fluttershy?”

Fluttershy went to the cockatrice. “Um, we still need your venom for a cure.”

The cockatrice cawed.

Fluttershy said, “Well you see, there are these fillies that you petr--”

The reptilian bird cawed again.

“Oh, I already told you that?”

The bird cawed again.

“You’re not gonna help us?” Fluttershy said.

Applejack was getting annoyed. She went to the cockatrice. “Listen here, ya no-good varment. My sister and her friends are turned to stone because of you. And --”

“Applejack,” Fluttershy said. “I can handle this.”

The cocatrice gave several caws.

“He says that it’s our fault that the Cutie Mark Crusaders are even in the forest in the first place.”

Applejack was getting mad. “That wasn't our fault. We were trying to stop the mob!”

The cockatrice cawed some more.

“He says ‘The mob that came about because of idle gossip. Gossip that you didn't stop,’” Fluttershy said.

Applejack was getting mad. She glared at the cockatrice, hidden by her blindfold but the cockatrice sensed the emotion from those hidden eyes.”

Pinkie Pie said, “Hey, wanna hear a joke? So these two ponies were in a bar. No that not right. Maybe there was a mailmare involved...”

“Let’s just get to Apple Bloom and the others okay?” Applejack said.

The mares decided to head back to Ponyville. Applejack gave a last look to the cockatrice.

Flitter, Cloudchaser and Star Song took the unconscious Silver Spoon to a hospital in Manehatten.

“So you’re saying you found this filly unconscious in the blizzard?” a unicorn doctor said.

“Of course,” Cloudchaser said. “What reason would we have for lying about this?”

“All right, I’ll see what we can do, but she had been out cold in the blizzard for a while. I’m not sure if she can survive.”

The pegasi left the hospital.

Later they saw Gale Force landing near them.

“There you are,” Gale Force said. “Is the filly safe?”

“Yeah,” Flitter said. “We took her to a nearby hospital.”

“What happened to Over Cast,” Star Song said. “Where is she?”

Gale Force bowed his head in shame. “I’m sorry, I was too late. She’s ... dead.”

The other pegasi were shocked by the news.

“Anyway,” Gale said. “We don’t have to head back to base for a while. We should probably make sure that the filly we rescued recovers first.”

The other three pegasi agreed. They flew to a hotel and made some reservations.

Meanwhile, Silver Spoon woke up in the hospital.

“Ah, you’re awake,” the doctor said.

“Where am I?” Silver Spoon said. Her glasses were hazy from the ice and snow.

The doctor took Silver Spoon’s glasses and cleaned them. “Some nice pegasi fould you collapsed in the storm in Unicorn Range,” the doctor said. “Just what were you doing there anyway?” He returned the glasses.

“I was looking for a friend.”

“And your friend was?” the doctor said.

Silver Spoon remembered what happened before she collapsed, but didn’t know the details. She did decide to tell the doctor what she does know. “My friend, she’s dead. The blizzard took her life.”

"That must have been horrible.”

“Yeah, it was.” Silver Spoon sighed.

“Well I’m afraid you’re gonna have to stay here awhile,” the doctor said. “We have to make sure you’re okay. I’ll have some nurses check on you soon.”

“I understand,” Silver Spoon said. She knew what it’s like to be waited on hoof and horseshoe.

“You were pretty lucky these pegasi found you when they did.” the doctor left the room.

Silver Spoon wondered if her family was worried about her. She knew she’s very far from Ponyville. She wondered what had happened to Diamond Dust after she fainted and worried that she will eventually freeze Equestria over. She decided to take the opportunity to rest.

In the Everfree Forest, Applejack and the group galloped as dawn arisen. Three and a half days remained before her sister and her sister’s friends would be permanently turned to stone. She wondered if there was more she could have done.

Twilight went forward to Applejack. “Applejack, is something wrong?”

“Oh,” Applejack said. “It’s nuthin. I’m just --”

“Still worried about what that cockatrice said, huh?” Twilight said.

“Yeah,” Applejack sighed.

“Listen, it wasn’t your fault.” Twilight assured. “You did your best.”

Applejack sighed again. “I know, Twi.”

The ponies and cockatrice were almost at the edge of the Everfree Forest, nearby Fluttershy’s cottage. Twilight opened the door to the cottage and saw a great big mess.

Spike was chasing Angel. “Come back here you little--”

“Spike,” Twilight interrupted.

The purple dragon saw Twilight and her friends. “Oh hey guys. Um why are you wearing blindfolds?”

“Long story,” Twilight said.

Fluttershy talked to the cockatrice again. “Now will you please make sure not to petrify the other animals?”

The amethyst cockatrice rolled it eyes and cawed like it didn’t care. It had nothing better to do than watch the ponies try to use its venom for a cure.

Spike saw the cockatrice and was worried. “Um Twilight? Why is there a cockatrice here?”

“I’ll explain later,” Twilight said. “I’ll be back to get the venom in a few hours.” Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Twilight and Spike left Fluttershy’s cottage and went their separate ways.

Applejack was still a little worried. At least she knew that Fluttershy could handle the amethyst cockatrice. She went back to the farm to make up for her and her sister’s lost time.

xii - Alexander's Conquest

Diamond Dust and her windigo army were slowly moving to Ponyville. The windigo queen was sure to avoid Canterlot. She remembered the battle with Over Cast. She remember enjoying it when she struck the final attack. She looked at her now icy pink hooves and wondered what happened to her.

Her adviser had emerged from her white tiara. “O Diamond Dust, heiress to the throne of Ithaqua. Why are you avoiding Canterot?”

“Why?” Diamond Dust said. “You said it yourself, I need to unseal those ‘servants’ before facing the princesses.”

“True, but the path we’re taking has barely any little ponies to feed upon. Bear in mind, as queen it is your job to end our famine, one way or another.”

Diamond Dust said, “Don’t worry. We’ll get to Ponyville soon and find my new servants.”

“I would hope so, your majesty,” The advisor went back into Diamond Dust’s crown. She wondered what her advisor meant by “one way or another.”

In Ponyville, Applejack was busy tending the orchards. She was kicking the apple trees.

Big Mac went to his sister, “Applejack, did you find her?”

Applejack missed the tree in shock. She also knew that he didn’t talk much, she knew that he must be worried. She didn’t want to tell her brother and grandmother what happened to her sister, but she knew that the truth would have to come out sometime.

“I’m sorry,” Applejack said. “But Apple Bloom did as you said, she went away.” She knew the other time that her brother spoke with words others than Eeyups and Nopes, both of them were furious at the Crusaders, and she was the one barely talkin’. Now she wondered if she would ever get the chance to speak with her petrified sister again. “But she’ll be back, hopefully.”

Big Mac was the quiet type, not at all likely to show emotion save certain points. This being one of them. He shed a single tear and decided not ask for the details. Applejack then continued her work hoping that Twilight can create a cure in time. She noticed that it was colder than when they left to find the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

Twilight and Fluttershy were at Fluttershy's cottage. She took out some empty vials and test tubes and went to Fluttershy.

“Is the cockatrice still here?” Twilight said.

“Of course,” Fluttershy said. “he’s surprisingly more cooperative than I thought.”

“I’m not surprised, you sure seem to have a way with animals.” Twilight went outside to the chicken coop, She created another magic blindfold and went inside with Fluttershy.

Twilight saw through the blindfold that the chickens were also blindfolded. She also saw the amethyst cockatrice in the back of the coop.

“All right, little guy,” Fluttershy said. “Twilight’s here for the venom.”

The cockatrice cawed.

“He says that even if you made a cure, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to use it in time.”

“We have seventy-two hours left. We have plenty of time,” Twilight said. She levitated the vials and test tubes to the cockatrice.

The purple cockatrice rolled his eyes and then opened i’s beak. Venom was dripping out of his teeth and secreted into the empty vials, then into the test tubes. It then cawed.

“Well of course you can leave now, and thanks for the venom.”

The rare cockatrice then returned to the Everfree Forest.

Twilight removed the blindfolds. “Okay now I have more than enough for testing purposes.”

“What are you gonna test it on?” Fluttershy said.

“I found this piece of petrified lumber when were fleeing from the timberwolves. If the cure works, then the stone would be wood, simple.”

“I’m not sure it would be that simple,” Fluttershy said.

Twilight left for the library to study the venom.

Gale Force and his team went to the hospital to check on the filly they saved.

The doctor was at the lobby. He saw the pegasi there and approached them. “Ah you’re here. I suppose you want to see the patient you’ve brought in.”

“That’s right,” Star Song said.

“Very well,” The doctor said. “I’ll bring you to her. Follow me.”

The doctor led the pegasi to where Silver Spoon’s resting.

Silver Spoon saw the doctor arrive with some pegasi. “Doctor, who are they?”

“These ponies are the ones who saved you,” the doctor said.

“Oh,” Silver Spoon said. “Thanks. I suppose that I should introduce myself. My name’s Silver Spoon.”

”I’m Gale Force,” the stallion introduced. “And this is Cloudchaser, Flitter and Star Song.”

“What’s up,” Cloudchaser said.

“Hello,” Flitter said.

“Nice to meet you,” Star Song said.

Silver Spoon felt a little uncomfortable.

Another pony handed her doctor some notes. He said, “Well Silver Spoon it looks like you haven’t suffered any deadly conditions, no hypothermia or frostbite and you internal temperature is back to normal. You’re free to go.”

“Thank you doctor,” Silver Spoon said. She began to stand. “I guess I should head back to Ponyville now. My parent must be worried sick.” She looked back at the pegasi who saved her. “Thanks again.” She left the room.

“No problem,” Cloudchaser said.

Gale Force wondered if Silver Spoon knows something about the windigos. The pegasi left the hospital.

xiii - Ares' War

Twilight Sparkle was researching the amethyst cockatrice’s venom. She looked at the purple liquid. She then looked at the petrified wood.

“Alright then,” she said. She placed one of the test tubes above a boiler and turned it on. The small fire heated the liquid up a little bit. A moment after the venom began to boil, Twilight turned off the boiler and let a drop fall on the log. A patch of wood appeared on the petrified lumber.

“Yes.”

Twilight was giddy but she took a closer look. The small wooden patch began re-petrifying.

Just then, she heard a knock on the door. “Come in,” she said.

It was Applejack. “Hey Twi,” she said.

“Applejack?” Twilight took the first test tube of venom and added an unknown chemical to it. “What are you doing here?”

“I just want to talk,” Applejack said.

“I’ve just started working on the cure. It’s gonna be a while before I can finish.”

Applejack sighed.

“I know you’re worried about Apple Bloom and the others but you have to be patient.”

“Hard to be patient with lives in the balance,” Applejack said.

Suddenly Twilight was reminded of those items the statues of the Crusaders were carrying. A sword, scales and scythe. She knew there was something up with the items but couldn’t place her hoof on it.

Spike had just returned from his errands. “I’m back,” he said. “Man it’s colder than yesterday.”

Twilight then tested her new concoction on the log, but it only grew hair.

“Drat,” Twilight said.

“Maybe I can help you with that cure there Twi,” Applejack offered.

“I don’t know,” Twilight said. She saw her friends desire to dave the foals from their fate and she knew from experience her determination and she knows she can trust Applejack not to make a mess, as long as she’s fully awake. “Alright, you can help.”

“Thanks Twilight,” Applejack said.

The two mares and Spike began their work for the cure.

On the Friendship Express. Silver Spoon was relaxing when she noticed some ponies reading newspapers.

“You know,” Silver Spoon said. “I pulled the same trick when I went to the Unicorn Range. It’s not working.”

Star Song, Gale Force, Flitter and Cloudchaser revealed themselves from the papers.

“Told you it’s not going to work,” Cloudchaser said.

“Ah come on,” Gale said. “It was foolproof.”

Everypony rolled their eyes. Silver Spoon said, “So what are you doing here?”

Star Song, Cloudchaser and Flitter looked at Gale Force. Gale said, “What, I just wanted to ask her some questions.”

Everypony looked outside and saw the snowstorm. Gale and Silver Spoon knew what really happened there. The five ponies noticed some specks moving within the storm.

Silver Spoon said, “You want to know what I saw there, didn’t you?”

“Whatever information you have may be useful in helping us stop this blizzard,”

The train was nearing it’s stop in Ponyville. Silver Spoon knew that the the pegasus that saved her had to had seen them, had to have seen Diamond Tiara become Diamond Dust.

There was a silence among the group. The train stopped at the station and the five ponies exited.

“Alright if you must know,” Silver Spoon said. “I’ll tell you, just not now.”

“Alright then,” Star Song said.

“Meet me behind Sugarcube Corner tomorrow. I’ll tell you what I know then.” She then left.

The next day, Twilight, Applejack and Spike had tested several variables with the venom and the closest they got is with a combination of venom and a piece of non petrified wood.

“So does Zecora have any ideas on that cure,” Applejack said.

“Sadly, no,” Twilight said. “ She said that she doesn’t know any de-petrifying potions.”

Spike took out a book from the bookshelf. “Maybe this’ll help.”

Twilight noticed that it was the Supernaturals book. She began reading it until she came across a peculiar passage.

She read the passage, “A peculiar mixture has been rumored to remedy any and all ailments. However this remedy is peculiar because three of the ingredients are completely dependent on the aliment. It’s also strange because it requires a magic spell to be cast on it.

“The fixed ingredients however are: a feather that is blue, golden powder, a thread of silk, and some carrots.”

“That’s some weird ingredients,” Applejack said.

Twilight continued reading. “There are a tip regarding the other three ingredients. Two of them will always contrast each other, but the last one must be related to the ailment in question.” She stopped reading the book.

“Well that’s just great,” Applejack said. “How are we gonna find all these ingredients?”

Just then Rainbow Dash opened the door. “Hey guys what’s up? Did you make that cure yet?”

Twilight and Applejack noticed Dash’s blue wings. They then looked at each other.

“Um, guys?” Rainbow Dash said. She sweated a little bit. ”Did you need anything?”

“Actually Rainbow Dash,” Twilight said. “We do.”

An hour later, Twilight, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash were on their way to Sugarcube Corner.

“You know you could have told me you needed my feather before plucking them out,” Rainbow Dash said. She carried a bucket with some of her feathers inside.

“We’re sorry Dash,” Applejack said. “But this is an emergency.”

They were at the bakery. Twilight knocked on the door.

“Coming,” said a familiar voice. The door opened to reveal Pinkie Pie. “Oh hey guys. Is there anything you need?”

“Pinkie,” Twilight said. “I’ve heard you have some golden powder?”

“Golden powder?” Pinkie said. “You mean luster dust? I know where it is. Be right back.”

Pinkie went to get the dust. A few seconds later she returned with a bucket of gold powder and gave it to her friends. “So why do you need the luster dust? Are you gonna make a cake?”

“No,” Twilight said. “We need this for a cure for the Cutie Mark Crusaders.”

“Oh yeah. there’s two and a half days left before that petrification spell is permanent right?”

Twilight nodded. “Thanks Pinkie.”

The mares decided to get the silk from Carousel Boutique. Meanwhile Gale Force and his team met up with Silver Spoon a few feet from behind the bakery.

Silver Spoon said, “So you want to know what I saw there huh?”

The pegasi nodded.

“Okay,” Silver Spoon said. “But I want to know what you saw first.”

Gale Force said, “Fair enough.” He looked at the other pegasi. “I have to let you all know what me and Over Cast saw.”

“Go on then,” Cloudchaser said. “We’re listening.”

“Well,” Gale Force began. “You know about the windigos right?”

Star Song said, “They’re the ones that tried to freeze ponykind over a thousand years ago. before Celestia and Luna became princesses.”

Cloudchaser said, “Weren’t they destroyed by the Fires of Friendship?”

Gale nodded. “Well me and Over Cast, we saw them. We saw the windigoes at the eye of the blizzard.”

The other pegasi said, “What!?”

Gale Force nodded. “As you can infer, I went and saved Silver Spoon from their queen and Over Cast stayed to fight her. You can probably guess what happened next.” He sighed.

Silver Spoon noticed the pegasi’s lament and remembered that there was another pegasus with Gale. “I’m sorry that your friend was lost.”

Gale said, “It’s alright. But I’m afraid that all I saw.”

“Well I didn’t saw much either but what I did saw was Diamond Tiara, a friend of mine, or rather she was. She was transformed into a pony named Diamond Dust.”

“Guessing that she’s their queen?” Gale said.

“She was a rather mean filly, we both were,” Silver Spoon said. “But she and I were friends from when we were small foals.”

“Guessing she didn’t act all that friendly after becoming queen huh?” Star Song said.

Silver Spoon began to cry. “I’ve told you all I know, guess i’ll see you around.” She then galloped for home.

“Well at least we now know what we're dealing with,” Cloudchaser said.

The pegasi saw the storm at the distance and decided that it would be best to stay in ponyville for awhile.

Twilight and her friends went to Carousel Boutique. They heard Rarity arguing with a customer.

“Listen here you ruffian, I reserve the right to refuse service to anypony including those who dare to run fillies out of town.”

The ponies looked inside the window. They saw the stallion that led the mob that ran the Crusaders away that night.

The ex-leader still argued with Rarity. “I want clothes for my wife and I want them now!”

“Fine,” Rarity said. “How about a nice warm sweater for your cold black heart. Oh wait, that would freeze the sweater.”

Twilight said, “I never seen Rarity act like this.”

“Guess Sweetie Belle’s petrification hit her harder than we thought.”

“And stay out!” Rarity levitated the stallion and threw him out of the store.

The stallion shouted, “You’re going to Tartarus for this!”

Rarity shouted back, “I’ll be sure to keep the door open for you then.”

The stallion grumbled and left.

Rarity went outside and noticed Twilight and the others there. “Hello there Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Applejack. So what brings you here to my Boutique today?”

“We’re looking for some silk,” Applejack said.

“We think we may have a way to cure Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo,” Twilight said. “But we need some silk for the recipe.” Twilight wasn’t sure how Rarity would respond, having witness the first time she denied a customer service.

“Say no more,” Rarity said. She went inside to get some silk out.

After a few minutes she went out and said, “I grabbed more than enough silk for you cure.” She was wearing saddlebags full of silk.

“Clearly,” Rainbow Dash said.

Pinkie put her bucket of luster dust down. “So what’s next?”

“We need some carrots,” Twilight said. “Fluttershy should have some at her cottage.”

The five mares went there as fast as she could. It was getting dark out.

Fluttershy was getting dinner ready for Angel. She took out some carrots as she heard some knocks on her door.

“Coming,’ She said. She went to the door and saw her five friends there.

“Fluttershy,” Rainbow Dash said. ‘We need some carrots for a cure for the--” She noticed that Fluttershy was already holding carrots. “Ah good you already have the carrots now come on.”

She tried to grab the carrots but Fluttershy flung them in fear and they landed on Angel’s plate.

“Um, why do you need the carrots for anyway?” Fluttershy said.

“We found something and we think it might cure the petrification effect on the Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo,” Twilight said.

“Oh,” Fluttershy said. She said. “But I need these carrots for Angel’s dinner.” She didn't notice that she threw the carrots to Angel’s plate.

She looked back and saw her pet rabbit throwing the carrots back at Fluttershy and leave.

“Well I guess we can use these for the cure,” Fluttershy said.

“Thank you darling,” Rarity said. “Now what else do we need?”

Twilight said, “I don’t know. The book said that there are ingredients. One related to the aliment and two that must contrast.”

Applejack has a hunch. “I’ll be back everypony I just need to get something.

The other ponies went back to Twilight’s Library while Applejack went to Sweet Apple Acres.

A few hours later Twilight, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie were at the library. Everypony put down the blue feathers, the luster dust, the silk and the carrots next to the cockatrice venom.

They saw Spike next to a pile of junk. He said, “Hey everypony, I went around town and made a pile for the cure. I figured that there has to be something I can do to help.”

The other ponies were stunned. They hoped that Spike’s instincts haven’t kicked in and began to mix the potion. They tried adding a banana peel and celery stalk to the mix. Twilight read the spell from the book and tried the mixture on the log. Nothing happened.

They tried some rocks and marshmallows this time, Twilight cast the spell again. The log didn’t change.

They tried again using paper and a marble. Nothing happened.

They tried again using a purple string and a chartreuse chemical. The log was still petrified.

They tried a dozen combinations until all that was left in Spike’s pile was an orange and a flute.

Twilight said, “A flute and an orange? What kind of contrast do they have?”

“Maybe both were given to us by rival alien tribes!” Pinkie said.

“Seriously?” Rainbow Dash said. “That’s ridiculous.”

Just then Applejack came in carrying some apples. “Hey there,” she said.

“Applejack, where were you?” Rainbow Dash said.

“I was trying to get some things that contrast back at the farm but I couldn't find anything that was opposite of what I found.”

Twilight remembered the orange in Spike’s pile. “Applejack, did you bring what I think you brought?”

“Sure did Twilight.” Applejack placed down her saddlebags and took out an apple.

Twilight looked around to her other friends. “I think we got it this time girls.”

She levitated the apple and orange, Rainbow’s last plucked feather, some dust and silk, a carrot and the last vial of cockatrice venom. and mixed them together.

“Here goes.” Twilight cast her spell again. and this time the mixture flashed.

The mixture was now a green liquid. She then dropped a small drop on the petrified log. The small droplet touched the log and turn the stone to wood. “It worked.”

The ponies did it. They made the cure. Twilight placed a cork on the test tube with the green liquid. and the other ponies went home. Twilight knows that tomorrow they have less than twelve hours to cure the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

In the eye of the ever moving storm, Diamond Dust and the windigos were nearing Ponyville. The sun was beginning to rise.

She took a last look at her hometown and the adviser emerged from her white tiara.

She asked the adviser, “So you sure that these ‘servants’ are near?”

“Not just the servants,” the adviser said. “But a magnificent feast, thanks in part to your efforts, cultivating hatred here.”

“And what does hated have to do with it?” Diamond Dust said.

“Why we feed on it, of course. It is our lifeblood, our essence, and Today we feast!”

The windigos began descending onto the unsuspecting town as the blizzard inches closer and closer. The war has begun.

xiv - Limos' Famine

Lyra Heartstrings was trotting around in the dead of night. She carried her lyre around.

“Man,” Lyra said to herself. “Practice today was brutal. I’ll bet Bon-Bon was worried sick.”

She noticed something in the distance. She saw a blizzard to her left, coming at a distance.

“Huh?” Lyra saw peculiar movement in the clouds and below. She noticed something emerging from the clouds. She took a closer look at the ground and saw the dirt and grass freeze over.

"Oh, no,” She said. She galloped to find her friend and warn everypony of the blizzard.

Twilight Sparkle was awake preparing for a trip into the Everfree Forest.

Spike took some books and placed them on Twilight's desk. Twilight took the Supernatuals, and Mythical Creatures books and the cure and placed them in her saddlebag.

"Spike,"Twilight said. "Can you get Dark Treasures and Secrets of Equestria too?"

"On it." He went took the book out of a shelf and handed it to Twilight.

“Well,” Twilight said. “Time to--”

Twilight heard some screaming in the distance. She opened her door to find that the temperature had decreased dramatically. Rainbow Dash was outside her library.

“Twilight,” Rainbow Dash said. “We have a problem.”

The blizzard surrounded Ponyville. The townsponies felt colder and more bitter. Twilight and Rainbow Dash went to the town square to find the ground turned to ice.

Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Rarity were already at the square helping everypony evacuate the town.

“What the hay is going on here?” Applejack said.

“Ponyville freezing over,” Rainbow Dash said. “That blizzard came here!”

“But how why?” Twilight said.

Just then, a very unpleasant face showed up. It was the stallion from yesterday. He said, ”Maybe you would have seen it coming if you weren’t too busy saving ‘Gabby Gums.’”

The mares decided to ignore him this time, they had more important things to attend to.

The stallion said, “Hey don’t you dare ignore me. I’m not done talking to you yet.”

The six friends noticed a ethereal horse above them. The horse flew to the stallion and through his body.

The stallion didn’t notice as his body froze over. But the mares did and they didn’t like what they saw.

“What happened?” Rarity said.

“Is that a windigo?” Rainbow Dash said.

“We got to get the town evacuated now!” Twilight said. The mares all knew what beast they had just seen. They went to get the town evacuated.

The earth ponies and unicorns were evacuating the town as Twilight Sparkle and Applejack herded the crowd to Canterlot. However the storm had the ponies at each other throats as they froze one by one.

Pinkie Pie was doing a plethora of tricks to keep the line while Spike led them to the train station, Fluttershy and Rarity were evacuating the nearby animals, and Rainbow Dash and the town’s pegasi was keeping the area around the ponies warm.

Dash was looking at the windigoes freeze the ponies fighting with each other. She saw two of the pegasi under her command freeze and fell from 20 miles high.

“Ah come on,” she said.

“Need some help?”

Rainbow Dash saw 4 pegasi nearby.

“Cloudchaser, Flitter?” Dash said. “And who are you?”

“Gale Force and Star Song reporting for duty sir,” Gale Force said.

“Okay then, can you help me stall the windigos while the town evacuates?” Rainbow Dash said.

The four other pegasi nodded.

“Are you sure?”

“Sir,” Star Song said. “We’ve have a little experience with this storm. We know what it truly is.”

“Very well,” Dash said. The five pegasi went to intercept the windigoes.

Silver Spoon was in line evacuating the town. She saw two shadows in the sky walking on to the Everfree Forest.

“Diamond Tiara?” She said. Silver Spoon knows how dangerous the storm is but she wanted to stop her before anypony else was hurt. But what can I do she thought. She saw Fluttershy leading some animals to the evacuation.

Silver Spoon went away from the group and towards Fluttershy. “Hey,” she said.

“Huh,” Fluttershy said. “What are you doing here?”

Rarity noticed the filly and approached the group. “You should be evacuating.”

“I saw something fly towards the forest,” Silver Spoon said. She pointed to the other side of town. The three saw two shadowy figures walking among the clouds. Rarity and Fluttershy were worried. They then remembered something.

Rarity galloped to find Twilight Sparkle. Fluttershy thanked Silver Spoon and led her back to the evacuation.

Rarity found Twilight with Spike, Applejack and Pinkie Pie at the train station. They had led the line of ponies out of Ponyville. She panted from the exhaustion of galloping all this way to them.

“Twilight...windigos...statues....forest...look!” She pointed to the figures walking among the clouds and almost collapsed. The other ponies remembered the statues of the Cutie Mark Crusaders still in the forest.

Fluttershy flew to the front of the line. She said, ”Is something wrong?”

Twilight and Applejack went to the Everfree Forest, Spike explained what Rarity told them. They were conflicted. Most of the towns ponies were evacuated.

Lyra and Bon-Bon were among the last ponies to board the extra-long train to Canterlot. The train then started and left for Canterlot.

The ponies and Spike were relieved. With the town evacuated, they went to the forest.

Meanwhile Rainbow Dash saw the train leaving the station. She told the pegasi, “Alright the Friendship Express has left the station, protect the train. I’ll--” She saw her friends trailing two shadowy figures into the forest.

Gale Force saw Rainbow Dash and spoke up. “Sir permission to lead the defence of the Friendship Express sir.”

Rainbow Dash was conflicted. She didn’t know whether to help her friends or help the other pegasi defend from the windigos.

“Sir?” Gale said.

Rainbow dash didn’t know what to do. She had to make a choice and she had to make it now. She saw the shadowy figure and figured it must be their leaders.

She turned to Gale and said, “Permission granted.” She hoped she made the right choice as she flew after her friends.

xv - Thanatos' Death

Diamond Dust was a few feet away the Everfree Forest. She touched the ground for the first time in days. “Alright, why am I the only one that has to unseal the ‘servants’ you keep blabbing about?” She trotted into the forest.

“The fifth seal creates a barrier over the forest. Those of ethereal form cannot enter or exit,” The advisor said from within the tiara.

“And how am I supposed to find them?”

“They will have certain items.”

Diamond Dust and her adviser heard hoofsteps. They knew they are being followed. Diamond Dust used her icy horn and created a wall of ice. The wall towered over the very clouds themselves and spanned several feet.

“That should take care of the interlopers,” Diamond Dust said.

The two went on their way to find the servants.

The pegasi were keeping the area around the Friendship Express warm. The windigos were trying to freeze the train solid. Several unicorns and earth ponies volunteered to guard the train from the roof.

Gale Force was distracted. he recognized the shadowy figure from the last time they face the windigos. But he knew his revenge will be used against him. he tried to suppress his feelings. Several windigos were attempting to charge Gale Force but Cloudchaser intercepted and deflected the attack.

She looked at Gale Force. “What the hay is wrong with you commander?”

“Sorry,” Gale said. “It’s just--”

“You think Over Cast would want you to be a popsicle?” Cloudchaser said. “Especially now?”

Gale remembered what happened to Over Cast. He said, ‘What do you know?”

Several windigos were attempting to attack and Gale’s wind barrier stopped the charge. He flew away from Cloudchaser.

Elsewhere near the train Flitter and Star Song were keeping a close eye out for the windigos that passed are about to freeze the other pegasi. They saw one chasing Thunderlane. Flitter and Star Song charged into the windigo and it vanished.

“Heh thanks,” Thunderlane said. “But I could handle it.”

“Sure you can,” Flitter said. “Cloudchaser’s over there stopping them from the back.”

“What?” Thunderlane was stunned. “You think that I would think about her right now with the windigos around?”

“I assume so or otherwise.” --She pointed to some nearby pegasi who from and fell to their deaths-- “You’d be like them.”

“Good point.” Thunderlane saw Star Song next to Flitter. “Who’s your friend?”

“Oh,” Star Song fusterly said. “I’m Star Song.”

“Nice to meet you,” The three pegasi noticed some windigos heading towards them. Star Song charged forth with her ice barrier and vanquished the windigos.

“Well,” Thunderlane said. “I gotta go, thanks.” He flew to the back.

Flitter said, “It’s weird to have casual conversation while malevolent spirits were trying to freeze us over huh?”. They noticed that their wind and ice shields are gonna be depleted soon and entered the train to wait until their passive magic recharges.

Twilight Sparkle and her friends were chasing the shadowy figure until they saw an ice wall.

“What the huh?” The mares and Spike were surprised to see the ice wall.

Rainbow Dash tried to break the wall to no avail.

“That ice is 10 feet thick,” Twilight said. “You’ll never break it in time.”

“I have to try something,” Rainbow Dash said.

“How did this wall get here?” Fluttershy said.

“Somepony doesn't want us following them,” Twilight said. She looked at Spike and wondered if he can melt the ice.

“Should we go back?” Fluttershy said.

“And let Apple Bloom and the others die?” Applejack said. “No thanks.”

Spike noticed that look in Twilight’s eyes and he went to the wall. He knew what Twilight’s plan is. He let out a huff and a puff and blew a giant green flame in a part of the wall.

An impressive but small chunk of ice melted. Spike was panting. He tried his fire again until there was a large hole in the ice. By then, he was too tired to breath a last flame. Twilight levitated the baby dragon to her back.

Rainbow Dash flew into the hole and delivered a fierce blow. There is now a way to the other side.

“Did I Do good?” Spike said lethargically.

“You were wonderful Spiky-wikey,” Rarity said

Spike fainted, content that he was able to help a little.

The group trekked forward to catch up to the figure.

The group were at a bridge. Twilight took out the vial with the cure and saw that it is frozen.

'Maybe Spike can melt it' she thought.

They saw the shadowy figure again.

Meanwhile Diamond Dust saw a herd of ponies on the other side of the bridge and used her horn again.

The ropes on the bridge froze into ice and shattered. Without the ropes to support it the bridge fell down into the river below. Diamond Dust then galloped further into the forest.

“So I have to fix a rope bridge again,” Rainbow Dash said. “Easy peasy.” She was about to fly off until they smelled an all too familiar odor.

“Brace yourselves,” Twilight said knowing what was coming. “The timberwolves are strong but can’t take a hit.”

A timberwolf emerged, but something was different this time. instead of being made of wood like the others, this one was made of stone.

The timberwolf of rock took a look at the ponies. It recognized them from the waterfall.

Twilight gulped. She, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash saw that timberwolf before. It was the one that began reforming after the amithyst cockatrice petrified it and it collapsed into a pile of rocks. She and her friends ran away from it last time, but now there’s no escape, not if they want to save the fillies or find the shadowy figure.

The beast bellowed and began to attack the ponies. One of it’s claws hit Rainbow Dash and knocked her to a large boulder. The attack left her dizzy.

Applejack saw the rocks and hatched an idea. She took a nearby stone. “How about this?” She threw the stone at the beast, but it deflected off it’s rock body. The petrified timberwolf directed it’s attention to Applejack.

Applejack felt a little silly now. She dodged the attack.

Rainbow Dash was still a little confused from the blow. She saw the gap they need to get through and wondered if she can fly past it and catch the figure herself. But she can’t leave her friends. She looked at the large beast and suddenly, she had a plan.

She flew up to the head of the beast and kicked it in the torso. The blow was enough to cause a small crack in the stone that made up the body. It is now focused on Rainbow Dash.

Dash used her skill and agility to dodge the attacks and lured it to the edge of the cliff. The wolf was furious.

“Catch me if you can ugly,” Rainbow Dash said. She flew over the river.

The wolf went for a swipe, but Rainbow dash went to the other side before the attack could hit. The weight of the beast was tipped over the river by the attack and the wolf began to fall. it latched to the ground with it’s forelegs while it’s hind legs gripped the ground for it’s life.

“Come on guys,” Rainbow Dash said. “This bridge won’t last long.”

The other ponies and Spike climbed into the stone wolf and galloped as fast as they can before the beast could let go.

Twilight was the only one on the beast as it’s grip begins to fail. The weight on the wolf was too much for it to hold on and it fell into the river. She teleported to the other side just before the wolf fell.

Fluttershy was shocked. The wolf of stone tried to swim but it was too heavy to float on the currents. She flew down into the river and tried to lift the beast.

“Come on,” Fluttershy said. She tried to lift the beast but the weight was too much for her to lift. She tried and tried but the wolf was still trapped in the currents.

Her kindness fueled her resolve. The adrenaline fueled her strength and she was eventually able to lift the wolf off the water and onto land.

The other ponies were shocked by this strenght. The petrified timberwolf ran out of fear of Rainbow Dash...and gratitude for Fluttershy.

When Fluttershy flew to the ground, she almost collapsed from exhaustion. She surprised herself with this experience.

“Well I...didn’t know...that I was...that strong,” she panted.

The group had went further to save the Crusaders, and find out what the shadowy figure is.

SIlver Spoon was looking around the train. She saw that its passengers were worried. She looked out to the storm and saw the windigios.

She remembered the first time she met Diamond Tiara. Two years ago, in an opulent mansion, two pairs of rich and powerful ponies gathered, bringing a daughter each. She was a shy filly. Nopony would approach her and she was too scared to approach them back.

Until a pink foal came to her. “Hello, My name’s Diamond Tiara,” she introduced herself.

“Um, I’m Silver Spoon,” she said. She felt a little happy to meet someone around her age.

The two fillies became fast friends and the memory ended.

Silver Spoon remembered that Diamond Tiara was far nicer back then. Especially in comparison to who she had become, or even a week ago when she first became editor of the Foal Free Press.

She looked back to the months before Diamond Tiara got her cutie mark. It was more than a year ago, inside the latter’s home. By that time Silver Spoon had already obtained her cutie mark. The two fillies were having fun trying on various clothes and fashions.

Diamond Tiara was in an exquisite looking dress. She looked in a mirror. “You know I feel like we’re missing something.”

Silver Spoon said, “I’ve got it.” She took out a bunch of tiaras and other jewelry. Diamond Tiara took the small tiaras and tried them on one by one until she saw one adorned with several diamonds. She put it on and looked in the mirror. Silver Spoon thought she looked perfect.

Diamond Tiara thought the tiara was perfect for her too. It even matched her name. After that day, she never wore anything else except that tiara, and for events, a dress. A month later her cutie mark had appeared on her flank.

She went to Silver Spoon. “Silver Spoon.” she flashed her flank at her friend revealing her cutie mark. “Look!”

“No way,” Silver Spoon said. The two fillies were giddy with joy and the memory ended.

Silver Spoon wondered what changed in both of them. She looked back at the day Apple Bloom first went to school.

It was a normal day in Ponyville Elementary. There was a few new students as the year began. By that time Diamond Tiara was flaunting her cutie mark around. The other students were in awe. Her cuteceneria was in a few months.

Then the new students came. Among them was Apple Bloom. Diamond Tiara noticed that she lacked a cutie mark, unlike most of the other students. She went over to flaunt her cutie mark once more.

By this point she had stopped being nice, they stopped being nice and that memory ended.

Now Silver Spoon wondered what happened to Apple Bloom and her two friends. The last time she remembered seeing them was in class before Diamond Tiara became the editor of the school paper. She went to find some books to read, thinking it’ll take her mind of the windigos outside.

Twilight Sparkle and her friends were trailing the shadowy figure. They found themselves going through a cave. There was a fork in the road.

“So what now?” Applejack said.

“Panic?” Fluttershy said.

Rainbow Dash groaned that Fluttershy suggested that again.

Rarity used a spell. She could see that the path to the left was adorned with several gems, jewels and crystals, hidden beneath the rock. The other path was decidedly less decorated.

Rarity wondered what to do. She knew that the first path was filled with vibrant jewels, but at the same time she knew that her sister and her friends didn't have much time left, and that there was a suspicious figure after them. She saw something in the left cave and grew suspicious.

“So where do we go?” Pinkie Pie said.

“I don’t know,” Twilight said. “They both look the same!”

“Wrong,” Rarity said. “I know what path to take.” She took the cave to the right and the others followed. At the end of this path was another split. This time into three. They heard a thud in the distance. Rarity was right, the left path was a trap.

She tried her spell and entered the cave in the middle. And the other ponies followed suit.

Rarity led the ponies down the roads less traveled and avoiding the gem filled ones. She knew what was more important than gems.

Eventually they were near the exit. There are now five caves. Rarity didn’t like what she saw.

“Oh no,” she said. “All the caves, they’re all the same.” She was close to breaking down in tears. All the caves were full of crystals and all the crystals were in plain sight. She was now unable to help her friends escape.

“Um gems?” Spike said. The mere sentence made him a little bit hungry. Pinkie’s tail started to twitch.

“Those caves were baited with gems,” Rarity said. “Gems and traps.”

By that point the cave started to collapse behind them.

“What’s going on?” Rainbow Dash said.

“This cave’s about to give,” Applejack said. “We can’t turn back now.” The walls were beginning to collapse around them. Applejack noticed something strange about the middle right cave.

She took a closer look at that cave. “Come on everypony.” She entered the peculiar cave. and the others followed. The cave’s crystals begin to vanish as the surroundings collapsed behind them.

Applejack knew that cave was peculiar. The group saw a light at the end of the tunnel. and galloped faster.

They escaped the cave. They looked back and saw the area sink into the ground as it collapsed.

“Well that was close,” Rarity said. “Thank you, darling.”

The other ponies continued their quest.

Meanwhile In the forest, Twilight remembered that the petrified Cutie Mark Crusaders were carrying some ominous items. She took out the cure for Spike to heat up and then took out the Dark Treasures and Secrets of Equestria book.

She skimmed the book. “Alicorn Amulet, Neighcronomicon, The six hundred sixty six spires of Lucifer.” She found the page depicting the items the Crusaders had.

She read silently, “The four talismans were artifacts of the windigos that were used by their leaders. The crown of conquest, The sword of war, the scales of life and the scythe of death...

“...These artifacts were claimed to have untold power. The crown of conquest was used by their king Ithaqua. With it they possessed the power to control ice and wind. However the crown was destroyed when Ithaqua was sealed in Tartarus...

“...The other artifacts were lost when the other leaders were killed by the Fires of Friendship. Legends say that the windigos need all four artifacts to free Ithaqua so he can freeze the world over...

“...And that Ithaqua left behind a part of himself to find a new leader and make a new crown. If the artifacts are together again and if they find new holders, the world will freeze and become a new Cocytus.”

Twilight placed the book back in the saddlebag. She galloped ahead of the group. “We need to hurry, the fate of the world might depend on it.”

The others are confused.

“Um what are you talking about?” Applejack said.

Spike had finished melting the cure into a liquid.

Twilight said. “Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. They were carrying dangerous artifacts when they got petrified. We have to hurry.”

Just then an a large blizzard began to form. And the shadowy figure looked from the shadows.

“That ought to hold them,” Diamond Dust said. She went forward to find the servants,

Diamond Dust and her adviser were now in front of three familiar statues. The windigo queen was shocked. She said, “Is that them?”

The advisor said, “Yes, they have the items.”

“Just when I thought I was done with these blank flanks,” Diamond Dust sighed. “Okay what now they’re petrified.”

“Leave that to me,” The advisor exited the white tiara and entered the other items.

The mares and Spike were confronting the ice beast. Pinkie Pie bounced around with her tail her tail twitching as large hailstones fall from the sky. She saw a large chunk of ice forming over Rainbow Dash

“Rainbow Dash,”Pinkie said. “Look up!”

Rainbow Dash destroyed the ice as it fell.

Pinkie’s tail twitched again. She then looked up and saw several hailstones falling and dodged them.

Twilight noticed something in the clouds above. She took a closer look. There was a large icy rock in the eye of the storm.

She said, “Rainbow Dash, get to the eye as fast as you can.”

“On it,” Dash said.

Twilight then erected a normal magic shield over herself and Pinkie Pie, who used her Pinkie sense to help Dash avoid the hail. The other ponies went under the barrier.

“Come on,” Rainbow Dash said. She saw the gargantuan ice ball within the eye. A cone of wind and pressure formed around her. “Just a little more.”

She was fighting the pressure. Going faster and faster until. A ring of color emerged behind Rainbow Dash as she breaks the sound barrier. The ring expands as dash used the momentum to charge the ice ball.

She flew into the ice ball and destroyed it. It broke into several large pieces as gravity began to drive them to the ground.

Twilight dismissed her barrier knowing that it would not withstand the chunks of ice.

Pinkie Pie’s tail twilight all over the place as her Pinkie sense and sight allowed her to dodge the ice. The others followed her as she avoided the chunks of ice until the last of the ice fell.

Rainbow Dash descended from the stratosphere and the group marched forward. They were close to the statues of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, but they had little time left to cure them.

xvi - Mnemosyne's Gamble

The Cutie Mark Crusaders were walking around in a bright white void.

“Where are we?” Sweetie Belle said.

“I don’t know,” Apple Bloom said. “Scootaloo?”

“Don’t look at me,” Scootaloo said. “We’ve been walking here for days and we still don’t know where we are.”

They heard a voice echoing in the distance. “Are you lost?”

“Who are you?” Apple Bloom said. The three Crusaders looked around the void only to find nothing as usual.

“I am merely a guide,” the voice said. “I can guide you to many things.”

“We’re not in the mood,” Scootaloo said bitterly.

The three fillies knew how they got to this void, and they knew that at the moment they would rather wander around here than return to life in a world that shuns them and a forest that would’ve killed them anyway.

“There’s nothing back there for us,” Sweetie Belle said.

“Are you sure?” the formless voice said.

Diamond Dust was just waiting in front of the statues. She heard hoofsteps as they came closer and closer.

“Well, guess it’s time to put on a show,” she said half-heartedly.

Meanwhile Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy and Spike were galloping as fast as they can. They had only a few hours left before the Cutie Mark Crusaders were permanently petrified.

In a few seconds they were in front of the statues. They saw a pink alicorn filly with a horn and wings of ice nearby.

“What the hay?” Rainbow Dash said.

“But this is impossible,” Twilight said. “Another alicorn besides the princesses should not exist. You should not exist.”

“You can see me, can't you?” Diamond Dust unfolded her wings as ice crystals formed. “Then of course, I exist.” She launched a barrage of sharp crystals at her opponents. The crystals missed the ponies and Spike used his breath to melt the projectiles.

The battle had begun.

Inside the void, The Cutie Mark Crusaders were still talking to the disembodied voice.

“What do you mean you can help us get our cutie marks?” Scootaloo said.

“I mean exactly what I say,” the voice said. “I can help you with getting your cutie marks, you deserve to at least know what your destinies were meant to be before passing, right?”

“Even if we get our cutie marks it won’t--” Apple Bloom hesitated for a moment. “It won’t change a thing.”

“The town will still hate us,” Sweetie Belle.

“I don’t think the town will be a problem,” The voice said. “I’m gonna send you backward to a time before you went to this forest. A time before you let the cockatrice take your lives.”

“You can do that?” Scootaloo said. “How?”

“You’ll need these,” the voice said.

The scythe, sword and scales materialized in front of the Crusaders and a circle appeared beneath their hooves. The items called the fillies to wield them. The circle grew more complex as more shapes and runes appeared on it.

“These items were attracted to your grief,” the voice said. “They are attracted to bringers of strife. I can use them to send you back in time, or you can wander this void aimlessly for the rest of your days. The choice is yours,”

The ponies and Diamond Dust were still fighting in the forest while Spike hid behind a tree. Twilight erected a magic barrier over her friends.

“That won’t save you.” Diamond Dust used her horn to fire a beam of ice at the barrier. The beam froze the shield over. In a few seconds the ice broke into several pieces.

Twilight fired a purple beam from her horn and it hit Diamond Dust’s right wing. Applejack and Rainbow Dash used the moment to charge the queen. They launched a flurry of physical blows but Diamond Dust blocked them with her undamaged wing. She then froze their hooves when they made contact with the ice.

“Hey,” Rainbow Dash said.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash were stuck. Diamond Dust then flew up and then moved her left wing with tremendous force. The force was enough to break the ice binding Rainbow Dash and Applejack to the windigo queen’s wing and they plummeted to the ground below.

The two mares crashed into several trees. Applejack tried to move but her hooves were in too much pain to stand. Rainbow Dash however was able to stand, but the attack had cut her hindlegs. She saw the blood flowing from her legs.

Twilight and Fluttershy tried to aid her friends while Pinkie Pie and Rarity tried to hold back Diamond Dust.

Pinkie Pie took a cannon from out of nowhere and launched confetti and a cake with enough force to push Diamond Tiara back. Rarity lifted several rocks and pebbles to further pelt the queen but stopped her attack. She still couldn’t believe that a filly would do all this damage.

Diamond Dust used this to her advantage and rammed Rarity with her wings, she then froze Pinkie Pie’s hooves, immobilizing her. Rarity fell in agony. Diamond Dust went to the statues and used her magic.

The cure in Spike’s hand escaped his grasp as Diamond Dust levitated the cure towards her.

“So you were planning on using this to cure them, huh?” Diamond Dust poured the liquid on each of the three statues.

In the void, The Cutie Mark Crusaders were sitting on one of the three small circles. Apple Bloom held the crimson sword, Sweetie Belle took the ebony scales and Scootaloo took the pale viridian scythe.

“Are you sure this is gonna work?” Scootaloo said.

“Of course,” the disembodied voice said. “There’s just one thing. I’ll need to access your memories.”

“But why?” Sweetie Belle said.

“I need them to find the perfect place for you to begin anew,” the voice said.

The three fillies didn’t know what to do. They were almost dead, so they had nothing to lose. On the other hoof, they weren’t sure they could trust this guy to begin with, let alone give him access to their memories.

Sweetie Belle remembered all the times she spent with Rarity. She knows how precious they were to her. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo weren’t so sure. They would do anything to wipe the stain of Gabby Gums off their lives. But they weren’t sure if that was worth their memories.

“I’ll be sure to return your memories when I’m done,” the voice said. “But you better hurry. Time’s running out.”

After some consideration, the Crusaders agreed to the terms.

“We’re ready,” they said.

“Good, now point your items towards the center and I’ll do the rest.”

The fillies did as told. The white void around them began to turn a deep black as an eerie blue pillar of light descended to the center of the circle. The Crusaders were being obscured by pale blue fog as several lights began passing them.

The light turned to screens depicting their lives up to this point and were forced inside the sword, scales and scythe.

Apple Bloom kept seeing an orange earth pony on these screens, and wondered who she was.

Sweetie Belle kept seeing an older unicorn with similar colors as her, and wondered who she could be.

Scootaloo kept seeing a pegasus with a rainbow mane, and wondered who she was.

The three Crusaders fainted as green light began to engulf the void.

Diamond Dust was finished using the cure. Twilight and Fluttershy helped Applejack and Rainbow Dash limp back to .

Spike was busy tending to Rarity’s wounds. Pinkie Pie tried to move but the ice immobilized her.

The adviser returned to the tiara and said, “They’re ready.” The Cutie Mark Crusaders fainted as stone turned back to flesh. Twilight noticed that Diamond Dust was wearing an ice-white tiara.

Diamond Dust’s horn glowed as a sphere of ice emcompassed her and the Crusaders. The sphere levitated into the stratosphere.

Applejack and Rarity were stunned. Their sisters were unpetrified, but now they were at the mercy of the windigos.

Twilight tuned to Spike. “Spike, write the letter.”

He knew what letter to write. The group went back to the edge of the forest.

The Friendship Express was nearing the cave.. The passengers noticed a barrier over Canterlot. The windigos were galloping back into the clouds. The ponies were safe, for now.

The pegasi went back into the train as it entered a cave. Gale Force went to Star Song, Flitter and Cloudchaser. “You did good, team.”

“Wish I could say the same for you,” Cloudchaser said.

“Cloudchaser,” Flitter said.

Just then Thunderlane entered the car.

“Thunderlane?” Cloudchaser said.

“Oh, hey Cloudchaser, I've been looking all over for you,” Thunderlane said. “Sir, I would like to join your team, sir.”

Cloudchaser and Flitter facehooved. Gale Force’s mouth was agape.

“No!” Gale said. “Absolutely not.”

“Um, Thunderlane,” Flitter said. ‘I think that request came at a bad time.”

He saw the look on Gale’s eyes. He said, ”I'll just go and--”

“Wait,” Cloudchaser said. “You can come and join the team.”

“What?” Gale said. “Cloudchaser. as your commanding officer I--”

“As a commanding officer you must not let your emotions take over you like that,” Cloudchaser said. “You would have frozen to death if I hadn’t been saving your flank.”

“That’s besides the point,” Gale said.

“Is it?”

Gale Force decided not to argue with Cloudchaser. “Fine, you’re in. Happy?” He then left the car.

Thunderlane stroked his mohawk. “I’ll ask later, and I’m sorry if something happened.”

Meanwhile Silver Spoon was reading several books. She was still a little sad.

Lyra and Bon-Bon entered the car.

Silver Spoon hid her face behind the book.

“I still can’t believe you were the first pony to alert the town about the windigoes,” Bon-Bon said.

“Hey, you helped too,” Lyra said.

The two mares then saw Silver Spoon trying to hide herself with the books.

“You alright, little girl?” Bon-Bon said.

“I’m fine,” Silver Spoon said. She put the books down and introduced herself. “I’m Silver Spoon.”

“Well, my name’s Lyra and this is Bon-Bon,” Lyra said. “How do you do?”

“I’m fine,” she lied. The train had just entered Canterlot’s train station. The doors on some of the cars opened and everypony exited.

“Well, I guess we’ll see you later.” Bon-Bon said. She and her partner left.

After a while Silver Spoon left the train as well.

Meanwhile, in Canterlot’s castle, Princesses Celestia and Luna were talking about recent events.

“My sister,” Luna said. “If the windigos have returned, then Equestria will be thrown into a second ice age.”

“I know Luna,” Celestia said. “But--”

Suddenly a scroll appeared. Celestia read it.

The scroll read ”Dear Princess Celestia, I’m sorry to ask for this. Can you send someone to pick us up at the Everfree Forest?

Your faithful student,

Twilight Sparkle.”

Celestia was surprised. She took a look at the extra long train then she looked at her sister. “I don’t suppose you would pick up Twilight Sparkle and her friends?”

Luna was a little surprised by the request. But the princess of the moon knew that she had to prepare for Shining Armor and Princess Mi Amore Cadenza’s wedding. She nodded and teleported away.

xvii - Dual Sided Hypnos

Twilight Sparkle, Spike, Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy were walking out of the Everfree Forest. They saw the village of Ponyville frozen over. They saw the snow fall over the evacuated town.

“I hope everypony’s okay,” Twilight said.

Just then, the mares and Spike saw a flash, and then Princess Luna appeared.

“Hello, everypony,” Luna said.

“Princess Luna?” Rarity said.

Luna nodded.

Twilight was a little surprised.

“So I assume that” --Luna pointed to the frozen town-- “was the handiwork of the windigos?”

“Eeyup,” Applejack said.

“So,” Rarity asked. “What happened to Princess Celestia?”

“My sister is busy preparing the castle for the wedding,” Luna said.

“Wait,” Twilight said. “What wedding?”

“I’ll tell you when we get to Canterlot,” Luna said. “Shall we go?”

“Well,” Rainbow Dash said. “It beats sticking around here and freezing to death.”

“Wait,” Pinkie Pie said. She laid down in the snow and waved her hooves around rapidly, creating a snow angel in the process. “Okay, now we can go.”

“Very well,” Luna said. She used her horn to teleport herself and the group to Canterlot.

Diamond Dust was walking in the eye of the storm. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo were floating unconsciously. The Sword of War, Scales of Life, and Scythe of Death were floating nearby.

Diamond Dust wondered what to do with them.

The three fillies woke up one by one.

Apple Bloom looked around. She didn’t recognize the windigo queen in front of her. “Who are you?” she asked.

Diamond Dust was surprised. “You don’t remember?”

Sweetie Belle woke up next. She said, “remember what?” Scootaloo woke up after she asked that question.

Diamond Dust wondered if the three had been rendered amnesiac after they were unpetrified. She thought about the possibilities. But at the same time she felt a little guilty.

“You don’t even remember your own names?” Diamond Dust asked.

“Nope,” the yellow filly said.

“Drawing a blank here,” the orange filly said.

“Can’t think of a name,” the white filly said.

“Well,” Diamond Dust said. “I happen to know your names quite well.” She pointed to the yellow filly. “Your name is Apple Bloom.” She then pointed to the white filly. “Yours is Sweetie Belle.” She then pointed to the orange filly. “And you’re Scootaloo.”

“Fair enough,” Scootaloo said. “But who are you, and why are we floating in the sky?”

The other two foals noticed that they were walking several miles in the air.

Diamond Dust said, “Well, my name's Diamond Dust. And you’re here because you are my servants.”

“Oh, really?” Apple Bloom said. The three fillies were a little skeptical of Diamond Dust.

“Of course,” Diamond Dust said. “You must have bonked yourselves on the head there.”

Sweetie Belle said, “What about those flying pony-like things?”

“Oh well,” Diamond Dust said. “I am the queen of these spirits. Your job is to help me command them in battle.”

“Battle?” Sweetie Belle said.

“Yes, battle, ” Diamond Dust said. “We are currently at war with Equestria. They keep on starving these poor souls of their food and we are fighting to help feed them. It is your duty to help us.”

The fillies were surprised by this. They agreed to help the windigo queen feed her subjects.

“Excellent,” Diamond Dust said. “You are dismissed. Oh and you’ll need these.” She pointed to the sword, scythe and scales.

The three fillies took their respective item trotted away.

During recess at the school The Cutie Mark Crusaders woke up on a table.

“Huh?” Apple Bloom said. “It... worked?”

The other two Crusaders looked around the playground and saw that other fillies were having fun. And saw that every mare and stallion that so much as looked at them gave glares of disapproval. They approached a small lean pegasus who was taking pictures of everything. The pegasus looked at the fillies and left without a word.

“Yep,” Sweetie Belle said. “It worked.”

“He could have sent us back a little earlier,” Scootaloo lamented.

The bell for recess had rung. The Crusaders went back to the school.

Later, on their way home, they saw a mare with the paper and a phone. She was complaining about how cold it was. This time the mare hung up and left.

“This is definitely the past alright,” Apple Bloom said. “We can’t blow it this time girls.”

The other two agreed and went their separate ways.

In Canterlot, Silver Spoon was looking around the capital. She saw Lyra and Bon-Bon. The two ponies saw the filly and approached her.

“Hey there,” Lyra said.

“Hello,” Silver Spoon said.

“So,” Bon-Bon said. “How are you doing?”

“I’m doing fine,” Silver Spoon said. She never felt so casual before.

“Well,” Lyra said. “I gotta go. I just became a bridesmaid to the upcoming wedding and I’ll need a decent dress. Later.” She and Bon-Bon left.

Silver Spoon then went to find her parents.

Meanwhile, Luna, Twilight Sparkle, Spike, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rarity had teleported to the castle.

Twilight said, “Thanks for the lift Luna.”

“It was my pleasure, Twilight Sparkle,” Luna said.

“Now then,” Applejack said. “You said something about this wedding?”

“Ah, that’s right,” Luna began to explain. “Twilight Sparkle, your brother Shining Armor is engaged to Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. The wedding takes place in a few days.”

Twilight was enraged, but she hid her anger and politely said, “Thanks again, Luna.”

Luna noticed the anger in Twilight’s eyes. “I’ll tell my sister that you’ve arrived safely.” She then left the room. Spike followed the moon princess.

Twilight lit up like a fuse. She said, “I don’t believe this. My brother? Getting married!?”

“At least you still--” Applejack realized that she needed to check on her family. “I forgot. I gotta check on Big Mac and Granny Smith!” Applejack left the castle. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy followed.

“Darling,” Rarity said to Twilight. “Why don’t you go talk to your brother?”

Twilight said, “Yeah, I’ll go talk to him.” She, Rarity and Pinkie Pie went to search for Shining Armor.

xviii - The Treachery of Eros

The Cutie Mark Crusaders were in their clubhouse. Each of them went over what happened that day.

“So,” Apple Bloom said. “Any luck?”

“No,” Sweetie Belle said. “Rarity left for Canterlot the other day.”

“Rainbow Dash wasn’t here, either,” Scootaloo said. “She didn’t leave a note.”

“Applejack was here,” Apple Bloom said. “But she left before I could talk to her.”

“Well, this stinks,” Scootaloo said. “And Diamond Tiara still didn’t print that letter.”

The three Crusaders didn’t know what to do. They would try again in the morning.

In Canterlot, Twilight Sparkle, Rarity and Pinkie Pie found a white stallion on the bridge.

The white stallion noticed Twilight trotting towards him. “Twily,” he said.

Twilight was getting furious.

“What were you thinking?” Twilight said. “Marrying some random noble like that and then not telling me about it? You--”

“You must be Twilight’s brother,” Rarity interrupted.

The stallion noticed the other two ponies and nodded. “Name’s Shining Armor, and who are you?”

“I’m Rarity, and this is Pinkie Pie,” Rarity introduced. Pinkie Pie sneezed and streamers flew out of her nostrils.

Shining Armor realized that he didn’t tell Twilight about the wedding one bit.

He said, “I’m sorry but I’ve been busy.”

“With what?” Twilight said.

“Twilight,” Shining Armor said. “A threat has been made against Canterlot.” He started having headaches. “I’m sure you know the windigos have returned, right?”

Rarity remembered what happened yesterday. The town frozen over, her sister kidnapped. The other two also remembered.

“Big time,” Twilight said.

“Well,” Shining said. “Princess Celestia had asked me to provide additional security. This, you need to see.”

He then concentrated on the sphere around Canterlot. A pink beam of light emerged from his horn and fired at the sky. The barrier glowed as Shining Armor’s magic reinforced it.

“This barrier is meant to stop them from entering Canterlot. Princess Celestia even hired an elementalist to help me reinforce it so that they can’t enter.”

“Good thing too,” Rarity said. The mares remembered that the Friendship Express, with most of Ponyville’s residents, evacuated here. They were glad the barrier was erected in advance.

“The fate of Canterlot rests squarely on my shoulders,” Shining Armor said. “Staying focused at the task at hand has been my top priority.”

Twilight realized that her brother had been working hard to keep Canterlot safe.

“Okay, okay, I get it,” Twilight said. “You’ve got a really important job protecting Canterlot with a barrier only you can conjure up.”

Pinkie Pie noticed Shining Armor’s armor. “So you’re in the royal guard, huh?”

Shining Armor said, “I’m captain of the guard.”

Rarity said, Wait a minute? So this means that not only are you marrying a princess, but you're also captain of the Royal guard?”

Shining Armor nodded.

Pinkie Pie held Rarity as she fainted.

Twilight said, “Why didn't you tell me about the wedding? Am I not that important to you?”

“You’re my little sister,” Shining Armor said. “Of course you’re important to me. But I understand if you didn’t want to be my best mare now.”

Twilight eyes widened. “You want me to be your best mare?”

Shining Armor said, “Well, yeah.”

“I would feel honored,” Twilight said. “But I’m still pretty ticked you’re marrying somepony I don’t know. Who is this ‘Princess Mi Amore Cadenza?’”

He said, “Twilight, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza is Cadence, your foalsitter, remember?”

Twilight said, “Wait, you’re marrying Cadence?” She squealed in delight. “The best Foalsitter in in the history of foalsitters?”

“You tell me,” Shining Armor said. “She was your foalsitter.”

She began remembering her foalhood with Cadence.

“Who’s Cadence?” Pinkie said.

Twilight said, “Cadence was my foalsitter. She’s the nicest pony I’ve ever met...” Twilight began talking about her foalsitter. She turned to Shining Armor and finished, “...and you’re marrying her. This is wonderful news.”

“I have to go,” Shining Armor said. “I need to try on my wedding clothes.” He left.

Meanwhile, Gale Force looked outside the city and saw several pegasi working on Ponyville’s winter weather.

Thunderlane, Flitter, Cloudchaser, and Star Song went to to their commanding officer.

“So Cloudsdale’s pegasi are trying to restore Ponyville?” Star Song said.

“Except us and the Wonderbolts,” Gale Force said. “We have to repel the windigos in case the barrier fails.”

“Makes sense,” Thunderlane said.

“So you think they will return?” Flitter said.

“I’m betting on it,” Gale said. “Have you ever loved a wedding crasher?”

“Good point,” Flitter said.

“Just don’t do anything reckless, Commander,” Cloudchaser said.

Gale nodded. The pegasi then went somewhere else in Canterlot.

Meanwhile, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash were finished telling Granny Smith and Big Macintosh about what happened to Apple Bloom. The pegasi left the room while Applejack and her older brother comforted Granny Smith.

“Do you think they’ll be alright?” Fluttershy said.

“I don’t know,” Rainbow Dash said. “I mean, first they get themselves petrified and now after we unpetrify them, they get kidnapped by an ice queen.”

“Oh yeah,” Fluttershy said.

They saw Twilight, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie from across the street. The two pegasi went to them.

“So,” Rainbow Dash said. “Did you find your brother?”

“Yeah, we found him,” Twilight said with a smile.

Just then Spike ran towards the five mares. He carried a scroll with him. “Guys,” he said. “You got to read this.”

Twilight took the scroll and read it. She said, “Princess Celestia wants us to help with the wedding.”

“Really, for what?” Rarity said.

“Well,” Twilight said. “We need you to make the dresses, Pinkie, you’re in charge of the reception, Applejack will cook the food, Fluttershy, you will handle the music and Rainbow Dash.”

“Yeah?” Rainbow Dash said.

“You’ll have to do a Sonic Rainboom,” Twilight said.

Rainbow Dash smiled.

“So,” Pinkie said. “Should we tell Applejack?”

“Not right now,” Rainbow said. “The Apples are coping with their loss.” She sighed.

Rarity knew what she meant. She was getting worried about her sister.

“We’ll find them,” Twilight said. “I’m sure of it."

The mares and Spike split up to enjoy the rest of the day.

Above the Everfree Forest, Diamond Dust moved the storm northeast.

“So,” she said, “why do we need to go to Canterlot now?”

“Celestia will be busy with the wedding,” her adviser said. “And she will be tired and weakened by the preparations.”

“But don’t they have a barrier around the city?” she said.

“I’m sure the changeling army will destroy it,” the windigo said. “Then we shall take them both by surprize.”

By that point, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo were trotting towards their queen.

“So,” Apple Bloom said. She looked at her new ice legguards. “Why do we need Celestia?”

“Who is Celestia anyway?” Scootaloo said. Her new wings of ice folded.

“Yeah,” Sweetie Belle said. “And why is she so important?” She was focusing on her her new horn of ice.

The adviser said, “She leads the evil ponies in their war to exterminate us. We capture her, and the capital with her, and we can end the war for good.”

“Oh,” the three fillies said.

The storm inched closer to the capital of Equestria.

xix - Hymen's Preperations

The next day, the Cutie Mark Crusaders tried to find Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash. They searched as much of Ponyville as they could. Unfortunately, the townsponies wouldn’t let them search their stores and certain public places.

Sweetie Belle saw a familiar silhouette enter the marketplace.

‘Rarity?’ Sweetie Belle thought.

She followed the silhouette into the marketplace. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo then followed Sweetie Belle.

In the atmosphere above Equestria, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Diamond Dust were looking towards the defended capital.

The adviser said, “now we wait.”

The foals noticed some small black specks near the mountain where Canterlot was perched.

“What are those?” Diamond Dust said.

“Our polar opposite,” the adviser said. “Changelings are beings that shapeshift into other beings and sap them for nourishment. Their queen is missing.”

“How awful,” Sweetie Belle said. The clouds around them began to grow thicker, obscuring their view.

“Yes,” the adviser said. “But ponies are much worse. And Celestia is the worst of them all. We must capture her and break the fifth seal.”

“Fifth seal?” Diamond Dust said. “You never said anything about a fifth seal!”

“I’ll tell you in due time, your majesty,” the adviser said.

The blizzard slowed down, waiting for the opportunity to strike. Diamond Dust pondered if this truly was her destiny.

In Canterlot, Twilight Sparkle trotted around the city to get supplies for the wedding. She saw a familiar pink alicorn.

“Cadence?” Twilight trotted up to her old foalsitter.

Princess Cadence was arguing with one of her bridesmaids. “No! We do not wear dark green here.”

“But Princess,” Lyra said. She was wearing a dress dark and green as the forest. “My friend picked this dress out. She said it was perfect.”

“I don’t care,” Cadence said. “Please pick a new dress!”

Lyra just ran off in tears.

Twilight heard this conversation. She knew that something was off with Cadence. She approached the bride.

“Cadence?” She asked.

The bride-to-be saw Twilight. She said, “yes? Are you the wedding planner?”

Twilight was surprised that her old foalsitter didn’t recognize her.

“Cadence, it's me, Twilight,” Twilight said. She remembered something from her foalhood. “Sunshine, sunshine” --she covered her eyes-- “ladybugs awake,” --she then uncovered them-- “clap your hooves,” --she clapped her forehooves together-- “and do a little shake.” She then shook her flank at the princess.

Cadence cringed. She said, “please don’t do that again, and make sure this wedding goes off without a hitch.” She then left Twilight.

‘What is going on?’ Twilight thought. ‘The Cadence I knew would’ve recognized that.’ She went ahead and prayed that this was just a prank.

Gale Force and his team of pegasi were helping the royal guard with patrols. The security had been buffed because of the wedding and the recent windigo attack in Ponyville.

Thunderlane was getting used to the layout of the city. Flitter and Cloudchaser were patrolling the skies and Star Song was looking at the train station.

Gale saw Element Shield and approached the stallion.

The red stallion noticed Gale and said, “it's been a while since I saw you last.”

“Yeah,” Gale said. “So did you reinforce the barrier?”

“Yes I did,” Element Shield said. “I used my most powerful spells to further the protection. But like the fire spell I used on you and your team a week ago, these spells are powered by the bonds between ponies.”

“Yeah,” Gale said. “I figured.”

“I believe that this spell shall hold so long as something doesn't happen to potentially weaken a strong bond.”

“Why?” Gale said. He looked around and saw some of the Ponyville ponies adjusting to their stay in Canterlot.

“This barrier can sense emotions. If sufficient rage, hatred, disappointment, or thoughts of broken trust were sufficient enough, the barrier would weaken and anything could break it.”

Gale Force was starting to worry. He must be careful to control his emotions, or risk compromising the security of the city and the ponies within. He remembered Thunderlane. “Hey, can you do me a favor?”

“What is it?” Element Shield asked.

“I have a new rookie on our team. I was wondering if you can cast your spells on him.”

“Of course,” Element Shield. “Bring him here and I’ll get to work on his barriers.”

“Roger,” Gale said. He flew away to find Thunderlane.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders were in the marketplace.

“She’s got to be here somewhere,” Sweetie Belle said.

“You said you saw somepony that looked like Rarity enter the marketplace?” Scootaloo said.

“Of course,” Sweetie Belle said.

They searched near the stands, they searched near the booths, and they searched near the shacks. But Rarity was nowhere to be seen. Night fell on the three Crusaders and they went home. They each wondered if their sisters and Rainbow Dash were back.

In Canterlot, Twilight and her friends double checked their tasks for the wedding.

"Okay, Applejack," Twilight said. "You'll handle the catering."

"Got it," Applejack said.

"Fluttershy," Twilight said. "You'll handle the music."

Fluttershy nodded.

"I'll be the party planner," Pinkie said.

"I'll practice my Sonic Rainboom," Rainbow Dash said.

"And I'll make the most beautiful dresses," Rarity said.

"Okay," Twilight said. She remembered her encounter with Cadence. She felt different from the last time she saw her all those years ago.

The mares went to their guest rooms and slept for the night.

xx - Chronos' Return.

The next day, the Cutie Mark Crusaders trotted to Sugarcube Corner.

“This feels very familiar,” Sweetie Belle said.

“We’ve gone back in time,” Apple Bloom said. “Of course this feels very familiar.”

“Yeah,” Scootaloo said. “But this feels less like deja vu and more like--”

The fillies stopped in their tracks. They saw an angry mob in front of the bakery.

“Oh no.” Apple Bloom whispered.

“Quick,” Scootaloo whispered. “hide.”

The Crusaders tried to hide from the angry mob, but somepony in the crowd turned around and saw the fillies.

“There they are!” the pony said.

“Oh horse apples,” Apple Bloom said.

The fillies galloped away while the angry mob chased them. There was a flash of light, and the Crusaders fainted.

In the skies near Canterlot, the storm of windigoes inched closer and closer to the shielded city.

The queen’s adviser approached Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo. He said, ”So, you’re not entirely sure?”

“I don’t know.” Apple Bloom said.

“We don’t know enough about these ponies.” Scootaloo said.

“We’re just not sure if they’re that bad.” Sweetie Belle said.

The adviser noticed their subconscious acting up. He said, “Well, I’ll tell you all you need to know about these ponies. They are ruthless, malicious, pure evil.”

“Really?” Apple Bloom said. The windigoes circling them slowed down while the spikes on Apple Bloom’s legguards grew longer and sharper.

“Yes.” the adviser said. “Even their leaders are corrupt.”

“How so?” Scootaloo said. The windigos began accelerating as Scootaloo’s icy wings grew sharper and sharper.

“Their highest princess, Celestia, banished her sister, her flesh and blood, in a bid for more power,” the advisor said.

“That’s horrible.” Sweetie Belle said.

The windigos looked they they were feasting as Sweetie Belle’s icy horn elongated and its point sharpened.

“And her subjects are just as ruthless,” the adviser said. “It would not matter if you were a child, an adult, or related. If they don’t like you, they will be as needlessly cruel to you as possible, even to the the point of shunning and exile.”

They glared at the shielded city. The adviser was pleased.

Meanwhile, Diamond Dust was in a different part of the storm. She wondered about the mysterious fifth seal, and what more secrets her adviser is hiding from her, the queen.

Later, the adviser approached Diamond Dust.

“They’re ready.” he said.

“Good.” Diamond Dust said. “In a few days we will strike and take the princess.”

“Exactly.” the adviser noticed curiosity in Diamond Dust’s eyes. “So, you want to know more about the seals, huh?”

“Well, of course.” Diamond Dust shouted.

“I can’t tell you about the seals now,” he said. “but know that it’s important that they be broken if we are to succeed, and know that there are three left.” He returned to the tiara.

Diamond Dust still wondered.

‘Seven seals?’ she thought.

In the kitchen of Canterlot’s castle, Twilight and Applejack were helping several chefs bake food for the wedding. Spike was playing with the figurines meant to go on top of the cake.

The chefs were preparing various pastries and desserts when Princess Cadence entered the kitchen. Twilight checked off the food and ice sculptures.

Applejack saw the bride and gave her an apple fritter. “Here ya go, Princess,” she said. “The best apple treats this side of Equestria.”

Twilight watched as Cadence took a bite out of the fritter. She wondered if Cadence was back to her old self.

As she trotted out, Cadence threw the bag with the fritters away. Twilight said, “Did you see that?”

“See what?” Applejack said.

“Never mind.” Twilight left the room to see how Rarity is doing with the dresses, and to keep an eye on Cadence.

“Well that’s odd,” Applejack said. She shrugged and turn to the other chefs “Alright y’all, Lets make sure that this cake is the best cake ever baked.”

The other chefs agreed.

Applejack wondered if Apple Bloom was okay. She vowed to herself that after the wedding she will try and find her sister.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders woke up on a table at the schoolyard.

“What the hay?” Scootaloo asked.

They saw Featherweight and approached him. The lean pegasus flew away.

“That’s odd,” Sweetie Belle said.

“First we were being chased by a mob,” Apple Bloom said. “Now we’re back at school?”

The bell rang. They went back to class.

After school, the Crusaders left to find out what happened. They saw that same mare complaining on the phone again. The mare left.

“That’s... odd,” Sweetie Belle said.

“Do you think we went back in time again?” Scootaloo said.

“I don’t know.” Apple Bloom said. “We should check just in case.”

The three fillies went home to check.

Twilight and Rarity were in one of the castle towers. Rarity was working on her dresses.

Rarity was too focused on the dresses to listen to Twilight. She worried about the dresses, how perfect they are, how important it is to finish and how much fame she would get when she makes the most beautiful wedding dresses in all Equestria.

“I don’t know when she changed,” Twilight said. “But she changed. I’m Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.”

“Did I hear someone say my name?”

Princess Cadence and two other ponies entered the room.

Rarity noticed the princess and said, “Your highness, I just want to say what an honor it is to make dress for such a momentous occasion.”

“Is my dress ready?” Cadence asked.

“Of course,” Rarity led Cadence to the dresses. Twilight kept a close eye on her.

“I’ve been working on it ever since I’ve been given the assignment,” Rarity said.

‘I’m sure that they’ll be my best work yet,’ she thought.

Cadence looked at the dress. “Change the color,” she said.

The other two ponies complimented their dresses, but Cadence asked Rarity to change them too.

Rarity said, “Of course, change the color. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure your dresses are perfect.”

“Un-huh.” Cadence didn’t bother to listen. She and her two bridesmaids left the tower. Twilight left soon afterward.

Rarity was distracted. She looked back at the dresses. ‘Perhaps they aren't my best work,’ she thought. She promised herself that she will find Sweetie Belle when the wedding is over. After some thought, she went to work on the dresses.

xxi - Sisyphus' Cycle

Apple Bloom went to Sweet Apple Acres. She checked the trash can and found an issue of the Foal Free Press. She carefully read the gossip section and went to the treehouse.

Meanwhile, Scootaloo went to the path where Rainbow Dash practiced. She saw a sign and an empty case there. Her eyes were attracted to the empty case. She decided not to examine it and left.

Sweetie Belle went to Carousel Boutique. She saw Rarity was working on some wedding dresses. She seemed to be too focused to noticed her. She saw the paper on the ground there and read it.

The gossip column read, "The Truth Behind Gabby Gums." at the top of the column.

Ponyville, I'm sure by now you know that 'Gabby Gums' is actually three fillies: Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo. And we would like you to know that we don't care. We know you want the scoop and we know you want it now. So mark our words, We will leave no stone upturned, no trash can un-dived, and we will not rest until we bring you the latest scoop on all Ponyville. And to show we mean business here's some dirt on ourselves."

Sweetie Belle saw the embarrassing photos on the page. She went out of the fashion store to let Rarity work on her dress.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders were back at the treehouse.

“So,” Apple Bloom said, “Applejack wasn't there but I found the paper, It’s exactly the same as before.”

“Rainbow Dash still wasn’t here.” Scootaloo said. “The note was, but there was no paper.”

“I saw Rarity,” Sweetie Belle said, “but she was working on wedding dresses instead of snowsuits.”

“So,” Scootaloo said. “Is it a time loop or not?”

“I dunno,” Apple Bloom said. “It feels like it was three days ago, but some things are different.”

“Guess we wait until tomorrow?” Scootaloo said.

“Sure, I guess,” Sweetie Belle sighed.

The three Crusaders left the treehouse and went home.

The next day, in Canterlot, Cadence was checking on the preparations for the reception.

Twilight Sparkle was looking from behind one of the marble pillars.

Twilight wondered why Applejack and Rarity didn’t notice that Cadence was being rude to them. She thought, ‘This was their first time meeting her, but still they still should have noticed something’s off with Cadence.’

After Pinkie Pie did a dance, she said, “I think this reception’s gonna be perfect. Don’t you?”

Cadence said, “Yeah, perfect-- if we were celebrating some six-year-old’s birthday party.” She trotted away in disgust.

Pinkie gasped. “Thank you!”

Twilight thought, ‘She threw away Applejack’s treats, had Rarity change her dresses, and now she insulted Pinkie’s party plans?’ She glared at the bride as she left.

As soon as Cadence left, Twilight exited the hall.

Lyra and Bon-Bon were trotting in the garden. Tears rolled down Lyra’s cheek.

“There there,” Bon-Bon comforted. “She doesn’t deserve you as a bridesmaid anyway.”

Silver Spoon noticed the pair and saw that lyra was still crying. She approached the two.

“Is something wrong?” Silver Spoon said.

“Lyra had to quit her job at the wedding.” Bon-Bon said.

“Why?” Silver Spoon asked.

Lyra pointed to Princess Cadence as the three saw her shouting at one of Fluttershy’s birds.

Silver Spoon looked closely at Cadence. In many ways she was reminded of Diamond Tiara. She thought, ‘I hoped she doesn’t turn out to be another Diamond Dust.’ She wondered if there was a way to save Diamond Tiara, she wondered if she even wanted to be saved.

Lyra and Bon-Bon left. Silver Spoon wondered if there was any way she can comfort Lyra. She remembered helping Diamond Tiara bully the Cutie Mark Crusaders. She regretted these actions.

Meanwhile, Twilight was spying on Cadence and Fluttershy from a bush. Fluttershy took the birds somewhere else.

Cadence saw Bon-Bon, Lyra. and Silver Spoon. She said, “Oh look, if it isn’t my ex-bridesmaid” --she looked at Bon-Bon-- “and I suppose this is your stupid friend?”

Bon-Bon said, ”Why you--”

Silver Spoon said, “How would you know? You think you’re so special just because you’re getting married. That doesn’t give you the right to insult these ponies.”

“It’s not just because I’m getting married.” Cadence said. ‘It’s because I’m a princess.”

“So?” Silver Spoon said. “That still doesn’t excuse you from insulting and looking down on everypony. I know cutie marks, my friend and I looked down on three fillies for not having their cutie marks, and if there’s two things I learned from that experience; it’s that one: you shouldn't bully others because they're living up to your standards and two: you do not deserve that cutie mark! Enjoy your wedding, because that’s the only way you can actually get someone to like you, let alone love you.”

Silver Spoon left the area, Lyra and Bon-Bon followed her.

Twilight thought ‘Wow, glad somepony noticed that Cadence was a jerk.’ She wondered if the wedding should be stopped. She left the garden to meet up with her friends.

Gale Force, Star Song, Thunderlane, Flitter, and Cloudchaser were inside a large room in the castle. The room was decorated with several runes and circles. A mural with fire and ice and winds and lightning adorned the ceiling.

“So,” Thunderlane said, ”What are we doing here?”

“We’re preparing you to combat the windigos in case the shield fails.” Gale said.

Just then, Element Shield emerged from one of the streets of the city and approached Thunderlane. He said, “So this is the one who needs the barriers?”

“Yes.” Gale said. “This is the rookie I told you about.”

“Wait,” Thunderlane said, “Rookie?”

“Yes,” Cloudchaser said, “Rookie.”

Element Shield said, ”You may want to leave, Your barriers already charged.”

“Gotcha,” Gale said. “Hope you enjoy the theatrics, rookie.”

Gale Force left the room.

“Wait,” Thunderlane said, “What theatrics?”

Flitter and Star Song giggled as they left the room

Cloudchaser said, “Don’t worry, this won’t hurt a bit.” and left.

The door closed. Thunderlane shivered as Element Shield cast his magic.

An hour later, Thunderlane emerged from the room. The other pegasi saw that same same sphere of wind and lightning with a flame above it and a ring of ice around it.

“Not funny.” Thunderlane said.

“Told you it wouldn't hur.,” Cloudchaser said.

Element Shield left the room. He knew that Over Cast was missing and looked at Gale’s face. He decided not to ask for now.

“Well,” Element Shield said, “He is ready. I suppose I don’t need to tell you to exit the blizzard before the shields vanish.”

“Of course,” Thunderlane said.

“Very well,” Element Shield said. “Take care now.” Then, he left.

xxii - Helen's Gift

The next day, in the skies near Canterlot, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle looked at the shielded city.

“So when do you think DIamond Dust and her adviser’ll be back?” Apple Bloom said.

“I dunno,” Sweetie Belle said. “They said they would be back in a few minutes.”

“Try a few hours,” Scootaloo said.

Meanwhile, Diamond Dust and her adviser were in Ponyville. Diamond Dust was careful not to be seen by the pegasi there. She went inside the library.

There she saw a telescope on the second floor.

“I still don’t get why we need a telescope to invade Canterlot,” Diamond Dust said.

Her adviser said, “Think of it as a gift for your servants. A peek at how evil the ponies are.”

Diamond Dust rolled her eyes. She said, “And we are supposed to carry this back how?”

“Lift the telescope, my liege,” the adviser said, “and I’ll do the rest.”

Diamond Dust lifted the telescope. A sphere of ice and wind encompassed them. The sphere lifted up and phased through the ceiling of the tree.

A pegasus outside noticed a sphere emerging from the treetop at speeds they could only dream of. His mouth was agape. He flew to tell the other pegasi about this, leaving the library’s roof frozen over.

In Canterlot, Princess Cadence walked the streets of the city. She looked out her husband-to-be’s barrier and saw a storm coming. She took a closer look and realized what was lurking within.

‘Thanks for helping with my cover,’ Cadence thought. She saw Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie trotting on a different path and looked back to the storm. ‘Here’s a gift from me to you.’

She galloped to the mares, forcing tears down her cheeks along the way.

She said, “There you are,” through her tears.

“Princess?” Applejack said. “What are you doing here?”

“I came here looking for you,” Cadence said. “It’s my bridesmaids. I had to... fire them.” She cried into Fluttershy’s shoulders.

“Aw, there, there,” Fluttershy said. “It’s alright.”

“No it’s not,” Cadence blubbered, “I thought I could trust them. But they just wanted to meet royalty. They just used me and the wedding.”

“Well, that’s not very nice!” Pinkie said.

“What if we became your bridesmaids?” Rainbow Dash said.

“You’d do that, for me?” Cadence said.

“Of course,” Fluttershy said.

“You can’t have a wedding without bridesmaids, darling,” Rarity said.

“Thank you,” Cadence wiped away a tear. She closed her eyes and her horn glowed a sickly green light.

The other mares looked at the light as their eyes glowed the same color for a few seconds.

The spell was finished. The other ponies shook their heads.

“What was that spell for?” Applejack said.

“Oh, that spell was a gift,” Cadence said. “As thanks for offering to be my bridesmaids. Now I have to tell Celestia the news.”

The smaller mares thanked Cadence and they went their separate ways.

Gale Force, Thunderlane, Flitter, Cloudchaser, and Star Song were patrolling the skies within the barrier.

Another pegasus approached Gale. She said, “Sir, the ice in Ponyville is almost gone. The town should be back to normal in a few days.”

“I see,” Gale said. “Thanks.”

The messenger left.

“So Ponyville will be back to normal in a few days?” Thunderlane said. “Awesome.”

A few feet away, Flitter and Star Song were talking about their jobs.

“So, why did you join the weather team?” Star Song said.

“My sister talked me into it,” Flitter said. “She wanted us to build some character. What about you?”

“I just joined because I wanted to know the types of weather,” Star Song said. “I wanted to use that knowledge to make sure everypony’s safe during my concerts.”

“But why?” Flitter said.

“There aren’t enough pegasi to handle all the weather in Los Pegasus,” Star Song said. “Ironic, isn’t it?”

The weather team finished their patrols and descended to the streets to relax.

At night, Twilight just exited a restaurant with a menu. Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Spike were sitting on a nearby table. Spike was playing with the cake topper again.

Twilight trotted to her friends’ table. She said, “Bet I can guess what you’re all thinking. Cadence is the worst bride-to-be ever and should not marry Shining Armor, right?”

The other mares were a little baffled.

“Who, me?” Spike said in a falsetto voice. He moved the Cadence cake topper as he spoke.

“Spike!” Applejack said. “That goes on the cake."

Spike let go of the cake topper and it fell to the center of the table.

“Twilight,” Rarity said. “Whatever are you talking about? Cadence is absolutely the nicest pony ever.”

“You even said it yourself,” Pinkie said. “Remember?”

“But, Rarity,” Twilight said. “She was so demanding.”

“Well, of course she is, darling,” Rarity said. “Why shouldn’t she expect the best on her wedding day?”

Twilight facehoofed.

“Applejack,” She said. Did you know that after she told you how much she loved, loved, loved your hors d'oeuvres, she threw the in the trash?”

“Aw, she was trying to spare my feelings,” Applejack said. “One of the chefs saw that I accidentally used some bad apples to bake the batch.”

“No,” Twilight said. “She was being fake and totally insincere!”

“What happened to that batch?” Rainbow Dash said.

“I threw them away, made sure I used good apples and bake a new batch,” Applejack said. She continued her drink.

“You’re not listening to me!” Twilight slammed the table with her hoof.

“She did raise her voice at one of my birds during rehearsal,” Fluttershy said.

Twilight remembered that moment. She said, “See? Rude.” And folded her hooves in vindication.

“But,” Fluttershy said. “He was singing really off-key.” She lifted a red bird up to the table.

The bird let out a caw that was worse than the amethyst cockatrice’s. The ponies cringed at the sound of that.

“Sound like that bird needs a throat lozenge,” Applejack said.

Twilight looked towards Pinkie Pie. “Pinkie Pie, you had to have noticed how Cadence was treating--”

But Pinkie Pie and Spike were too busy playing with the cake toppers to notice.

“Pinkie Pie! Spike!” Applejack said. “Put the toppers down now!”

Pinkie and Spike did as told.

“Sorry,” Pinkie said. She looked towards Twilight. “You were saying?”

At that point Twilight remembered that Pinkie Pie took Cadence’s rudeness as a compliment.

“Nevermind,” she said. She stood up. “Rainbow dash, you’re with me, right?”

“Sorry, Twi.” Rainbow Dash said. “Been too busy prepping for my Sonic Rainboom to notice the bride’s bad attitude.”

Twilight finished her drink.

“Oh, I just can’t wait for this reception!” Pinkie bellowed. “It’s just too exciting to wait.”

“And when I pull off the best Sonic Rainboom ever,” Rainbow Dash said. “The Wonderbolts will have to let me in.”

“And just think of the money the farm will get when word gets out that I catered the party.” Applejack said.

“And I’ll finally achieve my dream of being the best fashion designer in all Equestria,” Rarity said.

Twilight groaned in frustration.

Rarity went to Twilight, “The Princess is about to get married. I’m sure that whatever negative behavior she might be displaying is simply the result of nerves.”

Twilight slammed the table again. “And I’m sure that it’s the result of her being an awful pony who doesn't deserve to even know Shining Armor, let alone marry him!”

Applejack stood up. “Think maybe you’re being a tiny bit possessive of your brother?”

“Give her a break, guys,” Rarity said. “It’s the first time in years since she met her brother.”

Twilight fumed. “I am not being possessive, and I am not taking it out on Cadence! You’re just too caught up in your wedding planning to realize that there shouldn't be a wedding!” She slammed the table so hard that the drinks spilled over and then she trotted away.

The other ponies looked at each other in confusion.

“Oh,” Pinkie said. “We forgot to tell her that Cadence asked us to be her bridesmaids!”

“I think that news can wait, Pinkie,” Applejack said. ”The wedding rehearsal is tomorrow guys.”

“I’ll get the dresses ready,” Rarity said.

The mares and Spike paid for their drinks and left.

Twilight trotted down a lonely road. She felt betrayed. She wondered how she could stop the wedding.

‘That’s it.’ Twilight was inspired. She went to find Shining Armor.

Inside one of Canterlot's towers. Celestia was preparing to go to bed, confident that her sister and Shining Armor’s barrier would keep Canterlot safe in the night.

She heard a knock on the door. She said, “Come in.”

It was Cadence. She said, “I wanted to tell you that I decided to make Twilight’s friends my new bridesmaids.”

“That’s wonderful,” Celestia said. “I’m sure that they’ll make excellent bridesmaids.”

“I can trust them,” Cadence said. “But I’m not sure if I can trust Twilight.”

“Huh?” Celestia said.

“I’m sure you’re aware that the windigoes are preparing to strike soon?” Cadence said.

“Of course,” Celestia said. “I've even hired an elementalist to reinforce Shining Armor’s shield a few days ago.”

“Well,” Cadence said. “I think Twilight’s working with them.”

“But why?” Celestia said.

“You know that my domain is love. Just as much as yours is the sun, and Luna, the moon,” Cadence said. “The windigos feed on hate. If this wedding were to be stopped, I don’t think I can imagine what would happen. Just promise me that if Twilight tries to stop the wedding, that you’ll stop her by whatever means necessary.”

Celestia was surprised by this request. “I... I don’t know.”

Cadence moved closer to Celestia. She said. “I can show you,” Cadence's horn glowed green again.

Celestia saw visions of Twilight and Cadence. She saw Twilight criticizing everything about the wedding, the food, the dresses, and the reception. She saw Cadence crying and pleading for Twilight to stop her unreasonable demands.

Celestia’s eyes glowed green for a moment. She said, “Very well.”

“Thank you,” Cadence said. She left the tower.

xxiii - Pollux Reversal

The Cutie Mark Crusaders were trotting towards Sugarcube Corner.

‘Well,” Sweetie Belle said, “Is this a time loop or not?”

“We still don’t know.” Scootaloo said. “The cherry and asparagus guys weren’t there yesterday.”

“Guess we’ll find out if this is a loop or not.” Apple Bloom looked around.

They sneaked around town, careful not to attract the attention of the angry mob that they suspected would be in front of the bakery.

Sure enough, they saw the mob in front of the bakery. But they didn’t see Pinkie Pie answer the door.

The mob leader knocked on the door several times, but nopony answered the door.

“That’s... odd,” Sweetie Belle whispered.

“Can we go around?” Scootaloo asked.

“Good idea.” Apple Bloom said. “We’ll have to be careful though.”

The Crusaders kept a distance from the front door and the mob as they went around the area. They were soon behind the bakery. Midway around the area, they saw the mob leave to search elsewhere. They breathed a sigh of relief.

“Well, that was a little close,” Sweetie Belle said.

“Well, if this is a time loop,” Apple Bloom said, “it’s a very weird one.”

“Wonder why Pinkie didn’t answer the door,” Scootaloo said.

They saw a window on the bakery.

“Why don’t we find out?” Sweetie Belle said.

The Crusaders peeked through the window. They saw Pinkie Pie in a dress.

“Is she preparing for a party?” Apple Bloom said.

“Look!” Scootaloo said. She saw Rainbow Dash walk into the room. “There’s Rainbow Dash.”

Rarity, Applejack, and Fluttershy followed Rainbow Dash in. Each of the ponies were in their own dress.

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle said, “What?”

“Applejack’s here too?” Apple Bloom said.

“So is Rarity,” Sweetie Belle said.

The Crusaders overheard the mares talking about a wedding.

“This is perfect.” Scootaloo had an idea. She went to the the front door of the bakery. The other two followed.

“Wait?” Sweetie Belle said. “What is?”

“We can apologize to our sisters now,” Scootaloo said. “Before the angry mob comes back.”

“Oh,” Sweetie Belle said.

The Crusaders opened the door, but there was a flash of light behind it.

In the skies above Canterlot, Diamond Dust and her adviser returned. They lifted a heavy telescope.

Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo saw Diamond Dust and the adviser.

“Where have you been?!” Sweetie Belle said.

“We went to get you a gift,” Diamond Dust said. She gestured to the telescope.

“Kinda lousy,” Scootaloo said.

“Scootaloo,” Apple Bloom said. “Be nice.”

Diamond Dust said to the adviser, “So, why do we need this anyway?”

The adviser said, “I figured they could use it to see what ponies are really like. We shall let you look through it tomorrow.”

Diamond Dust thought, ‘Man, this guy’s getting secretive again.’

The Crusaders trotted away.

“You still haven’t told me about the seals!” Diamond Dust said.

“The seals,” the adviser said. “Oh yes, the Seven Seals. Well, if you’re still curious, just know that four of them have already been broken.”

Diamond Dust wasn’t amused. The adviser retreated into her tiara. She wondered if Silver Spoon survived her last encounter.

Twilight Sparkle was at Shining Armor’s doorstep. She knocked on the door.

Shining Armor answered it. He said, “Twili.”

Twilight was crying a little bit.

“What’s wrong?” He asked.

Twilight said, Well, I--"

Princess Cadence said from the back. "Shining Armor? I want to talk to you about that suit!"

“I gotta go,” Shining Armor said.

Shining Armor went to the back room. Princess Cadence saw what he was wearing.

She said, “I thought I told you not to wear that!”

She saw Twilight peeking through the keyhole.

“This suit was my uncle’s best suit,” Shining Armor said.

“And?” Cadence asked.

“I thought I should wear it,” Shining Armor said.

“Are you disagreeing with me?” Cadence asked.

“I guess I am.” Shining Armor started having a headache.

“Oh dear,” Cadence said. “Are you having another headache? Let me fix that.” She bowed and used a spell on Shining Armor.

When she was done, Twilight cringed.

Cadence thought, ‘The spells I’ve cast on the others aren’t strong enough to give headaches, but then again, they not the ones casting that infernal barrier.’

She and Shining Armor opened the door, only to see Twilight leave the house.

“Twili,” Shining Armor said.

Cadence observed, ‘The spell I’ve cast on you ‘honey’ has reacted to your barrier and aiding you in your futile attempt to break my control.’

“I wonder what she wanted to say,” Shining Armor said. He started having another headache.

Cadence thought, ‘But then again, unlike the others, this spell won’t influence their future thoughts. Perhaps I should fix that.’

She said, “I’m sure that it’s nothing.” She approached him and cast another spell.

The next day, Shining Armor, Spike, and Princess Celestia were at a grand hall. Spike was still playing with the cake toppers.

Princess Celestia was running everyone though the wedding. Princess Cadence entered the hall, followed by Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Rainbow Dash.

Meanwhile, Diamond Dust was looking through the telescope. She saw the rehearsal.

“Alright,” Diamond Dust said, “Is this what you wanted them to see?”

“Yes,” the adviser said. "Did you cast the spell?"

"Yes," Diamond Dust said. "For a few seconds, they should be able to hear whatever they're looking at."

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle were nearby.

The adviser approached them and said, “Come and see.” Diamond Dust fixed the telescope in place and trotted away.

The three fillies walked towards the telescope and Apple Bloom looked through it.

“...And now the rings.” Celestia said. She looked to find that Twilight and the rings are missing.

“Hey,” Shining Armor said. ‘Anypony seen Twilight?”

The doors opened on their own and Twilight entered. She shouted, “I’m here! I’m not gonna stand next to her, and neither should you.”

The other mares looked to each other in embarrassment.

Shining Armor also had a look of embarrassment. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I don’t know why she’s acting like this.”

“Maybe we should just ignore her,” Cadence said.

“You have to listen to me!” Twilight said.

Fluttershy approached her and said, “Oh, goodness. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” Twilight said.

“You sure about that?” Applejack said.

Twilight just levitated Applejack’s hat and pushed her back with it. “I have something to say!” Twilight went forward towards Cadence and pointed at her. “She’s evil!”

The other mares were shocked.

Rainbow Dash thought, ‘Oh great, Twilight’s lost it.’

Twilight said, “She been horrible to my friends.” She teleported behind Cadence and approached her.

Cadence backed up in fear as Twilight continued her accusations. “She clearly has done something to her bridesmaids, and if that wasn’t enough, I just saw her made a spell that cast my brother’s eyes go all--” She turned her eyes around to illustrate her point.

The other ponies were dumbstruck.

Apple Bloom looked through the telescope in the sky. “That pony must be cruel to crash a wedding like that.”

“The worst is yet to come, I’m afraid,” the adviser said. “Come and see, and you’ll know the truth.”

Apple Bloom looked through the telescope again.

Twilight had Cadence cornered. She thought, ‘Now’s my chance.’ Tears rolled down her cheeks as she said, “Why are you doing this to me? I just wanted to marry your nice, gentle brother. Why do you hate me so much?” She then galloped away in tears.

“Because you're evil!” Twilight said. She teleported to the doors after Cadence left and bellowed “Evil! And if I don’t stop you, you’re gonna ruin my brother’s life!”

As Cadence galloped her tears dried up. “Check and mate,” she said. She trotted around the castle and went to the other side of the hall.

Apple Bloom was shocked. “How could she just do that?!” She said.

“Do what?” Sweetie Belle said.

“That pony made the bride cry,” Apple Bloom said.

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo gasped.

The adviser said, “That pony is their paragon, an example of how evil these ponies truly are. Come and see, and you shall see that the other side is just as ruthless.”

Apple Bloom had had enough. She let Sweetie Belle look through the telescope. The spell that allowed the fillies to hear the confrontation had faded.

Twilight Sparkle felt triumphant. She trotted and bumped into Shining Armor. He glared at his little sheepish sister.

He began his rant, “You want to know why my eyes went all” --He mimicked Twilight's eye movement from earlier-- “Because ever since I had to start performing my protection spell, I’ve been getting terrible migraines. Cadence hasn’t been casting spells on me, she’s been using her magic to heal me!"

Shining continued his rant, “And Cadence replaced her bridesmaids because she found out the only reason they wanted to be in the wedding, was just so they could meet Canterlot royalty.”

Twilight's friends were horrified by this display.

Shining Armor continued, “And if she wasn’t on her best behavior with your friends.” He stomped his forehooves in rage. “It’s because with me being so bucking busy, she had to make all the wedding preparations by herself!”

Twilight said, “I was just--”

Shining Armor interrupted her, “She was stressed out because she wanted our big day to be perfect! Something that obviously wasn't important to you!” He started having another headache. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go and comfort my bride.”

Twilight’s face had an expression of shock as her brother angrily trotted away.

He said, “And you can forget about being my best mare. In fact, If I ever see your face around here again, I’ll have you arrested for high treason!” He then left to find Cadence. Spike followed.

Sweetie Belle said, “My gosh.”

The adviser said, “Come and see, see that the ponies are heartless, cruel and sociopathic.”

Sweetie Belle let Scootaloo see through the telescope.

Twilight looked back to her friends.

Everypony glared at Twilight with emerald eyes of hatred.

From the clouds above, the adviser narrated, “That know no honesty, only deceit.”

Applejack said, “Twilight, how could spread such awful lies like that? You’re worse than when my sister became Gabby Gums, at least she had an excuse. If this is who you are when somepony gets hitched, then I want absolutely nothing to do with you!” She left in disgust.

“No kindness,” the adviser said, “only cruelty.”

Fluttershy said, ”You should know better than to accuse Cadence of something like this. I thought you were better than this.” She galloped away in tears.

“No laughter,” the adviser said, “only sorrow.”

Pinkie Pie said, “You used to be cool, you know that?” Her mane compressed and flattened. “Consider yourself uninvited from any and all parties I host.” She bounced away with contempt.

“No generosity,” the adviser said, “only greed.”

“Twilight,” Rarity said, “That was the most selfish, cruel act you have ever done. You didn’t want to share your brother with somepony else? Well I hope you’re happy, you filthy peasant.” She trotted away in disgust.

“No loyalty,” the adviser said, “only betrayal.”

Rainbow Dash said, “You know what? They’re right. Cadence didn’t change one bit. You did. Well I’m out. I have had it up to here with you.” She flew off in sorrow.

“No friendship,” the adviser said, “for they would lie to you, be ruthless and merciless to you, take anything you own and never return it, betray you, and make you cry tears of sorrow and blood. Come and see that they are a plague that must be cured.”

Twilight turned to Celestia, the only other pony left. “But I--”

“You have a lot to think about,” Celestia said. “And until you do, Twilight Sparkle, as of this moment I hereby revoke your status as my student. You are to leave Canterlot at once and do not return until you prove yourself worthy again.”

Twilight’s worst fears had been realized.

“If I find you trespassing in Canterlot again,” Celestia said. “I’ll banish you to the moon!” She trotted away.

Twilight‘s heart broke. She sulked at the altar as she realized that she lost her friends and her family all because she didn’t want her brother getting married.

She saw Cadence trotting towards her. Twilight cried and said, “I’m sorry.”

Cadence smiled then glared. “You will be!” she said.

Hellish green flames surrounded Twilight. The flames felt hotter than a thousand suns, but Twilight didn’t burn or melt from the heat of the magic flames.

The flames dragged twilight down to the depths below Canterlot.

“Now do you see?” the adviser said. "They have no harmony. They are hypocrites and sociopaths of the highest caliber. They revel in spreading misery and strife."

“I don’t believe it,” Scootaloo said.

“Their lack of empathy renders their punishments disproportionate and cruel. If you were friends with a pony maybe they will fake being nice for you, but as you can plainly see, they are as cruel as most of the monsters of Tartarus.”

“Most of the monsters?” Sweetie Belle said.

“The ponies sealed ninety percent of all the innocent souls of Equestria inside Tartarus, damned to wander its depths. They beg for the word of salvation, but it will never come unless we freeze their leader and break the seals.”

Apple Bloom looked at her sword and legguards, Sweetie Belle looked at the scales she levitated with her horn, and Scootaloo looked at her scythe and unfolded her wings.

“When do we strike?” the three asked in unison.

“Soon,” the adviser said.

xxiv - Theseus and the Labyrinth

Twilight Sparkle woke up in the caves below Canterlot. “Ow. My head.” She took a look around the area and saw crystals everywhere.

‘How did I get here?’ Twilight wondered.

She remembered the wedding rehearsal, her brother disowning her, her friends cutting their ties, and her mentor threatening to send her to the moon. She also remembered Princess Cadence encompassing her in green flames.

“Now I remember,” Twilight said.

Rage flew across her face as she thought about how Cadence betrayed her. She heard maniacal laughter in the distance. She looked at the crystals and saw Cadence’s image on them.

“You just had to be nosy,” Cadence mocked. “Oh, I’m Twilight Sparkle. I helped shun three fillies for idle gossip, I’m jealous that my brother is marrying somepony else. I so smart that I'm don’t even need friends.”

Twilight glared at Cadence. “How did you know about the gossip?”

“What?” Cadence appeared on another crystal. “Just because I’m getting married doesn't mean I can’t read the newspaper, Ex-Canterlot Snob!”

Twilight blasted the crystals with her magic. “You ruined my life!”

Cadence appeared on another crystal. “Ruin your life? Moi?” She laughed again.

Twilight’s face grew a bright magenta and then a searing scarlet. She blasted the crystals over and over again.

“I’ll find you,” Twilight raged, “and when I do, I’m gonna make you rue the day you met Shining Armor.”

Cadence appeared in another crystal. “Only way to stop me is to catch me.” She vanished.

She appeared in more crystals. Twilight said, “Fine then. Have it your way.” She started blasting the crystals, but Cadence appeared in more of them.

“Too slow,” Cadence taunted.

Twilight blasted a crystal.

“You’ll never kill me if you can’t find me,” Cadence said.

Twilight blasted another crystal.

“Whatever happened to your fire? Your ice? Your rage?” Cadence said.

Twilight blasted another crystal.

“They’ll never find you here,” Cadence said. “These mines under Canterlo, were abandoned and forgotten years ago.”

Twilight followed the voice and saw Cadence on every crystal there. The multiple Cadences said, “Strike me down with all your hatred!”

Twilight concentrated on the crystals and charged her magic. After a few seconds, she let loose a flurry of fury. Her blasts hit every crystal in the chamber. When the dust settled, she saw Cadence in the flesh.

Dawn approached as Applejack exited her guest room. She remembered yesterday’s rehearsal as the spell Cadence cast on her waned. She felt betrayed again. She wondered what Twilight’s reasons were for this. She put on the dress for the wedding.

She thought, ‘First Apple Bloom, now Twilight?’ She wondered if her other friends and family would betray her. She thought back to her response and realized that she wasn't any better.

She remembered the good times she had with Twilight. She decided to find Twilight after the wedding.

Fluttershy was preparing her birds for one last rehearsal. She was already dressed for the wedding.

“Alright everyone,” she said, “time for one last rehearsal.”

She began conducting. The bird were singing on-key as the spell cast on her faded.

She remembered the previous day’s wedding rehearsal. She looked back to her response and wondered where Twilight was.

The birds had finished their song. But Fluttershy hadn’t noticed. She said, “You were wonderful,” and left.

“More wonderful than me.” She wondered if she was too cruel with Twilight.

She remembered what happened the last time she didn’t take Twilight's worrying seriously.

She led the birds to the wedding hall. She was unsure of what to do.

Pinkie Pie sulked around the reception hall while Rarity helped with the decorations. Their spells had worn off.

Rarity looked outside and saw storm clouds in the sky. “That’s odd,” she said. “Pinkie, when did these clouds appear?”

Pinkie Pie looked out the window. “Dunno, but they’ve been here since yesterday.”

Rarity hoped that the clouds weren’t the windigos. She looked back at the rehearsal, and her response to Twilight's accusations. She thought, ‘Well, if these clouds are what I think they are, then I hope this barrier holds.’

Pinkie Pie looked back at the rehearsal. She wondered if she did the right thing.

Suddenly, her tail started to twitch like crazy. She looked around to look for falling objects, but everything was secured into place.

“Rarity,” Pinkie said. “Do you see if anything’s about to fall?”

Rarity saw Pinkie’s tail was twitching and looked around. But she didn’t see anything that was poised to fall.

The two mares galloped outside to check the rest of the castle.

As the mares left, there was a small crack in Shining Armor’s barrier.

Rainbow Dash was flying around the area. She looked at the skies above Canterlot and saw the storm clouds.

Gale Force was nearby and approached them. She flew to him.

Gale noticed Rainbow Dash and said, “Something wrong, sir?”

“Yeah.” Dash pointed up to the clouds. Gale noticed something familiar about the clouds. “I’ll have my team investigate, but you should warn the others just in case.” He flew away.

As Gale left, the spell on Rainbow Dash broke. She remembered the rehearsal. She remembered how she responded to Twilight’s accusations. She went to the wedding to warn the others.

Princess Cadence wondered what the blast was. She wondered what happened to the wall.

As the dust cleared she saw Twilight Sparkle standing on a now opened area.

Cadence felt relieved, until she saw the look on Twilight’s face. She saw rage, and fury, and wrath. She saw the eyes of a killer.

“Twilight?” Cadence said.

Twilight charged Cadence. But she missed.

Twilight said, “There you are, witch!”

Cadence realized that her captor had also took her form. “Twilight, wait--”

Twilight let out another burst of magic, but she missed. She said, “You cast a spell on my brother,” --she teleported behind Cadence.-- “turned my friends against me, and trapped me in this mine.” She began charging her magic, ice crystals formed around Twilight.

“Twilight,” Cadence said, “that wasn’t me! Someone took my form and trapped me here.”

“Lies!” Twilight said. “You made the fatal mistake of being here.”

The area around them began to freeze over.

Cadence had to do something,or they’ll both perish. She had an idea. “Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake,” --She did the appropriate gestures.

Twilight remembered the first time that she met Cadence since they’d been in Canterlot, she remembered that Cadence didn’t recognize those gestures. She stopped her spell.--

“Clap your hooves...” Cadence said.

“...And do a little shake.” Twilight finished. She realized that the Cadence at the wedding wasn’t the real Cadence.

“It is you!” Twilight said. “But how, why? What happened?”

Cadence started to explain. “It all started when Shining Armor proposed to me. We were dating for a couple months. You cannot believe how happy I was. But that night, I was foal-napped by Chrysalis.”

“Chrysalis?” Twilight asked.

“The changeling queen,” Cadence explained. The two began to find a way to escape the mines while Cadence continued her explanation. “She wants to take Shining Armor’s love and use it to take over Equestria.”

“But why?” Twilight said.

“The changelings feed on love. She figures that with me trapped here, she could use me to feed her army, but she couldn't feed on my magic, so she decided to disguise herself as me and use the wedding as a cover so that her army can infiltrate Canterlot.”

The two saw a cavern. Twilight said, “Do you know about the barrier?”

“What barrier?” Cadence asked. She flew across the abyss while twilight teleported.

“Well,” Twilight said. “Shining Armor had to erect a barrier because a threat has been made against Canterlot. He thinks that the windigos are behind it.”

“But the windigos were slain a thousand years ago,” Cadence said.

“Not all of them, apparently,” Twilight said.

The two continued to find a way to escape while Twilight told Cadence what happened in the previous few days.

xxv - Ariadne and the Red String

In Canterlot, Lyra Heartstrings was playing her lyre. She was waiting for Bon-Bon. She heard something in the distance. She stopped playing her instrument and went to investigate.

She saw Princess Cadence in front of a cave, along with Minuette and Twinkleshine, her fellow ex-bridesmaids.

She noticed something different about the two smaller mares. They looked odd. Lyra hid behind a corner and looked at what they were doing.

Meanwhile, Bon-Bon was inside a store looking for replacement strings in case Lyra’s lyre had a broken string. She wanted to cheer her up. She saw that most of the string had sold out, and there was only some peculiar red strings left.

She went to the shopkeeper and said, “Hey, do you know what these strings are?”

The shopkeeper took a look at the strings. “Those are called ‘Orphean Strings.’”

“Orphean Strings?” Bon-Bon asked.

“These strings are named for a pony, whose lover Princess Luna helped rescue from a terrible nightmare,” the shopkeeper said. ”It’s been said that these strings were used in a spell used to enter the minds of other ponies.”

Bon-Bon was a little skeptical. She looked at the scarlet strings again.

Back at the cave, Lyra looked at what Cadence was doing.

“Okay,” Cadence said. “Your job is to make sure the real princess and Twilight do not escape the mines. Understand?”

“Yes, mistress,” Minuette and Twinkleshine said in a drone-like voice.

“Good,” Cadence said. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a wedding to go to.”

Cadence left.

Lyra thought, ‘Real Princess? What does that mean?’ She took a look at the cave. ‘I’ve never realized that this princess was despicable enough to hold prisoners.’ She realized something. ‘I’ve gotta go tell Bon-Bon!’

She galloped away to find Bon-Bon.

Back at the store, Bon-Bon wondered if Lyra would want to use these strings. She decided to buy them. “How much do they cost?”

“About ten bits a set,” The shopkeeper said.

Bon-Bon counted her change and handed the shopkeeper one hundred twenty bits. He gave Bon-Bon twelve sets of strings in return. ‘These should last Lyra a while,’ she thought as she put the strings in her bag.

The shopkeeper said, “Thank you for your purchase. Are you gonna attend the wedding?”

“No thanks. I don’t think my friend would like that.” Bon-Bon left the store.

A moment later, she saw Lyra galloping towards her.

“Bon-Bon,” Lyra said. “There you are.”

“Lyra?” Bon-Bon said. “What’s going on?”

“You have to see this!” She exclaimed.

Lyra led Bon-Bon back to the cave.

In the mines, Twilight and Cadence were still talking about what happened the previous day as they searched for an exit.

“So the windigos had returned?” Cadence asked.

Twilight nodded.

“Wow,” Cadence said.

“We better hurry,” Twilight said. “I fear something bad will happen if we don’t stop them in time.”

They searched again for a way out.

Lyra and Bon-Bon were near the cave. There they saw Minuette guarding the entrance. Her eyes were an unusual shade of green.

“Somepony’s guarding a cave,” Bon-Bon said. “So?”

“It’s one of Cadences bridesmaids. She was put on guard there by the bride,” Lyra whispered. “I heard them talking about keeping some prisoners there.”

Bon-Bon said, “Well, That’s a little ridiculous. I know she’s been mean to you, but--”

“Who goes there?”

Minuette saw Lyra and Bon-Bon.

“Oh horse apples,” Lyra said.

“The bride has order me to make sure nopony enters these caves. You are trespassing. Leave or I’ll sic the royal guard on you,” Minuette said.

The two mares gulped. “Yes, ma’am.” They went away from the cave.

“Okay,” Bon-Bon said. “Something is going on here.”

“You think?” Lyra said.

“We need to investigate,” Bon-Bon said. “Something is going on here.”

“But we can’t get into the cave without the royal guard at our throats,” Lyra said.

Bon-Bon had an idea. “I’ll be right back.” She galloped to the castle.

Applejack was in the kitchen, going over the food one last time. “Okay y’all, this is the last time we check the food before the wedding starts in a few hours. And--”

Applejack saw Bon-Bon enter the room. “Um, is there anything you need?”

Bon-Bon said, “I’m gonna need that pan over there.” She pointed to a cooking pan next to the loaf of bread.

“You mean the bread?” Applejack said.

“No,” Bon-Bon said. “The pan next to the bread.”

“Why?” Applejack said.

“I’d doubt you would believe me,” Bon-Bon said. “But my friend and I saw sompony guarding a cave somewhere, that seems a little suspicious.”

“That does seem mighty strange,” Applejack said. “Why would somepony want to guard an old cave in Canterlot?”

“Apparently,” Bon-Bon said, “she suspects that the bride is keeping prisoners there.”

“The bride?” Applejack said. “That’s ridiculous.”

“So is having green eyes, and I'm not just talking about the irises,” Bon-Bon said.

“But still,” Applejack said. “Why would Cadence keep any prisoners there?” She thought back to the previous day’s rehearsal, to Twilight’s accusing her of doing something to her bridesmaids. “Ain't your friend one of the bridesmaids the princess fired?”

Bon-Bon nodded. “She quit on account of the Princess insulting the dress I picked for Lyra.”

Applejack was a little suspicious. She wondered what was going on in those caves.

She looked at the other chefs, “Can y’all tell the Princess I’m gonna be a little late?”

The other chefs nodded.

“Great,” Applejack took the pan off the wall. “I want to see this for myself.”

Bon-Bon nodded. The two went outside the castle. Outside, the crack in the barrier began to grow.

Lyra was near the cave. She kept an eye on the cave’s entrance and its guard.

She saw Applejack and Bon-Bon galloping toward her. She said, “Get down, she’ll see you.”

Applejack and Bon-Bon hid in the bush.

Princess Cadence appeared in front of Minuette. Twinkleshine exited the cave.

“Are the prisoners still contained?” Cadence asked.

“Yes, mistress,” Minuette and Twinkleshine said.

Applejack recognized those two as Cadence’s former bridesmaids. ‘Aren’t they supposed to be fired?’ Applejack thought.

Cadence used a spell on the two bridesmaids. Applejack remembered when she and the others offered to be her new bridesmaids and saw Cadence use a similar spell on them. ‘Good luck, my flank,’ she thought.

The bride had left. Minuette went into the cave, while Twinkleshine stood guard.

The three mares checked if Cadence was gone.

Applejack wanted to make sure if Cadence was lying. She said to Lyra, “Why did you became a bridesmaid?”

“I was asked to become a bridesmaid,” Lyra said. “I accepted because I wanted to pass some time while Ponyville defrosts. Why?”

Applejack wondered how much Cadence had lied. She took the pan and said, “Can you distract that pony over there?”

Lyra and Bon-Bon nodded. Applejack sneaked around.

Lyra and Bon-Bon exited the bush.

Twinkleshine said, “Hold it. What are you doing here?”

“We came here to see this wonderful cave here,” Lyra said.

Twinkleshine moved closer. “Sorry, but I can’t let you move closer into this cave. You are trespassing...”

Applejack sneaked behind Twinkleshine. She gripped the pan with her teeth and made sure not to hit too hard.

“...And another thing. If I see you two anywhere near here during the wedding, I’m gonna call the gu--”

Twinkleshine mumbled as she felt something hit the back of her head. She fainted.

Applejack said, “She’ll be out cold for a while.”

Rainbow Dash was practicing again when she saw Cadence fly away from a nearby cave.

‘What’s Cadence doing in that mine?’ Rainbow Dash thought. She flew there to investigate. She saw Applejack with three other ponies, one of them was knocked out.

Rainbow Dash descended and said, “Hey Applejack, what’s going on?”

Applejack said, “It’s a long story. “Can you do me a favor, Sugarcube?”

“Sure,” Rainbow Dash said. “What is it?” She saw Lyra and Bon-Bon were making sure that Twinkleshine was unconscious.

“Can you tell the others that I’m gonna be late?” Applejack said.

“Sure,” Rainbow Dash said. “But why?”

Applejack said, “I just want to be sure of something okay?”

Rainbow Dash noticed something in Applejack’s eyes. ‘It’s about Twilight, isn’t it?”

“I’m not sure,” Applejack said. “Look, just tell the others that I won’t be there on time, okay?”

Rainbow Dash noticed the unconscious Twinkleshine’s green eyes. She wondered if Cadence really had been keeping secrets. She said, “No.”

“Rainbow,” Applejack said. “You have to--”

“Applejack,” Rainbow interrupted. “I’m your friend first, and Cadence’s bridesmaid second.” She thought back to her poor response to Twilight at the rehearsal. She realized that she may have betrayed her friend and her element.

“Wait,” Lyra said. “You’re my replacement?”

“Well,” Applejack said. “We asked to be her new bridesmaids. She said that her old ones used her as an excuse to meet the royalty here.”

Bon-Bon said, “Looks like the other way around, if you ask me.”

Twinkleshine had just awoken. “What just happened?”

“You don’t remember threatening to send the royal guard after us?” Bon-Bon said.

“No, the last thing I remember was the Princess meeting me and Minuette last night” Twinkleshine rubbed her head. “Ow, my head.”

“Sorry ‘bout that,” Applejack said.

Twinkleshine said, “I don’t think I can make it to the wedding rehearsal today.”

“Um, the rehearsal was yesterday,” Rainbow Dash said.

“Really?” Twinkleshine said. ‘Guess I’ve been out longer than I thought.” She left to cure her pain.

Applejack said, “Does anypony have something I can use for a tether?”

Bon-Bon said, “Well, I’ve bought some strings.” She took out a set of Orphean Strings.

Lyra said, “Are those Orphean Strings?”

“That's what the shopkeeper said,” Bon-Bon said. “They were for you. I figured you needed some replacements if the ones on your lyre broke. Come to think of it, I may have bought too much.”

Lyra levitated a pack of string from Bon-Bon’s bad and handed them to Applejack. “Would these do?” she said.

“Huh?” Applejack said. “I couldn’t--” But Lyra kept insisting.

“Why do you need a tether?” Rainbow Dash said.

Applejack accepted Lyra’s offer and fashioned a lasso with the red strings. She used it to rope a stalagmite. She said, “You still have to warn the others. Tug on the string when you return. We’ll tug if we find something, alright?”

Rainbow Dash felt somewhat conflicted, but she at the moment couldn't trust the bride. She said, “You can count on me,” and flew to the castle.

Applejack tied the string to Bon-Bon’s saddlebag, then took the pan just in case.

Applejack, Bon-Bon, and Lyra entered the cave.

xxvi - Cassandra's Vindication

In the mines below Canterlot, Twilight Sparkle and Princess Cadence still looked for an escape.

Cadence let out a sigh. “I hope he’s alright. Who knows what the changelings might do with him?”

Twilight said, “It’ll be alright, Cadence.”

Twilight wondered if her friends even noticed she was gone. ‘They probably wouldn't care,’ Twilight thought.

“Are you sure, Twi?” Cadence said.

“I’m sure,” Twilight said, “we’ll find a way out of this and stop the changelings.”

Cadence smiled. She remembered the good times she had with Twilight. ‘You always were a special kind of unicorn,’ she thought.

A few moments later, They heard a voice in the distance. “Hello, is anypony there?”

Twilight recognized the voice. ‘Applejack?’ she thought. She and Cadence tried to follow the voice.

In the castle, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity were preparing for the wedding. Pinkie’s tail was twitching again.

“I’m so excited for his wedding,” Pinkie Pie said. “Are you excited for this wedding? It’s gonna be so exciting...”

Just then, Rainbow Dash flew into the room. “Hey, guys.”

“Darling,” Rarity said. “Why aren’t you dressed?”

“And where’s Applejack?” Fluttershy said.

“Yeah, me and Applejack are gonna be late,” Rainbow Dash said.

“But why?” Pinkie Pie said.

Rainbow Dash wasn’t sure what to say next.

“Darling,” Rarity said. “You aren’t keeping secrets from us, are you?”

“No,” Rainbow Dash said. “But I’m beginning to think Twilight was right, at least about the bridesmaids. Applejack went with two other ponies to search some cave for prisoners.”

“But why would Cadence take any prisoners?” Fluttershy said.

“I don’t know,” Rainbow Dash said.

Everypony thought back to the rehearsal and wondered if Twilight was in the caves.

“You said Twilight may had been right about the bridesmaids?” Rarity said. “What happened to them?”

“Well,” Rainbow Dash said. “One of them was unconscious when I saw her. I think Applejack knocked her out for some reason. I don’t know where the other one is.”

The other three were surprised to hear this. They wondered if Cadence was keeping secrets.

Rainbow Dash was about to leave. But Rarity said, “wait! We’re going with you.”

“What?!” Rainbow Dash said. “No! Cadence would notice if all her bridesmaids went missing.”

“And you think that she wouldn’t notice if two or her bridesmaids went missing?” Rarity said.

“But--” Rainbow Dash said.

“Besides,” Rarity said. “You think we wouldn't worry about Applejack? She went into a dirty old cave with two strangers, looking for other strangers. Of course we would be worried.”

“Did you forget what happened with that rodeo?” Pinkie said.

“Oh, yeah,” Rainbow Dash said.

“Besides,” Pinkie said. “The wedding won't be fun if we spend it worrying about Applejack.”

“Where is Applejack, anyway?”

Princess Cadence had entered the room. The other ponies had an expression of shock on their faces.

“Princess,” Rarity said in surprise. “Applejack went to get some um--”

“Rainbow Roses,” Pinkie Pie interrupted.

“Rainbow Roses?” Cadence and Rainbow Dash said.

“Yes,” Rarity regained her composure. “Rainbow Roses. They are rumored to bring good luck to the bride, groom, and whoever catches the bouquet.”

“Oh, really?” Cadence said.

“Why yes,” Rarity said. “In fact we were just about to help Applejack pick the roses. They are very rare! So we may be fashionably late for the wedding.”

“Very well.” Cadence said. ‘They wouldn't try to find Twilight now. I’d made sure their bonds are severed,’ she thought. “I’ll be preparing for my wedding.” She left the room.

“Phew,” Rainbow Dash said. She looked back to her friends and considered that they might be worried about Applejack. "Alright, you can come.” She flew out the tower.

The other mares went downstairs and followed her to the cave.

Behind the tower, a large crack appeared in the barrier.

In the skies above Canterlot., the windigo adviser was looking at the barrier. He saw the cracks and said, “Yes, soon we shall feast.”

Diamond Dust approached her adviser. She said, “What was yesterday’s ‘presentation’ for anyway?”

“I noticed your servants needed some motivation,” the adviser said.

Diamond Dust was getting concerned. She looked back at Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo’s responses to the rehearsal. She thought, ‘What the hay is this feeling? It feels... wrong.’ She wondered if it had anything to do with the Crusaders. ‘That can’t be right, I’m their queen, I’m superior to them and everypony on this dumb cloud!’ Yet she felt less superior than she was before becoming queen.

“You should get ready,” the adviser said. “The barrier is due to fall soon.”

Diamond Dust trotted away. She still wondered what that feeling was.

In Canterlot’s mines, Applejack, Bon-Bon, and Lyra were looking for anything suspicious.

“Hello, is anypony here?” Applejack said.

The red string was straightening. Lyra strummed the sting and it made a beautiful sound.

Bon-Bon gave Applejack another set of strings. She tied them together and used them to expand the tether.

“So, are you looking for anypony in particular?” Lyra said.

“Depends,” Applejack said. “Why’d you ask?”

“Cause you look kinda down?” Bon-Bon said.

“I don’t wanna talk about it right now,” Applejack said. The three continued their search.

Meanwhile, Twilight and Cadence were still looking for the exit. They saw a strange red string on the ground.

“Huh?” Twilight said. “Cadence, did Chrysalis keep any other prisoners here?”

“No,” Cadence said, “I was the only one she trapped here untill now.”

Twilight heard Applejack’s voice again. It was coming from the cave behind them. She wondered if she really is here. The two followed the string and the voice and took the cave behind them.

Meanwhile, Minuette was patrolling the mine on Chrysalis’ orders. She saw a red string on the ground.

“Well,” Minuette said. “What have we here? An escape line perhaps? Not on my watch.” She used her horn to server the string. “Now to find who’s responsible for this.” She followed the line further into the cave.

Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie went to the mouth of the cave. They saw the lifeline attached to the stalagmite. Rainbow Dash tugged the string, but she pulled too much and the other end of the string flew out of the cave.

The four mares were shocked. They wondered what happened to Applejack.

Rainbow Dash was the most worried. She flew into the cave and the others followed.

Twilight and Cadence followed the string through several caves and shafts until the two saw Applejack, Lyra, and Bon-Bon.

Applejack looked back and saw Twilight and Cadence. She was relieved that Twilight was okay, but confused about Cadence. She noticed that Cadence looked like she hadn’t eaten or slept well in days, a stark contrast to the clean but mean bride-to-be. She was also confused about why Twilight was with her after she accused her of being evil the previous day.

Twilight noticed that the fake Cadence’s ex-bridesmaid and her friend were there.

Applejack approached her friend. “I assume you know why Cadence looks messier than a pig?”

Twilight said, “It’s a long story...” She and Cadence explained about the changeling queen and how she impersonated Cadence and used her form to advance her plans.

A few minutes later, Applejack said, “So you mean to say that this Cadence is the real deal and the one outside the caves is an imposter?”

Twilight nodded.

“And that the imposter wants to use your brother to feed her minions?” Bon-Bon said.

Cadence said, “That‘s right.”

Applejack felt even more regret about not believing Twilight.

Lyra asked, “And that she wants to break the barrier so that her army can feast on all the love in Canterlot?”

“Yes,” Twilight said.

Applejack said, “I’m sorry, sugarcube. I don’t know what came over me, aside from Chrysalis’ lies.”

“It’s alright,” Twilight said. “She fooled us all.” She looked behind her to the string. “We need to get out of here, there’s still a wedding to stop.”

“I don’t think so!”

A voice was heard from where Twilight and Cadence came from. Minuette emerged from the cave. “My mistress wants you nice and trapped here while she marries Shining Armor. You’re not going anywhere.”

xxvii - Asterion's Challenge

In Canterlot, Princess Cadence was preparing for her wedding. ‘This day is going to be perfect,’ she thought. She looked outside and saw the cracks on her husband-to-be’s barrier. ‘And nothing can ever ruin this day.’

Meanwhile, in the skies above, the windigos were readying their invasion. Diamond Dust looked at the city. She still felt lousy. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo were preparing their items.

Diamond Dust’s adviser thought, ‘We are ready... to feast!’

In the mines below Canterlot, Twilight, Applejack, Cadence, Lyra, and Bon-Bon were confronted by Minuette.

“So,” Minuette said, “are you gonna stay here like good little prisoners, or are we gonna do this the hard way?”

Twilight and Applejack prepared to attack. Applejack had the pan in her mouth.

“Wrong choice!” Minuette said. Her horn glowed a tranquil blue light as Applejack and Twilight were lifted in the air.

Minuette flung the two mares into the walls. Lyra and Bon-Bon sneaked around trying to take the blue unicorn by surprise.

Applejack and Twilight went for another attack.

Cadence flew around to distract Minuette. Twilight fired some pink beams of light at the brainwashed pony and Applejack kicked her into a pillar.

The impact caused a crack on the pillar. Minuette stood up and said, “It would be easier for you to let the mistress take over Canterlot.”

“If you think I’ll let some imposter take my brother and ruin Cadence's life” --Twilight prepared another blast-- “you got another thing coming.”

Elsewhere in the mines, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie galloped into the caves searching for Applejack. Pinkie’s tail was twitching faster than ever.

The four mares felt the ground crumbling below them.

Pinkie Pie noticed her tail hadn't stopped twitching. She searched the ground for any falling objects.

A large beam of purple and pink light shot through the ground from a few feet away.

“What’s going on?” Rainbow Dash said.

The beam vanished, leaving a large hole in the ground.

“Something tells me that Applejack’s down there,” Rarity said.

There were cracks expanding from the hole.

Soon, the floor was ready to collapse below them.

The four mares tried to be careful and not cause the cave ground to collapse, but the cracks were too great, too deep. Eventually, the floor collapsed, and the four mares fell into the ground below.

Rainbow Dash took flight in an attempt to save her friends. She flew around the area below and destroyed the rocks, then she grabbed her friends and tried to slow her descent. They landed on a ledge a few feet away.

“Well,” Pinkie Pie said. "That was close.”

“Too close,” Rainbow Dash said.

They heard the sounds of a battle in the distance. They followed the sounds unaware that Pinkie’s tail was still twitching.

Lyra and Bon-Bon were charging Minuette from behind, Twilight and Cadence fired more magic blasts, and Applejack was trying to tie Minuette up with some of the lifeline.

Minuette dodged each of the attacks by jumping to a ledge.

“So,” Minuette said. “You really think that Shining Armor would be happy with you?”

“I don’t think,” Cadence said. “I know!” She let loose another beam of magic to pacify Minuette, but she missed and Minuette climbed up to attack Cadence.

Twilight saw what Minuette was about to do and teleported in front of her.

Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity had followed the sounds to their source. The four saw Cadence fighting another pony.

“What the hay?” Rainbow Dash said.

“But we just saw Cadence a while ago,” Rarity said.

The four were baffled by this fight. They saw Applejack and Twilight engaging Minuette. And Lyra and Bon-Bon trying to stage another sneak attack.

“Twilight?” Fluttershy said.

“Applejack?” Pinkie Pie said.

“But what’s Twilight doing here?” Rarity said.

Pinkie shrugged.

Rainbow Dash said, “Come on!” She flew into the fray to help her friends, and the others followed.

Twilight was in front of Minuette. “It’s over.” She stopped Minuette’s spell. “Let us go,” Twilight said.

Minuette just cackled madly. She jumped into the center of the chamber and began casting a spell. She was about to cast it when she felt a fierce blow. Her concentration was shattered as she flew a foot back. She looked back and saw Rainbow Dash had dealt the blow.

“That’s for trying to hurt my friends!” Rainbow Dash said.

Twilight and Applejack were surprised to see Rainbow Dash there. They saw that Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy were there as well.

“Rainbow,” Applejack said. “I thought I told you to--”

“Keep watch over a severed lifeline?” Rainbow Dash said.

Lyra and Bon-Bon noticed that the line snapped before the fight.

Minuette said, “So the rest of my replacements came too? How wonderful.” She jumped into another ledge and hid in the darkness.

“She’s been brainwashed,” Applejack said.

“Goodness,” Fluttershy said.

Rainbow Dash and Rarity realized that Cadence was there. Looks of confusion and worry washed over their faces at the realization.

Twilight noticed their confusion. “Everyone,” Twilight said. “Meet the real Princess Cadence.”

Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy were confused. Cadence began explaining about her capture and the changelings.

Several minutes later...

“Wait a minute,” Rainbow Dash said. “You mean she’s the real Cadence, and the one getting married at the castle is a shapeshifter queen?”

“Of course!” Twilight said.

“And she brainwashed her bridesmaids and Shining Armor?” Rarity asked.

“Eeyup,” Applejack said.

“And she and Twilight already explained this to you,” Pinkie Pie said. “Giving you some sense of deja vu?”

Applejack was a little stunned by that question.

Lyra and Bon-Bon were in another part of the chamber.

“So um,” Lyra said. “Thanks again for the strings.”

“You’re welcome,” Bon-Bon said. “Something wrong?”

Lyra was still processing the revelation of the false Cadence, and worried about her fellow ex-bridesmaid.

“We still have to get out of here,” Cadence said. “Caterlot’s still in danger.”

“Except the lifeline’s severed,” Lyra said.

“Yeah,” Rainbow Dash said. ‘How are we gonna find out way out of this cave now.

“Couldn’t Rarity use her gem-finding spell?” Pinkie said. “There must be more than one entrance to this mine, right?”

“Except the entrances are likely to have the gems plucked,” Applejack said.

“It’s worth a shot,” Rainbow Dash said.

“Very well,” Rarity said.

“You’re not leaving this place,” echoed a voice.

The group looked above and saw Minuette at the highest ledge. She said, “My mistress told me to keep you in these mines, and keep you here I will!” Her horn began to glow. “It’s a shame really, she wanted you alive for later.”

Pinkie’s tail began twitching as Minuette’s horn glowed brighter and brighter. She let loose a barrage of magical blasts on the wall and pillars.

The area around them rumbled as Rainbow Dash flew to stop her.

By the time she flew up to the ledge Minuette had already cast the spells.

“You are... too...” Minuette fainted. Stalactites fell as the mines began to cave in.

Rainbow Dash took the unconscious unicorn and flew down. The group began to escape the collapsing cave.

xxviii - Odysseus' Trojan Horse

The mines below Canterlot were collapsing. Twilight Sparkle and her group tried to find an escape. Debris fell from above.

Rarity used her gem-finding spell to search for an exit and led the group there. Rainbow Dash and Princess Cadence flew around in search of a pathway, with the unconscious Minuette on Cadence’s back. Lyra, Bon-Bon, Twilight, and Applejack tried to remove obstacles while Pinkie Pie warned the group of incoming boulders. Fluttershy looked out for anypony that might need saving.

Pinkie’s tail twitched as a boulder fell from the ceiling. Applejack kicked the boulder away.

Twilight lifted several rocks that were blocking the path.

The group was almost there. There was a light in the distance. But the debris fell down in front of them and blocked the path.

Everyone moved the rocks as they tried to escape. They had mere moments to escape.

The last of the obstacles were cleared. The group escaped the cave-in.

As they galloped out of the mines, they could see the entrance to the mines collapse. They panted as they made sure everyone was there.

“Everypony alright?” Twilight said.

“We’re fine,” Applejack said.

Just then, Minuette woke up. “What happened?”

The other ponies were shocked.

“Why does my head hurt?” Minuette said.

They saw that her eyes were no longer green.

Lyra approached Minuette and said, “You need to rest. You had a bad dream.”

Minuette left to find something for her head.

The group looked to the castle.

“Come on!” Twilight said. They went to the castle.

The wedding had started. Princess Cadence trotted down the aisle in her white and gold wedding dress. A large crowd gathered to see the wedding, among them was Silver Spoon.

Princess Celestia, Spike, and Shining Armor were at the other side of the aisle. The spell Cadence had over Celestia faded long ago. She wondered why she threatened to send Twilight to the moon, but more pressingly--

“Where are the bridesmaids?” Celestia said.

Cadence looked behind and saw that her bridesmaids were still gone. The crowd was shocked. They wondered where the bridesmaids are.

Everypony looked out the windows as they saw some of the mountainside crumble. Cadence took a closer look.

She saw her bridesmaids, one of her ex-bridesmaids and her friend, Twilight Sparkle, and another Princess Cadence. The sight shocked her.

Cadence answered Celestia. “They went to find something.”

“Did they find it?” Shining Armor said.

“Oh yeah,” Cadence said. “But I don’t think they’ll make it back to the wedding. Can we lock the doors?”

“Sure,” Celestia replied. “But why?”

“I just don’t feel safe with them unlocked like that,” Cadence said.

“I can assure you that the royal guard is watching over the wedding, and Shining Armor’s barrier is still in place. But if you insist.”

Celestia used her magic. The doors to the hall were locked.

“Thank you,” Cadence smirked. The wedding resumed.

In the skies above, Diamond Dust and her adviser were looking at the barrier. Apple Bloom picked up her sword with her mouth, Sweetie Belle levitated her scales, and Scootaloo grabbed the scythe with her teeth.

“Are you ready?” the adviser said.

“Ready,” Apple Bloom mumbled. She was having a little trouble wielding the sword.

“Ready,” Sweetie Belle said.

“Ready,” Scootaloo said.

“Good,” the adviser said.

Diamond Dust looked at the cracks at the bottom of the barrier. She saw that the changelings were also preparing to begin their invasion.

Twilight’s group had made it into the castle. They saw that the room was empty.

‘Everypony must be at the wedding,’ Twilight thought. They traversed to the grand hall, where the wedding was being held.

A few minutes later, they were at the doors. Twilight tried to open them.

“They're locked!” Twilight said.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash tried slamming the doors but they wouldn’t budge.

“What do we do?” Pinkie said.

“Um--” Futtershy said.

“Don’t say it,” Rainbow Dash said.

“There has to be something we can do,” Bon-Bon said.

Twilight was at the other side of the hallway. She began charging her magic.

The wedding continued. Cadence was already at the altar with her husband to be.

“...If there any objections or reasons why these two should not be wed,” Celestia said, “speak now or forever hold your peace.”

A purple light engulfed the doors at the other side. The doors were blasted to the middle of the aisle.

Twilight Sparkle had entered the aisle. “I have an objection!”

Cadence’s mouth was agape. “What?!”

“You’re not the real Cadence!” Twilight pointed her hoof at the bride. Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack, Lyra, and Bon-Bon entered the room.

Cadence cried again. “Why do you have to try to ruin my wedding?”

“Because she's right, you’re not the real Cadence!”

The last to enter was the other Princess Cadence. Messy, but true, she walked alongside Twilight.

“You hypnotised my brother!” Twilight said.

“You trapped and impersonated the real Cadence!” Rainbow Dash said.

“You lied to everypony in the city!” Applejack said.

“What do you have to say for yourself, Chrysalis?” the other Cadence said.

Cadence knew the jig was up. She began laughing maniacally as she approached Twilight and her doppelganger. “You got me. You really got me. But you know what, you’re too late!”

Viridian flames surrounded the false Cadence as she levitated into the air. She was cocooned in a ball of green energy as her limbs and body became black and her mane became messy and a sickly teal.

The Changeling Queen, Chrysalis, had emerged from the cocoon and revealed her true form.

The reveal of Chrysalis’ identity shocked and repulsed everypony.

“The trojan horse has been opened,” Chrysalis said. “Your barrier is no more!”

Outside Canterlot, the changelings were attacking the barrier. They exploited the crack and weaknesses as they rammed into the magic sphere.

The barrier shattered and the pieces fell and disappeared. The changelings flew into the city.

Above, the windigoes, led by Diamond Dust, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo, flew into the city and began their feast.

From within the wedding hall. Chrysalis cackled madly as her forces had invaded Canterlot.

Twilight exclaimed, “What have you done to my brother?!”

Chrysalis approached Shining Armor and said, “You should have known. Didn’t you tell me that I ‘hypnotized’ Shining Armor?”

Twilight and her friends prepared to fight Chrysalis. Their battle had begun.

xxix - Helios' Blade

In Canterlot’s castle, Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash were about to engage Chrysalis in battle. Celestia was horrified. She realized that Chrysalis had infiltrated Canterlot to allow her army to feast on the ponies' love.

Celestia flew between the combatants and faced the changeling queen. Everyone was shocked. “Your battle is with me!” she said.

“But Princess,” Twilight said.

“Very well, I’ve wanted to face off with the ‘God-Princess of Ponykind,’” Chrysalis snarked.

“Twilight Sparkle,” Celestia said. “You and your friends have to go! Find the Elements of Harmony. I’ll handle Chrysalis.”

Twilight Sparkle realized that both the changelings and the windigos were invading Canterlot. She and her group left the hall. By that point, some of the guests began evacuating, but others stayed behind to watch the ensuing fight, including Lyra, Bon-Bon, and Silver Spoon.

Cadence, meanwhile, approached Shining Armor. Tears of sorrow and rage rolled down her cheeks upon seeing her husband-to-be like this, brainwashed and immobile, under Chrysalis’ command.

Chrysalis had a look of worry on her face, but she was unwilling to let her opponent exploit that. “So, you really think that the likes of you can defeat me?” Chrysalis boasted. She charged at Celestia.

“Now that you foolishly revealed yourself,” Celestia said, charging at Chrysalis and locking horns, “I can protect my subjects...” She backed up and flew in the air. Her horn began to glow a sunny yellow “...From you!” She finished, firing a beam of yellow light at Chrysalis, who countered with her own spell.

Green light shot out of Chrysalis’ horn and intercepted Celestia’s attack.

Celestia and Chrysalis were locked in a tug-of-war with their attacks. Celestia realized that she was getting overpowered and dodged out of the way.

Chrysalis’ beam hit the ceiling and left a large hole in it. Chrysalis had a look of pleasant surprise on her face. She cackled triumphantly and looked at Cadence. “Shining Armor’s love for you had made me more powerful than Celestia!”

Cadence saw Celestia fire another yellow beam at Chrysalis. The attack hit the queen and she turned around.

“Don’t think you’ve won yet,” Celestia said. She used her magic to heal her wounds and created a blade of light. She took the sword’s handle with her teeth.

Cadence looked at the changeling queen with contempt. She charged at Chrysalis.

In the skies outside the castle, Diamond Dust, her adviser, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo were trotting over the city.

Diamond Dust and her adviser saw Twilight and her group heading outside the castle.

“Well this is interesting,” the adviser said. He looked to Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo. “You three, with me.” and back to Diamond Dust. “You know what to do.”

The adviser, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo went eastward. Diamond Dust went to the castle. She felt the same feeling she felt before the invasion started.

Gale Force and his team of pegasi were ready to help defend the city. They flew at the windigos, their barriers more than ready to help them in their fight.

Gale said to Thunderlane, “You ready for your first battle, rookie?”

“First battle,” Thunderlane said. “You forgot the train already?” He charged at some incoming windigos.

“No,” Cloudchaser said. “You spent it looking for me and flying away from them.”

Flitter giggled a bit before flying at a swarm of changelings.

Thunderlane snarked, “Very funny.”

Star Song flew at another changeling. She knocked it out with her hoof.

Another swarm of changelings went at the group. Gale was shocked at who they were disguised as. The swarm looked like Over Cast.

Flitter, Cloudchaser, and Star Song were furious that the changelings had the gall to disguise themselves as their fallen friend. Cloudchaser flew at the swarm, and her fire barrier roasted the enemies and sent them running.

Gale Force was still shocked by this. He looked at the sky and saw a pony walking on air. He knew he saw that pony before and flew after it.

“Gale!” Cloudchaser said. “What are you doing?”

“I’m gonna avenge Over Cast,” Gale said. “That’s what!” He flew away from their team and left them to fend for themselves.

Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack were galloping towards the chamber where the Elements of Harmony were stored.

Along the way, they saw the changelings disguised as themselves.

The group was baffled.

Twilight said, “They’re changelings, remember?”

The Twilight lookalikes repeated Twilight’s sentence.

“Well, that’s just great,” Rainbow Dash snarked.

“Come on y’all,” Applejack said. “We have to get to the Elements.”

The group entered the fray to get to the chamber.

Twilight Sparkle used her magic to knock out her doppelgangers. She fired purple beams at them until they reverted to their true forms.

Rainbow Dash flew to the sky as multiple Dashes and Fluttershys chased her. She made a sharp turn causing her pursuers to crash into each other.

Rarity charged at the changelings and kicked and chopped them until the swarm was defeated. They reverted to their true forms instantly. “Ruffians,” she said.

Pinkie Pie however, just stood back as a changeling just cycled through her disguises.

“Ooh, do me! Do me!” Pinkie requested.

The changeling, disguised as Fluttershy rolled her eyes and changed to Pinkie Pie. She smiled after the transformation.

Pinkie examined her doppelganger and said, “Meh, I’ve seen better.” She grabbed Twilight Sparkle and the two mares blasted the changeling.

The changeling grew dizzy from the blast and cycled through her forms before fainting. Twilight and Pinkie then blasted the other changelings with purple beams of magic.

Fluttershy was trying to hide from the changelings. She saw a group disguised as herself heading her way. The changelings approached Fluttershy as she tried to act like them. The real Fluttershy pointed right.

The changelings moved towards the direction Fluttershy pointed and left.

Fluttershy sighed before she was confronted by four Rainbow Dashes. She whimpered in fear before seeing that one of them winked at her and kicked the other three out.

Dash said, “Not very smart, are they?” And helped her friend get up.

Twilight and Pinkie found Applejack and Rarity among the doppelgangers. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy flew to the group.

“Everypony here?” Twilight said.

The other mares nodded.

Twilight checked to see if the others were changelings, and the group continued to fight their way through the swarm.

Twilight cast more spells as her horn fired more purple beams. Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Applejack used their hooves to beat the changelings out of their way. Rarity also used her magic to levitate the flying changelings and knock them out. Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy defended the group from the rear, with Pinkie using her party cannon.

Eventually the group defeated the swarm. They were a little bit tired from the attack. They went inside the chamber where the Elements of Harmony were kept, only to find that there were frozen changelings inside.

“So, you finally made it huh?”

They heard a voice echo through the ice. A windigo appeared in front of them.

He said, “Welcome, my friends to the beginning of the end.”

xxx - Chione's Fall

Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Applejack were in the chamber where the Elements of Harmony were kept. There was a windigo in the center of the chamber.

“Who are you?!” Rainbow Dash said.

“That is not important right now,” the windigo said. “The question is who are you?”

Twilight Sparkle looked behind the windigo. She could see the chamber was frozen over behind him. She sensed a presence the Elements.

The windigo looked at Applejack. “Oh so, you’re Applejack then? Chosen by honesty, but you let yourself become swallowed by lies, and almost deserted your friends because of them. And you found the truth too late and your sister suffers.”

Applejack fumed. She recalled the time the windigos attacked Ponyville. “You and your queen kidnapped my sister!”

“Perhaps,” the windigo said. “But how would you know?”

“Let them go,” Applejack said.

Rarity remembered the day Ponyville was frozen as well. She knew that her sister was captured as well. She said, “Release our sisters, ruffian, or so help me I’ll--”

“You’ll what, Rarity?” the windigo said. “Selfishly hang me out to be ostracized like you did her and her friends? Desert me so you can make a wedding dress and climb the social ladder? So much for generosity.”

“I do not prioritize myself over my friends!” Rarity said.

“Be careful, everypony,” Twilight said. “He’s trying to rile us up.”

The windigo looked at Rainbow Dash. “Ah, Rainbow Dash. Chosen by loyalty to betray your friends not once, but twice.”

“What?!” Rainbow Dash said. “Why I oughta...”

Rainbow tried to charge the windigo, only to be held back by Applejack.

“Hold on, sugarcube,” Applejack said.

Rainbow Dash shouted to the windigo, “You foal-napped Scootaloo. I have half a mind to--”

“Drench me in rainwater?” the windigo said. “Oh yes, surely that’ll work well. After all, it worked on Scootaloo.”

Rainbow Dash stopped trying to charge the windigo.

The windigo turned to Fluttershy. The timid pegasus shivered in fear.

“Fluttershy, the kindest, sweetest pony you’ll ever meet,” the windigo said with disdain. “And yet the cruelest one you ever met. So self-absorbed that you didn’t realize when your friend was telling the truth, or when three certain fillies wanted your help. But, then again, that cruelty is appropriate for traitors.”

Fluttershy cried a bit, and Rarity tried to comfort her.

The windigo turned to Pinkie Pie. “And you! Pinkie Pie, who wants to spread laughter to the world. But instead you helped spread sorrow and misery. You’re just as much the problem as you are the solution, everypony should be thankful that’s there’s only one of you.”

Pinkie Pie glared at the windigo. “That’s not true!”

“Enough!” Twilight Sparkle shouted. She trotted forward. “My friends are not what you say they are. You have no right to hurt their feelings or kidnap the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Let them go, leave Canterlot and never return or I will--”

“You’ll what?” the windigo said. “What your brother did to keep us out, you did to keep them out. You are the worst of them all, Twilight Sparkle. But maybe that’s why the Element of Magic chose you.”

The mares glared at the windigo.

Meanwhile, Chrysalis, Celestia, and Cadence continued their fight. Celestia took her sword and slashed Chrysalis, while Cadence supported her by attacking with purple beams.

The three combatants noticed a chill in the air as the window on one side froze.

Chrysalis and Celestia noticed the sudden chill.

“What’s going on?” Celestia said.

“You didn’t notice?” Chrysalis said. “We were not the only invasion.” She hid her fear of Celestia and of the new contestant behind a layer of confidence.

A fog entered the hall, obscuring the sight of the three battlers and the observers. Diamond Dust emerged from the fog. She glared at Celestia.

“Princess,” Diamond Dust said. “I’m here for you.”

Celestia was unnerved by the appearance of her new opponent. Everyone saw a filly with wings and a horn of ice. Silver Spoon took a look at what was once her friend once more.

“So you’re the leader of the windigos?” Celestia said

“Leader?” Diamond Dust said. “I’m the queen.”

Celestia and Cadence was distracted by Diamond Dust. Chrysalis saw an opportunity to escape. She used her magic, and Shining Armor began to move.

Cadence saw Shining Armor and Chrysalis gallop away and gave chase.

When Cadence left, Diamond Dust used her horn and froze the doors shut. Celestia and the bystanders were trapped inside.

“Now it’s just you and me,” Diamond Dust said.

The two began their fight.

Back at the chamber where the Elements were, Twilight and her friends further confronted the lone windigo.

“Thy Bearers of Harmony,” the windigo said. “You art hypocrites of the highest order, traitors of the virtues you were chosen to embody. You art the reason we shall unseal the seven seals and freeze the land over once more.”

“Seven Seals?” Twilight said. “But Celestia sealed them one thousand years ago. After she--”

“--and her kingdom sealed most of us into Tartarus?” the windigo asked. “I ask of thee, did you or did you not forsake three foals to be ostracized?”

“Why should we tell you?!” Rainbow dash said.

“And why are you speaking like somepony from a thousand years ago?” Pinkie said.

Applejack remembered what happened three days before the Crusaders were chased out of Ponyville. She knew that she never tried to help her sister until it was far too late. She stepped forward and confessed, “Yes, we helped kick out three fillies, or rather we just stood aside while they were being shunned.” She looked at the windigo. “But know that whatever it takes, I will find them and we will set things straight!”

“Well, you’re in luck,” the windigo said. “Why don’t you start now?”

The doors behind the windigo glowed a viridian glow as they began to open. Twilight and her friends were shocked by what they saw.

In the doorway were Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo. They wore two of the Elements each.

xxxi - Romulus vs Remus

Twilight and her friends were shocked to see The Cutie Mark Crusaders here. The mares saw that they had the same items they had as statues and the more icy changes. Apple Bloom also wore Applejack and Pinkie Pie’s Elements. Sweetie Belle had Rarity and Twilight’s Elements. Scootaloo had Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy’s Elements.

The mares looked back at the windigo as the Crusaders trotted forward from the other side of the large chamber. Rainbow Dash said, “What did you do to them?!”

“I’ve merely let them know the truth,” the windigo said. “That you’d ostracised your sisters.”

Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash looked at the fillies, horrified by the icy wings, horn, and legguards.

Twilight said, “Who are you? Why are you doing this?”

“This again?” the windigo said. “If you must know...”

Other windigos emerged around the talking one as he uttered these words, “I am Legion, for we are many. Enjoy your bonding time.”

The windigos left the chamber, leaving Twilight’s friends and the Crusaders alone.

The Crusaders were now directly in front of Twilight’s group. The mares didn’t know what to do.

Applejack was the first to speak. She approached Apple Bloom. “Apple Bloom, tell me what--”

Apple Bloom just took her sword and attempted to slash Applejack. Twilight intervened with a violet force-field. The barrier vanished.

“What the hay?” Rainbow Dash said. The mares saw something in the Crusaders’ eyes, something more subtle than the eyes of Chrysalis’ brainwashed bridesmaids.

“You’re the worst sister ever,” Apple Bloom said.

“How could you betrayed your sisters like that?” Sweetie Belle said.

“Guess you learned by example huh?” Scootaloo said.

“What are you talking about?” Rarity said. “Don’t you recognize us?”

“Enough.” Apple Bloom pointed her crimson sword at the mares. “It’s time you realize how awful you are as sisters and as ponies.” She readied her sword again and attempted to slash Applejack.

Scootaloo likewise, took flight with her wings of ice and attempted to cut Rainbow Dash with her viridian scythe.

Sweetie Belle cast a spell with her ebony scales and icy azure horn. The chamber was separated into thirds by ice walls. She then attempted to freeze Rarity and Twilight.

Applejack and Pinkie Pie went out to the gardens and Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy flew out. They didn’t want to hurt their sisters. Apple Bloom chased the earth ponies while Scootaloo pursued the pegasi.

Cadence followed Chrysalis and Shining Armor outside Canterlot, where the windigos had frozen part of the city, and changelings had covered another part in green cocoons.

Cadence cast a spell and a pink beam hit Chrysalis. The changeling queen stopped. She said, “Spunky, but still futile.”

Cadence fumed. She fired another beam of energy and levitated the loose items and ice around them. She flung them towards Chrysalis.

Chrysalis quickly changed form as she charged. Her form became a white stallion with a blue mane and a shield cutie mark. She transformed into Shining Armor.

Cadence hesitated. She knew that it wasn’t the real Shining Armor, but she struggled with her emotions.

Chrysalis slammed into Cadence. She said, “You’re pathetic, you know that. The long lost Crystal Princess. And you have no kingdom, no people, and not even a husband to rule with. You’re nothing.”

Cadence struggled to stand up. She saw blood coming from her wounds.

She looked at Shining Armor. She then glared at the changeling queen now in his form.

Chrysalis said, “There’s nothing you can do now. With or without me, Canterlot will fall, and the rest of Equestria will soon follow.”

Cadence finally stood up. She said, “I can still do this.” She flew up to the air and to the real Shining Armor. A pink light emerged from her horn and Chrysalis’s spell over him was broken.

“Ugh,” Shining Armor said. “What happened?” He looked at the changeling queen, still in his form.

Chrysalis began to revert to her true form. “So, you managed to free Shining Armor? It’s too late for that. He has little to no energy left and his love for you has already given me more strength than Celestia!”

She continued her battle with Cadence.

In Canterlot’s gardens, Applejack and Pinkie Pie tried to get away from Apple Bloom.

Apple Bloom, however, galloped faster on the air then the two mares did on the ground. She descended in front of Applejack and Pinkie Pie.

“Apple Bloom,” Applejack said. ‘This isn’t you! You’re being controlled.”

“I’m in perfect control,” Apple Bloom said. “I am nothing like you!” She began to attack the mares with her sword.

“Sugarcube, please,” Applejack said. “Don’t you remember your own sister?”

“Yeah,” Pinkie Pie said. ‘Don’t you remember the fun you had with Applejack?”

But Apple Bloom just continued her attacks. Beams of ice emerged from the sword and froze the nearby area.

Applejack said, “Apple Bloom, please fight this!”

Apple Bloom hesitated for a moment, but said. “No! I would never be someone so heartless, let alone a sister of one who was!” She started getting a headache.

Applejack noticed the headache and said, “You can do this Apple Bloom, please fight it!”

Applejack’s Element of Honesty began glowing. Apple Bloom saw vague images.

“Look, I’m sorry. What I did to you wrong, and I shouldn’t have treated you the way I did. Please, come back!”

Applejack took a long look at the orange mare. “Applejac--” She fainted from the struggle. The red sword vanished.

Applejack took a look at her sister. She lifted Apple Bloom’s body as she and Pinkie picked up their elements. Applejack placed her sister on her back.

“Let’s go,” Applejack said.

She and Pinkie Pie went back to the chamber to regroup with her friends.

Back in the chamber, Sweetie Belle was still fighting Twilight and Rarity. Sweetie Belle fired a barrage of ice beams. The area around them got cooler and cooler.

“Sweetie Belle,” Rarity said. “I know you aren’t like this.”

“How would you know?” Sweetie Belle said. She started getting headaches.

Twilight used her teleportation spell to dodge the ice beams.

Rarity said, “I know, because I am your sister Sweetie Belle. Let me help you.”

Twilight said, “She’s right. You’re better than this!”

The magic from the spells caused the ice to collapse. Several chunks of ice fell on the unicorns.

Twilight and Rarity dodged some of the falling ice, but Sweetie Belle hadn’t noticed the ice was falling.

Rarity saw that a chunk of ice was about to fall on Sweetie Belle.

Rarity galloped as fast as she could and knocked Sweetie Belle out of the way. The large chunk of ice fell on her instead.

Sweetie Belle saw Rarity in pain. The ice had wounded her. Rarity’s element began to glow as Sweetie Belle saw vague images.

"Rarity, but...” Sweetie Belle fainted. The black scales vanished.

Twilight managed to lift the ice and tended to Rarity's wound. She saw blood coming from Rarity’s leg. Rarity saw Sweetie Belle unconscious.

Rarity lifted Sweetie Belle on her back and her and Twilight’s elements to their necks. By that time the ice had collapsed and an exit was unveiled.

Twilight and Rarity trotted outside. Rarity was careful not hurt herself further, or to hurt her unconscious sister.

Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy took to the skies, hesitant to fight Scootaloo.

Scootaloo chased after them with her viridian scythe. “You can’t escape me!” She took the scythe and swung it. The force of the attack formed a wave of ice and snow.

Rainbow Dash saw the ice wave was headed towards Fluttershy and intercepted it. She charged at the mass of ice at breakneck speed and destroyed it.

Scootaloo caught up to the mares and said, “There you are!”

“What the hay happened to you, Scootaloo?!” Rainbow Dash said.

“What happened is that I now know how cruel ponies like you are,” Scootaloo said.

The storm above them was rife with hail and ice. Rainbow Dash said, “If this is about those storm-clouds, I’m--”

“Shut it!” Scootaloo slashed at Rainbow Dash with her scythe. She dodged the attack.

Fluttershy said, “What happened to her?”

“She been brainwashed,” Rainbow Dash said. She avoided more of Scootaloo’s attacks.

“What are you,” Scootaloo asked, “scared?” She attempted to swing her scythe again.

Rainbow Dash hesitated. She had to snap Scootaloo out of it, but she didn’t know what to do.

Scootaloo then turned to Fluttershy. She was about to swing, but Rainbow Dash grabbed the scythe with her hooves and stopped the attack.

“Yes,” Rainbow Dash said. ‘I’m scared that you let those windigos up there mess with you like that. You’re tougher than that, and you’re better than this. Fight it!”

Rainbow Dash’s Element of Loyalty began to glow. Scootaloo said, “Fight what?” She felt something familiar about the rainbow-maned pegasus, and began having a headache.

“Scootaloo, I’m not gonna quit on you,” Rainbow Dash said. “Now now, not ever. Don’t let them take control of you.”

Scootaloo took a long look at the pegasus. “I’m sorr--” She fainted and fell. Her scythe vanished and the elements she took fell off her neck.

Rainbow Dash flew after Scootaloo and managed to catch her. Fluttershy caught the necklaces as they fell and handed Rainbow Dash hers.

The two pegasi took the unconscious Scootaloo and flew to find their friends.

The 6 mares regrouped in front of the castle. Fluttershy noticed that Rarity was wounded. They set the unconscious Crusaders down gently and looked to the sky and city. they saw the citizens of Canterlot either cocooned or frozen.

“We have to end this, and fast,” Applejack said.

Rarity and Rainbow Dash looked back towards the unconscious fillies. Regret poured over their faces over the events that led to this moment.

They knew they had to stop Legion and the windigos, as well as Chrysalis and the Changelings, but at the same time they knew that they couldn’t just leave the Crusaders alone like this.

They saw Spike was heading towards them. He said, “Guys you have to hurry, Cadence is fighting Chrysalis alone and Celestia is fighting that pony we saw in the forest.”

They remembered seeing that shadowy figure. They knew that she was the one who cured and foal-napped the Crusaders.

Twilight said, “Spike, can you make sure that they are safe?” Twilight pointed to the unconscious fillies.

“On it,” Spike said.

“But what do we do?” Pinkie Pie said.

Twilight and the others then saw Cadence and Shining Armor fighting Chrysalis.

“They need our help!” Twilight said. She hoped that Celestia could handle her new opponent.

The group went to aid Cadence and Shining Armor.

xxxii - Apollo's Breakthrough

Celestia and Diamond Dust were fighting. Diamond Dust had already frozen part of the room. Several ponies, including Lyra, Bon-Bon, and Silver Spoon were watching from a distance.

Silver Spoon cried a bit. She wondered why her friend was acting like this, why she went to the windigos in the first place.

Celestia’s sword clashed with Diamond Dust’s horn.

Diamond Dust said, “You think you have a chance?” unaware that Silver Spoon was watching.

Celestia said, “Why do you walk this path? Why did you side with them?”

Diamond Dust hesitated a bit.

Celestia said, “You don’t really know, do you?”

Diamond Dust said, “I know it’s my destiny!” She used her horn as ice shards formed around her. She launched the ice shards at Celestia.

Celestia cast a spell. A yellow beam emerged from her horn and melted the ice shards. The beam hit Diamond Dust.

Diamond Dust’s left wing broke off as a result of Celestia’s spell. Diamond Dust said, “Enough!” She cast a spell, and an ethereal azure beam emitted from her horn of ice.

Celestia cast a spell of her own. Her horn glowed a sunny bright yellow.

The light became beams and clashed. Everypony fled in panic.

Outside, Cadence and Shining Armor battled Chrysalis. They charged the changeling queen, but she flew above them and dodged the attack.

Chrysalis used her horn to fire a green beam. Shining Armor tried to use his protection spells, but his magic fizzled.

The beam hit the two, but a barrier emerged and stopped the spell. Both Shining Armor and Chrysalis were surprised.

Twilight and her friends caught up to her brother and foalsitter.

Shining Armor noticed Twilight. “Twili!”

Chrysalis was shocked. She glared at Twilight. “You!”

The mares walked up to Cadence and Shining Armor.

Twilight said, “You okay?”

Shining Armor nodded.

Chrysalis bellowed, “It doesn't matter! No matter what happens, your love will fuel my powers and the city will be doomed.”

“You’re wrong!” Cadence said. “You don’t even know a thing about love!”

Chrysalis began charging her magic.

The Elements of Harmony began to glow. Twilight said. “Shining, your barrier!”

Shining Armor tried to cast his spell. His magic fizzled again. “I can’t. She drained me of my strength.”

“My love will give you strength,” Cadence said.

Chrysalis continued her charge. Cadence used her magic to augment Shining Armor’s. The Elements glowed brighter and brighter.

A rainbow light emerged from the Elements as Shining Armor and Cadence erected their barrier.

Chrysalis tried to halt her charge. “No!”

The force from the two events repelled the changelings and destroyed half of the windigos.

“Noooooooooooooooooooooo!” Chrysalis was propelled two hundred feet into the air and flung beyond Equestria along with her army.

Shining Armor nearly collapsed.

“You okay?” Cadence said.

“Yeah, I’m alright.” Shining Armor stood up.

The group saw Celestia being thrown out of the castle. Celestia recovered and confronted Diamond Dust. They also saw the windigos returning.

The group were baffled by this turn of events. The changelings were gone, but the windigos were still here.

“Come on!” Twilight said. The group went to aid Celestia as the sun under her command set.

Diamond Dust trotted out of the castle. She said, “You’re good.”

Celestia saw that some of the windigos were still here. One of them went into the tiara of her opponent.

Celestia said, “They’re using you. They want the seals unlocked so that they can freeze Equestria over.”

“What are you talking about?” Diamond Dust said.

“They want to free their true ruler from imprisonment. You are a pawn of their schemes.”

“I am not a pawn,” Diamond Dust said. “I’m their queen!” She began using her horn. Ice beams emerge from her horn to try and freeze Celestia.

Celestia dodged the spells. She saw another pegasus heading towards Diamond Dust.

Gale Force finally caught up to Diamond Dust. He bellowed, “Murderer!” as he charged at her with rage.

Diamond Dust dodged the attack, and froze Gale Force’s wings. The bezerk pegasus tried to fly but crashed into one of the walls.

“Now then,” Diamond Dust said. “Where were we?”

“No,” Legion whispered. “We must retreat. Our forces have been halved.”

“But why?” Diamond Dust whispered.

“Those mares are stronger than I anticipated. We must recover and retreat. We will strike soon, after these pests are gone,” Legion whispered.

Diamond Dust groaned. She said, “You’re lucky. But your luck will run out soon enough.”

Diamond Dust cast a spell and a sphere of blue and white light surrounded her. The windigos entered the sphere and after a few minutes, it vanished.

Twilight’s group had entered the wedding room.

Twilight said, “Princess! What happened?”

Just then, Luna descended from the night sky. She took a look at the mostly frozen city.

Celestia said, “We have to talk, but not here.”

The group left to get Spike and the unconscious Crusaders. Then they went into the main hall.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders woke up in the school again.

“Oh, come on!” Sweetie Belle said.

“This time loop’s getting annoying,” Apple Bloom said.

“It was annoying two cycles ago!” Scootaloo said.

They saw Featherweight fly away again. They were tired of the sight. They couldn't apologize because in most of the cycles, Applejack, Rarity and Rainbow Dash were not there, or because the mob runs them out before they have a chance to apologize.

After school was over, the fillies went to find their sisters again, but Rarity wasn’t in Carousel Boutique, Applejack wasn’t at Sweet Apple Acres, and neither Rainbow Dash nor her sign with the Foal Free Press were in the pathway she trains in.

They went to their clubhouse.

“Ugh, what do we do?” Apple Bloom said.

“Maybe we can get our cutie marks in time traveling?” Sweetie Belle said.

“You’re thinking about cutie marks now?” Scootaloo said.

The three fillies went home after a few minutes. They prayed that this nightmare would end.

xxxiii - Revelations of the Psyche

Princesses Celestia and Luna looked over the mostly frozen city of Canterlot. The pegasi were finished defrosting Ponyville and had arrived to defrost the city. She saw multiple ponies frozen in ice.

Princess Luna said, “So the windigos did invade.”

Princess Celestia said, “We know they want to break the seven seals.”

“But sister,” Luna said. “Only you can break the fifth one.”

“I know,” Celestia said. “There’s no doubt they will come after me again.”

The two princesses look again at the city.

“So this is what will happen if we allow them to go unchecked, huh?” Luna asked.

Celestia nodded. The two princesses left to meet with Twilight Sparkle and her friends.

Gale Force was in Canterlot’s hospital. He was among several other ponies being treated there.

Cloudchaser, Flitter, Thunderlane, and Star Song were at his bedside.

“What were you thinking?!” Cloudchaser scolded. “You could have been seriously hurt.”

“I had to stop her. She killed Over Cast!” Gale said.

“You couldn't lay a hoof on her.” Cloudchaser said. “And she was battling Celestia and she was enough of a match for her without you charging in like that! You think Over Cast wanted you to die like that?”

Thunderlane said, “Who is Over Cast?”

Gale sighed.

Flitter said, “Over Cast was another member of this team.”

“So where is she now?” Thunderlane said.

“She’s gone,” Gale said. “It’s it’s all her fault! The queen of the windigos killed her.”

Thunderlane said, “That’s horrible.”

Star Song said, “I agree with Cloudchaser. Gale, you could have been killed there.”

The team left Gale Force’s room. They hoped that Gale would recover, and that he would cease his lust for revenge.

In another part of the hospital, Twilight Sparkle, Spike, Shining Armor, And Princess Cadence looked at the patients of the hospital. After the invasion, several ponies have to be defrosted and checked for hypothermia and other cold related effects. Several other ponies were at the hospital to be checked for depression and anything related to the changelings feast.

“Are they going to be alright?” Twilight said.

“I don’t know,” Shining Armor said. “Canterlot and Manehatten have the best doctors in Equestria, but the attack was extensive and we have to deal with two invasions.” He looked to his sister and his fiance. “Thanks for snapping me out of it.”

“You’re welcome,” Twilight said.

“You should check on your friends,” Cadence said.

Twilight remembered that Rarity was wounded today, and that the Cutie Mark Crusaders were at the hospital as well. Twilight and Spike left the room.

Silver Spoon was in a different part of the hospital. She was familiar with hospitals since she saw Diamond Dust’s coronation. She wondered, ‘Why couldn't I help her. What’s wrong with me?’

She knew that Diamond Dust could have frozen her easily. And the windigos could have done the same before she could even confront her.

‘There must be something I can do,’ Silver Spoon thought.

Just then she saw Lyra and Bon-Bon enter her room.

“Hey there,” Lyra said.

“Hey,” Silver Spoon said. She noticed that Lyra’s lyre had red strings now. “What are those?”

“Oh, Bon-Bon gave me these strings,” Lyra said.

“The shopkeeper said that they were used for some sort of special spell or something,” Bon-Bon said. “I can’t remember the details.”

The three chatted in Silver Spoon’s room.

A few minutes later, Twilight Sparkle went into the room where Rarity and the Crusaders were kept. Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie were also in the room.

Rarity’s wound was bandaged up. She said, “Ah, Twilight, you’re here.”

“Hey,” Twilight said. “How’s your hoof?”

“It’s fine,” Rarity said.

“The doctor said that her leg will heal in a few days,” Applejack said. She looked at her sister.

Celestia and Luna entered the room.

“Princess,” Twilight said in shock. “What are you doing here?”

“I’ve heard about the fillies,” Celestia said.

Luna went to examine the Crusaders. She saw the icy legs, wings and horn on them. She used her horn to further examine them. “Tell me, did they recognize any of you?”

“Not at first, Princess,” Applejack said. “They just attacked us.”

“I don’t get it,” Rainbow Dash said. ‘Why did they side with the windigos?”

“The mind of the subject will desperately struggle to fill in memories where none exist,” Luna said.

The mares were confused by Luna’s words.

Luna said, “Were they carrying anything when you saw them?”

Applejack said, “Apple Bloom had a red sword on her.”

“Sweetie Belle had some scales,” Rarity said.

Rainbow Dash said, “And Scootaloo tried to dice me with some freaky green scythe.”

Twilight remembered something. She said, “I think that these items may have been three of the windigos’ four talismans.”

“You are correct,” Luna said. “The windigos have used them to house their memories, all of them. The memories are sealed inside the talismans and their dreams, their subconscious.”

“So you mean they brainwashed them?” Fluttershy asked.

“But why?” Rarity asked. She remembered that the Crusaders had those talismans when they were statues.

“The talismans attract themselves which ponies to bring strife,” Celestia said. “They are four of the seven seals.”

“Hold on,” Pinkie Pie said, “Where’s the fourth?”

“It stands to reason that the Crown of Conquest is on the head of the windigo queen,” Celestia said. She recalled her fight with Diamond Dust.

“So what do we do?” Applejack said.

“I think I have a way,” Luna said. “I know of a ritual to help you restore their memories, but...”

“But? Pinkie Pie said.

“This ritual is highly dangerous,” Luna said. “If anything goes wrong during or after the ritual, you might be trapped in the talismans along with them.”

“We have to try something!” Applejack said.

Luna said, “The ritual that I’m referring to needs the talismans to reform. And we need somepony who can play a lyre and play it well.”

“What about Lyra?” Pinkie Pie said.

“Come to think of it,” Applejack said. “Her friend got her got some crazy strings I used for the lifeline.”

“Were these strings red, by any chance?” Luna asked.

Applejack nodded.

“Very well,” Luna said. “I shall seek her assistance, but we still need the talismans to reform before we can attempt the ritual.”

Celestia said, “I'll have what’s left of the royal guard move the fillies to the castle. It’s too dangerous to leave them in this hospital any more.”

The group left the room. Applejack and Rarity looked back at the unconscious Crusaders before leaving.

Small red, black, and green spheres of light appeared inside the room and converged. The lights formed certain shapes.

In the skies near Canterlot, Diamond Dust confronted Legion.

Diamond Dust shouted, “I can’t believe it. This plan of yours failed! We lost half of our army, including our so-called servants, and we didn’t freeze Celestia. I quit!”

Legion smirked. He knew the real reasons that Diamond Dust wanted to leave. He knew that she was tired of causing misery, and that Celestia told her about his true leader. He said, “Ah, but you can’t quit.”

“Watch me!” Diamond Dust said. She tried to trot away, but Legion froze her hooves together.

“I told you,” Legion said. “As queen, you will stop our famine, one way or another.”

The ice creeped around Diamond Dust’s hooves.

Legion said, “If you don’t help us break the seven seals, well, I’m certain the hatred you have gained, whether as queen of the windigos or a mere schoolyard bully, shall be delicious.”

Diamond Dust tried to break free of the ice, but the ice continued towards her body.

Legion said, “Besides, even if you do cease to become our queen, nopony would want you back. You betrayed them and they will give you no ounce of sympathy.”

The ice continued to creep until her neck was frozen. Diamond Dust realized that Legions was right. She knew that after all that she’s done, the citizens of Equestria would shun her. She knew that most of the citizens hated her guts. She had no choice.

She let out a heartbroken and defeated, “Fine, you win.”

The ice on her body began to melt.

Legion said, “Excellent.”

xxxiv - Orpheus' Strings

Inside Silver Spoon’s hospital room, she was still talking to Lyra and Bon-Bon.

“...So the windigo queen was your friend?” Lyra said.

Silver Spoon nodded.

“It must be awful to see one of your friends transformed into something like that.” Bon-Bon said.

Just then a doctor entered the room. He said, “I’m looking for a 'Lyra Heartstrings?'”

“That’s me,” Lyra said.

“Princess Luna is looking for you,” the doctor said. “She’s at the lobby now.”

The ponies were a little surprised. They galloped to the lobby.

At the lobby, Luna was waiting for Lyra.

She saw a light green unicorn galloping by. She said, “You wanted to see me?”

Luna said, “A friend of mine said you got your hooves on some Orpheus Strings?”

Lyra said, “That’s right.”

Bon-Bon said, “I bought them for Lyra.”

Luna said, “I assume you know that these strings were used for a certain ritual?”

Bon-Bon said, “Yeah, you helped somepony rescue their lover, right?”

Luna nodded then turned to Lyra. “But we need somepony with a lyre if this ritual is to succeed again.”

Lyra said, “You need me?”

Luna nodded.

Silver Spoon’s curiosity had peaked. “What is this ritual for?”

“The ritual is to help find and rescue ponies lost deep in their subconscious,” Luna said.

Silver Spoon wondered, ‘Could this help me find out what happened to Diamond Tiara?’

Luna said, “Follow me.” the group went to the castle.

In Canterlot’s castle, Twilight Sparkle, Spike, and their friends were looking over the unconscious Crusaders. They were inside a dark room with various stars on the walls and ceiling. By then, the Sword of War, Scales of Life, and Scythe of Death were reformed in front of the beds of their unconscious wielders.

Applejack and Rarity were worried about their sisters. Rarity paced around the spacious room.

“Oh, where is Luna?” Rarity asked.

“Still looking for the only pony we know who has them Orpheus Strings?” Applejack said.

Rarity wasn’t the only one getting anxious. Rainbow Dash flew around the room out of boredom.

After a few minutes, Princess Luna entered the chamber with Lyra, Bon-Bon, and Silver Spoon.

Silver Spoon noticed three certain fillies on the beds at the end of the chamber. She noticed they either had icy legguards, wings or a horn made of ice. She wondered if this was Diamond Dust’s doing.

“So,” Lyra said. ‘These are who you’re trying to rescue?”

Luna said, “Yes, their memories had been--”

“--suppressed into their subconscious and the talismans by the windigos, we know!” Rainbow Dash said.

“Rainbow Dash,” Twilight said sternly.

Silver Spoon wanted to know what happened to the Crusaders. She wanted to make amends for all she’d done up to a certain point. But most importantly, she wanted to help stop Diamond Dust, and save Diamond Tiara.

“Are we ready?” Luna said.

“Wait!” Silver Spoon said. “I want to help.”

Everypony was surprised.

“It’s too dangerous,” Luna said.

“Why do you want to go?” Twilight said.

“I have a friend I want to save too,” Silver Spoon said. “I know another filly had been taken by the windigos and became their queen.”

Twilight and the others remembered that the figure that kidnapped the Crusaders was similar in size to them.

Luna said, “But the ritual is too dangerous. If anything were to happen, I cannot guarantee your safe return.”

“It would be better than having to wonder why your best friend would go to them. I have to know why she listened to them.”

“Is it even possible for this to happen, Princess?” Twilight said.

“It is,” Luna said. “The talismans are linked together and to their bearers. In theory, we can use them to find their bearers within the subconscious.”

Luna looked at Silver Spoon. She saw the pain of losing a friend, the fear that she may return and kill her, and regret for not doing anything that could have stopped this. ‘Was this what Celestia felt after she banished Nightmare Moon a thousand years ago?’ she thought.

“Very well,” Luna said. “You may help.” She turned to the mares. “You you must know the risk you are getting into. Your bodies will vanish from the physical plane until you escape their subconscious. The trials you will face will test your courage, your bonds, the virtue the elements chose your for, and...” She rose up into the air and said in a loud booming voice. “...your integrity! The challenges you will face will try and keep you trapped in their subconscious!” She descended. “Do you understand?!”

The seven participants agreed to those terms.

“Very well,” Luna said. She placed the talismans in the center of the chamber, then flew Lyra and Bon-Bon to a ledge. “Are you ready?”

Lyra nodded and played her instrument. The crimson strings created wonderful melodies as Luna began her incantation.

She shouted, “Grant these ponies access to save their friends and sisters from thy terrible fate. Thou shalt granteth me thy power to allow these ponies access.” her horn began to glow as she flew up , storm clouds began to gather above her. “Bring me thy dreams and memories, and thou will saveth them!” Her horn glowed brighter and brighter until a flash encompassed the room.

Lyra kept playing until the flash subsided.

After the flash dispersed, Lyra and Bon-Bon saw that Luna, Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Spike, and Silver Spoon were gone. They saw wisps with similar colors to the ponies enter the talismans.

xxxv - The Gateway of Morpheus

Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Silver Spoon woke up in a white void. They saw Princess Luna and a large set of doors. The doors had thirteen spheres, each with a symbol of the zodiac.

Everypony felt a little disoriented from the trip. Rarity noticed that her wound was gone.

“Hello, everypony,” Luna said.

“Princess,” Twilight said. “What are these doors?”

“These doors are your way into the fillies’ subconscious. Their dreams and memories lie beyond them.”

“So what are we waiting for?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Once you go through these doors, you cannot return to the physical plane without completing thirteen trials,” Luna said.

All the ponies wondered about these trials.

“Anything else we should know about, princess?” Applejack said.

“The memories of the foals trapped inside are trapped in a three-day loop,” Luna said. “The first trial is to find and return to the gate within seven cycles.”

“Got it,” Pinkie Pie said.

”Be warned,” Luna said. “If you fail any of the trials you will be stuck with them in this loop forever.”

The doors opened. An ethereal light shone through them.

“I wish you luck, my friends,” Luna said.

“You’re not going to help us?” Rarity asked.

“I’m afraid I cannot,” Luna said. “This is not entirely my domain. This world is one of dreams, but it also houses the subconscious. It would not allow me to enter the same way it would allow you.”

“Gosh,” Fluttershy said.

“Don’t worry Princess,” Applejack said. “We’ll bring them back.”

Silver Spoon wondered if the same could be said for Diamond Tiara.

The group entered the gates while Princess Luna returned to the physical plane.

Shining Armor and Cadence looked over several of the patients. Some of them were begging her help, but the doctors here didn’t know how.

Shining Armor said as he saw his royal guard suffer great pain, “This is strange.”

Cadence said, “Do you think it could be the windigos?”

“There’s a lot about them we don’t know about,” Shining Armor said. “But this seems different from how they usually act.” He recalled what little he knew of their invasion the previous day.

Shining Armor and Cadence were worried about the patients. Shining wondered where his sister was.

Spike was in the castle. He was worried about his friends. He thought he had to do something to help. He wandered the castle looking for a way to help.

A few hours later, he bumped into the captain of the Royal Guard, Shining Armor.

“Oh,” Shining Armor said. “Hey there, Spike.”

“Hey,” Spike said.

Both of them knew that Shining's wedding was postponed due to recent events.

Shining noticed the bored, look Spike had. He knew something was up. “Have you seen Twili?” he asked.

Spike wondered if Celestia had told him what happened. “Princess Luna took her to help the Crusaders.”

“The who?” Shining Armor asked.

“Those three fillies we helped move from the hospital last night,” Spike said.

Shining Armor recalled the previous night’s event. He and the few members of the guard that were not incapacitated had helped moved them to a secure chamber at Celestia’s request.

“Well, I have to go train the royal guard,” Shining Armor said.

Spike had an idea. “Can I join?”

“What? The royal guard?” Shining Armor was perplexed. “Spike, being a royal guard takes practice and dedication.”

“I mean, can I help you train them?” Spike rephrased. “I can help with the organizing and I’m sure I can set up an awesome obstacle course.”

“Uhh,” Shining Armor said. Spike pleaded with him for awhile until he let him help.

Spike went to start with the obstacle course.

Shining Armor hoped he wouldn't regret the decision.

Celestia was looking at the distance. She saw that the storm clouds still hadn’t left yet. She knew that the windigos would try again to capture her.

She saw Princess Luna enter the room. “You’re back.”

Luna nodded. “Sister, why would the windigos use three innocent fillies like that?”

“The windigos’ talismans chose them,” Celestia said. “They are now necessary for them to break the second, third, and fourth seals. Just as much as they need me to break the fifth.”

“But sister,” Luna said. ‘If they succeed in breaking the seven seals and allow Ithaqua to return--”

“I will do to the best of my ability to prevent that.” Celestia was worried. She knew that the windigos were relentless. Not even the Elements of Harmony had repelled them. “But Luna, in the event that I am captured, I want you to take control of the sun in my place.”

Luna was stunned. “But sister--”

“You know as well as I do that the sixth seal depends on the movement of the sun and moon,” Celestia said. “If either were to stop, the consequences would be catastrophic.”

Luna stayed silent for a moment. She then said, “Very well, but rest assured that I won’t let it come to that.”

Luna left the room. Celestia was still worried that her next encounter with the windigo might be her last.

Lyra and Bon-Bon trotted in town. They decided to stay in Canterlot until Shining Armor and Princess Cadence’s second wedding.

The mares noticed a team of pegasi training nearby. They decided to pass time by watching them train.

Cloudchaser, Flitter, Star Song, and Thunderlane flew over the area preparing while Gale Force recovered in the hospital.

“So, why are we training again?” Thunderlane said.

“Because we still need to prepare for if the windigos attack again,” Cloudchaser said.

“I know,” Thunderlane said. “But shouldn't we wait until Gale recovers?”

Cloudchaser was annoyed at Thunderlane’s question. She wondered if Gale is even going to be their leader anymore.

Flitter and Star Song were worried. They were worried about Cloudchaser.

The group of pegasi noticed Lyra and Bon-Bon watching. They wondered if they could help get Cloudchaser to cool down.

Flitter, Star Song, and Thunderlane landed in front of the mares, much to Cloudchaser's chagrin.

“Hello, lad--” Thunderlane said until Cloudchaser landed and kicked him in the hoof.

“Hello,” Cloudchaser said. She introduced the team to Lyra and Bon-Bon who then introduced themselves.

After a few minutes, the pegasi decided to hang out with Lyra and Bon-Bon, much to Clouchaser’s dismay.

xxxvi - Prometheus the Accursed

The Cutie Mark Crusaders woke up in the schoolyard again. They grew tired of the loops.

“Ugh,” Sweetie Belle groaned. The fillies saw Featherweight fly away, one of few constants they knew in the loops.

Apple Bloom sighed. She wanted just one more chance to meet Applejack again. She wanted to be able to apologize to her sister.

Scootaloo just wanted to escape this loop. She knew another constant. She knew that Rainbow Dash would not appear on the first day.

Sweetie Belle wondered what would’ve happened if she and her friends weren’t part of the school paper to begin with. She wondered if they would have any chance to make amends to their sisters.

Elsewhere in the school, Silver Spoon woke up. She looked around and saw that it was recess. She didn’t see Diamond Tiara anywhere in the school though. She saw the Cutie Mark Crusaders sulking on a table.

Silver Spoon knew they were connected to Diamond Dust, but she also wondered why they weren’t acting like their usual selves.

The bell rang. Recess was over. The fillies went back to class. Silver Spoon decided to approach them after class and find out what was going on.

Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie woke up inside Twilight’s library.

Twilight wondered, ‘What happened?’ before everyone remembered the ritual.

Rarity and Applejack felt some relief.

Rainbow Dash flew up and checked the clock. “It’s 1:15 right now.”

“1:15?” Applejack said. “Apple Bloom’ll be home in a hour.” She knew that she had to find her sister soon.

“Luna said something about four loops, right?” Pinkie Pie said.

Twilight nodded.

The ponies noticed an issue of the Foal Free Press on the ground. Rarity took a look at the paper. She saw a picture of Sweetie Belle in one of her dresses. She remembered that she forced her sister into that outfit a few days ago. Rarity wondered who took that picture.

“Come on y’all,” Applejack said. She opened the doorway to find a forcefield outside. “Um, Twi?”

Twilight remembered she cast an forcefield over her library a few weeks back, before the whole mess started. She lowered the barrier and the group went to find the Crusaders.

In Canterlot, Lyra, Bon-Bon, Thunderlane, Star Song, Flitter, and Cloudchaser took some time to have fun. Cloudchaser was still worried about Gale force, or rather, what would happen if Gale Force saw the windigos again.

A few hours later, They decided to talk inside the donut shop.

“...So,” Bon-Bon said. “You’re part of Cloudsdale’s weather team?”

“Yeah,” Flitter said. “Though, because of the windigos, we haven’t been round Cloudsdale much.”

“I’m not surprised,” Lyra said. She knew she saw Thunderlane, Flitter, and Cloudchaser around Ponyville before.

“So, who’s your leader?” Bon-Bon said.

“A revenge obsessed pegasus in the hospital,” Cloudchaser whispered so softly nopony but Thunderlane noticed. She said, “Our leader is at the hospital now. He got badly hurt.”

They recalled the last few days, then looked outside and saw some pegasi helping to defrost the city.

“We gotta go,” Thunderlane said. The pegasi paid for their food and left.

Flitter said, “See you soon.”

Lyra and Bon-Bon paid for their food and left as well.

The ponies noticed that the sky was overcast in parts of the city.

When school was over, the fillies went home. Silver Spoon trailed the Cutie Mark Crusaders. She wanted to find out how they associated with Diamond Dust.

The Crusaders, meanwhile, went around town for several hours. They gave up on finding their sisters.

The Crusaders saw that same mare ranting on the phone again and avoided her. What she was yelling about was of no interest to them anymore.

After a while, Sweetie Belle noticed some sounds. She said, “Did you hear anything?”

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo shrugged. The Crusaders looked back.

Silver Spoon saw this head movement and tried to hide.

“Silver Spoon?” Apple Bloom said. The three fillies were confused.

Silver Spoon stopped after hearing Apple Bloom’s voice. She knew she was caught.

Sweetie Belle said, “What are you doing here?” Never in any of the iterations of their loop had they seen Silver Spoon.

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom wondered if Diamond Tiara was with her.

The fillies then noticed something else was off.

Silver Spoon decided to talk in private. The fillies decided to go to the Crusaders’ tree house.

Twilight and her friends decided to search Sweet Apple Acres for the fillies. They searched the main field, they searched the north, east, and south fields, and they searched near the barn, but they couldn't find any trace of her.

Applejack saw another issue of the Foal Free Press. The paper that catalyzed the Crusader’s exile and everything that came after.

Applejack saw the sky grow darker as night approached. The group saw that it was getting late. Applejack led her friends to the gates of the farmland.

There they saw three familiar shapes.

Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo took Silver Spoon to the farm to ask her if she knew about the loops. The four fillies noticed Applejack and her friends were at Sweet Apple Acres.

The Crusaders were both overjoyed and confused.

Applejack saw the fillies and went towards them. Rarity and Rainbow dash were surprised by this.

‘Well, finding them was easier than we thought,’ Rainbow Dash thought.

Apple Bloom said, “Applejack, you’re here! I’m so sorry about the gossip. I promise not to do anything like that ever again.”

Applejack said, “Yeah, but I overreacted. I’m sorry about how harsh I was back then.”

The group noticed a slight change in the air. They felt somehow unsafe at the farm. They decided to go to the library to discuss the loops and what happened to them.

xxxvii - Damocles' Sword

Night fell in Canterlot. Celestia and Luna looked out to the storm.

Celestia said, “Did the ritual work?”

Luna nodded.

Celestia knew that she and Luna would have to repel the windigos on their own. She wondered if they could do that. The Elements of Harmony and Shining Armor’s barrier failed to repel the icy spirits.

Luna told Celesta, “I’ll watch the night, my sister.” She wondered if the windigos or Diamond Dust were so brash as to strike that night.

Celestia left the room and prepared for the night.

Elsewhere in the castle, in the chamber where the sleeping Crusaders lay, the talismans began glowing.

Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo woke up and took their items.

Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Silver Spoon were at the library.

Twilight erected her forcefield over the tree at the center of Ponyville.

Apple Bloom said, “But how did you get here? What happened?”

Applejack said, “Princess Luna helped us with some fancy ritual.”

Twilight looked at a map of Ponyville. She looked at places where the gates might be.

Sweetie Belle said, “But how, why?”

Rarity struggled to think of an answer. She was hesitant to tell her sister what had happened to her in the real world. After a while she said, “We’re here to help you out of this mess, darling.”

“Except we still don’t know where the gate is,” Rainbow Dash said.

“Gate?” Scootaloo said. “What gate?”

Silver Spoon answered, “That’s how we got here. Princess Luna opened a gate. She said we had to find it in order to help you escape.”

Apple Bloom said, “That reminds me. Why did you come?”

“I came here looking for a friend.” Silver Spoon said.

The Crusaders knew what friend she was talking about. They hadn’t seen Diamond Tiara at any part of the loop, thankfully.

Twilight marked down some parts of her map. “Okay, I marked some probable spots where the gate might be. We have three more iterations after this one ends to find it.”

Everyone looked over the map. Sugarcube Corner, the Everfree forest, the train station, the marketplace, and the west field of Sweet Apple Acres.

There was an ominous feeling outside Twilight’s barrier. Each of the ponies decided to sleep at the library. Twilight went to get pillows and blankets.

While the mares were preparing for this impromptu sleepover, Silver Spoon approached the Crusaders.

“Hey,” she said. She tried to finish her sentence, but this was her first time interacting with the Crusaders without picking on them. After a few moments she managed to form the words. “I just wanted to say I’m sorry.”

The Cutie Mark Crusaders were baffled. They had never seen her apologize about anything, though they had never seen her without Diamond Tiara at her side.

“Sorry?” Scootaloo wanted to make sure. “For what?”

“About the teasing, and bullying, and everything,” Silver Spoon said. “It’s just, I didn’t know how to act around other fillies and Diamond Tiara was my only friend. I want to apologize for the bad things I did.”

The Crusaders grew more confused. They didn’t know what to make of the apology. They were not certain whether or not to trust Silver Spoon.

After a few moments they accepted her apology.

Twilight had returned with enough blankets and pillows for everyone. She handed them out and went up to her room. She looked out the window and noticed something peculiar about the moon. She saw that it glowed crimson and contrasted with the purple-blue sky. She also saw that the craters were different.

She felt that strange feeling again. She laid down on her bed and rested.

Luna surveyed the night sky. She focused on the storm that blotted out her alabaster moon. She saw somepony emerge from the tip of the clouds and focused on that shadow.

The shadow landed near an entrance to the castle. Luna went to investigate.

She went into the destroyed wedding hall and confronted the shadowy figure.

“Who goes there?!” she bellowed. The figure galloped away and Luna chased it.

Another shadow emerged from the clouds. This time, it was Diamond Dust. She sneaked into the castle. “Are you sure this is going to work?” she whispered.

“It’s foolproof,” Legion said. “Any fools that would have stopped it would be incapacitated.”

Diamond Dust rolled her eyes. She continued to sneak into the castle and find Princess Celestia.

Shining Armor woke up. He heard some sounds. He wondered what was going on and went out to patrol the area.

Shining went out to the gardens. He used his horn to illuminate his surroundings. He saw the overcast clouds, and something emerging from them.

He saw the shadow land far away and chased after it.

Luna chased the shadow around the gardens. She tried aiming cerulean rays of light at it. But the shadow dodged every one of them. Luna wondered what the shadow was.

Nearby, Shining Armor chased the other shadow. The shadow vanished into darkness.

“What the--” Shining Armor said until he heard another sound in the distance. he went to investigate.

Meanwhile, Luna had managed to corner the shadowy figure she was chasing. She fired another cerulean beam and it hit the shadow dead on.

The shadow shattered into millions of ice shards and melted. Luna was perplexed.

Just then, Shining Armor saw her. “Luna,” he said.

“Captain,” Luna said. “Explain what you’re doing awake at this hour.”

“What, I can’t make a late night patrol?” Shining Armor asked. He looked at the puddle nearby Luna. “So you saw something from the clouds too?”

Luna nodded. “I saw a shadow descend from the clouds. I chased after it and it melted.” Luna was a little embarrassed to say that.

“That’s strange,” Shining said. “I’ve heard some noises and went to investigate.I saw a shadow too.”

Luna and Shining both wondered what the shadows were. They heard a noise heading from the castle, and an azure light emerging from Celestia’s room.

Luna said, "Come on.” and flew to the castle. Shining Armor followed her on hoof.

Luna and Shining Armor opened the door to Celestia’s room. Her bed was frozen.

Luna and Shining Armor realized that the shadows were decoys.

“Shining Armor,” Luna said. “Wake up the able-bodied members of the royal guard. Let them know that my sister’s been kidnapped.” She then recalled that Celestia wasn’t the only target the windigos had. She went to the chamber where she prepared the Orpheus ritual.

Fearing the worst, Luna opened the door to the chamber. She saw nothing inside the starry chamber. No Crusaders, no talismans. She knew that the windigos had taken them too.

xxxviii - Aphrodite's Love

In Canterlot, Luna and Shining Armor were in Celestia’s room. They looked around for any other clues about her capture.

“I don’t get it,” Shining Armor said. “Why were they able to capture Celestia?”

“Her power wanes as she casts the sun down below the horizon,” Luna said. “That, combined with how tired she was fighting off both the windigo and changeling queens, means that Celestia wouldn’t be able to fend off an attack for long.”

“And you?” Shining Armor said.

“My power depends on whether or not the moon is obscured by the sun in the sky,” Luna said. “I can move the moon anywhere I wish and it still would sap my power if the sun is in the way. That’s why Nightmare Moon first captured Celestia when she was freed.”

Shining Armor pondered the implications of a sunless sky.

Luna looked back to the previous night and realized that she now had to move both objects. She said, “Captain, assemble a team and find my sister and the fillies. The windigos must not be allowed to break the remaining seals.”

Shining Armor accepted the mission and left the room.

Luna thought, ‘You made sure that all of Equestria wouldn’t suffer after the Nightmares took hold of my mind and body. Allow me to return the favor, sister.’

Luna used her horn. The ebony sky changed to magenta as Luna’s magic raised the sun for the first time. The magenta became vermillion and then saffron as the sun rose higher and higher, until the sky became a bright ultramarine.

In the memories of Ponyville, Twilight Sparkle and Pinkie Pie checked Sugarcube Corner. They searched high and low for the gate.

Pinkie Pie said, “Luster dust, sugar, flour, eggs...”

Twilight Sparkle levitated the items and placed them down gently. “Pinkie, why are you checking the pantry? We already checked there twice now.”

“But Twilight,” Pinkie said. “Maybe the gateway’s smaller than my hoof or bigger then the gates of Tartarus! I’m sure it has to be in this pantry somewhere.”

Twilight rolled her eyes. She then checked the shelves for the gate.

The two mares felt a certain feeling again. Twilight wondered what it was, but Pinkie continued to empty the pantry in her search for the gate.

After an hour there was a large stack of cans and boxes from the pantry. The pantry, however, was bare.

The two mares went to the counter to check for the gate. Twilight wondered where the Cakes went.

Pinkie said, “Hey, there’s my top hat.” Pinkie Pie let out a squee as she put it on. “What do you think.

Twilight was surprised. “Why do you have a top hat?”

Pinkie said, “Well, I went to Canterlot and saw there was a nice top-hat there.”

Twilight said, “Nevermind.”

Pinkie said, “Something’s scratching my head.” She took off the hat and a key fell from her mane.

Twilight levitated the key and examined it. The key was a silver one with a crown at the bow of the key.

“What an odd key,” Twilight said. “Have you seen this before Pinkie?” She levitated the key before Pinkie Pie.

Pinkie shook her head.

The two mares left the bakery. Twilight wondered what this key was doing in the bakery.

A couple of hours later in Canterlot, Shining Armor was in the hospital looking for Cadence and to see if any of the royal guard were healed. He saw Cadence helping the doctors calm down some of the more irritable patients.

After the patients were pacified, Cadence saw her fiance. She said, “Shining Armor.”

The two made sure nopony else was around. The doctors already left with the patients.

She joked, “You know it’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding, right?”

“Yeah,” Shining Armor said. “Are any of the guards here--”

“No,” Cadence said. “Some of them were hurt in the invasions that day.”

Shining Armor said, “Oh.”

Cadence said, “Luna told me that Celestia’s been foal-napped, and that you need to form a search party to find her. I want to help.”

Shining Armor was surprised. He said, “What?”

“I want to help rescue my aunt,” Cadence said. “And I want to make sure you’re safe.”

Shining Armor could only imagine what kind of hell Chrysalis put her through in the days leading to their wedding and the two invasions. But he didn’t want her to suffer anything like that anymore. But at the same time he knew how important it was that the Crystal Princess, Cadence, be able to take her throne when the Crystal Empire would return.

Shining Armor also knew that Twilight and her friends went into the talismans, and that it was likely that Princess Luna told her that.

Shining Armor said, “Alright, you can come, but be careful.”

Cadence nodded.

Shining Armor said, “I still need to get more ponies for the search party.”

“So you’re looking for a search party, huh?”

In the memories of Ponyville, Rarity and Sweetie Belle went to the marketplace to search for the gate. The sisters saw a large crowd of ponies there, but they felt off somehow.

“That's odd,” Sweetie Belle said. “I’ve never seen that many ponies before.”

“Well,” Rarity said. “I’m sure that they won’t impede our search.”

The two searched around the marketplace for the gate. The marketplace felt further out of place as time passed.

After some fruitless searching. The two unicorn sisters sat down on a table. The ponies didn’t notice the two at all.

Sweetie Belle looked at her sister. “Rarity, I’m sorry.”

Rarity said, “About what?”

Sweetie Belle said, "About Gabby Gums, and about making you worry about me.”

Rarity knew that her little sister was filled with regret about the gossip. She had even lectured her about how wrong it was. But she didn’t know that it would snowball out of control like this. But she knew that the time loop, the invasions, and her part in them wasn’t her fault, not entirely.

Rarity and Sweetie Belle noticed a key on the ground. Rarity levitated the key. It was black with a bow shaped like a set of scales.

Sweetie Belle said, “That key looks familiar.”

Rarity noticed that the key resembled the Scales of Life. She knew that she had to tell her sister about the windigos did to her sometime.

“Maybe Twilight can take a look at it,” Rarity said.

The two sisters left the marketplace.

xxxix - Artemis' Moon

Cadence and Shining Armor were at the hospital where they saw a strange pegasus enter the room.

“You’re Gale Force, right?” Shining Armor said.

Gale nodded. “I think my team can lend a hoof to your efforts.”

“I assume you know what I need a search party for,” Shining Armor said.

“Not every day you get to rescue the princess, huh?” Gale said. “Though it’s unlikely that Celestia would stay captive for long.” He tried to hide his frustration behind a pretense of kindness.

“Why are you lending us your team?” Cadence said.

“I’ve been thinking about things for a while now,” Gale said. “I decided that my team needs someone more experienced to lead them for the moment while I stay confined in this place. They already knew about the windigos for some time now.”

“They were the pegasi that investigated the storm from the Frozen North?” Cadence said.

Gale nodded.

“So where can we find these pegasi?” Shining Armor asked.

“They are visiting me today,” Gale said. “I’ll have them meet you in front of the castle around 4:00 PM.”

“Thanks,” Shining Armor said. He and Cadence left the hospital.

In the memories of Ponyville, Applejack, Apple Bloom, and Silver Spoon searched the west field of Sweet Apple Acres.

Apple Bloom and Silver Spoon were creeped out by the trees in the forest.

Applejack thought, ‘That’s weird. Where’d the fruit bats go?’

The group of three searched the field for the gate. Applejack told the fillies to be careful.

A few moments later, Apple Bloom and Silver Spoon were searching one of the trees. Apple Bloom was still wary of Silver Spoon.

“I don’t get it,” Apple Bloom said. “Why in Equestria are you helping us?”

“I want to make it up to you,” Silver Spoon said.

Apple Bloom was both a little surprised and unnerved. She knew Silver Spoon was Diamond Tiara’s only friend. She wondered what had happened between the two bullies.

Meanwhile, Applejack searched a nearby patch of forest in the orchard. She knew she had to tell Apple Bloom about what happened in Canterlot, but she wasn’t sure when would be the right time, or if there ever would be a right time.

Silver Spoon and Apple Bloom saw a crimson key hanging from a branch.

“I’ll go fetch Applejack.” Apple Bloom trotted away to find her sister.

Silver Spoon looked at the red key. She noticed that most of the the key resembled a sword. The bow itself was shaped like a sword’s handle, narrow and slender, while the teeth were sticking out of the tip of the blade.

Apple Bloom returned with Applejack. Applejack noticed the crimson key that hung on the branch.

“You two might want to stand back,” Applejack said. She kicked the tree until the key was knocked off. It fell to the ground and stabbed the dirt.

Applejack thought, ‘Wonder if Twilight knows anything about this?’ and picked up the key.

The three ponies left the field. Silver Spoon wondered if she could earn the Crusaders’ trust.

In Canterlot, Princess Luna was trying to move the moon and sun. She had managed to tie both of her spells together, but the magic required to move both the moon and sun had taxed her power.

Spike was nearby tending to the princess. He was worried about both Twilight and Celestia.

They both saw Shining Armor and Princess Cadence enter the room. Luna said, “Did you find enough ponies for the search?”

“Yes,” Shining Armor said. “And we seem to have recruited some pegasi that can help with the windigos.”

“Good,” Luna said. “I’m afraid I can’t help you. All of my magic is now dedicated to making sure the moon and sun keep moving.”

Spike said, “I’ll go with them.”

Both Shining Armor and Cadence were a little shocked.

“You will?” Cadence said.

“But,” Shining Armor said, “it’s too dangerous.”

Spike said, “They didn't just capture the Cutie Mark Crusaders and Princess Celestia, they took my friends.” He knew the risk involved in confronting the windigos, but he couldn’t stand by while his friends are within the Crusaders’ minds and captured. “Besides, you’ll need someone to report to the Princess and warn her if something happens.”

“You have a point,” Shining Armor said. “Alright, you can come.”

“Do you have room for two more?”

Lyra and Bon-Bon entered the room.

“Lyra,” Cadence said. “But why?”

Shining Armor was getting tired with of 'whys'.

“I figured we can help with the search,” Lyra said. “I did some research on the Orpheus Strings and found out they can sooth various animals, sometimes put them to sleep. Could come in handy.”

“That... Nevermind, you can come,” Shining Armor said. He hoped that nopony else would want to come. The party then went to find the able-bodied members of the guard.

Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Scootaloo flew around the train station. There were several ponies lining up to board the Friendship Express trains. They felt a sinister air around the area.

Rainbow Dash looked back to the last time she saw this place. She remembered the ice and snow that the windigos brought.

Scootaloo said, “So what do we do if this gate is on the train?”

Fluttershy was worried. She thought ‘I can’t fly fast enough to catch a moving train.’

Rainbow Dash saw the sweat on Fluttershy’s fur and said, “Don’t worry, I’m sure the gate's not gonna move away on a train.” She wondered if the gate would do exactly that when the time was up. “We probably might want to check the trains just in case.”

The three pegasi checked every train and platform in the station and every door in the nearby buildings. The feeling lingered on as they searched to find the gateway.

After a while, the three regrouped back at the lobby. Scootaloo remembered how much she hurt the other two pegasi and the entire town with her gossip. She noticed that everypony else had already left.

“Hey,” Scootaloo said to Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. “Can I tell you something?”

“Sure,” Rainbow Dash said.

“Of course,” Fluttershy said.

“I’m sorry about the Gabby Gums thing,” Scootaloo said.

Rainbow Dash had almost forgotten about the gossip.

Scootaloo continued, “We got too caught up in the hype, and were writing what everypony in town wanted to see. By the time we tried to stop, something kept pulling us back in. I’m sorry about everything involving the gossip.”

Rainbow Dash said, “Yeah, well, I guess I behaved a little harshly too. I'm sorry about the deluge of storm clouds.”

Rainbow Dash moved forward until she tripped and fell. “Ow,” she said.

Fluttershy saw a viridian key lodged in the floor near Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash looked back and picked up the key.

The three noticed that the viridian key had no teeth, but a fang. It resembled a scythe.

“What an unusual key,” Fluttershy said.

“Maybe Twilight knows anything about it?” Scootaloo said.

Rainbow Dash wondered if the key had anything to do with the gate. She said, “Yeah let’s find her and ask.” The pegasi flew off to find Twilight.

xl - The Keys of Persephone

Inside the memories of Ponyville, Twilight and Pinkie Pie walked around the town. Twilight looked at the silver key. She wondered if the key had anything to do with the talismans.

Pinkie Pie said, “Twilight, look!” and pointed forward.

They saw Applejack, Apple Bloom, and Silver Spoon.

Twilight said, “Did you find anything?”

Applejack took out the crimson key. “We found this.”

Twilight looked at Applejack’s key. She saw that it resembled a sword.

Rarity and Sweetie Belle had just entered the street.

Rarity said, “Twilight, we seem to have found something.” She took out her ebony-colored key.

Twilight looked at the key and saw that its bow resembled the red key’s, only with two cups hanging on both sides.

Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Scootaloo came last. Twilight noticed that Rainbow Dash had a small viridian key.

“Twilight,” Rainbow Dash said. “We found this key and we--” She saw Twilight levitating the other three keys. “Oh.”

Twilight levitated the viridian key and saw the scythe-like fang where the teeth should have been. She said, “This is strange.”

She went to her Library; the others followed.

A few hours later, in the memories of her Library, Twilight Sparkle studied the keys.

In another room, The Cutie Mark Crusaders spoke amongst themselves.

“Are you certain we should trust Silver Spoon?” Scootaloo said.

“She did say she wants to help,” Apple Bloom said. “But I don’t know.”

“We haven’t seen her at all since we joined the Foal Free Press,” Sweetie Belle said. “Maybe she and Diamond Tiara had a falling out?”

“I don’t think so,” Scootaloo said. “There’s something missing here.”

“Are you talking about me?”

Silver Spoon entered the room. She startled the Crusaders.

“Umm...” Sweetie Belle said.

Silver Spoon said, “I know that you don’t exactly trust me.”

“It’s not that we don’t trust you,” Apple Bloom said.

“It’s not?” Sweetie Belle said.

Scootaloo facehoofed.

Silver Spoon said, “I know that our history has been... strained.”

Scootaloo said, “That’s putting it mildly.”

“Silver Spoon,” Apple Bloom said. “What’s going on? Did something happen between you and Diamond Tiara?”

Silver Spoon said, “You could say that.” She recalled the night that Diamond Tiara went to Unicorn Range. She was hesitant to tell them the details, partly out of knowing that both she and Diamond Tiara bullied them many times. She whispered, “Can you save her?”

“Save who?” Scootaloo said.

The fillies noticed Applejack had opened the door. She had some food and four plates with her.

“I reckon that y’all must be starving right now.” Applejack placed four plates on the floor. She said, “So I took some time to get some dinner.” She placed some food on each of the plates.

The fillies thanked Applejack and she left.

Silver Spoon said, ”I’ll tell you later.” She took her plate and left.

Apple Bloom wondered once more what happened during their time in the loops, and in the few days they were statues.

Shining Armor and Princess Cadence had gathered up some of the healthy members of the guard for the search party. Lyra, Bon-Bon, and Spike were nearby.

Flitter, Cloudchaser, Star Song, and Thunderlane descended on the castle grounds.

Shining Armor said, “So you’re the pegasi Gale Force told me about?”

Cloudchaser said, “Reporting for duty, sir.”

The pegasi saw Lyra and Bon-Bon.

“Hey,” Thunderlane whispered. “Didn't we see those two a couple days ago?”

Flitter whispered, “Yeah, you’re right. Wonder what they’re doing here”

Shining Armor said, “Alright, you know that Princess Celestia has been kidnapped last night at 2116 hours.”

The ponies and Spike nodded.

“Well,” Shining Armor said. “We are gonna find her and rescue her from the windigos!” He then explained the roles of some of the member, as well as some details about their mission.

A few minutes later, the search party left Canterlot and followed the blizzard southwest.

In the skies above Ponyville. Legion was pleased as he looked at the frozen Princess Celestia.

“Soon,” he mused. “We will break the fifth seal, and you shall give them your word, the word of our salvation.”

Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo were busy playing in the clouds. Diamond Dust entered the room.

“So,” Legion said. “You want to escape and betray us, your highness?”

“Cut it out!” Diamond Dust said. “I already know I’m not the one pulling the strings here!”

“Then you should know what would happen if you attempt to defy us again,” Legion said.

“So, where’s the fifth seal then?” Diamond Dust said.

“The seal was placed on the gates of Tartarus,” Legion said. “After they sealed us away, they did the same to our former ruler. He is now a lifeless husk.”

Diamond Dust smirked. “And what good would a corpse do you then?”

Legion smirked. He noticed something off with Diamond Dust’s tiara. “I would advise highly against telling the servants anything about this. You don’t want this happening again.”

The temperature lowered Diamond Dust’s smirk turned into a frightened expression and she galloped away.

Legion turned to Celestia and mused, “She would be a terrible vessel thanks to you. But luckily there is another potential candidate.” He remembered the pegasus that attempted to attack Diamond Dust a few days back.

Legion left the room. a small part of the ice surrounding Celestia melted.

xli - Hercules, the Laborer

In the memories of Ponyville, Twilight Sparkle went outside. She saw the sun as it rose above the horizon. She was wearing some saddlebags with the keys inside.

Applejack saw Twilight and approached her. “Twi?”

“Applejack?” Twilight asked. “Something wrong?”

“It’s just...” Applejack said. “I’m a bit worried about how Apple Bloom might react.”

Twilight knew what Applejack was talking about. She had witnessed the Crusaders’ hostility at the wedding a few days ago. She said, “You have to tell her.”

“I know,” Applejack said. ‘But I’m scared of what might happen if I do tell her.” Applejack knew that the Crusaders, like various other ponies at that time, were not themselves. She feared that her sister might react badly upon knowing that she once attacked her sister.

Twilight noticed that Rainbow Dash and Rarity had similar concerns.

A few hours later, everypony else awakened. Rainbow Dash went out and asked Twilight, “So did you find out anything ‘bout those keys?”

Twilight recalled that she examined the keys the previous night. “I have a theory. You said that the gate wasn’t at the station?”

“Yeah,” Rainbow Dash said. “And Rarity went to the marketplace.”

“I didn’t see any gate in the west field,” Applejack said. “What about Sugar Cube Corner?”

“The gate was not there,” Twilight said. “That leaves the Everfree Forest.”

“Why the forest?” Rainbow Dash said.

“I’ve been thinking about it,” twilight said. “And I think that the gate might be in Tartarus.”

Applejack and Rainbow Dash were a little freaked out. “Did you say Tartarus?” Applejack said.

“Well,” Twilight said. “The gates may have replaced the door to Tartarus here.”

“Okay,” Rainbow Dash said. She was slightly relieved.

Twilight said, “We need to prepare, wake the fillies up and meet me at Fluttershy’s cottage.” She went towards the forest.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash felt the air grow more unsettling.

Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Silver Spoon were eating some breakfast. The others were preparing for a trip into the forest.

After the fillies were done with their food, Silver Spoon said, “Remember what you asked me last night? What happened to Diamond Tiara?”

Apple Bloom recalled asking that. She said, “Uh-huh.” The three Crusaders knew that something had to go wrong to change Silver Spoon’s attitude towards them.

Silver Spoon said, “It happened one day. I saw Diamond Tiara acting strangely. She went into the Unicorn Range during a snowstorm.”

Scootaloo snarked, “Well, it kinda fits.”

Sweetie Belle said, “Scootaloo! Be nice.”

Silver Spoon continued. “There were some windigos in the storm. Diamond Tiara just followed them to the highest peak.”

“Wait,” Apple Bloom said, “You mean to tell me that Diamond Tiara seriously went into a blizzard and that the windigos were there?”

Silver Spoon nodded.

“Come to think of it,” Sweetie Belle said. “The figure that put us in that loop resembled a windigo.”

Silver Spoon said, “Diamond Tiara went to the peak and the windigos did something to her.”

“What did they do?” Scootaloo asked.

“I don’t know,” Silver Spoon said. “They put her in a cocoon and the next thing I knew she called herself a queen. She had a horn and wings too!”

The Crusaders were a bit skeptical. Silver Spoon knew that her story was a bit incredulous.

By that point, Applejack asked the fillies to come with them to find the gate. The group left the library and went to Fluttershy’s cottage. The Crusaders still wondered if any part of that story was true.

Twilight was at Fluttershy’s cottage. She looked around and noticed something different about the area. She saw that the cottage itself became a dark violet, the grass became a burnt crimson, and even the sky above her was locked in a vermilion and magenta sunrise. The only things here that were their normal colors were the nearby Everfree Forest and Twilight Sparkle herself.

The other ponies had caught up to Twilight. They were surprised to find the changes to the area.

Fluttershy was horrified to see the changes to her home. The area felt more unnatural than the forest.

“What happened here?” Rainbow Dash said.

“We have to hurry,” Twilight said.

They heard a noise in the distance and looked back to the town. They saw a stampede of ponies galloping towards them. The mob was shrouded in a veil of dark mist and their features obscured, the only light came from their torches. They were wielding pitchforks and some familiar signs.

The town itself now has an unsettling inverted color scheme mixed with its usual colors.

The ponies had no choice. They galloped into the forest while the mob gave chase.

Diamond Dust, Legion, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle descended near the Everfree Forest. Diamond Dust lifted the frozen Celestia with her magic.

Legion noticed that the Sword of War, Scales of Life, and Scythe of Death emitted a faint glow.

‘So, you think that you can save them, you art fools.’ Legion thought. ‘You hath doomed yourselves to share their fate.’ He conjured up a small ball of cold air and it flew into the Crown of Conquest.

Diamond Dust noticed that Legion had put something into the crown. She said, “What was that for?”

“A reminder,” Legion said.

Diamond Dust gulped.

Apple Bloom knelt on the ground in pain.

“Something wrong?” Scootaloo said. She and Sweetie Belle helped Apple Bloom up.

“I don’t know,” Apple Bloom said. She felt something change inside her but she couldn’t figure out what it was.

The group went into the forest.

Within the memories of the Everfree Forest, Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Silver Spoon were chased by a mob shrouded in an unnatural dark mist.

Applejack tried to block the path by causing the trees to fall behind them, but the mob phased through.

Rainbow Dash saw a gate, adorned with thirteen symbols, in the distance. The gate towered over the forest.

“This way!” Rainbow Dash shouted. She flew east and the other ponies followed. The mob hadn’t noticed the ponies sudden change in direction and went straight.

The group took some time to catch their breath.

“That was a close one.” Applejack panted.

“We’re not out of the woods yet,” Twilight said. “They’ll be back.”

The mares went to the giant gateway.

After a few hours, they were near the gates.

“So we get through this and we’re free, right?” Apple Bloom said.

“I don’t know, sugarcube,” Applejack said.

“Well,” Rarity said. “Anywhere got to be better than this icky forest.”

Everypony agreed.

Twilight tried to open the gates with her magic. “They’re locked,” she said.

Everyone looked back and saw two glaciers veiled in darkness heading towards them.

Rainbow Dash tried to ram the gates, but they still won’t open.

They had to hurry. The wall of ice and shadows and ice inched closer and closer.

Twilight remembered the four keys. She searched for a lock somewhere. She found four at the center of the gates. “Rainbow!” She shouted as she pointed to the center.

Rainbow Dash saw the locks and realized what Twilight needed. She went and lifted Twilight up to the center.

The dark glaciers moved forward.

Twilight levitated the keys out of her saddlebag and tried to place them in the locks.

Rainbow Dash said, “Hurry!”

Twilight put the silver and crimson keys inside two of the locks.

The glaciers grew closer at unprecedented speed.

Rainbow Dash was getting tired of lifting Twilight. Twilight placed the black key in the third lock and was ready to place the final key in.

The glaciers were a few yards away. Everypony prepared for the worst.

Twilight placed the viridian key in, and then concentrated. The gates opened and let out a bright light as Rainbow Dash and Twilight went to the ground.

The ponies went into the gates and a few seconds after, they closed. The glaciers collided with each other and the gates.

xlii - Jason and the Golden Fleece

Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Silver Spoon found themselves in a bizarre meadow. The sky above them was a bright magenta that complemented with the viridian meadow. They saw rocks and stones scattered everywhere.

“Where are we?” Scootaloo said.

Pinkie Pie looked around the area. it reminded her of her childhood.

“It’s kinda beautiful, isn’t it?”

“Who said that?” Applejack asked.

A blue earth pony approached them. He was wearing a headband that evoked images of a ram’s horns.

The other ponies looked surprised.

The blue pony said, “You got through the gate faster than I expected.”

Rainbow Dash said, “Who are you?”

“Ah, I haven't introduced myself yet,” The headband wearing pony said. “Name’s Aries.”

“What are you doing here, Aries?” Apple Bloom said.

“Ah, well I’m one of the guardians and spirits of your memories.” Aries said.

Sweetie Belle said, “Memories?”

Aries looked at Applejack. “You haven't told her yet? I find that a little ironic that the most Honest of you all would be keeping secrets.”

Applejack remembered that Princess Luna said that the challenges would try to make sure that they would be trapped in the Crusaders’ subconscious.

Aries said, “Well, I’m not one to ruin such a strong bond, so I’ll let you be the one to tell them what they were doing in the real world. In the meantime...” A golden fleece appeared on Aries’s hoof. “...Your task is to find this fleece...” A set of gates similar to the one the group entered appeared behind them. “...And bring them back here. Okay?”

“And what’s stopping us from just going through the gates without the fleece?” Rainbow Dash said.

“Nothing really,” Aries said. “You can go through the gates now if you wish, but without the fleece, you will be back into the loop of memories and stay there for good. You’ll need this fleece, made from the fleece of a gilded ram to progress.” The fleece vanished.

Twilight Sparkle said, “Is there anything we need to know about?”

“Ah, yes,” Aries said. “There is a giant ram called running around here, I would advise you to avoid it. I’ll be waiting near the gates until you find the fleece.”

“Got it.” Twilight and her friends decided to find the fleece.

The group searched around the meadow for an hour. Pinkie Pie saw something shiny in the distance. She galloped away from the rest of the group and went to see the shiny thing.

Twilight Sparkle, meanwhile tried using her magic to find the fleece, but the spells she knew couldn’t find it.

‘There has to be something I can do,’ Twilight thought. She noticed that a nearby rock was glowing and examined it.

Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack also noticed the rock.

“That’s strange,” Applejack said.

The Crusaders, Silver Spoon and Fluttershy went to see what their friends were looking at. Fluttershy saw the rock.

“It’s almost... pretty,” Fluttershy said. She touched the rock.

A few seconds later, the rock emitted a strange light, and they vanished.

Pinkie Pie saw something behind a tall rock. She went behind the rock and saw a small crystal lodged inside.

“Maybe Rarity would like this,” Pinkie said. She took the crystal and went back to where she last saw her friends.

When she got there, she saw that they were gone.

“Huh?” Pinkie Pie said. She went to look for her friends. “Applejack? Rarity? Twilight?” She searched all over the meadow until she saw her friends galloping in the distance. She galloped after the silhouettes.

Pinkie Pie saw a giant open gateway towering over the meadow, and that her friends began to pass through it.

Some of the ponies began to pass the gate. Pinkie shouted, “Wait, please, don’t leave me!” She couldn’t catch up. The ponies and the gate seemed to moved further from her reach.

The gates began closing. Pinkie Pie galloped faster until the gates closed and vanished. She started to cry, her friends had deserted her. Her mane and tail deflated again. She was all alone.

Pinkie trekked around the meadow for hours. Heartbroken and sad, she wondered why they all left her. She wandered around until she saw something shining in the distance.

“What is that?” Pinkie said. She trotted around to find out what the shine was. She saw something buried under some rocks and removed the obstacles. It was the fleece.

Pinkie Pie wondered ‘But if the fleece is here, that means...’ She gasped and picked up the fleece. “I have to find Aries.” She galloped away.

Pinkie Pie galloped through the meadow. She was having a hard time finding the gate. She stopped and saw a ram made of ice. The ram, in turn, saw her and the fleece.

Pinkie sweated. “Um, hello?”

The ram bleated and charged after Pinkie.

Pinkie Pie dodged the attack and galloped away. The ram chased her.

The ram charged Pinkie again, but she dodged again.

‘What do I do?’ Pinkie wondered. ‘What do I do?’ She saw a large rock and suddenly thought up an idea.

the ran tried to charge Pinkie, but she dodged again. The beast had sled further this time. It looked back and saw Pinkie in a black suit and sombrero. She held the fleece out like a matador would hold a cape.

The ram of ice charged to get the fleece, but the moment Pinkie twirled, and in doing so, took the fleece out of the ram’s reach and revealed the large rock.

The ram tried to stop, but its momentum was too great and it was too close for any slowdown to be effective. It crashed into the rock.

Pinkie Pie used the crash to escape the ram. The ram tried to stood up but noticed that crack in the ice. The cracks began to expand until the ice ram shattered into little ice shards.

Pinkie Pie eventually made it to the gate. There, Aires saw her and the the golden fleece.

“Well done,” Aires said.

Pinkie Pie panted, “You have... to help... my friends... left without... this!” She held out the fleece.

Aries took the fleece and held it at the door. The fleece dissolved into magenta particles and they flew to the door, creating the sign of the ram (♈) on the door. The sign emitted a bright light and Pinkie’s friends returned.

Pinkie’s mane and tail returned to their usual form upon seeing her friends return.

“Ugh, me head,” Rainbow Dash said. “What happened?”

Pinkie Pie hugged Rainbow Dash. “You’re back. Oh please, please never ever leave me again!”

Apple Bloom said, “Did we miss something?”

Aries said, “There are still many trials you must overcome. These trials will test you to the best of their ability. You may proceed and good luck.” He vanished and the gate opened.

The group entered the gates, ready to continue their quest.

xliii - Minos and the Cretan Bull

Twilight Sparkle, Apple Bloom, Applejack, Sweetie Belle, Rarity, Scootaloo, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Silver Spoon, and Pinkie Pie found themselves under a scarlet sky. They were on a flat platform as cerulean as the surrounding waters. They saw a cliff and a large ocean right behind the gate.

“Those waters are very dangerous. It wouldn't be wise to swim there.”

A red stallion appeared in front of the group. “My names Taurus. Welcome to my labyrinth.” His white mohawk is adorned by a headband that evoked bull horns. He also had some ropes.

“Let me guess,” Scootaloo said. “You have a challenge for us?”

“You’re very to the point, young lady.” Taurus said.

“Where’s your labyrinth?” Pinkie said. She looked around and saw nothing on the blue ground. “Is it underground?”

Taurus said, “You could say that.” He pressed a hidden button on the ground and cerulean walls appeared around them.

The group was careful to stay together and try not to be separated by the walls.

“Now then,” Taurus said. “Some red bull is wreaking havoc at the center of the maze. Your job is to get it out of the maze and into the ocean.”

Fluttershy was worried. “Um, won’t the bull drown?”

Taurus sad, “Don’t worry, he a strong swimmer and capable of breathing underwater. He can survive the seas.”

Fluttershy was a little relieved.

Taurus said, “You might want to be careful. My bull will try and drive you into different waters as well, the pegasi might escape, but the earth ponies and unicorns will have to swim and you’re out if you touch the water.”

“We got it,” Twilight said.

Taurus said, “Hope you brought your floaties then. And beware the changing walls. I have to go, that bull also took my rope and put it somewhere else.”

Twilight and the others entered the maze.

The ponies looked in the maze for the bull.

Apple Bloom and Applejack saw a strange silhouette.

“Who is that?” Apple Bloom said. She almost recognized the shape.

The silhouette galloped away.

“Hey, wait up!” Apple Bloom chased the silhouette.

“Apple Bloom.” Applejack went after her sister.

The other ponies tried to follow, but a wall emerged behind Applejack. The Apple sister were now separated from the rest of the group.

Applejack and Apple Bloom chased the silhouette around the maze. They got a closer look at the silhouette and Applejack didn’t like what she saw.

The silhouette looked like Apple Bloom with ice legguards and a sword as crimson as the sky. The Apple Bloom duplicate turned right. The two Apples tried to follow her but she vanished.

“Applejack,” Apple Bloom said. “What going on? Why did that pony look like me?”

Applejack knew she had to say something. She noticed that nopony else was around. She said, “Apple Bloom, I--” She heard a snort from behind her.

The two sisters looked and saw a big scarlet bull. Applejack gulped. They galloped away as the bull gave chase.

Twilight Sparkle and her group were looking for Applejack and Apple Bloom.

“Applejack?” Pinkie Pie said. “Apple Bloom?”

Rainbow Dash descended down, “They’re not here, Pinkie.”

Scootaloo said, “You’re flying.” She was a little surprised that the labyrinth didn't do anything preventing flight.

“Yeah, so--” Rainbow Dash had an idea. “I’ll be right back.” She flew away.

Pinkie said, “She deserted us again?”

“Pinkie,” Twilight said. She knew that Rainbow Dash is able to search for the Apples and red bull faster than they are right now.

“So what do we do?” Sweetie Belle said.

“We’ll search for them on hoof while Rainbow Dash covers the sky.”

The group continued through the maze.

Applejack and Apple Bloom were chased by the scarlet bull. Soon they found themselves at a dead end.

The bull moved closer and closer.

The Apple sisters backed up until Apple Bloom tripped on some rope. She had an idea “Applejack!” She handed her sister one end of the rope.

The scarlet bull charged, but the two ponies dodged the attack and had the rope fly into the air.

Applejack and her sister went behind the giant steer and climbed up his back. The giant crimson bull now has the rop in his mouth and Applejack tied the ends together.

The bull was furious. He charged around the maze trying to get the two ponies off.

Rainbow Dash looked from above the maze. She saw the large scarlet bull in the distance, and Applejack and Apple Bloom riding it.

She flew to the bull and shouted, “There you are!”

Applejack said, “Rainbow Dash?”

“What the hay are you doing?” Rainbow Dash was both excited and worried. The walls and paths of the maze changed rapidly as Applejack steered the bull towards the edge of the labyrinth.

“What does look like?” Applejack shouted.

The sea was in sight., but Apple Bloom was the the only one who noticed. “Um, Applejack?”

Applejack and Rainbow Dash looked forward and saw the cerulean waves.

Rainbow Dash took Applejack and Apple Bloom off the bull. The scarlet bull tried to halt it movements, but it was unable to. It went over the cliff and was suspended in mid air. It looked down to the seas below and tried to go back to the cliff until gravity took hold. The bull fell to the waves below.

The three looked at the dull as it tried to swim around the platform. They then looked back and saw the walls sinking back into the floor.

Applejack and Apple Bloom let out sighs of relief.

Rainbow Dash said, “That was so awesome!”

The others saw Applejack and Apple Bloom with Rainbow Dash.

Twilight said, “What happened?”

As they went back to the gate. Apple Bloom explained what happened when they were separated from the group.

“We saw somepony trotting away from us,” Apple Bloom said. “But she vanished and this giant bull appeared.” The group were back at the gate.

“You found my bull!” Taurus said. The group saw the scarlet bull nearby. He went to scold the beat “You been a very bad boy there, Asterion...” Taurus continued scolding Asterion.

Asterion snorted.

“No buts,” Taurus said. “You know where you belong.”

Asterion pouted. He then approached the gates and dissipated int scarlet particles. The particles adhered to he gats and formed the sign for Taurus (♉). Fluttershy was a little unnerved by that display.

Taurus said, “Asterion will lead you tour next challenge. I’ll meet with you soon.”

The ponies went into the gates. Apple Bloom wondered about that silhouette they cased in the maze.

xliv - Castor and the Sibling's Truth

Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Apple Bloom, Silver Spoon, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Sweetie Belle, Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo, and Fluttershy found themselves in a dense azure forest. The sky above was vermillion with the setting sun.

“Has anypony wondered why the sky changes color like that?” Rainbow Dash said.

“That’s easy, silly,” Pinkie Pie said. “Light reflects from the sun and colors the sky based on the color of most the planet.”

Rainbow Dash looked at Pinkie in confusion. The group head some crying.

“Anypony hear that?” Applejack said.

“Yeah,” Silver Spoon said.

“It’s coming from over there,” Apple Bloom said. She saw a cyan-green unicorn crying in the distance.

The group went to the unicorn and Applejack said, “Are you alright?”

The mysterious unicorn said, “I’m fine. It’s just, my sister Castor is missing.” She cried some more.

Sweetie Belle whispered, “Is this another task?”

Rarity whispered, “If it is, she’s being awfully subtle about it.”

Fluttershy said, “It’ll be alright.” to the crying unicorn.

“We’ll find your sister in no time!” Rainbow Dash boasted.

“Well, task or no task, I wouldn't want my friends wandering around this icky forest alone. I’ll help find you sister.”

“Think you,” The unicorn stopped crying. “I’m Pollux.”

Twilight said, “We’ll stay here and help her to the gates.”

Scootaloo said, “Maybe we could get our cutie marks in search and rescues.”

“That’s a great idea,” Sweetie Belle said.

“The Crusaders shouted “Cutie Mark Crusaders Rescuers, YAY!” and ran into the forest.

Applejack felt a little more guilty. She knew that she had to tell them what happened to them soon. She, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash went into the forest to make sure the fillies are alright.

Shining Armor, Princess Cadence, Spike, Lyra, Bon-Bon, Flitter, Cloudchaser, Thunderlane, Star Song, and several of the royal guard were at the maw of the Everfree Forest. They saw the telltale snow and hail clouds that the windigoes inhabit.

“So they went back to the forest huh?” Spike said.

“‘Fraid so,” Shining Armor said.

“Why would they want to be there in the first place?” Star Song asked.

“I don’t know,” Shining Armor said. “But we have to stop them.”

The search party went to find Diamond Dust, and save Celestia and the brainwashed Crusaders.

Deeper in the forest, Diamond Dust, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Legion went through the forest.

“ We are almost at the Gates of Tartarus,” Legion said. “The fifth seal lies near.”

Diamond Dust looked at Apple Bloom. She looked back to the times where she picked on her and any friends she has. She knew she wanted to feel superior to somepony then, but now she was further from that feeling then ever. She found a new target for her ire. She blamed herself for accepting Legion’s offer.

She looked back at Celestia’s icy prison, she saw it melting. She wondered what to do. The group walked forward to the gates.

Inside the Azure Forest, Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders were looking for the missing sister.

The group looked for the missing mare. After hours of fruitless searching, Applejack felt that she couldn’t put off telling the truth anymore.

Eventually, Applejack said, “Apple Bloom, we have to talk.”

The other five ponies stopped. Rarity and Rainbow Dash knew what was going to happen.

“Applejack?” Apple Bloom said.”What’s going on?”

Applejack looked to the fillies. “You might wanna sit down for this.”

Rarity whispered, ”They’re not gonna like this.”

Applejack said, “Before we came to that time loop, we saw you in Canterlot.”

The Crusaders were confused.

Sweetie Belle said, “But how could we be in Canterlot?”

“It a long story,” Applejack said. She explained about the day the windigos and changelings invaded Canterlot, and the Crusaders’ involvement with the former. Rarity and Rainbow Dash help with the talk.

After the explanation, the Cutie Mark Crusaders were visibly shocked.

“You mean we helped the windigos invade Canterlot...” Apple Bloom said.

“...and try to kill you in cold blood...” Sweetie Belle said.

“..And I had wings of ice?” Scootaloo said.

Applejack sighed. “Eeyup.”

Apple Bloom said, “But why? How was that possib--” She and the other fillies remembered the day they met the ghostly figure. The day before they were in the time loop. “How could I’ve been so stupid?!”

Applejack said, “Sugarcube, it wasn’t your fault.”

“But it was.” Apple Bloom was on the verge of tears.

“We were the ones that accepted the offer,” Sweetie Belle said.

“Offer?” Rarity said. “What offer?”

Scootaloo said, “Some spirit told us he could help fix that mess.”

Rainbow Dash said, “What spirit?”

“We don't know,” Apple Bloom said. “We couldn't see it.” Tears rolled down her eyes as she looked at Applejack. “I’m sorry, this whole mess was our fault.”

The mares tried to comfort their sisters. Eventually they calmed down.

“Well,” Rarity said, “If we’ve any chance of stopping this we have to escape this forest first.”

“You’re lost in the forest?”

A yellow unicorn had appeared. Her coat and mane color were identical to Pollux’s, only reversed. She looked like she was stuck in the forest for days.

“You’re Castor, right?” Sweetie Belle said.

Castor nodded.

“Your sister’s worried for you,” Apple Bloom said.

“You know where Pollux is?” Castor said.

“We’ll get you out of this,” Applejack said. They went back to the gate.

A few hours later, Applejack, Apple Bloom, Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo, Rarity, Sweetie Belle, and Castor were back at the gate.

Pollux saw your sister and went to hug her “You’re okay.” She wept again.

“Thanks to these little ponies,” Castor said.

“Told ya we’d find her in no time,” Rainbow Dash said.

Applejack said “Um, we’re not out of the woods yet.”

Pinkie Pie giggled at the joke.

Castor saw the gate. “So will you help me repay these travellers with the way out?”

Pollux said, “It’s the least I could do.”

The twin unicorns used their horns. Vermillion particles appeared and adhered to the gates, forming the sign for Gemini (♊).

“Thanks again for find my sister,” Pollux said.

“You’re welcome,” Apple Bloom said. She felt a little uncertain.

The Crusaders wondered why they would help the windigos try to ravage Canterlot, and if it had anything to do with Diamond Tiara.

The ponies entered the gates, ready to take on the next challenge.

xlv - Karkinos and the Lernaean Hydra

Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Applejack, Apple Bloom, Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo, Rarity, Sweetie Belle, and Silver Spoon found themselves in a indigo beach. The sun shined in the saffron yellow sky.

“Wow!” Pinkie was in awe of the indigo sands.”This beach is cool.”

“Indeed it is.”

The group saw a purple earth pony wearing pincer gloves on her forehooves. There was a crab on her head.

The ponies noticed a tall colosseum. The structure matched the color of the sands.

Fluttershy looked at the crab atop the purple earth pony and said, “Wow, your crab is properly taken care of and well fed.”

The purple earth pony said, “Thanks. Name’s Cancer.”

Fluttershy introduced herself and her friends.

Rainbow Dash said, “Well she sure warmed up to her quickly.”

“Maybe it’s the crab,” Rarity said.

Twilight Sparkle noticed the gateway they used was missing. “Excuse me, Cancer? Um, have you seen a large gate?”

Cancer replied, “A large gate? Sorry, but I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

They heard a roar in the distance. Cancer said, “Oh no, Hide!”

“From what?” Pinkie said.

Fluttershy shivered and shakely point up “That!”

There was a large dragon in the saffron sky. It whooshed down as the ponies tried to evade it. The dragon had seen the Cutie Mark Crusaders and Silver Spoon. It caught up to the ponies and used one of its pincers.

The dragon grabbed Apple Bloom by her tail. Apple Bloom screamed as she was lifted by the dragon’s lobster-like pincers.

“Get your pincers off my sister!” Applejack said. She tried charging the beast, but the dragon just used another one of it’s pincers to smash the ground. The flying sand blinded Applejack and she was soon caught in the dragon’s pincer. There was a flash and soon both Apple sisters vanished.

The other were horrified. Only Fluttershy and Cancer tried to flee. The others tried to fight the dragon.

Rainbow Dash charged the dragon, but its pincers took hold of her hooves. Rainbow Dash saw an eye inside the pincer. The eye flashed brightly and she vanished soon after.

Scootaloo just stood there, shocked that the pony she idolized was defeated by the mutant dragon. She tried to shout, she tried to move but the trauma wouldn’t let her. The dragon landed and flashed its pincer’s eye. Scootaloo didn’t even moved. She vanished in the flash.

Fluttershy and Cancer hid behind a rock. Pinkie Pie tried to attack the dragon with her party cannon. The cannon shot out streamers and a cake, but the dragon smashed the cannon.

“Hey!” Pinkie said. “That was--” The dragon grabbed her and flashed its eye, but Rarity intervened by throwing the sand to its pincer. The pincer or the dragon closed its eye in pain.

Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Sweetie Belle, and Silver Spoon were the only ponies still trying to fight the dragon.

Fluttershy looked back, she saw her friends disappearing one by one as the dragon flashed the good eye on its other pincer. Pinkie and Silver Spoon vanished. Fluttershy wondered what she could do. She can’t face off against the dragon. She saw Cancer gallop away. She considered the option.

Rarity and Sweetie Belle still tried to face the beast. But soon they were caught in the light of the pincer’s eye. The dragon noticed Fluttershy and its belly morphed to resemble the face of a crab.

The crab head said, “You, what is your choice?”

Fluttershy was scared, she didn’t know what to do. The dragon flashed the eye of its pincer at her. Fluttershy screamed as the eye flashed.

A few hours later, Fluttershy woke up inside an indigo coliseum. She wondered where she was. She saw the gates behind her and a sword nearby. The torches lit the coliseum.

She wondered if she could escape. But she knew her friends are still trapped here. She saw the dragon descended into the coliseum. She thought, ‘I can’t leave, not while my friends are still in trouble.’ She moved away from the gates and approached the dragon.

The crab-like head in the dragon's belly said, “I am Lernaean, the undefeated dragon of the Hydrus coliseum. What shall you do?”

Fluttershy said, “I will not leave, not until you release my friends.”

Lernaean’s dragon head said, “Then prove to me how much they are worth to you.” The gates vanished. “Show me the strength that lies within.” The dragon head let out a fireball.

Fluttershy dodged the projectile and grabbed the sword. She knew that she couldn’t run away.

Lernaean’s form changed. it’s wings started to shrink and a shell appeared over the pincers shaped as gauntlets. six small legs emerged from the underbelly of the beast and the crab-head in the belly receded until it vanished.

Fluttershy flew in with her sword, she dodged the attacks of the dragon, but she wouldn't strike with her sword.

Lernaean used it’s pincer to to strike the ground. More sand went flying and obscured Fluttershy’s sight. She tried to avoid the pincers but the dragon breathed fire once more. Fluttershy flew outside the colosseum as the sand turned to glass and fire burned through the colosseum. The dragon flew up into the air and more fireballs emerged from its mouth.

Fluttershy flew upward as well, she flew past the flames as she tried to face the beast. ‘I’m sorry,’ she thought. She slashed the head off the Lenaean. The dragon fell to the beast as Fluttershy hovered above the burnt coliseum.

A look of horror washed over her face as she realized that she may have killed the dragon.

The headless dragon flew up to Fluttershy. The stump where the dragon head was sprouted two more heads, and it’s pincers grew in the process.

“That...” Fluttershy said, “”That shouldn’t had happened.”

One of Lernaean’s heads said, “Believe me...”

The other head said, “..It did.”

Fluttershy was determined. She tried to defeat the beast, but for every head she chops off, two more would appear in it’s place, and the pincers would grow every time it does. She was unable to kill the dragon-turned hydra Lernaean.

She thought, ‘I can’t give up, there has to be a way to stop him.” She noticed the gauntlets that appeared when lernean transformed, and wondered if the pincers were the key. She flew around and try to cut off the arms of the beast, but he fired more fireballs at her. The sky blended with the ground as fire soon ravaged the land.

Fluttershy’s sword was not enough to pierce the gauntlets. She needed something. She flew away from the beast.

One of Lernaean’s heads said, “So, you changed your mind, huh?”

Another said, “You’ll never rescue your friends like that.”

A third head said, “So weak and helpless.”

And a fourth said, “And your flying sucks.”

Fluttershy used the hydra’s taunting to get some distance and then pulled a sharp U-turn. She readied her sword as she flew straight at the dragon. She aimed for the claw.

Lernaean saw Fluttershy’s attack and lifted his pincers. He flew at her.

The sword slashed th pincers as lernaean tried to smash Fluttershy with them. She accelerated past the hydra. The shell and pincers was sliced cleanly off Lernaean’s arm. It fell to the blazing flames below.

Lernaean said, “So your friends are that important to you?” The other set of pincers vanished as the crab head reemerged on his belly. It’s wings grew to massive size.

Fluttershy was absolutely terrified of the dragon’s new form. The flames engulfed the ground below. as she charged the dragon. She shouted “Let,”

Lernaean charged Fluttershy with his now seven dragon heads.

“My!” Fluttershy was accelerating faster than she realized.

“Friends!” She and Lernaean clashed as she slashed her sword at the heads.

“GO!” She slashed one final time and flew past the dragon.

The backs of Lernaean and Fluttershy were to each other. The crab head chuckled. “Your courage had won you this fight.” The dragon heads slid off their necks and Lernaean fell to the flames. His eyes began flashing as the flames engulfed him. The light had engulfed the land.

Fluttershy woke up in the indigo coliseum. There was no evidence of any fires. The saffron yellow sky was free of smoke.

She looked around and saw her friends. They were all okay.

“What happened here,” Applejack said.

“You friend passed her trial.”

Lernaean appeared in front of the group with Cancer. The others were startled.

Rainbow Dash said, “You?” She was about to charge the dragon, but Fluttershy blocked her.

“Rainbow Dash, he’s not here to harm us,” Fluttershy said.

Cancer said, “Lernaean and I were here to test you.”

Silver Spoon said, “Then why did you attack us?”

Lernaean said, “Each of these trials were mean to see if you are worthy of escaping their minds.” He looked at the Cutie Mark Crusaders. “There are more trials to come. More tests to pass.” Lernaean dissipated into saffron yellow dust and the dust form the sign for Cancer (♋) on the gates.

Cancer said, “Good luck. And we’ll meet again.”

Fluttershy said, ‘Thanks.” She felt a little braver. The group went into the gates.

xlvi - Cerberus, the Gatekeeper

In the Everfree Forest, DIamond Dust, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Legion were near the gates of Tartarus. Diamond Dust was still levitating the frozen Princess Celestia.

Diamond Dust secretly waned her power in hope of melting the ice without Legion noticing. She wondered if Silver Spoon was still alive after their last encounter.

A large set of demonic black gates towered over the forest. Its doors were coated in an ebony aura of evil.

Apple Bloom noticed a three headed beast napping. She whispered, “Who’s that?”

Legion said, “That be Cerberus, the gatekeeper of Tartarus, and the anchor for the fifth seal.”

Diamond Dust said, “Let me guess, we need to avoid waking him?”

The windigo adviser nodded. “If Cerberus awakens, it will make breaking the fifth seal more difficult.”

Diamond Dust had an idea. The group sneaked around Cerberus and made it to the gates. Now Diamond Dust had to wait for the perfect moment.

Elsewhere in the forest, Shining Armor, Spike, Princess Cadence, Lyra, Bon-Bon, Cloudchaser, Flitter, Star Song, and Thunderlane were tracking down Diamond Dust. They passed through some frozen trees and creepy foliage.

Spike and Shining Armor were worried about Celestia, the fillies, and those that ventured into their minds, especially Twilight Sparkle.

Spike said, “Do you think they’re gonna be alright?”

Shining Armor answered, “Of course, you know that Twili and her friends can handle the rescue.” The captain was more worried about what the Crusaders would do before that happens, though.

Meanwhile, Cloudchaser wondered about Gale Force back at Canterlot’s hospital and how he must be feeling. Thunderlane approached her and said, “Hey”

Cloudchaser said, “Hey.”

Thunderlane said, “What else do you know about this Over Cast?”

Cloudchaser said, “Not much, I've only known her for a short while before...” Cloudchaser remember Gale telling her and the other pegasi on the team that she was killed. She knew that Thunderlane knew about that shortly after he joined.

Thunderlane said, “You think Gale might go off the deep end soon?”

Cloudchaser was startled. “What? Why?”

Thunderlane said, “Just a hunch, but he she seemed revenge driven back at the wedding.”

Cloudchaser knew that Gale Force seemed bent on stopping Over Cast’s assailant back then. To the point of abandoning his team during the invasion. She felt that Gale’s emotions would overtake him and get him killed. “We should focus on the task at hand. We’ll worry about Gale later.”

Thunderlane nodded.

The group saw a pillar of white and azure light shoot up at the sky and vanish. They hear some howling in the distance.

Shining Armor said, “That’s gotta be them!” The search party galloped to the source of the sound and light.

At the gates of Tartarus, Legion noticed Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle were talking among themselves. He thought, ‘They have gotten further than I expected.’ He said, “My liege, you must be the one to open the gates.”

Diamond Dust put down their prisoner and approached the gates. A blue light emerged from her horn and the doors start to open.

Apple Bloom meanwhile approached Cerberus, still asleep. She curiously looked at one of its heads. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were nearby.

Apple Bloom poked the dog with her hoof. One of the heads yawned and rose up.

The three fillies saw it’s eyes opened slightly and screamed. Diamond Dust heard the noise. ‘Perfect,’ she thought. She feigned a look of shock and raised her horn. Her horn of ice shot a bright light into the sky, a light bright enough to be seen from Canterlot.

Cerberus was awakened by the light. it saw Diamond Dust and Legion near the gates.

Legion saw the three-headed gatekeeper was awake. He was furious.

Diamond Dust shouted, “You idiots! You woke up Cerberus!” She felt a little grateful for the distraction.

Legion sarcastically said, “Open the door, your majesty.”

Dozens of windigos emerged from the sky at Legion’s command. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo drew their weapons as they prepare to fend off the beast.

A few minutes later. Shining Armor and his search party were near the gates. They saw The Crusaders fighting Cerberus, and Diamond Dust trying to open the gates, Spike saw Princess Celestia, nearby, still frozen.

Shining Armor looked to Cloudchaser, and Flitter. “Get the fillies away from Cerberus.” He looked to Lyra. “Can you calm the beast?”

Lyra nodded and readied her instrument.

Shining Armor said, “Good.” He then erected several shields around the members of the group and galloped to free Celestia from the ice.

Cadence and Spike knew what to do and followed Shining to Celestia. Lyra played her lyre with Bon-Bon fending off the nearby windigos. Star Song and Thunderlane took to the skies to intercept the enemies. And Flitter and Cloudchaser readied themselves to get the fillies away from the gates.

Legion saw Shining Armor’s party and said, “How? Why?”

Diamond Dust was almost done with her spell. She said, “We kidnapped the Princess. You didn’t expect a search party?”

“I didn’t expect them to survive long enough to get this far!” Legion was furious. All pretense of tranquility he had was eradicated and replaced with rage.

Shining Armor, Spike, and Cadence were a few feet away from Celestia. Spike melted the ice with his breath.

By that point Diamond Tiara had finished the spell. Tartarus was now open.

The last of the ice that imprisoned Celestia melted off. The sun princess wondered what happened as she looked at Spike, Shining Armor, and Cadence.

“You’re alright!” Spike said.

Celestia stood up and saw Cerberus and the gates of Tartarus. She realized where she was, and knew the gates had been opened.

“Oh no.” She gravely said.

xlvii - Hermes' Word

Shining Armor, Spike, Princess Cadence, and Princess Celestia were deep in the Everfree Forest. Near the gates of Tartarus, Celestia saw Diamond Dust and Legion close to the gates, as multiple windigos escaped from within. She saw they were carrying a large silhouette within the gates.

Legion saw that Celestia was freed. He said, “Handle the Princess.”

Diamond Dust went forth. Celestia knew she had to close the gates before the windigos escape with with what they were carrying.

Meanwhile, Cloudchaser, Flitter, Thunderlane, and Star Song distracted Cerberus and tried to stop the manipulated Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo from hurting him. Lyra played the Orpheus Strings on her lyre to calm the beast.

Apple Bloom slashed at Cerberus with her sword. But her fear of the beast hindered her attack. Sweetie Belle froze one of Cerberus’ legs but he broke free soon after. Scootaloo swung her scythe at the beast but the blade was intercepted in one of the dogs mouth.

The fillies were scared, they couldn't even scratch Cerberus. They fainted from fear and exhaustion.

Cerberus readied itself to eat the three fillies until it heard a soothing sound coming from Lyra’s harp. The relaxing sounds soothed the beast. Flitter and Cloudchaser took the fillies to safety.

“It’s working,” Bon-Bon said. She was impressed with Lyra’s talent. She looked up and saw the windigos were ready to attack Lyra.

“Look out!” Bon-Bon charged Lyra out of the windigos attack. Her barrier had taken some damage and her hind legs were frozen solid.

The force interrupted Lyra’s music and Cerberus was quickly alerted. It saw Diamond Dust and Celestia battling closer to the gates.

Celestia fired another yellow beam from her horn. Diamond Dust blocked the attack with her wings.

Celestia said, “I can’t let you let him go.”

“I’m sorry,” Diamond Dust said, “But there’s not a choice here!” Feathers fell from her wings and became ice shards. The shards flew towards Celestia, but Spike blew his flames and melted the ice. Shining Armor and Princess Cadence followed soon.

“Are you okay, Princess?” Spike said.

Celestia nodded. She noticed that Diamond Dust was holding back.

Diamond Dust fired another wave of ice shards, but Shining Armor created a magic barrier and stopped the ice. “If you want the princess, you have to get through us first.”

Diamond Dust bluffed, “Fine, I love a challenge!”

Celestia whispered, “You sure you can handle her?”

Shining Armor nodded.

Celestia saw the silhouette was almost near the gates. She knew that she had to close the doors before that happens. She flew over Diamond Dust and galloped closer to the gates.

Diamond Dust tried to chase her but Cadence fired a blue beam and chipped part of her wing off.

Diamond Dust prepared to face Shining Armor and Princess Cadence.

In Canterlot’s hospital. Gale Force looked out the window of his room. He still wanted to get revenge on the windigos for what they had done to Over Cast. He stomped his hoof at the wall. ‘Why?’ he wondered. ‘Why am I stuck here? I have to stop them!’ He felt hatred and rage flowing within him.

He saw a blue pillar of light emerge from the Everfree Forest. He knew that he sent his team with Shining Armor to help find the Princess. He hoped that they would destroy the windigos for him, but he still felt unsatisfied.

“Gale Force?” A nurse said.

Gale snapped and shouted “What?!”

“Um...” The nurse was scared of Gale. She had never see anypony that angry before. “The psychiatrist is waiting for you. He’s at the other end of the hallway.”

Gale went out of the room. His rage burned with the fury of a thousand suns.

In the Everfree, Star Song, Thunderlane, Flitter, Cloudchaser, Lyra, and Bon-Bon took the unconscious fillies to safety. Spike, Shining Armor, and Princess Cadence fought off Diamond Dust.

Princess Celestia however was in front of the gates. She tried to closed to doors, but arcane and ancient magics kept the gates open. The body that the windigos carried peeked out below the top of the gates.

Legion was nearby. He said, “Thine effort is worthless. Thou knoweth that there is only one way of closing the doors now.”

Celestia didn't want to do it. She knew that if she did, the fifth seal would be broken. She looked back. “So you finally showed yourself.”

Legion said, “I wouldn’t want to miss out on getting my body back.”

A beam of ice shot out from being Celestia. She saw the attack and dodged it. “I will not be fooled a second time.”

Legion said, “A thousand years ago, thou sealed most of my legions of spirits in this place. But this time, I have the upper hoof. Thy student and her allies are trapped within my talismans and by the time they escape, the seven seals will be broken.”

“I won’t let that happen!” Celestia fired a beam of light from her horn. A pillar of ice emerged from the ground and blocked the attack.

Legion said, “The fifth seal will be broken by thy hoof or mine.” He flew to the sky. Celestia followed.

Meanwhile Diamond Dust battle Shining Armor, Princess Cadence, and Spike. She charged at Shining Armor with and used her horn to stab the captain.

The attack hit Shining Armor’s barrier and caused cracks to appear on it. He concentrated on keeping the shield up, but Diamond Dust used the opportunity to fire a wave of ice at him.

Spike blew our green flames and melted part of the ice. But the ice wave hit Shining Armor’s barrier and broke through it. The captain of the royal guard was knocked by the the attack.

Cadence saw what happened and tried to attack Diamond Dust. But her adversary missed.

Diamond Dust retaliated with another beam of ice. She looked back at the gates and saw the giant body.

Celestia and Legion fought to the finish when they saw the body and gates glowed. Runes appeared on the body and gate as the windigos almost got it through the gates. She looked shocked at the sight of this. ‘How is this possible,’ she wondered.

Legion said, “The seal is breaking. Celestia, keeper of the sun. Knoweth that thy world will freeze as the waters of Cocytus flows from the gates.”

The runes of the fifth seal started to disappear into particles as the magic keeping the seal faded away.

Diamond Dust’s crown glowed as Legion began to move towards the corpse. Celestia had no choice now.

Her horn began glowing a bright yellow as she chanted, “I separate the body and banish it to the ice!”

A beam of light emerged from her horn and hit Legion. Diamond Dust writhed in pain and fainted, her tiara’s glowing yellow as well. The giant corpse vanished.

The attack subsided. Legion saw that Diamond Dust had fainted. Celestia said, “You can’t return to your body, nor can you use Diamond Dust as your host.”

Legion said, “Clever, but this is a temporary setback, and with my body free from Tartarus, the sixth seal of seven will be broken soon. Thou had only accelerated Equestria’s demise.” He vanished.

Celestia descended to the ground and she used her magic to close the gates of Tararus

Spike said, “Princess, what happened?”

Celestia looked to the unconscious Diamond Dust. “We must return to Canterlot at once!”

Shining Armor gestured at Diamond Dust. “What about her?”

“It’s too dangerous to leave her here,” Celestia said. “The spell will wear off in a few hours and the windigos will find the body.”

“I’ll gather the rest of the search party,” Shining Armor said.

The group prepared to return to Canterlot. Celestia looked back to Cerberus and said, “Good boy.”

xlviii - Zeus and the Nemean Lion

Silver Spoon, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie found themselves in an indigo jungle. The chartreuse sky was very cloudy. The chartreuse clouds struck down with indigo lightning.

The bolts hit some of the trees. The ponies saw a nearby cave and went inside. There they saw something unusual, There were paintings and a pony wearing a lion costume.

The costumed pony noticed she had guests. “Oh hello there, guests. Name’s Leo.”

Rarity said, “Hello. Um, is that costume for camouflage?” Rarity hoped the answer was yes. She could not see it being used as a fashion symbol and Nightmare Night was a few months away.

Leo said, “Oh this? This is the skin from one of the Nemean Lions around here. Invulnerable and indestructible unless it happens to be struck by lightning.”

“I see,” Rarity said. She and most of the other ponies were a little disgusted by the implications.

Silver Spoon said, “Do you know how to open the gate nearby?”

Leo said, “What gate?”

Rainbow Dash thought, ‘Figures.’

Leo had an idea. She said, “This storm won’t go away till morning. Why don’t you stay here for the night? There’s plenty of room here in my cave.”

Rarity and Silver Spoon found the offer disturbing. They were used to more luxurious accommodations. The Cutie Mark Crusaders recalled the last time they slept in a cave. Despite this, the ponies knew that sleeping outside was worst. Rainbow Dash was already too tired to clear the clouds.

The ponies accepted Leo’s offer and set up camp in the cave.

A few hours later, Silver Spoon approached the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

“Hey,” Silver Spoon said.

Scootaloo said, “What’s up?” She still found the very fact the Silver Spoon wanted to make up for bullying her and her pals a little disturbing.

“I just wanted to play with you for a bit,” Silver Spoon said.

Apple Bloom said, “Well, there’s not much to do in this cave.” She wondered what happened that would have caused one of her bullies to want to make up and the other to go with the windigoes.

Sweetie Belle said, “We could tell jokes.”

“That’s right,” Apple Bloom said.

“Pinkie told me some great jokes a while back,” Scootaloo said. “Okay, Why did the chicken cross the road...”

The fillies went and had fun around the cave, A few hours later, the ponies were prepared to go to sleep.

Silver Spoon noticed a familiar shadow in the maw of the cave. She wondered who that was.

The next day, The ponies exited Leo’s cave. the chartreuse shy was clear directly above them but there are some storm clouds coming on the horizon.. Twilight wondered what trial they had to face.

Rarity said, “That was the most dreadful sleep I’ve ever had!”

Sweetie Belle said, “At least you didn’t wake up with laughing fits.”

Applejack asked, “So what do we do?”

Rainbow Dash said, “I betcha that ‘indestructible’ costume had something to do with it.”

“Really, Rainbow Dash,” Rarity said. “You think the costume had something to do with the trials.”

“She wouldn't had told us about if it wasn't important. She could have easily said that it was for show or camouflage.”

Applejack said, “You’re kidding, right?”

Rainbow Dash said, “Well it’s better than nothing. I’ve got it! We’ll search for one of the lions and bring it to the gate.”

“That’s a great idea,” Pinkie Pie said.

Silver Spoon noticed something rumbling in the bushes. She went over there to check but there was nothing there.

Apple Bloom saw Silver Spoon checking the bushes, “Something wrong?”

Silver Spoon said, “No.” The two looked back to the mares.

Twilight said, “How will we even find the lion anyway?”

Silver Spoon said, “I can ask Leo back at the cave.”

Apple Bloom said, “I’ll go with her.” She noticed something suspicious with Silver Spoon.

“We can be Cutie Mark Crusaders researchers,” Scootaloo said.

“Yeah,” Sweetie Belle said.

“Fine,” Rainbow Dash said. She felt a little worried about the fillies. “But I’m coming with you.”

Scootaloo gleefully said, “You are?”

Rainbow dash said, “”If we’re gonna find that lion, I would like to know what we’re dealing with.”

Applejack said, “Guess we’ll try and search for the beast.” She knew that there was no stopping Rainbow Dash now.

Rainbow Dash and the four filles trotted into Leo’s cave, while everypony else searched the jungle.

Pinkie Pie noticed a glowing stone near the gates. “Ooh,” she said. The chartreuse stone glowed brilliantly in the indigo dirt.

Fluttershy saw Pinkie Pie trotting towards the stone. She felt something familiar about the glowing stone. “Um, Pinkie? What is that?”

“Dunno,” Pinkie said. “But it sure looks cool.”

Twilight, Applejack, and Rarity looked at the stone. Pinkie Pie tried to pick it up. The chartreuse stone flashed brightly and engulfed the area in light. The five ponies vanished with the flash.

Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Silver Spoon were inside Leo’s cave. They were surprised to see that Leo herself wasn’t there.

“Hello?” Sweetie Belle said. “Leo?” Her voiced echoed throughout the cave, but there wasn’t a response.

‘Damn,’ Rainbow Dash thought. The five ponies knew that Leo wasn’t here. They would have to find the Nemean Lion without her information.

“Guess we’re flying blind,” Scootaloo said. They exited the cave.

The ponies saw a familiar shape in the distance. Rainbow Dash recognized the shape from the Everfree Forest. Silver Spoon saw it as her friend, before what happened at the Unicorn Range.

“Hey!” Rainbow Dash said.

The shape fled. RaInbow Dash flew after it. The Cutie Mark Crusaders and Silver Spoon followed her.

They chased the shadow around the jungle, but the shadowy figure was elusive. It flew up into the sky. Rainbow Dash chased it and then there was a great flash and Rainbow Dash vanished.

Scootaloo wondered where Rainbow Dash went. She mumbled, “Rainbow Dash?”

Apple Bloom said, “Scootaloo?”

Scootaloo mumbled to herself, “It’ll be okay, I’m sure Rainbow Dash flew too fast, that’s all. Maybe she’s still in the jungle.”

Silver Spoon said, “Are you alright?”

Scootaloo ran deeper in the jungle.

Sweetie Belle said, “Scootaloo!”

The other three fillies tried to find their friends.

A few hours later. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Silver Spoon found Scootaloo near some large trees. The chartreuse clouds block the sky as rain fell on the jungle. Scootaloo was curled up in a ball.

“Rainbow Dash?” Scootaloo said. She looked back and saw the other fillies. “Oh.”

“Are you okay?” Apple Bloom said.

Scootaloo didn’t respond. She felt hollow inside. She didn’t know how to take it. Rainbow Dash just vanished in front of her eyes.

“Man, she’s really out of it.”

The fillies recognized that voice. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Silver Spoon looked back and saw Diamond Tiara,without Diamond Dust’s ice wings or horn. Lightning began to strike the ground as thunder roared in the distance.

“You?!” Sweetie Belle said.

“Diamond Tiara?” Silver Spoon said. She didn’t know what to feel.

Diamond Tiara trotted forward. “Aw, what’s the matter? Gave up now that your friend is gone?”

“Leave her alone!” Apple Bloom said.

SIlver Spoon was appalled. She never seen her go as far as to force somepony in their darkest hour like that.

Diamond Tiara turned to Silver Spoon. “Let’s go, Silver Spoon.”

Silver Spoon looked at the Crusaders. She didn’t know what to do.

“What are you waiting for?!” Diamond Tiara said. “Let’s go!”

She saw Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle tried to comfort Scootaloo. She looked back at Diamond Tiara and shouted, “No!”

Everypony here was surprised. Diamond Tiara was the most shocked. She said, “What do you mean ‘No?’”

“I’m not going with you,” Silver Spoon said. “Not now.”

Diamond Tiara said, “Silver Spoon, what are you talking about?”

Lightning flashed as Silver Spoon, “That filly needs my help more than you do.”

Diamond Tiara was shocked. She said, “But don’t you want to rescue me?”

Silver Spoon said, “I do and I will, but right now I have to help rescue my friends from the trouble you and your newspaper caused.”

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were surprised to hear that.

Diamond Tiara was furious. “You’ll pay for this!” Her voice changed into a roar, Her pink fur became golden in color and her mane became brown as it grew around her face. She grew bigger and bigger. Until her form and size became that of a lion.

The Crusaders knew that she had changed into the Nemean Lion. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle lifted Scootaloo and galloped away with Silver Spoon. The lion chased after them.

The lion chased them all over the jungle until they hid behind a tree.

“What do we do?” Sweetie Belle said.

Apple Bloom and Silver Spoon noticed someone hanging by the hoof on a nearby tree.

“Is that--?” Apple Bloom asked. Sweetie Belle lifted Scootaloo’s head towards the tree.

Scootaloo saw Rainbow Dash, unconscious, banged-up and upside down. the rain woke her up and she saw the fillies.

“What happened?” Rainbow Dash said.

Scootaloo smiled. “You’re alive!”

Rainbow Dash freed herself and said, “What? You assume that a small flash of light would get rid of me that easily?”

Scootaloo said, “Yeah, silly me.”

The five ponies heard a loud roar. Rainbow Dash said, “Is that--”

“The lion?” Scootaloo gulped.

The gilded Nemean Lion emerged from the trees. Rainbow Dash was hurt but she felt that she can still fight. She said, “Hide.”

The fillies did as told and hid behind another tree. Lightning hit the nearby trees. The lion roared as it faced Rainbow Dash. She tried to charge the beast, but its hide blocked the assault. The lion swept one of its claws at Rainbow Dash, but she dodged and kicked the beast.

the fight kept on for a few minutes but Rainbow Dash was unable to even scratch the beast. ‘Man that pony was right.’ She thought. the lion landed a blow with it’s sharp claws

Scootaloo saw the lion was winning. “We have to do something!”

Silver Spoon said, “But what can we do?”

Apple Bloom saw lightning strike the tree they were hiding behind. She remembered what Leo said the previous day. “Rainbow Dash, the lightning!”

Rainbow Dash realized that the hide of the Nemean was weak to lightning was weak to lightning. She flew up to the clouds and brought one of them down. The lion heard Apple Bloom and was ready to pounce.

“Oh no you don’t,” Rainbow Dash said. She placed the cloud over the lion and kicked it. An indigo bolt hit the golden beast.

The fillies went to another tree. Silver Spoon and Apple Bloom carried some sap.

The lion writhed in pain. It tried to escape but Rainbow Dash kicked the cloud again and another bolt struck the beast.

The lion was heavily damaged. He pounced on Rainbow Dash and destroyed the cloud. the lion smirked as it prepared to strike Rainbow Dash down. But Rainbow Dash dodged the attack and the lion hit the tree. The impact had wounded the lion but it was too determined and proud to quit.

Rainbow Dash just hovered near a bent tree. She taunted, “You want me? come and get me!”

The Nemean Lion pounced, but Rainbow Dash flew to the side and pointed down. The lion saw that its foot was stuck to the bent tree, and it snapped back, flinging the lion into the storm.

The fillies went out from behind the tree. “It worked!” Silver Spoon said.

The five ponies saw a bolt of lightning hit the beast and it fell down near the gate. They went to find where it landed. The clouds began to clear.

When Silver Spoon, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, and Rainbow Dash returned to the gate. They saw Leo nearby a pile of ash and some golden fur. Leo looked at Silver Spoon “So I take it you stood up for your new friends, found Rainbow Dash and slain the beast with the lightning?”

Silver Spoon said, “How did you know?”

Leo said, “I have my ways. Nemean Lions always overestimate themselves.”

Several lights appeared and Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack, and Fluttershy emerged from the lights. They saw Rainbow Dash and the fillies were wet and messy. Rainbow Dash was also wounded.

Applejack said, “I feel like I’m missing something here. Are you alright Rainbow Dash?”

“I’m fine,” Rainbow Dash looked to the fillies. “Thanks to them.”

Twilight and Fluttershy tended to Rainbow Dash’s wounds. Leo took the skin and ashes closer to the gate. The ashes turned into chartreuse particles and formed the sign for Leo (♌) on the gates.

Leo handed the empty hide of the beast to the group. “Here’s a souvenir for later. I’ll see you later”

“Thank you, darling,” Rarity took the hide. She felt that she could make a indestructible one-of-a-kind dress with the hide. She looked to Rainbow Dash and Sweetie Belle

The ponies entered the gates.

xlix - Asteria and the Wishing Star

Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Sweetie Belle, Applejack, Apple Bloom, Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Silver Spoon were in front of an violet cave. The sky was mint green and there were crystals everywhere.

The ponies saw a white earth pony. She had a flower in her pink mane.

Rarity saw that the earth pony was wearing an elegant robe. She looked back at the hide the ponies had from the last trial.

The earth pony saw the group. “Hello, travelers. I am known as Virgo.”

“Hello,” Twilight said. “Do you know where we are.”

Pinkie Pie said, “Is this dream valley?”

Virgo shook her head. “No, this is the cave of desires. Here your deepest desires are fulfilled.”

The ponies felt intrigued by the cave. Rarity said “Can you tell us more, darling.”

“Certainly,” Virgo said. “Only two ponies can enter the cave at a time. Those ponies are granted one wish each. As the cave’s guardian, I personally pick the ponies that shall enter.”

Everypony but Twilight Sparkle and Silver Spoon thought about what they would wish for.

Rainbow Dash said, “I could finally be a Wonderbolt.”

Scootaloo said, “We could get our cutie marks!” Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were giddy after that sentence.

Pinkie Pie said, “And I can throw the biggest party in all Equestria!”

Twilight went up to Virgo. The robed pony said, “Is there anything you desire?”

Twilight said, “There is one thing, but I’m not sure that this cave would be able to grant it.”

Virgo said, “There are some wishes that this cave would not grant. You cannot use it to bypass the rest of the trials for instance.”

“Yeah, figures.” Twilight said.

Virgo went towards the group. “I have made my decision.” She pointed to Rarity and Sweetie Belle. “You two shall enter the cave. Make your wishes carefully, and remember the cave will not last long after you get the wishes.”

Sweetie Belle said, “So where do we get the wishes?”

Virgo said, “They are stars found at the end of the cave.”

The other ponies wished them luck.

The two sisters squealed in excitement. Rarity thanked Virgo and gave the Nemean hide to Twilight. The two went into the violet cave.

Inside the cave, Rarity and Sweetie Belle trekked the walls. Rarity was surprisingly tolerant of the cave compared to the last time she went in one. In fact she was fascinated by the crystals there. Sweetie Belle wasn’t that surprised.

Eventually, they were at a chamber in the cave. They saw two star-shaped gemstones in the walls.

Sweetie Belle said, “So what are you gonna wish for, Rarity?”

Rarity said, “I don't know, Sweetie. There just so many things I could wish for.” She thought wishing for the largest diamond in Equestria, or more nemean skins for her fashions. Sweetie Belle had only one goal in mind. She wanted her cutie mark. Rarity went and took the red star from the wall and Sweetie Belle took the blue star.

The cave quaked as soon as they took the stars out. Rocks fell from the ceiling and Rarity and Sweetie Belle tried to escape. They galloped out of the chamber but the paths changed and the cave continued to collapse and caved in.

The two sisters saw an opening to the left and went there. Rarity saw a large boulder about to fall on Sweetie Belle and pushed her out of the boulders path.

Sweetie Belle saw the boulder fell and crushed Rarity. She tried to move the heavy boulder but it wouldn't budge. She wept for her fallen sister. The boulders stopped falling, the cave was stable.

Sweetie Belle said, “You did this for me.” She looked at the blue star. She wondered, ‘Maybe I can save you with this.’ She realized that if she used her wish to revive Rarity, she would be unable to use it to get her cutie mark. She looked at the boulder that crushed her sister.

After looking at the rock for a few moments, she diverted her attention to the azure gemstone. She cried and said, “I wish for my sister back. Please, bring her back to me.”

The sapphire star levitated itself and flashed. When the flash subsided, the boulder was gone and Rarity still lied on the ground unconsciously.

Rarity woke up and saw Sweetie Belle. “Ugh.” She tried to stand. “You’re alright.” She saw that Sweetie Belle’s star was missing. “Your star.”

“I used it to save you,” Sweetie Belle said.

Rarity said, “But your cutie mark.:”

“No cutie mark is worth losing my sister, Rarity,” Sweetie Belle said.

Rarity hugged Sweetie Belle. The cave rumbled again. The floors cracked below them. They galloped as fast as they can. The boulders that obstructed the path fell through the paths and into a dark abyss. Rarity used her horn and suspended the boulders in the air with her magic. They used the suspended boulders as a path across the gap.

Rarity and Sweetie Belle made it across the gap, the mouth was in sight. They escaped the cave just as it collapsed. The poneis saw the maw of the cave collapsed as soon as they escaped.

Twilight Sparkle said, “What happened?”

“Did you through anything else?” Pinkie Pie asked.

Rarity and Sweetie Belle told them what happened in the cave.

A few seconds later, Sweetie belle finished, “...and then the cave collapsed.”

Apple Bloom said, “But your cutie mark.”

Sweetie Belle said, “There was no way I could live with myself if I’d let my sister die for a cutie mark.”

Virgo said, “You made the right choice, choosing your sister over your desires.” She went to the gates and took out a sapphire star. The azure star dissipated into mint green particles and the particles formed the sign for Virgo (♍) on the gates. She looked at Rarity and said, “She learned a lot from you. I can tell that. Your trial awaits.”

Rarity said, “My trial?” She never heard any of the previous guardians mention what pony would be tested next.

Virgo nodded. “I’ll be waiting for you when you finish.”

The ponies entered the gates. Rarity was a little worried that she might fail the next task.

l - Amethystos and the Scales

Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, Applejack, Silver Spoon, Scootaloo, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie found themselves inside a large valley. The gemstones were even more abundant than the last trial. The viridian sky was clear and bright, allowing these crystals to shine in the fuchsia ground.

Rarity was a little nervous. She knew that her trial was here.

The group saw a light orange pegasus descend into the valley. Her purple and orange mane and tail flew in the breeze.

“Hello,” the orange pegasus said. She took out a set of scales and looked at Rarity. “I’m Libra.”

Rarity was sweating. “Hello.”

Twilight Sparkle said, “We heard that Rarity is to be tested here?”

Libra checked her scales. “She is.” One of the cliff revealed a large set of ebony scales. The scales looked like they were big enough to hold a mountain of gems. Rarity and Sweetie Belle dreaded the sight of those familiar scales.

“Um, darling?”Rarity said, “What are those for?”

“Later,” Libra said. “Right now, your task is collect as many gems as you wish.”

Rarity was a little surprised. “Is that all?”

“For now, yes.” Libra said. “I’ll also need your wishing star and Nemean hide. Can’t have you cheating now, can I?”

Twilight handed Libra the indestructible hide and Rarity gave her the crimson ruby star.

Libra said, “Very well. You have one hour to bring back as many gemstones as you can, alone.”

Rarity gulped, “Very well, then.”

“Rarity,” Twilight said. “Are you sure you can handle this?”

Rarity said, “Of course, darling. I’ve been gathering gems for my outfits since I was a small filly.”

Libra said, This is the first part of your test. Bring your hoard to the other side of the valley for the second part when you’re done.” She then flew to the other side of the valley.

Rarity then went deeper into the valley to gather her gems. The rest of the group stayed near the gates.

A while later, Sweetie Belle saw one peculiar crystal. The crystal matched the viridian sky in hue and it’s glow was faint compared to the other crystals.

“Huh?” Sweetie Belle said. She and the other fillies went to check out the crystal.

“What do you think the crystal is?” Apple Bloom said.

“Maybe it’s tourmaline?” Scootaloo said.

“Tourmaline’s more yellow,” Sweetie Belle said.

“Looks like a weird emerald,” Silver Spoon said.

Sweetie Belle picked up the dim crystal and it flashed blindingly.

Within seconds flash subsided and the ponies near the gates vanished. One of the cups of the monolithic ebony scales slightly lowered.

Rarity spent the last hour gathering as many gems as she could. She had made a sled with nearby rocks and used it to hold the gems. She gathered up lots of rubies, citrine, topaz, emeralds, turquoise, sapphires, amethysts, diamonds, and many more jewels.

She felt that an hour had passed and pushed and pulled her heavy sled towards the end of the valley.

Several hours later, Rarity managed to take the sled full of gems to the other side of the valley. There she saw Libra.

Libra examined the size of the mountain of jewels and gemstones. She said, “Well, that is an impressive pile of gems. Now you must pay the toll.” She there a viridian crystal at the pile and it vanished in a flash. “What shall you take with you, these gems or your friends.”

Rarity was appalled. “What do you mean. I would never betray my friends, nor would I sell them out for a huge pile of gemstones!”

“Tom says otherwise,” Libra smirked.

“How dare you bring that up?” Rarity said. She was also curious as to how Libra knew about Tom. “I wasn’t acting like myself then.”

“Regardless,” Libra said. “You have to make a choice and you can’t bring both with you. Meet me back at the gates. There you shall make your choice.” She flew away.

Rarity was insulted. She thought, ‘Why would she even think that i would dare betray my friends for a bunch of dumb rocks?’ She looked at the sky. The full moon shined brilliantly and eerily in the viridian sky. She returned to the gates, having already made her choice.

At dusk, Princess Celestia, Spike, Shining Armor, Princess Cadence, Lyra, Bon-Bon, Cloudchaser, Flitter, Thunderlane, and Star Song returned to Canterlot. At the castle they saw Princess Luna in the throne room. Her eyes had bags underneath them as she stayed up for days keeping the sun and moon in orbit.

Luna looked up and saw her sister had returned. “I knew you’d return.” She smiled. She saw the look of defeat on Celestia’s face.

Celestia used her horn to return the sun to her control. “You can rest now, my sister.”

Luna noticed a tone of despair in her voice. She hoped that the fifth seal wasn’t broken. She tried to move, but she was too tired to go beyond a few steps. Cadence and Shining Armor helped Luna out the door. The pegasi took the four fillies back in the ritual chamber to rest.

Soon, Only Spike and Celestia were the only one in the throne room.

“What do we do?” Spike said. “Five of the seven seals are broken, your spell would have worn off by now.”

Celestia said, “Even without the spell. The windigo can’t use the body unless the other two seals are broken.” She knew that Legion would had found the body by now. She looked out to the dark blue sky. “It is getting late, we shall discuss this in the morning.”

Spike left the room. He worried about his friends.

Rarity had returned to the gates in the fuchsia valley. There, she saw the black scales had changed. The cups of the scales were transparent. The post of the scales were taller than before, to the point where the peak of the cliff and the cups were of equal elevation. And the cliff face behind them had ledges. The left cup had a viridian forcefield around it.

Rarity saw her friends, unconscious in the left cup. The other cup had all the gems amassed the previous day.

Libra emerged from the viridian sky and said, “Ready to make your choice?”

Rarity said, “I’ve been ready for a long time.”

“Then choose,” Libra said. “The cup you shall enter determines what you shall bring with you beyond the gates. the other cup and its contents shall be sacrificed to open the gates.”

“Very well, then,” Rarity said. She went to the left side of the cliff and began climbing.

Inside the cup some of the ponies were awakening. Among them was Sweetie Belle. ‘Where am I?’ she wondered. SHe looked out the transparent cup and saw Rarity scaling the rock. “Rarity?” she said.

Rarity made it halfway to the the peak of the cliff. ‘Hold on, everypony.’ Rarity thought. She grabbed the ledges of the rock and continued to climbed. But one of the ledges broke off. She hung on the cliff.

‘Okay, then,’ Rarity thought. ‘I’m hanging on a cliff, my friends are trapped in some scales and there’s gems tempting you in these same scales.’ She lifted her free hoof to find another ledge to hold on to. ‘But I won’t let my friends be trapped here. The reason I came to this awful place is to rescue my sister and her friends. And as Celestia is my witness...’ She finally grabbed another ledge and said, “I shall rescue them!”

Rarity had scaled to the peak of the cliff. She galloped to the cup.

Meanwhile the rest of the ponies were awake. They wondered what they were doing inside a cup.

“What happened?” Rainbow Dash said. She tried to fly but she bumped her head on the forcefield. “What the hay?”

Fluttershy said, “That sure is a long way down.” She gulped.

The ponies saw Rarity on top of the cliff.

“Rarity,” Twilight said. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” Rarity said. She saw the gap between the cliff and the cup. The forcefield faded.

“What’s going on?” Applejack said.

“I don’t know.” Rarity said. “But I know that I won’t leave you here.” She prepared to jump. She ran towards the edge of the cliff and jumped. She grabbed the cup by its tip and hung on its edge.

The cup began to lower as Rarity tried to climb into it. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy grabbed her hooves and help her into the cup. The scales began to lower as the scales cup began to glow viridian green.

When the cup touched the ground. The ponies left the cup as the scales and Rarity’s gems became viridian dust that flew to the gates. The dust formed the sign for Libra (♎) on the gates.

Libra was surprised. “You really are that determined to save your friends huh?”

“Of course I was, darling,” Rarity said. “I had my priorities balanced.”

“Very well,” Libra said. She handed Rarity back her star and the Nemean hide. “You may go. I shall prepare to meet you again.”

The ponies entered the gates. On the way, Rarity told them about what had transpired up to that point.

li - Nike and the Scorpion

Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo, Silver Spoon, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Apple Bloom, Rarity, Sweetie Belle, and Fluttershy were on a crimson raceway. They looked at the cerulean sky.

“Well” Rainbow Dash said. “Glad to see a normal sky for a change.”

“Glad you like it, cause you’re gonna be staying here for a long time.”

A red-violet earth pony with a white mane and tail approached the group. She was followed by a large scorpion.

“Who the hay are you?” Rainbow Dash asked.

The earth pony said, “I’m Scorpio, and this is my racetrack.”

The group looked around the raceway. They saw a vast expanse of desert along with some unusual scenery such as geysers, glaciers, and a nearby spring. There were also some bleachers nearby.

The giant scorpion looked at Rainbow Dash. She felt a little worried, but she hid it behind a layer of bravado.

Scorpio said, “Seems like Trismegistus wants to race you.”

Rainbow Dash boasted, “Hah as if that giant bug could beat me. I could fly circles around it in ten seconds flat.”

“I don’t know,” Scorpio said. “Trismegistus has never lost a race.”

“First time for everything,” Rainbow Dash said.

“Alright then,” Scorpio said. “Meet us at the starting line and I’ll tell you the rules.” Scorpio and Trismegistus left.

The group looked around for the starting line. After a few hours, Rainbow Dash found a strange crystal. Its cerulean hue matched the sky and rainbow dash’s coat color perfectly.

“Hey guys,” Rainbow Dash said. “Look!”

The other nine ponies went around Rainbow Dash and the cerulean gemstone.

“This looks kinda familiar,” Sweetie Belle said.

“Didn’t we see a greenish one at that meadow?” Fluttershy said.

“And there was a blueish one at that beach!” Pinkie Pie said.

“Come to think of it,” Apple Bloom said. “There was a pinkish one in that valley.”

Twilight Sparkle noticed that every time they picked up one of these crystals, the next thing they knew, they woke up someplace else. “I think we should avoid these crystals.”

Twilight wasn’t the only one that saw the connection. Rainbow Dash said, “I agree. We shouldn't touch the crystals.”

The ponies left the area. But Rarity looked back at the crystal. She knew she saw Libra use a similar one on her gens in the last trial. ‘No Rarity, you must not touch the stone.’ She looked back and saw how shiny it looked. She tried to resist and walked away. But she saw Pinkie Pie gallop past her.

The other ponies looked back as Pinkie Pie looked at the cerulean crystal.

“Ooh,” Pinkie Pie said. “Shiny.”

“Pinkie, No!” Rainbow dash said. The other ponies tried to stop her, but it was too late. She touched the crystal.

The cerulean crystal flashed and a blinding light engulfed the ten ponies. After the flash subsided, they vanished without a trace.

A few hours later, Rainbow Dash and her group woke up near the gates. There were some hot air balloons and an arch nearby.

Scorpio approached them and said , “So you took the shortcut, huh?”

“What shortcut?” Rainbow Dash said. The last thing she remembered was Pinkie Pie touching the cerulean crystals.

Scorpio picked up one of these crystals. “You’ve seen these crystals before, right?”

RaInbow Dash said, “Yeah, for a few seconds before waking up somewhere else.”

Scorpio said, “Yeah, these warp crystals are helpful in setting up the challenges, they secrete some magic that makes ponies attracted to them. Then, it warps them somewhere else. Normally away from the challenge, or to a point in the future where the trial finished, but sometimes they set up a part of the challenge. This time they helped save you a long desert walk to the start.”

The other ponies looked around the starting point. They saw the armada of hot air balloons.

Pinkie Pie walked up to Scorpio. “Ooh, what are those balloons, for? You having a party? I just love love love parties...”

Rainbow Dash was a little curious about the balloons.

Scorpio said, “They’re for the spectators.”

“Spectators?” Rainbow Dash said. The ponies never saw anypony else in the trials except themselves and one or two ponies per area.

Everyone saw a herd of ponies galloping towards the race.

“There’s also a balloon for you too.” Scorpio trotted towards the nearest balloon. There was something familiar about the purple and yellow balloon.

Pinkie Pie squealed a bit. Twilight Sparkle wondered why said balloon looked like the balloon in Equestria. The Cutie Mark Crusaders wondered if they could get a cutie mark for hot air ballooning.

Scorpio said, “The race is about to start. Everypony who isn't competing should get in the balloon.”

Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Silver Spoon, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie belle went in the balloon. Scorpio took a rope connected to the the balloon and tied it to Rainbow Dash, much to the latter confusion. “What gives?” she said.

Just then, Trismegistus had warped into the starting point. Scorpio said, “Your tasks are to race my buddy and to get your friends back here.”

The balloon with her friends inside started to rise.

Rainbow Dash unfolded her wings. “Easy peasy.”

The crystal that Scorpio had shown them earlier flashed brilliantly. Everypony closed their eyes. When the flash subsided, Rainbow Dash was in for a nasty surprise. Her wings were gone. There were two sparkling crimson slits of magic where the wings were. “My wings. What did you do to my wings?”

Scorpio said, “This is a race on the ground, not in the sky. If you want to win, you’ll have to do it by galloping. The warp crystals are a far more effective at grounding pegasi than rope. You know, you can forfeit the race at anytime.”

Rainbow Dash was a little unnerved. But she still felt that she could win. She did run very far in the running of the leaves. “Heh, no sweat. I can beat that oversized scorpion with or without wings!”

Scootaloo shouted, “You can do it, Rainbow Dash!”

Rainbow Dash assumed the starting position, a little bit relieved that least her friends were there to support her. Dozens other ponies boarded the balloons and soon the sky was littered with them.

Trismegistus raised it’s claw ready to race Rainbow Dash.

Scorpio went to the top of the arch. “Fillies and Gentlecoats!” She said, “Are you ready?”

The crowd cheered as the race started.

“Get set...” Scorpio said.

Trismegistus started the race early. Rainbow Dash and the ponies on her balloon were baffled.

“GO!” Scorpio said. She waved a checkered banner.

Rainbow Dash galloped to catch up to the cheating scorpion. “What was that for. You totally cheated!”

Trismegistus smirked. He knocked Rainbow Dash back with her tail and moved forward.

With the exception of her friends, the crowd in the balloons booed Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow Dash said, “So that’s the way you wanna play? Fine!” She galloped to close the gap with Trismegistus.

The ponies in Rainbow Dash’s balloon looked to the other balloons. They saw the ponies were still heckling Rainbow Dash. They entered a forest.

Twilight saw Trismegistus used it’s claw to cut some of the crimson trees and blocked Rainbow Dash’s path.

“Rainbow Dash!” Twilight said. “Look out!”

Rainbow Dash heard Twilight Sparkle and saw that her path was blocked by tree. She jumped on the trees and went over the blockade. The ponies in the loose balloons still jeered Rainbow Dash.

“Somethin’ ain’t right, Twi,” Applejack said. “Them ponies over there seem to be cheering that cheater on.”

Twilight saw the ponies on the other balloons. She saw that these “ponies” were constructs of dark magic. She tried to use her horn to get rid of the magic constructs, but Scorpio appeared in front of Twilight and said, “Ah-ah-ah, no attacking the spectators. It’s in the rules.” and warped away. A rulebook appeared where Scorpio had been.

Twilight read the book and saw that that the rule was in the book. The book vanished a second later.

“Drat,” Twilight said.

Soon, Rainbow Dash and Trismegistus were at a beach. The sand was crimson from the heat. Rainbow Dash didn't see Trismegistus anywhere in sight. “Hah, you couldn't take the heat?” She tried to tune out the jeers of the peanut gallery that were he ponies on the untethered balloons and galloped onwards.

But Trismegistus was hiding in the sands.He struck Rainbow Dash with his tail, but she dodged.

“Hey” Rainbow Dash said. “What gives?”

The scorpion's tail tried to strike Rainbow Dash. But she was too agile even on the ground. Trismegistus opted for another approach. He emerged from the ground and caused a sandstorm. Rainbow Dash couldn't see through the sand, and neither could the ponies on her balloon. Rainbow Dash tried to escape the sand, but the sand changed her direction and she was going backwards.

The sandstorm has subsided. Rainbow Dash saw the crimson woods. The magic constructs continued to jeer Dash.

“You stink!” said a construct.

“Trismegistus is twenty times the racer you’ll ever be!” shouted another racer.

“‘Ten seconds flat?’” shouted a third. “More like ten years.”

Rainbow Dash’s ears were bombarded with insults. She felt like she was alone. She saw that Trismegistus had already entered the desert. She laid down in the red sand and considered forfeiting.

“You can do it, Rainbow Dash!” Scootaloo said from the balloon. “You can still win!”

Rainbow Dash looked to the balloon still tethered to her body.

“Come on, sugarcube,” Applejack said. “You faced worse than that cheater.”

“It wouldn’t look good if people found out you lost to an insect, darling,” Rarity said.

Apple Bloom said, “You’re the best racer in Equestria.”

Sweetie Belle said, “There’s still some time left.”

Rainbow Dash remembered that her friends were still there, still with her every step of the way.

Pinkie Pie said, “Please Rainbow Dash. Apple Bloom's right. You’re the best flyer I’ve ever ever met.”

Fluttershy said, “We’ll be with you every step of the way.”

Twilight Sparkle said, “Rainbow Dash, know that you’re not alone.”

Silver Spoon said, “Come on! There’s still a shot.”

Rainbow Dash knew that her friends would help her each and every time, and that she would do the same for them. She said, “You’re right!” She began to trot. She thought, ‘I won’t lose, there’s too much at stake!’ Her trot became a gallop and she galloped faster and faster.

A cone of pressure began to envelop rainbow dash as she galloped faster. “I won’t lose, not with you by my side. Thank you, everypony.” Her speed increased and a rainbow circle appeared behind her and the balloon. She pulled of her signature Sonic Rainboom. She blazed passed the beach and galloped into the desert, leaving behind a rainbow trail with every step.

Rainbow Dash saw Trismegistus and blew past him.

Pinkie pie said, “Wheeee.” in the balloon. The other ponies held on to the basket and prayed that the balloon wouldn’t rip under these speeds.

At the finish line, Scorpio saw something in the distance. She took some binoculars and saw that it was Rainbow Dash galloping at speeds few ponies could manage.

Rainbow Dash had passed the finish line. The crowd cheered for her.

She tried to stop. But Rainbow Dash’s momentum kept her going for five minutes. She slid onto the sand used the friction to stop. Her hooves were burning in pain. The crimson magic expanded away from Rainbow Dash and revealed her wings.

Scorpio lowered the balloon down and Rainbow Dash’s friends exited the basket.

Scootaloo went up to Rainbow Dash. “I knew you could do it!”

Rainbow Dash flew up.”It was a piece of cake.”

Scorpio saw Trismegistus cross the finish line. He saw Rainbow Dash fly around in victory. The sight of it angered the giant scorpion.

Scorpio said, “Don’t even think about it.”

Trismegistus whimpered and went to the gate.

Scorpio went back to Rainbow Dash and said, “Congratulations. You finished the test.” She led the to the gates as the cheering crowd disappeared.

Trismegistus disappeared and became cerulean particles. The particles formed the sign for Scorpius (♏) on the gates.

“There are still some more trials left,” Scorpio said. “I hope you’re ready.”

The ponies nodded. “We’re ready,” Rainbow Dash said.

“Then we shall meet again. Maybe Trismegistus will race fairly this time.” Scorpio said.

“Wait,” Twilight said, “You knew that he cheated?”

“We needed to test how Rainbow Dash would act when severely disadvantaged,“ Scorpio said. “I’m sorry, but we need to see if you were worthy enough to gain entry. Be warned that the next trials may be worse.”

“We’ll be careful,” Twilight said. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome,” Scorpio said. “And good luck.”

The ponies entered the gates.

lii - Chiron and the Temple

Twilight Sparkle, Scootaloo, Rainbow Dash, Sweetie Belle, Rarity, Apple Bloom, Applejack, Silver Spoon, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy found themselves inside another jungle. The trees and bushes were vermillion and the azure night sky was decorated with stars.

Rainbow Dash said, “...And then I swooped down to save Rarity and...”

Scootaloo listened to every word of Rainbow Dash’s tale. Rarity was a little embarrassed about the Young Flyers Competition.

Scootaloo said, “That was so awesome. I wish I could had seen you pull off the Sonic Rainboom back then.” She felt a little safer with Rainbow Dash nearby.

Rainbow Dash heard something in the distance. “Look out!” She took Scootaloo and dodged a nearby arrow. By that point the other ponies were ahead of Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo. The arrow hit the tree. There was a suction cup on the arrow.

A pegasus whose coat matched the orange ground approached them. “Not bad, kid.” He had a bow strapped to his back.

“Who are you?” Rainbow Dash said.

“Name’s Sagittarius.” the pegasus said. His blank tail swooped around as he left. Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo chased the mysterious archer.

Meanwhile, Twilight, Rarity, Sweetie Belle, Applejack, Apple Bloom, Silver Spoon, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy were a few yards away from Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo.

“Hey,” Apple Bloom said. “Where’s Scootaloo?”

Applejack looked around. “Rainbow Dash is gone too.”

The eight ponies looked around for the pegasi.

Apple Bloom Sweetie Belle and Silver Spoon were nearby a pyramid. Apple Bloom noticed a crystal that matched her sister’s coat in hue. The crystal was attached to an arrow.

Apple Bloom knew what that crystal would likely be, but she had an irresistible urge to touch it. Sweetie Belle and Silver Spoon tried to restrain her from touching the crystal.

“Apple Bloom,” Sweetie Belle said. “Please stop.”

“I can’t,” Apple Bloom said. “That crystal is so pretty.”

Silver Spoon and Sweetie Belle slipped and Apple Bloom went towards the crystal. She picked up the shiny orange crystal and it flashed.

Twilight, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity saw the flash.

“What was that?” Applejack said.

Pinkie shrugged. The five mares went to find the source of the light.

In another location. Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo saw the flash.

“Is that...” Scootaloo said. She hoped it wasn’t a warp crystal.

Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo went to find the source of the flash.

Rainbow dash and Scootaloo found a vermillion temple. There, they saw Twilight, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Applejack nearby.

“There you are!” Twilight said.

“Where have you been?” Applejack said.

“We chased some pegasus named Sagittarius when we saw some flash from here,” Rainbow Dash said.

“We saw that flash as well,” Rarity said. “But if you’re here then that means--”

“That three fillies are warped by the crystals?”

Sagittarius descended from the nighttime sky. behind him were the gates and the entrance to the temple.

Scootaloo saw an arrow lodged inside the temple walls, an orange warp crystal was tied to the arrow. “Did you do this?”

Sagittarius said, “Maybe I did.”

Scootaloo said. “Where are my friends?”

Sagittarius said. “They’re in the tomb of Chiron.” He looked at the mares. “You came here to help free these fillies?”

Rainbow Dash said. “Of course!”

The archer said, “Then you must know that they have to be tested as well. If you can find the golden idols and escape the tomb, then you can free them and move on to the next trial.”

“Did you say idols?” Twilight Sparkle said.

Sagittarius nodded.”There are three golden idols, for now. Find them all and escape, and you’re free to proceed. This temple if filled with booby traps placed there by the archmage Chiron.”

“I’ve heard about Chiron,” Twilight said. “He was one of Star Swirl the Bearded’s many students.”

Sagittarius said, “Correct.”

Scootaloo was a bit puzzled. She wondered why she and the other Crusaders thought up something like this temple. But right now, she knew that there are more important matters.

RaInbow Dash said, “I’m going in.” She thought about all those Daring Do books she read. She knew she was ready for this.

“Rarity, can I borrow that hide you got from Leo.” Scootaloo said.

Rarity said, “Um,” She was a little hesitant to hand it over to a small filly. But she realized that she might need the protection. “Sure.” She gave Scootaloo the near invincible hide. “But why?”

“I want to help Rainbow Dash,” Scootaloo said. “I can’t just stand by with my friends are in trouble.”

Rainbow Dash was a little hesitant. “Are you sure you can handle it kid?”

Scootaloo draped the hide around her back. “Positive.”

“Alright then,” Rainbow Dash was a little bit careful.

Sagittarius snarked, “Watch out for crystal skulls.”

Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo went into the temple. The other mares tried to follow but after the pegasi went in the entrance closed.

“Hey!” Pinkie Pie said.

“Don’t worry,” Sagittarius said, “If they come back with the idols then they have another escape soon.”

The ponies just stood in front of the temple. they hoped that Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo would be alright.

Inside the temple, Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo were in awe of the elaborate entrance chamber. Bronze statues adorn the chamber as there were elegant pictures on the floor and walls. The duo ventured further into the tomb.

There at an hallway. Rainbow Dash saw Scootaloo stepped on a loose stone with an image of a snake and pulled her back. Arrows emerged from holes on the walls and it the other wall. The projectiles dripped a poisonous azure liquid.

Scootaloo gulped at the sight of the liquid. “Thanks.”

Rainbow Dash, “No problem.” She looked forward. “We have to be careful, any place we step on could be a trap.”

Scootaloo said, “Got it.”

The two looked down and saw the floor was adorned with images of animals. Rainbow Dash saw images of black snakes, azure dragons, vermillion phoenixes, white tigers, and chartreuse bears. There was an inscription on the button. “The one who guards the east guards it a sacred hoard with breath of flames, the one who guards of the north drips poison with every bite, the one guarding the west has a coat of snow, and the one who guards the south burns with hellfire.”

Rainbow Dash noticed that the puzzle looked similar to the one Daring Do had encountered. She knew that the inscription was significant somehow.

“Okay,” Scootaloo said. “So snakes are out. Any ideas?”

Rainbow Dash remembered the dragon hibernating in a mountain. “I know that Dragons hoard their treasures.”

“That’s right!” Scootaloo. “But why is that important?”

“I have a feeling that the inscription’s missing something important.” She recalled when she, Rarity and Twilight had to help Spike stop other dragons. She remembered the phoenixes there. “The phoenix is also out. it usually appears to be covered in fiery feathers.”

“Usually?” Scootaloo said.

“Well, they molt when dying,” Rainbow Dash said. “The tiger is out too. It’s kinda obvious.” She looked at the tiles with the white tiger.

Scootaloo said, “But none of them are as poisonous like the snake, right?”

“That’s right,” Rainbow Dash said. “Which leaves.”

“The bear!” Scootaloo said. She jumped on a tile with a chartreuse bear on it. Nothing happened. The pegasi’s hunch was correct. Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo hopped on the chartreuse bear tiles and soon, they were past the corridor.

Scootaloo felt safe. She felt like with the Nemean’s skin draped around her Rainbow Dash by her side, that nothing could hurt her.

After a while, The two were inside another chamber. In the center of the chamber was a golden idol. The idol looked like Apple Bloom.

Rainbow Dash said, “One down, two to go. Just run if the pedestal collapses.”

Scootaloo picked up the idol. “Got it.” The chamber rumbled and the pedestal collapsed. The two galloped as far away from it as possible. Two of the walls slowly moved towards each other as the pegasi galloped to the exit. The tiles that made up the floor dropped, revealing an abyss below.

Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo were almost at the exit of the chamber. But the walls were closing in. Scootaloo made it out with the Apple Bloom idol, but Rainbow Dash was still inside. She said, “Hurry!” She saw the wall were a few yards away.

The tiles that made up the path back collapsed under Rainbow Dash just as she was at the door. She tried to fly, but something prevented her from doing so. She fell into the abyss as the walls collided.

Scootaloo was stunned. She said, “No, no, no...” She tried to process the fact that Rainbow Dash wouldn't be able to survive the crashed walls. She thought she would never see Rainbow Dash again.

“Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!” Scootaloo shouted to the deep expanse of the corridor, but nopony could hear her.

Rainbow Dash woke up on a sea of sand. It was too dark for her to see the ceiling. She try to fly but something kept her wings from opening. She looked around and saw that her turquoise wings and hind hooves are now gold.

Rainbow Dash was shock to see the development. She had to find Scootaloo and the other two idols quickly. She galloped to find a way out. Along the way, she saw various pillars rising out of the sand.

Scootaloo mourned around the temple. Tears rolled down her eyes as she trotted around the part of the temple where she saw Rainbow Dash fell to her demise.

“I can’t do it,” she said. She remembered the good times she had with her friends, crusading for their cutie marks.

“You’re weaker than I thought!”

Chartreuse energy poured out of the Nemean armor. An apparition of Diamond Tiara appeared in front of Scootaloo. This spirit had wings and a horn of ice. The illusion said, ”You’re not even good enough to get your cutie mark. Let alone save your friends.” She cackled evilly.

Scootaloo glared at the illusion. “That’s not true!”

The illusion of Diamond Dust chuckled gain. “Oh, really? You couldn't even save your idol, your friends can’t help you now. You’re all alone!”

Scootaloo was angered. “Shut up!” She charged the illusion, but it disappeared. She felt hurt.

She thought some more about Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, and realized that right now, her friends needed her. She looked at the Apple Bloom idol.

Scootaloo looked forward, her confidence brimming. She thought ‘Up to this point, Rainbow Dash went to save us. But now that she’s gone, it’s up to me now. I promise you that I won’t let you down!’

She galloped deeper into the temple.

Scootaloo saw another set of tiles. This time without an inscription. The tiles depicted bats, cats, hats, rats, and geese. Scootaloo thought about the previous tile puzzle. She saw that most of the things depicted rhymed, except for the goose tiles. She stepped on one of the goose tiles, but another volley of arrows emerged from the wall.

Scootaloo ducked the arrows. She looked back at the puzzle. “Okay, no geese.” She looked at the puzzle again and noticed another oddity. She tried stepping on a hat tile. Nothing happened. “Phew,” She said. She hopped on the hat tiles and passed the obstacles.

She looked back and saw the tiles and walls were changing. They shifted into a door. Scootaloo went in to find what lay beyond.

She saw another idol. This time the idol resembled Sweetie Belle. Scootaloo looked above and saw small holes on the walls and ceiling. She was careful not to set off any traps. She noticed that she felt a little heavier than usual and that her movement slowed.

Scootaloo was a few feet away from the pedestal. She was cautious. She took the idol and swung the Nemean hide around.

The holes let loose many arrows. Scootaloo used the indestructible hide to deflect the projectiles, than she ran out of the door.

She got out with two of the golden idols. She was about to pluck the arrows off the hide when she saw that her forehooves were solid gold.

“What the hay?” She saw that her wings and hind hooves were also gold. She realized that this was the reason she felt heavier than usual. She felt scared again. She put the hide back on and galloped deeper into the temple. ‘I have to hurry,” Scootaloo thought. She tried to go faster, but the weight of her cloth, the idols, and her solid gold hooves and wings impeded her speed.

She accidentally stepped on a stone, and boulders fell. She tried to evade the boulders but was too slow. A boulder landed on top of her. The hide stopped it from killing her, but it was now caught under the bolder.

The idols fell to the ground. Scootaloo tried to move, but the invincible hide was still caught under the boulder. She saw another boulder was about to fall. She took of the hide and charged forward. She grabbed the idols. Soon after, the hallway behind her collapsed and fell into the abyss.

Scootaloo saw another doorway and entered.

Rainbow Dash was trekking the underbelly of the tomb. Her hind legs were now solid gold. She struggled to moved with her gilded legs and wings. She wondered how in Equestria did she survive the fall.

She saw some debris fell in the distance. She also saw the Nemean hide that Scootaloo was wearing. She galloped to the rubble and took out the hide.

“Scootaloo?” Rainbow Dash said. She moved some of the rubble away. “Scootaloo?” She removed the rubble to find the filly, but she was nowhere to be found. She hoped that Scootaloo was alright.

Rainbow Dash saw a flight of stairs in the distance. She took the hide and ascended the stairs.

Scootaloo was in another chamber. She saw a third idol on the pedestal. The idol looked like Silver Spoon.

Most of Scootaloo’s body had become solid gold. She struggled to move towards the idol. She slowly crawled towards the pedestal.

The idols started to glow. Scootaloo moved slightly faster now. The gold on her body receded a little. Scootaloo moved closer to the idol. She touched the idol and it flashed.

Nearby Rainbow Dash ascended to the peak of the stairs and into the chamber. She noticed that the gold on her body was slowly disappearing. She saw Scootaloo nearby a portal and galloped toward her.

Scootaloo didn’t notice Rainbow Dash. Her eyes were focused on a portal that appeared in front of her. She heard some familiar screams.

“Guys?” Scootaloo said. She felt a little bit scared, but she knew she came this far, and that she won’t abandon them now.

Scootaloo took a closer look into the portal and saw Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Silver Spoon climbing their way up. “Guys!”

“Scootaloo?” Apple Bloom said.

Scootaloo noticed that the three fillies are coated in gold. The weight of their gilded bodies weighed them down and impeded their climb. Scootaloo held out her hoof and noticed that it was coated in gold again.

Apple Bloom latched onto Scootaloo’s hoof. Silver Spoon climbed up and held Apple Bloom’s tail and Sweetie Belle held one of Silver Spoon’s hind legs. Their combined weight caused Scootaloo to slide deeper into the portal. She tried to pull them out of the portal, but the weight of the gilded fillies in turn pulled Scootaloo deeper into the portal, coating her fur and mane in gold in the process.

‘Come on,’ Scootaloo thought. She fear that this was the end. Her body continued to slide into the portal, and all but her tail is covered in gold now. She felt somepony tugging at her tail.

Scootaloo looked back and saw Rainbow Dash pulling her away from the portal. She was happy to see that Rainbow Dash was alive, but she remembered that her friends needed her help. The two pegasi pulled the gilded fillies out of the portal. Rainbow Dash’s strength overcoming the weight of the four gilded fillies. Soon, they were out of the portal and the fillies coats and mane and tails reverted to their natural hue and weight.

Scootaloo hugged Rainbow Dash. “You’re alive!”

Rainbow Dash blushed. “Easy, kid.” She was a little relieved to see Scootaloo and the others were safe.

The chamber rumbled as the temple started to collapse. Rainbow Dash saw the three idols and picked them up. “Let’s go!”

The five ponies began their escape from the crumbling tomb. Rainbow Dash saw a hole on the ceiling.

“We have to fly!” Rainbow Dash said. She placed Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle on her back. Silver Spoon and Apple Bloom held to her hooves. “Hold on! This is gonna get bumpy.”

Rainbow Dash flew up while carrying the fillies. They dodged the rubble as it fell and evaded several obstacles. Soon, they flew out of the temple as it collapsed beneath the azure sky.

Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo, Sweetie belle, Apple Bloom, and Silver Spoon flew to the front of the now ruined temple.

Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Sagittarius saw Rainbow Dash descend to the vermillion with the Cutie Mark Crusaders and Silver Spoon.

Applejack and Rarity were relieved to see their sisters were safe.

The filles climbed off Rainbow Dash. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle hugged their sisters.

Sagittarius looked at Scootaloo. “Well. Look at how far you went without Rainbow Dash carrying your hoof all the time.”

Rainbow Dash handed Sagittarius the idols. “Here are your idols!” She fumed at the thought that the archer pegasus would harm fillies like that.

Sagittarius took the idols to the gates. There theidol s disappeared into azure dust. The dust formed the sigh for Sagittarius (♐) on the gates. He looked back at Scootaloo. “You have proven yourself ready to move on to the next trial. There are three trials left.”

Twilight Sparkle noticed that in order, Pinkie Pie, Apple Bloom, Applejack, Fluttershy, Silver Spoon, Sweetie Belle, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and now Scootaloo had been tested. She realized that she was the only one that hasn’t had a trial. She felt a little anxious.

Rainbow Dash handed Rarity her Nemean hide. The ponies entered the gates.

liii - Amalthea and the Library

Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Silver Spoon, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo, found themselves in an saffron yellow town. The stars glistened in the indigo sky.

Twilight was a little nervous. She knew what awaited her here. She sweated a bit.

“You okay, darling?” Rarity said.

Twilight said, “I’m fine.”

They saw a white earth pony in front of a saffron yellow mansion and the gates. Her turquoise mane and tail was tied in a way the evoked fish tails and she wore a headband with goat horns on it. She was busy organizing some pebbles in front of the mansion.

“Um,” Twilight said, “Hello?”

The white earth pony looked back and saw the ten ponies there. “Ah, visitors. Good thing I’ve cleaned my house this morning.”

“Let me guess,” Rainbow Dash said. “Your name is Capricorn, right?”

The earth pony said, “Close, its actually Capricornus. Why do you ask?”

“Lucky guess,” Rainbow Dash said.

“So,” Twilight said. “Is there anything I can do?”

Capricornus said, “Oh my gosh! I haven't organized the library yet. Please wipe you hooves on the mat.” She galloped inside her mansion. Twilight and her friends wiped their hooves on the welcome mat and followed Capricornus inside.

The inside of the mansion was expansive. The staircase was in pristine condition, the golden and indigo floor tiles were polished to a shine, and the wall were similarly cleaned. There was a large goat with the tail of a fish inside the corner, but only Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy noticed. They went to check out the animal.

Twilight Sparkle and the other ponies were inside the library. It looked bigger than even the Star Swirl the Bearded wing at Canterlot Castle.

They saw Capricornus reorganizing some of the books. “No no no, this should go with the non-fiction books.” She picked up a book about sparkling vampires. “This should be in the Horror section.”

Twilight Sparkle said, “Um, I can help you with the books.”

Capricornus said, “You can?”

Twilight nodded. “I know a lot about where the books should go. And I live in a library.” Thought she noticed that the mansion library was bigger than the Golden Oaks Library back at Ponyville.

Capricornus said, “Okay! I’ll be back to check on the library in four hours. I have to go do some grocery shopping. Those oranges are a week old. I can't eat week-old oranges. Oh and don’t wake up Amalthea. She gets irritable when her sleep is interrupted”

Twilight began sorting the books.

Applejack said, “Well we’ll check on Pinkie and Fluttershy.” The other ponies left the library.

Twilight began sorting out the books. She saw a Supernaturals book next to Daring Do and the Griffin’s Goblet.

“That book shouldn't be here,” Twilight said. She took the Supernaturals book and placed in on another shelf. When she returned to where she found the book, she saw that the shelf had changed. The Daring Do book had been replaced with various cookbooks and Slumber 101: All You Wanted to Know About Slumber Parties (But Were Too Afraid to Ask).

“Huh?” Twilight said. She took the slumber party book and placed it with the other help guides. But she saw Daring Do and the Griffin’s Goblet on a nearby shelf. She went to pick up the book, but she heard something creaked. She looked back and saw that the shelf where she placed the Slumber 101 book was gone.

“Something’s going on here.” Twilight said. She continued with the organizing.

Two and a half hours later, Twilight was ragged. She spent the last two and a half hours looking for misplaced books, searching for missing shelves and returning books that she had already organized.

She saw the Supernaturals book. This time, between the Secrets of the Everfree and Slumber 101 books. She felt tired, but she also felt compelled to put these books in their proper places.

She began thing about what would happen if Capricornus or her friends saw this library was as disorganized as ever. She worried that the latter group would cease becoming her friends if they saw this mess, or that the former would fail her and they would be stuck inside the Cutie Mark Crusaders’ minds forever. She took all three books and went to find their places.

Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Silver Spoon went to check on Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy.

They saw the two ponies admiring the sea-goat.

“That must be Amalthea,” Rainbow Dash said.

Fluttershy and Pinkie were talking about the sea goat.

“Ooh,” Pinkie Pie said. “Maybe it can breath underwater.”

“Pinkie,” Fluttershy said. “I don’t think so.” She was a little nervous. But she wanted to find out more about this strange pet.

“Let’s wake it up and ask it,” Pinkie Pie said. She suddenly had a loud pair of cymbals on her hooves.

Applejack heard Pinkie’s sentence and tried to stop her, but it was too late. Pinkie woke up the beast.

Amalthea woke up and saw the nine little ponies. It’s eyes were crimson from rage and general tiredness. It was bigger then Fluttershy and Pinkie had thought.

The fillies, scared by the appearance of the beast. let loose a loud scream as Amalthea prepared to attack the ponies.

Twilight Sparkle was still trying to organize the ever changing library. It has been three hours and fifteen minutes since she started this task and she had already managed to organize the fantasy, horror, and reference books. She was about to organize the Romance novels when she heard a loud scream coming from the house.

‘That sounded like the fillies.’ Twilight thought. She wondered if they were alright. She looked back and saw that the shelf behind her changed from cookbooks to romance novels. She heard some more noise coming from the other side of the mansion.

Twilight knew that her friends might be in danger. She went to find the source of the noise.

Fifteen minutes later, Twilight Sparkle went into the room where the noise came from. She saw that Amalthea was rampaging around the room. The sea-goat swam around the air like it was water. Rarity tried to temper the beast’s anger as she rampaged around the room, while Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack tried to defend themselves. Fluttershy, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Silver Spoon were hiding in a corner of the room.

The beast flung Rainbow Dash to the walls. She saw Twilight Sparkle. “Hey Twi. Did you finished with that library?”

Twilight new she had to help her friends. She said, “That’s not important right now! What happened?”

Rainbow Dash stood up and pointed to Pinkie Pie. She was trying to stop the beast with an array of musical instruments.

Twilight went into the fray. She cast a small force field spell to block the attacks. She fired some magic purple beams at the beast but her blasts were ineffective.

Amalthea saw Twilight Sparkle and lunged at her. Twilight teleported away, but not before seeing that Amalthea’s eyes were pinkish. She knew that she had to had been awake somehow.

She saw Fluttershy sheltering the fillies from harm. Twilight said, “Fluttershy, can you calm her down?”

Fluttershy didn’t know how to calm the sea-goat down. She said, “I-I can try.”

Applejack had tied up Amalthea’s midsection, but she struggles to keep the sea-goat from breaking the rope. Rarity and Rainbow Dash tried to hold Amalthea back by the tail. Fluttershy went in front of the cranky sea-goat and sang, “Hush now, quiet now...”

Fluttershy’s lullaby was calming down Amalthea, but she still tried to break free of the restraints. Fluttershy continued singing until soon, Amalthea was asleep in the center of the room.

The ponies sighed in relief, until they saw the mess their fight caused. There was only ten minutes left until Capricornus returned. Everypony tried to clean up the messy room.

Ten minutes later, Capricornus returned. She held out some bags full of fresh oranges. She went to in the room where Amalthea slept. She was a little surprised to see the ponies were in the room, and that it had been cleaner than when she left.

Twilight Sparkle and Rarity were finishing up when Twilight saw Capricornus. She felt like panicking but kept a cool demeanor.

Capricornus said, “Hiya, so is the library organized?”

Twilight didn’t know what to say. She knew that only a few sections were organized and that the shelves would eventually become disorganized by forces she cannot control. She sighed. “No. I was about to finish but the books and shelves kept showing up in different places, and had I had to help my friends calm down Amalthea and--”

“Wait, wait,” Capricornus said. “How did Amalthea wake up?”

Pinkie was a little embarrassed. “That was my fault, sorry.”

Capricornus said, “Maybe we should continue this back at the library. You’ve probably know how cranky she can be.”

The eleven ponies went to the other side of the mansion. There Capricornus saw that the horror, fantasy, and reference sections were neatly organized, but the non-fiction, science fiction, and romance section were a huge mess.

Twilight Sparkle was worried about her test.

Capricornus said, “So you mean to say that you went to help your friends with Amalthea instead of organizing the library in the last hour?”

Twilight said, “Yes.”

Capricornus said. “Well then I have have no choice...”

Twilight shivered in fear. “I’m sorry. I’ll try to do better next time.”

Capricornus said, ”...than to let you pass.”

The ponies were befuddled. “What?” Twilight said. “But the library wasn’t fully organized.”

Capricornus went out of the library. “Last I checked, you offered to help with the library, not to completely organize it. I’ll meet you outside soon. I have to talk to Amalthea.”

Twilight felt relieved. Though she knew that there are only two trials left. But she also knew that there are only ten ponies in they were to be tested. She wondered what the last two trials were.

The ponies left the saffron yellow library.

A hour later, Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Silver Spoon were outside the mansion. Capricornus walked out her mansion with Amalthea. The sea-goat was now docile.

Capricornus talked to Twilight, “You’d proven that you would place your friends over your goals. And help them in their hour of need. For that I grant you entry into the next trial.”

Amalthea begrudgingly swam toward the gates and became indigo dust particles. the indigo dust formed the sign for Capricorn (♑) on the gates.

“I’ll see you soon,” Capricornus said. “I have to finish organizing the library.”

Silver Spoon wondered if they would be able to find Diamond Tiara through those gates. The Crusaders however wondered what would happen after they awaken.

The ponies entered the gates.

liv - Lyssa, The Herald of Wrath

In the Frozen North, Legion moved to find the body that Celestia had banished. He knew that he needed a new host now that Diamond Dust was being kept in custody in Canterlot.

He saw a towering body of ice in the distance. He commanded the legions of windigoes to lift the body.

‘the sixth seal is set to break soon,’ He thought. ‘By now the first five seals binding order to this accursed land are failing.’ He went away from the Frozen North in search of a new host.

In Canterlot, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Princess Cadence, and Shining Armor were discussing what to do with Diamond Dust.

“What do we do, sister?” Luna said. “We can’t keep her or the talismans here in Canterlot.”

Celestia said, “I don’t know. How are the victims of the invasion?”

Shining Armor said, “I’m sorry, Princess, but some of the ponies that were frozen didn’t make it. Others are struggling to stay alive and warm, but they had been frozen for days”

Cadence said, “And some of the ponies the changelings had fed on still hadn't recovered their emotions yet.”

Celestia was worried about what might happen next. She wondered how this had started. Luna and Celestia knew that the Crusaders were innocent of the attack on Canterlot, but they don’t know exactly how innocent Diamond Dust was. She wondered why they chose a filly to be the vessel for the Crown of Conquest. “Shining Armor, Princess Cadence, I want you to go to Ponyville and find out what happened before the windigoes attacked.”

Shining Armor bowed. “Yes, Princess.” He and his fiance left the throne room.

Another pony entered the room. “Your majesty, One of the fillies you brought back is waking up.”

Celestia and Luna were surprised. They went to find out who had woke up, and to get some answers.

Gale Force was still in the hospital. His psychiatrist visit did not go well. “‘Too angry’ she says. ‘Let go of Over Cast’ she says. What does she know.” He was even more furious when he found out that neither Shining Armor or Celestia didn’t kill the windigoes. “What do they know?”

“So you really hate us huh?”

“Who said that!?” Gale Force said.

He heard a voice coming from somewhere in his room. He saw that the window was open.

“You really want to avenge your worthless friend?” the voice said.

“Show yourself!” Gale said.

Gale saw nothing. The voice said, “If you truly wish to avenge her. Come to the place where it all began.” There was silence for a few moments.

Gale thought, “If you want something done right, you gotta do it yourself.” He flew out the window and headed for the Unicorn Range.

Diamond Dust had woken up inside a dark chamber. She sensed no sign of Legion, but saw Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo. The other three fillies were sleeping.

She remembered all the things she did to those fillies. She felt some remorse as she looked at her forehooves. She wondered if ruling Equestria was worth it anymore.

She wondered how it had come to this. She wondered if this was because she hated Apple Bloom.

She knew that she harbored a hatred for Apple Bloom, it was the basis of their relationship. She was blinded by that hatred and by Legions sugar-coated words of “destiny.”

She wondered if this truly was her destiny, to be hated by everyone in Equestria, to try to send Apple Bloom to the depths of despair again, to be part of a plot to freeze Equestia over.

Just them she saw the door open and Princess Celestia and Luna entered. She knew that she would never be forgiven for what she done.

The two Princesses were surprised to see that the filly that had awaken was Diamond Dust. She knew that she was at the princesses mercy now that Celestia has severed the connection between her and Legion.

The vessel of the Crown of Conquest said, “So, why am I here? Why didn't you spare me?”

Celestia said, “We’re here to find out why you chose to be the queen of the windigoes and the vessel of one of their talismans.”

Diamond Dust said, “I assume you already met my so called ‘adviser.’”

“Your adviser?” Luna inquired. Celestia knew she was talking about Legion.

Diamond Dust felt guilty. “I made sure these foals over there were exiled and killed. I helped turn them into the other servants and I helped kill innocent ponies. All because of a so-called destiny. And before that I wasn’t much better...” She confessed and claimed responsibility for her bullying the Cutie Mark Crusaders, to her hiring them for their column and forcing them to invade the ponies’ privacy, to freezing the ponies in ice. ”...Go ahead, do your worst.”

Celestia said, “Your fate has yet to be decided.” She felt uncertain. She sensed that Diamond Dust felt a little guilty about the whole ordeal. But she also knew that the filly was partly responsible for the deaths of many ponies in the Unicorn Range, Ponyville, and Canterlot. “For now, you shall remain here until I decide what to do to you.” The Princesses left.

Diamond Dust was left alone and thought about all the sins she had done. The lives she ruined. She wondered if she even wanted to live when she knew that she caused misery to all she talked to. She didn’t even know if Silver Spoon survived the last time they met. She then wondered what had changed between the bully that would make fillies miserable to the was she was now. She felt a little tired, she eventually went to sleep.

Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were discussing what they learned about Diamond Dust.

“But sister,” Luna said. “Even if she did commit these atrocities, she’s a filly, What you’re suggesting is--”

“I know,” Celestia said. “I’m not suggesting that yet. She was manipulated by the windigos as well.”

They felt the ground rumbling beneath their feet. An earthquake had struck Canterlot.

“What was that?’ Luna said.

The earthquake subsided after a few minutes.

A guardspony had shown up.

Celestia said, “What is it?”

“Your highness,” the guardspony said. “We received word that an unscheduled tornado is ravaging Manehatten. Some of the pegasi are fixing it as we speak.”

Another guardsponies showed up. “There is a freak wildfire over at Las Pegasus. And Cloudsdale’s Rainbow Factory has had a meltdown.

“Have the royal guard check if anypony’s hurt,” Celestia said.

The guardsponies left.

“Sister, do you think--” Luna said.

“I do,” Celestia said. “These disasters are no mere coincidence. We must check the sixth seal.”

Celestia and Luna hoped that Twilight and the others would be able to return soon. They went to the Badlands.

Author's Note

If you didn't like the Diamond Dust scenes. You're gonna loath her next appearance in this fic.

lv - Ganymede and the Stymphalian Birds

Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Silver Spoon found themselves in a mint green swamp. The violet sky was lit with many stars and had been littered with the shapes of birds.

Rarity, Sweetie Belle, and Silver Spoon were disgusted by the swampland.

Twilight wondered who would be tested here. She knew that everypony here has been tested by the ten previous guardians.

Apple Bloom saw something in the distance. She felt a familiar presence here. “Did you see that?” she said.

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle said, “See what?”

Silver Spoon saw another shadow in the distance. “Over there!”

The shadow galloped away.

The fillies went after the shadow. Scootaloo said, “Come on.”

The mares saw that the fillies were chasing something and ran after them. They saw a light blue mare with a cup of water. Her silvery mane shined in the moonlight. the shadows the fillies were chasing were nowhere to be seen.

The blue earth mare saw the group of ponies and said, “So you made it this far? Congratulations. My name’s Aquarius.”

Sweetie Belle said, “Did you see something pass by?”

Applejack said, “What do you mean?”

Apple Bloom said, “There was somepony, she felt like that duplicate we saw in the maze remember?”

Applejack recalled seeing a duplicate in that maze.

Aquarius said, “I’m sorry, but I haven’t seen anything but the Stymphalian Birds tonight. I must go now, They’re coming.” She left.

“Something’s off here,” Rainbow Dash said.

Twilight agreed with Rainbow Dash. She knew that the strange ponies they met had something to do with the trials, ether directly or indirectly.

The ponies went to confront Aquarius but several metallic birds descended from the sky. One of the birds had used its claws to grab Fluttershy and another grabbed Twilight. The latter tried to cast a spell to escape but the bird’s bronze beak pecked at her and threw her focus off. She was eventually knocked unconscious by the continuous pecking.

Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash tried to get the birds to let their captives go, but nothing could penetrate their metallic feathers. Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Silver Spoon tried to escape but one of the birds went after them.

The Stymphalian Bird tried to snatch the fillies with its claws, but Applejack rammed into the avian and knocked it away. She said, “Run!” and the fillies did.

The mares tried to free Twilight and Fluttershy from their clutches but the birds dodged everything they could throw at them and soon Rarity and Pinkie Pie were caught. Rainbow Dash tried to save her friends but she didn’t see that another bird fired some of its feathers at her. The feathers hit Rainbow Dash and hurt her wings. She plummeted towards the grounds before being caught by the bird.

Applejack and the fillies were the only ones not captured. She saw that another bird was chasing the fillies and went after it. The avian flew up and went after Applejack. She charged at the bird and rammed it into the tree, but her attack barely even dented the metal hide. The birds fired their feathers at Applejack but she dodged the projectiles.

A metal feather had hit Applejack. She ceased her attack and rolled around trying to remove the feather. She tried to escape but soon she was caught by the birds.

The Stymphalian Birds saw no trace of the fillies, but saw several trees had toppled during the battle. They flew away with their victims.

Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Silver Spoon were far away from where the birds were.

Scootaloo said, “Are they gone?”

The fillies looked around and saw no sign of the Stymphalian Birds, or their friends.

“I think so,” Sweetie Belle said.

The fillies felt guilty about leaving behind their friends and sisters.

“We have to do something!” Apple Bloom said.

“But what can we do?” Silver Spoon said.

Sweetie Belle saw something move in the distance. “Hey!” She chased the shadowy figure and the others followed.

Gale Force flew to the Unicorn Range. The blizzard the windigoes created was still raging there. His elemental barriers were fading, but he didn't care. There was only one thing on his mind; revenge.

He flew around looking for the voice, but he didn’t see any there.

“So you did come. You’re late.”

Gale recognized the voice from the hospital. “Show yourself!” he shouted.

Legion and several windigos galloped down from the sky. The former felt giddy for some reason.

“So you want to avenge your fallen friend” Legion sensed the hatred and rage within Gale.

The pegasus charged Legion head on, but he missed.

Legion taunted, “You were among the few that prepared for our arrival and yet you couldn’t even lay a scratch on me.”

Gale’s ice and lightning barriers vanished. His rage boiled over as his legs froze over. He tried ramming the beast with his fire and lightning barriers but he couldn't land a hit on him.

Legion said, “So predictable. You thought you could get rid of me with your shields.”

Gale shouted, “Shut up!” His lightning barrier faded. He tried to move but his frozen legs were stuck to the ground.

Gale Force tried to move, the ice creeped over his body while his fire barrier slowly faded. He glared at Legion while struggling to move. Eventually his body froze over.

“He would have made a fine host,” Legion said. “It’s quite a shame, but maybe we can still use him.”

The windigos saw something in the distance. The figure looked alien, with arms and legs and a peculiar head with tentacles.

Legion said, “Ah, thou art late. But I suppose that what happens when thou haveth to travel betwixt worlds huh, old friend?”

The figure held a trumpet in his hand and was carrying a bag with several other trumpets in it.

In the mint green swamp, The Cutie mark Crusaders and Silver Spoon chased a shadowy figure back to where they seen the Stymphalian Birds.

The figure stopped and the fillies had got a closer look of the figure. It looked like Sweetie Belle, but with a horn of ice and ebony scales.

“What the hay?” Scootaloo said.

Another figure joined the Sweetie Belle duplicate.This one looked like Scootaloo with a viridian scythe and icy wings. Soon, a third emerged from the darkness. It was the Apple Bloom duplicate from the maze. This time, the duplicate Apple Bloom had her crimson sword out.

“What’s going on?” Apple Bloom said. “Who are you?”

“Why do you side with them?” said the duplicate Scootaloo.

“What do you mean?” Scootaloo said.

“The ponies don’t even deserve to live,” the duplicate Sweetie Belle said. “They lie and cheat and betray everyone they meet.”

“That’s not true,” Sweetie Belle said. “No one we know does that.”

“What about the time the town ran you out of town for your gossip?” the duplicate Apple Bloom said.

There was a flash. The fillies saw the memories of that event.

“And if that wasn’t enough,” The duplicates said.

The vision shifted to a scene from the clouds. They saw through Canterlot’s windows into the castle. There, they witness a wedding rehearsal and five familiar ponies. Soon, Twilight Sparkle burst through the doors and started scolding the bride, only to be called out by her friends soon after.

The fillies wondered what happened there. Sweetie Belle saw that Rarity left, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo say the other ponies did the same thing.

“What the...” Apple Bloom was speechless.

“Now do you see?” The duplicate Apple Bloom said. “The ponies are heartless!”

“That’s not true!” Scootaloo said.

Silver Spoon wondered what was happening here, and if these duplicates had anything to do with the trial.

“Just stay here,” the duplicate Scootaloo said. “Nopony would ever harm you you here.”

“No!” the Crusaders said.

“What do you mean no?” the duplicate Sweetie Belle said. “If you go, you will get hurt.”

“And if we stay,” Scootaloo said. “You will hurt everypony else.”

“Look,” Apple Bloom said. “I don’t know happened in Canterlot, but I do know that they wouldn’t be here if their friendship was broken. What happened back at Ponyville and the Everfree Forest was our fault. We were ones that set things in motion, and we are gonna fix it and make amends for what we had done.”

The duplicates started to fade. The images of Canterlot Castle had already faded.

“If that means that we have to face the ponies that hate us so much,” Sweetie Belle said. “Than so be it. Our sisters and friends need us.”

“It’s not worth being caught up in these dreams and nightmares, away from those who love us.” Scootaloo said.

The duplicates had faded. A path had appeared in their absence.

Silver Spoon said, “You would really do that for your friends?”

The Crusaders nodded.

Silver Spoon felt a little bit assumed. She was glad to have met the Crusaders without having it end in their tears. She wondered what would happen to them if she does save Diamond Tiara.

The fillies followed the new path.

The fillies were at a river. They saw some planks, nails, rope, a hammer, and a raft nearby.

The fillies looked up and saw the Stymphalian Birds in the sky. They saw the mares in their claws, some were unconscious, and others were afraid.

The birds dropped the mares into the river below. The unconscious ponies were awakened by the water. Rainbow Dash tried to fly but her wings were too wet to lift her.

The fillies were worried. Apple Bloom knew what she must do and went towards the planks. The other fillies followed.

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo placed the planks together in two layers while Apple Bloom hammered in the nails needed to bind them together. Soon they expanded the raft. Silver Spoon then used some of the rope to tether the raft to the ground. The fillies got on the raft in an attempt to save their friends as quickly as they could.

Applejack and Twilight Sparkle saw there was a waterfall ahead and tried to swim, but the current was too strong for them.

The Stymphalian Birds saw the raft and flew down to try to break it.

Some of the birds lunged down into the raft but the fillies steered it away and they missed and dived into the river.

The fillies managed to get the raft to Rarity and Fluttershy. Sweetie Belle and Silver Spoon took some of the rope for them to use as a lifeline. Rarity and Fluttershy climbed on the raft.

“Thank you,” Rarity said.

More of the Stymphalian Birds tried to attacked the raft again. Rarity, Fluttershy and the fillies ducked and the birds flew over the raft.

Rarity and Scootaloo used some rope to save Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash and got them aboard the raft.

“Oh my gosh,” Pinkie said. “I thought we were gonna drown there, can you imagine...”

Rainbow Dash took some time to dry her wings. The group saw Twilight and Applejack trying to swim away from the waterfall ahead.

Rainbow Dash flew ahead and lifted Applejack and Twilight from the water.

The Stymphalian Birds went after the raft once more, this time they were going after the rope keeping the raft tethered to the ground.

Twilight saw this and cast a spell. By the time the tether was cut, a magic barrier had already been erected around the raft, keeping it stable and in the same spot on the river.

The birds flew after the wet unicorn. But Rainbow Dash flew Applejack and twilight aboard the shielded raft. Twilight used her horn and a burst of magic emerged from the raft. The birds tried to fly away, but the spell hit them and the metallic birds fell into the waterfall.

Twilight said, “Alright I need to focus,” She lifted the raft upwards with her magic. Pinkie Pie and Rarity made sure to be quiet. She lifted the raft over the waterfall.

The fillies looked down and saw the gates and Aquarius near the base of the falls. She took water from her hub as the birds became violet dust and flew into the gates.

Soon, The raft was on the ground. The ponies got off the large wooden raft and approached Aquarius.

Aquarius saw the Crusaders and said, “You seem prepared to face the consequences of your actions.”

The violet dust form the sign for Aquarius (♒) on the gates.

“We sure are, ma’am,” Apple Bloom said.

Twilight said, “So this was their trial?”

Aquarius said, “Uh-huh. This was to see if they are dedicated enough to save you, and if they are ready to face the results of the actions. There is one more trial before you can go, be careful.”

The ponies entered the gates.

Princess Celestia and Princess Luna went into a tomb in the Badlands. There they saw various drawing and glyphs on the walls. On one such drawing there glowed images of a white crown, a red sword, some black scales, a pale green scythe, the gates of Tartarus, and some disasters.

Celestia and Luna were worried.

Luna said, “Sister this tomb holds the sixth seal right?”

Celestia said, “Not anymore, Luna.”

There was still one image left on top of the glowing images. This one depicts a frozen wasteland and a giant that towers over it as well as seven trumpets.

“We must hurry,” Celestia said. “Ithaqua is almost ready to return to his body.”

The Princesses return to canterlot. Celestia hoped that The bearers of the Elements of Harmony had escaped the Cutie Mark Crusaders’ minds.

lvi - Typhon and the Cord

Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Silver Spoon were near a viridian lake. The stars in the fuchsia sky were fading.

They saw a green unicorn lifting a fishbowl. “There there, Cupid, Venus. Mommy’s not gonna let that big nasty Typhon get you. No she’s not.”

The green unicorn noticed the group. “Oh, hello. I’m Pisces.” She placed the fishbowl on top of her blue mane. “And this is Cupid and Venus. I assume you’re here for the last trial? I’ll be right back.”

“This is gonna be weird,” Rainbow Dash said.

Pisces just returned with a large cord. She said, “If you’re a pegasis, it might be a good idea to open your wings.”

Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Scootaloo opened their wings. “And why are we doing this?”

“It’s part of the test,” Pisces said. She tied to cord to Pinkie Pie, then Apple Bloom, and Applejack. Eventually, the group were connected by the large cord.

“There, all done,” Pisces said.

Twilight said, “Is this necessary?”

Pisces said. “Of course. You might not want to be separated while Typhon’s around here.”

“Who’s Typhon?” Apple Bloom said.

“I don’t really know,” Pisces said. “But rumor has it that he rises up from the lake to avenge his family. He’s seems very vicious.” Pisces left with her fishbowl.

The ponies just shrugged and looked for the gate.

The ponies searched around the viridian lakeside. The cords binding the ponies to another stretched as they checked faraway areas. Soon, the ponies regrouped after a fruitless search for the gates.

“Any luck, darling?” Rarity said.

“Uh-uh,” Rainbow Dash said.

“There are no gates here,” Apple Bloom said.

Fluttershy saw something pop out of the water. It was the head of a dragon. Fluttershy galloped away.

The other nine ponies looked to the lake and saw another dragon head. The ground rumbled as a third popped out, then a fourth, then a fifth. Soon one hundred dragons were seen from the lake, all focused on the outnumbered ponies.

“What are dragons doing underwater?” Applejack said.

“I don’t know!” Twilight Sparkle said. “This makes no sense!”

The dragon heads started to rise.

Pinkie Pie said, “Oh maybe they’re looking for fish?”

Fluttershy peeked from behind the tree. “Um, guys...” She saw that the necks of the dragons were converging at a single point. “...I don’t think those are dragons.”

The dragons saw Rarity with the Nemean hide and rose out of the water, revealing that they were connected to one body. The body was covered with wings. The largest pair of wings spanned miles at the back of this monstrosity. The necks of the hundred dragon heads were obscured by the wings into they reached the lower body, where they coiled into two legs. The legs stepped on the ground creating devastating shockwaves.

“Is this...” Twilight gulped. “Typhon?”

“My eyes,” Scootaloo said.

“It hurts to look,” Sweetie Belle looked away from Typhon.

“We have to go. Now!” Rainbow Dash said.

The ponies ran away from the lake and into a forest. Typhon spread out its massive wings and took to the fuchsia skies.

The ponies ran from Typhon. Heavy winds blew over the forest. They eventually found the gates but they were on the other side of a large chasm.

Rainbow Dash saw that Typhon was catching up to the ponies. She severed the cord connecting her to Scootaloo and Rarity and said, “Go! I’ll distract him and buy us some time.”

Twilight Sparkle said, “What?”

Rainbow Dash said, “He’s already catching up, Look!” She pointed up to the behemoth as it flew through the sky. “There’s no way we can cross this gap before he catches up.” She flew into the air to intercept Typhon.

Rainbow Dash threw to the dragon heads of Typhon. “Hey, ugly! You want my friends, you’ll have to go through me!”

Typhon took one of its and used them to slash Rainbow Dash, but she dodged. Rainbow Dash was care not to look into the beast. She flew around the beast. One of its hundred dragon heads kept a close eye on her. The other heads opened their many mouths and fireballs emerged from them. The balls of flame were targeting Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow Dash saw the flames. She dodged some but other hit her. She struggled to fly. She looked the beast and became disoriented. The head that was focused on her open its mouth and a fireball went out. The fireball hit Rainbow Dash and she plummeted to the ground.

The other ponies saw Rainbow Dash fall to the ground and went to her. Rainbow Dash crashed in the forest. She woke up to find that her wings had been broken. ‘Not again!,’ she thought. Though her wings became the least of her concerns.

Rainbow Dash saw Scootaloo gallop up to her. The others soon followed.

Scootaloo said, “Are you okay?”

Rainbow Dash stood up. “I’m fine. But you shouldn’t be here. You have to escape now!”

Applejack said, “We’re not leaving you here, Rainbow.”

Scootaloo tied her end of the cord to Rainbow Dash, while Rarity draped the Nemean skin over her back.

Twilight said, “You’re our friend too. We are not gonna leave you.” The other ponies voiced similar opinions.

Rainbow Dash tried to walk. Applejack helped her. Rainbow Dash said, “You guys.” She smiled a bit.

The ponies went back to the chasm to find a way over to the gates.

The ponies were at the chasm. The monstrous Typhon was closing in on them. Its head lunged into the ground in an attempt to trap the ponies.

Rarity looked at her ruby star. She felt that now was the time to use her wish. “Please grant us safe passage through the chasm.” There was now a platform floating over the gap.

Applejack and Scootaloo helped Rainbow Dash onto the platform. A head of Typhon quickly lunged at the ground.

Applejack, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Rarity, and Scootaloo wen ton the platform. Twilight went on the platform along with Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Silver Spoon.

Twilight used her horn. A magical aura surrounded the platform as she moved it across the gap. Typhon’s heads breathed fire as it tried to stop the ponies.

Twilight kept herself focused on the gates. She wasn’t gonna let any of her friends go down in flames.

The platform was almost there. Typhon swooped down and charged the ponies.

Rainbow Dash and Applejack saw Typhon was closing in on them “Hurry!” Rainbow Dash said.

The platform was a few inches away. Typhon closed in of the ponies.

‘Come on,’ Twilight thought. The platform had made it across. They hurried off the platform. Applejack and Fluttershy helped Rainbow Dash off.

Typhon was turning into fuschea dust. He flew faster and faster in a last attempt to stop the ponies. The ponies ran to the gates but Typhon hit them. The gargantuan eldritch monstrosity became a fuchsia cloud of dust that flowed to the gates and formed the sign for Pisces (♓).

The ponies saw Pisces approached them. She still had her fishbowl. “Congratulations, you passed all twelve trials! You can now exit the talismans.”

“Wait,” Silver Spoon said. “There’s still something I have to do first.”

The other fillies knew what Silver Spoon wanted. So did Pisces. “You wanted to see her, huh?”

The mares were baffled. Twilight remembered that Silver Spoon wanted to come with them to rescue somepony else as well.

Pisces said, “I’ll lead you to her. Just let us know if you’re ready to leave.” She went into the gates, and the ponies followed.

Princess Celestia and Princess Luna returned to Canterlot. There, they found Shining Armor and Princess Cadence had returned from Ponyville.

“Any luck?” Shining Armor said.

“It is as we feared,” Celestia said. “Six of the seven seals are now broken. What did you find in Ponyville?”

Cadence said, “Not much. We found an unused article for the school paper and a freak hurricane but that was it.”

Luna said, “We must find out where Ithaqua is.”

“I already know where he is,” Celestia said. “He preparing to break the last of the seals now.”

“Is there anything we can do?” Cadence said.

“We need the Elements of Harmony,” Celestia said. “Are Twilight and her friends out?”

“Not yet,” Shining Armor said.

The Princesses and Shining Armor hoped that the bearers would come back soon. Celestia looked out her castle and saw that the disasters were getting progressively worse.

Author's Note

A second update? Sure why not.

I warn you that the next couple chapters are not for people who are appalled at the idea of Diamond Tiara being redeemed.

lvii - Hades' Exit

Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Silver Spoon were inside a dark void. The only lights in the void were emitting from their now bioluminescent coats and the gates. The gates themselves had a black sigil of Ophiuchus (⛎) on it.

“Woah,” Rainbow Dash said. “This is cool. Hey Twilight, is there a spell for this?” She was in awe of her coat.

“I don’t think so,” Twilight said.

“Do you think we can get cutie marks for this?” Scootaloo said.

“I don’t think that ‘being living glow sticks’ is a talent,” Sweetie Belle said.

Silver Spoon was looking for Diamond Tiara. ‘She has to be here somewhere,’ she thought.

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle wondered what would happen when they finally left. They wondered if the rest of town would forgive them for what they had done as both Gabby Gums and as heralds of frozen fury.

Silver Spoon saw a pink light in the distance. “That has to be her!” She galloped toward the pink light.

“Silver Spoon,” Apple Bloom said. “Wait!” She and the other Crusaders followed her. The mares noticed that the fillies were heading towards a pink light and went after them.

In Canterlot, the Princesses and Shining Armor were discussing what to do now that six of the seven seals were broken.

Shining Armor said, “Okay, so who is this Ithaqua? You two kept discussing him for the last hour.”

Princess Cadence said, “Yeah, who is Ithaqua?”

Princess Celestia and Princess Luna remembered that they hadn’t explained Ithaqua to them yet. Celestia said, “Ithaqua is the king of the windigos.”

Luna said, “You knew how Equestria was founded, but not what happened next. A thousand years ago, my sister and I face the remainder of the windigoes that weren’t destroyed by the Fires of Friendship.”

Celestia said, “These windigoes sought to create a frozen wasteland devoid of love and life.”

“We and the citizens of Equestria fought off the windigoes for months,” Luna said. “Star Swirl the Bearded was able to seal the windigoes and Ithaqua's body inside Tartarus, but his mind and spirit and became the being who called himself Legion. His Crown of Conquest was destroyed in the process.”

“So where did he come from?” Cadence said.

“I don’t know,” Celestia said. “All we knew was he came from the cosmos. For all we know, there could be more like him beyond Equestria.”

“So what does that do with the seals?” Shining Armor said.

“Star Swirl couldn’t risk having the mind and body reunited,” Luna said.

Celestia said, “He found the other talismans from where the Fires of Friendship were and placed protective charms on them so that the windigoes wouldn’t use them to free the body.”

“We all knew how well that turn out,” Luna said.

“But why? What would happen if Ithaqua would return?” Shining Armor said.

“If he is allowed to be reunited with his body,” Luna said. She began to fly in the air “Then Equestria would freeze over and life itself shall perish!”

“To prevent that Star Swirl placed a seal on the gates of Tartarus and I acquired Cerberus’s services to guard the gates,” Celestia said.

“The disasters today were another seal.” Luna descended to the floor. “A failsafe that would try to stop any escapees from Tartarus. Unfortunately Star Swirl couldn’t perfect the seal.”

“What about the last seal?” Cadence asked.

“The last seal is a ritual that we did not place. Someone else did that,” Celestia said.

“The seal looked like a ritual involving trumpets,” Luna said. “We do not know any detals about the ritual except those trumpets, but we have reason to believe if that ritual was completed, than Legion and Ithaqua would become one again.”

“We have to do something!” Shining Armor said.

“Unfortunately,” Celestia said. “We have no way to track legion. If he found the body, then he would move it somewhere else so that we couldn’t find him.”

“I fear that Ithaqua’s ritual may be in the preparation stages now,” Luna said.

Shining Armor said, “I’ll go prepare a party to look for him. We have to go to the Frozen North anyway if the Crystal Empire returns.”

“Very well,” Celestia said. “But we must make sure we are prepared to face him.”

Shining Armor went out to gather his troops to face Ithaqua. Celestia was getting worried. She hoped that Twilight and the others would escape in time.

In the void, Diamond Tiara wandered the void endlessly. She didn’t care if she was stuck. She felt that this was her punishment.

Her body dimly glowed in the darkness of the void. She didn't want to hurt anypony anymore.

She saw a silver light in the distance. She noticed nine other light trailed the silver one. She made out four familiar shapes in the lights as they grew closer. She was surprised to see the Cutie Mark Crusaders here, but she was even more surprised to see Silver Spoon here.

Diamond Tiara said, “You’re here. What are you doing here?”

Silver Spoon said, “I’m here to get you out, Diamond Tiara.”

Diamond Tiara said, “But why? And why did you bring them?”

“Why did we come here anyway?” Scootaloo said.

“Scootaloo!” Sweetie Belle whispered.

Diamond Tiara remembered that the Cutie Mark Crusaders were amnesiac and asleep. “Just leave me alone. You have to leave now.”

“Not without you,” Silver Spoon said.

“I’m not the amnesiac here!” Diamond Tiara said. “I don’t deserve to be freed, not after what I’ve done.”

The Cutie Mark Crusaders were surprised to see that Diamond Tiara in this state.

Diamond Tiara looked at the Crusaders. “I mocked you, made fun of you, got you ostracized from Ponyville. Just leave me be. I deserve this place!”

Apple Bloom said, “No. No matter how badly you misbehaved, nopony deserved to be alone like this.”

Diamond Tiara was shocked to hear those words come from Apple Bloom, of all ponies. She said, “What’s wrong with you? You know how to make friends, I almost killed the only one I ever had! Don’t waste your time with somepony like me.”

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle went forward. Apple Bloom said, “Diamond Tiara, I know we had our differences, but I cannot let you wallow in self-pity like this.” Though she hated to admit it, she knew that Diamond Tiara was partly the reason the Cutie Mark Crusaders were formed in the first place. “Like I said before, nopony deserves to be trapped in a place like this.”

“But--” Diamond Tiara said.

Scootaloo said, “She’s right. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but we are getting you out of here.”

Sweetie Belle said, “I’m sure your family and friends miss you.”

Diamond Tiara looked at Silver Spoon. Silver Spoon said, “Diamond Tiara, please. I miss you.”

Diamond Tiara was stunned. She knew that Silver Spoon would miss her, but she never thought that the Cutie Mark Crusaders would actually encourage her like this.

Diamond Tiara whispered, “I’m sorry.”

“Beg pardon?” Apple Bloom said.

Diamond Tiara said, “I’m sorry for everything I did. I'm sorry about the teasing, the paper,” She hugged Silver Spoon. “But I’m especially sorry for worrying you, Silver Spoon.”

Diamond Tiara and SIlver Spoon said, “Bump, lump, sugar rump.” and giggled. The Crusaders realized that they just helped their bullies.

“Let’s get out of here,” Scootaloo said.

The fillies saw the mares catching up to them. “There you are,” Applejack. She noticed that Diamond Tiara was with them.

Diamond Tiara introduced herself. “I’m Diamond Tiara. I would tell you more, but this isn’t the place for that.”

The ponies knew that they had to get out of the void. They saw a bright light emitting from the gates and the group of eleven ponies went back to the source of the light.

The group were back at the gates. There they saw Aries, Taurus, Pollux, Castor, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricornus, Aquarius, and Pisces there.

“So you found her, huh,” Pisces said.

Silver Spoon nodded.

Diamond Tiara said, “Who are these ponies?”

Silver Spoon said, “It’s a long story.”

Aries said, “You know that the situation on Equestria is dire now, right?”

“I know,” Twilight said.

Capricornus said, “I wish you luck. It’s gonna be tough.”

“So um, how dire is it?” Fluttershy said.

“Legion is almost ready to break the seventh and final seal,” Aquarius said. “You must stop him, or your world will perish.”

“No problem,” Rainbow Dash said. “We’ll wipe the floor with that jerk faster than you can say ‘ice age.’”

Pinkie Pie said, “Yeah, we’ll make sure that mean Legion won't hurt anypony again.”

Applejack said, “Except how are we gonna find him?”

“Follow the trumpets,” Taurus said. “But hurry.”

“We’ll help you anyway we can,” Cancer said.

“Figments of imagination we may be,” Castor said.

“But we can’t let the windigoes freeze Equestria over again,” Pollux said.

“But how are you gonna enter the real world?” Apple Bloom said.

LIbra said, “We have our ways, we spent the last thousand years keeping the talismans sealed. We know our magic.”

Twilight said, “Wait, a thousand years?”

Sweetie Belle said, “How did you even last that long?”

“Um you mean besides the whole ‘dream’ argument?” Scorpio said. “Star Swirl the Bearded made us the guardian of the seals and anything within the talismans.”

“We would fail our jobs if Ithaqua would return by any means,” Leo said.

“Wait,” Scootaloo said. “Ithaqua?”

Twilight said, “He was the leader of the windigoes before...” Twilight realized something. “Before his body was sealed in Tartarus. Did you say the seventh seal”

The thirteen guardians nodded.

Twilight was worried. She went forward and opened the gates with her magic. She now knew who Legion truly is. “We have to hurry!”

The twenty-four ponies entered the gates. There was a blinding light beyond.

In Canterlot, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Diamond Dust awakened.

“Ugh, my head,” Sweetie Belle said. Memories poured into the Crusaders.

Diamond Dust noticed that the magic that she cast on them was fading. Apple Bloom’s legs, Sweetie Belle’s horn and Scootaloo’s wings thawed and returned to flesh and blood. She noticed that her own wings and horn started to melt. She was just normal earth filly Diamond Tiara again.

The fillies saw Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rarity, RaInbow Dash, and Silver Spoon were nearby.

The doors of the chamber opened and PrIncess Celestia was nearby. She said, “There’s much to discuss, but I fear our time is limited.”

Twilight agreed. The ponies left the chamber and went with Celestia to discuss Ithaqua and his final seal.

Author's Note

This fic is almost done. I'll post the remaining chapters tomorrow.

lix - Hyperion's Stand

Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Spike were preparing for the trip to the Frozen North, And the final confrontation with the windigoes.

Spike gathered up as many supplies as they can. “So after this the disasters will stop?”

Twilight said, “I hope so.” She wasn’t sure how they were going to defeat Legion. The Elements of Harmony had stopped threats such as Nightmare Moon, Discord, and Queen Chrysalis. But the windigoes predate the Elements. She was uncertain how effective they would be against Ithaqua.

The mares and Spike went to get the fillies. Applejack, Rarity, Twilight, and Rainbow Dash were worried about the fillies and Spike. The mares knew that there was a chance that they would not come out alive.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders were preparing for the trip to the North.

Apple Bloom said, “So how do you think we can stop this guy?”

Scootaloo said, “We could sabotage the ritual.”

Sweetie Belle said, “Yeah, that might work.”

Nearby, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were walking around the castle. Diamond Tiara remembered her and the Crusaders crashing the wedding under abnormal circumstances. She looked back at Silver Spoon. “You don’t have to do this.”

Silver Spoon said, “Yes, I do. I want to stop him just as much as you do.”

Diamond Tiara remembered that her friend said that she will not leave her side. But she was worried for her safety. She looked at the Crusaders. She knew she was the one that caused this with the Foal Free Press’s gossip column and her more direct hoof as Diamond Dust. She also knew that they felt a need to make amends for what they done. ‘I have to make this right,’ she thought.

The fillies saw the bearers of the Elements of Harmony in the hallway.

“Y’all ready?” Applejack said.

The Crusaders nodded. Diamond Tiara and SIlver Spoon just followed the group as they left for the Frozen North.

Shining Armor, Princess Cadence and Cloudchaser checked the members of the guards. Among those ponies, they saw Flitter, Star Song, Lyra Heartstrings, BonBon, and Thunderlane, as well as several valiant soldiers. The zodiac based ponies were helping with the preparations.

Shining Armor saw her sister and her friends exit the castle. Twilight was surprised at the amount of ponies there.

Rarity took out some small costumes for the fillies. “I made this out of the hide we got earlier.” She handed the near invulnerable armor to the fillies.

“There’s wasn’t enough for the soldiers?” Cloudchaser said.

“There was only one hide,” Rarity said “I was lucky enough there was enough to make 5 of them.”

“I got that covered.” Leo just appeared with several Nemean hides.

Sweetie Belle said, ”Where did you get those?”

Leo said, “Found them. The others are on their way soon.”

Rarity and some other ponies went to work making armor for the fight. She used her magic to lift the hide and claws and various suits of armor.

Flitter went to Cloudchaser, She was followed by Star Song and Thunderlane. Flitter said, “So this is it, huh?”

Cloudchaser said, “Out last mission as part of Cloudsdale weather team? yeah I guess.”

“Kinda ironic that none of our jobs took place in Cloudsdale.” Star Song chucked.

“We’ll need to be careful,” Thunderlane said.

“No need to tell us, rookie,” Cloudchaser said.

Thunderlane said, “If we get through this, maybe we can meet at the Wonderbolt Academy,”

“You?” Cloudchaser said. “At the Wonderbolt Academy?” She chucked at the thought.

“I hadn't much of Cloudsdale, so why not?” Thunderlane said.

Nearby, Lyra and BonBon were discussing the fight.

Lyra wondered if her lyre could affect the Ithaqua corpse.

BonBon said, “You okay?”

Lyra said, “I’m fine.” She looked at her partner. “Thanks for sticking with me at the wedding.”

BonBon said, “Don’t mention it.”

The group prepared for the upcoming battle. Rarity was making suits of Nemean armor at a faster pace than usual.

Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were preparing for the upcoming fight.

Luna said, “Sister are you sure that the ponies are ready for this?”

Celestia said, “I know they are ready for this.” She looked outside and saw Twilight Sparkle. “They have come a long way, but there are still many trials and tribulations ahead.”

The two princesses flew out of the castle and descended in front of the large group.

A few hours later. Rarity was finished making armor for everypony. Celestia said, “Everypony ready?”

The other ponies nodded. They were already in scarves and armor made from the Nemean hides.

Rainbow Dash said, “So how are we gonna get there? Most of us can’t fly”

Luna said, “There are the chariots.” She pointed to some of the chariots usually used for the Royal Guard and the Princesses.

Rainbow Dash said, “Oh.” She saw that some of the chariots were big enough for four or five ponies.

The earth ponies and unicorns boarded the war chariots while the pegasi took the reins.

The pegasi took flight and lifted the chariots to the sky. They went to the Frozen North.

The large army had entered the Frozen North. The clouds above boomed with thunder and snow and lightning fell from the sky. the chariots landed in the ice as not to be hit by lightning and the ponies left.

“Brrr,” Pinkie Pie said. “it’s chilly.”

“Well, it is the arctic, Pinkie,” Rainbow Dash said.

Shining Armor and twilight Sparkled erected a barrier and magical lightning rod to divert the effects of the weather.

There was an altar in the distance. The ponies saw the windigoes circling around it.

“So,” Twilight Sparkle said. “This is where Ithaqua is?”

Princess Celestia nodded. The ponies trekked towards the large altar.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders and Diamond Tiara looked at the altar with a sense of dread and anticipation. They knew this is where they will face the being that brought them so much pain.

As they approached the altar, the ponies felt a source of power surging from the structures. They saw bricks move, and the shapes contort in unusual forms.

Some of the soldiers looked back and saw that the area behind them had changed. The chariots they left were replaced with frozen mountains.

Cadence saw the changed area as well. She thought, ‘Maybe we need to get a train station built after this.’

The ponies felt that the altar was off. Luna and Celestia were unfazed, but the rest of the army were clearly unnerved by the sudden eyes that would appear in place of bricks, the space between the bricks what changed to something different, or the eerie dark azure color of the area.

Eventually, they made it to the tip of the altar. There they saw Legion and Ithaqua’s body. There was a crimson, vermillion, chartreuse, viridian, azure, violet, and magenta trumpets placed on icy stands, and a grotesque figure nearby. The figure was similar to the corpse in shape, but he was smaller than Ithaqua and his head looked like a squid. The ponies felt something otherworldly from this herald.

Cloudchaser and Flitter saw Gale Force, frozen at the center of the altar.

Legion said, “Ah, so you have arrived.” He looked at the fillies. “And you hath returned our queen and her servants to us. Excellent.”

Diamond Tiara said, “Can it! I’m not your queen anymore!”

Apple Bloom said, “And we’re not gonna help you freeze Equestria.”

Twilight Sparkle said, “We’re here to stop you!”

Princess Celestia said, “Ithaqua, you have plagued Equestria for far too long.”

Legion said, “So be it. I shall appreciate thine opposition. Cthulhu prepare the ritual.”

One of Cthulhu’s tendrils too the magenta trumpet. He tried to play it.

“Oh no you don’t!” Rainbow Dash flew into the beast and took the magenta trumpet. The ponies scattered to stop Cthulhu or Legion from playing the instruments on the ground while Celestia and Luna engaged Legion in battle atop the altar.

Twilight took the violet trumpet from its stand. Cthulhu sprouted more arms and tried to attack Twilight, but she teleported away.

Rarity took the azure trumpet. “Well this does match my eyes.” She didn't notice the windigoes descending behind her. The windigoes were ready to attack, but Pinkie Pie blasted them with her party cannon.

“Ooh,” Pinkie said. “You’re right, there do match your eyes.”

Rarity saw more windigoes charging behind Pinkie Pie. “Look out.” She ran past Pinkie and kicked the windigoes away.

Applejack lassoed the viridian trumpet off the stand and prepared to charge the windigoes. Cthulhu grew and sprouted more legs. He tried to punch Applejack, but she dodged and ran on of his arm and kicked him in the face.

Fluttershy sneaked around towards the chartreuse trumpets and took it off the stand. “Phew,” she said. Only to see that she was surrounded by windigoes. She dropped the trumpet and tried to run away, but the windigoes were everywhere.

Fluttershy felt the temperature rise as the windigoes were engulfed in green flames. They dissipated in smoke while a tired Spike took the instrument.

Fluttershy said, “Are you alright?”

Spike panted, “No problem... it was more fire... than I ever thought... I could breath.” He handed Fluttershy the instrument.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders managed to take the vermillion trumpet off its stand. The fillies saw that six of the trumpets were off their stands and being passed to the other ponies.

Scootaloo saw some windigoes behind were preparing to attack. “Look out.” She galloped and took her friends out of the windigo’s path.

Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom saw part of the altar freeze over from the windigoes’s attack.

Sweetie Belle said, “Thanks.”

Pinkie Pie bounced around the area until she saw the crimson trumpet. She gleefully took the instrument without her mouth and played it. The sound the came from the trumpet were painful enough to drive the nearby windigoes away.

The ponies passed the colorful trumpets to each other. with each pony dodging the windigoes and Cthulhu's attacks.

Princess Celestia and Princess Luna fought Legion. They fired indigo and yellow beam at the windigo ruler. One of the beams hit the windigo, but he was unfazed.

Celestia materialized a sword of magic and prepared to slash Legion.

Legion taunted, “Just like old times, huh? Except this time, thou shalt falleth to the depths of despair.”

Luna blasted Legion again while Celestia slash hit the leader of the windigoes. Legion conjured ice shards that fell all over the altar. The barriers keeping the ponies safe have faltered and the lightning hit some of the soldiers.

Celestia conjured up a fireball and melted some of the ice shards. But Legion vanished.

The ponies passed the trumped around each other and kept them as far away from Cthulhu as possible.

Lyra and BonBon had the chartreuse trumpet. They galloped and avoided Cthulhu’s attacks.

Lyra passed the chartreuse trumpet to Shining Armor. Several soldiers stood by and helped him pass the instrument to Flitter.

Flitter and Cloudchaser flow around the area. Cthulhu kept his eyes focused on the sisters. He prepared to slam Flitter to the ground.

Cloudchaser saw what Cthulhu was about to do and rammed her sister out of the way. Flitter let go of the trumper and Cthulhu grabbed it.

“No,” Flitter said. Cthulhu had regained one of the seven trumpets.

Thunderlane had the crimson trumpet. He threw it to Rainbow Dash. Cthulhu tried to grab the instrument with one of his six arms, but Rainbow Dash got to it first.

“Hah,” Rainbow Dash said. “Nice try.” She flew around the area, avoiding Cthulhu's attacks.

Cthulhu moved forward and grabbed Rainbow Dash. He opened his and saw that she didn’t have the crimson trumpet.

“Too slow.” Rainbow Dash flew up and punched Cthulhu's face. The blow knocked Cthulhu back several feet as he fell.

Princess Cadence had levitated the crimson and violet trumpets. She handed the crimson trumpet to her fiance and gave the violet trumpet to Star Song.

Cthulhu stood up and prepared to take both instruments, but Twilight Sparkle fired a beam of light at him.

“You are not laying a hoof, claw whatever on my brother!” Twilight said.

Applejack and Pinkie Pie attacked Cthulhu with several blows and launches from Pinkie’s cannon.

Cthulhu swatted the assault aside and grabbed Star Song and the violet trumpet. Star Song struggled to break free of his grip.

Rainbow Dash went ahead and punched Cthulhu's face again. He dropped Star Song and the violet trumpet.

Cthulhu raised one of his open arms up to the sky. Light struck the hand and charged it with immense power. He saw a soldier with the viridian trumpet and flattened him. He took the viridian trumpet.

Diamond Tiara had the vermillion trumpets. She saw Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle waving their hooves and slid the instrument to them.

The windigoes saw the Cutie Mark Crusaders with the vermillion trumpet and chased them, only to be rammed by Applejack and Rarity.

“Apple Bloom, are you alright?” Applejack said.

“We’re fine,” Apple Bloom said. Sweetie Belle handed the instrument to Rarity and she used the magic to hold it. The three fillies saw Fluttershy and went with her.

Twilight Sparkle, now held the azure trumpet. She teleported around the area kepping it from Cthulhu and the windigoes.

Cthulhu raised it’s arm again. Lightning charged it as he slammed into the ground.

Twilight teleported away at the last second before the attack hit. She saw Rainbow Dash.

“Rainbow!” Twilight threw the instrument in the air.

Rainbow Dash flew after the azure trumpet, but Cthulhu swatted her away and grabbed it.

The ponies were losing this fight. Cthulhu now held three of the trumpets. They knew that they had to keep the last four trumpets away from him.

Celestia and Luna went to help the ponies keep the trumpets away from Cthulhu. Luna fired a blue beam at Cthulhu while Celestia descended on the ground.

“What happened?” Twilight Sparkle said. She lifted the vermillion trumpet.

“Legion vanished,” Celestia said. She looked to the eldritch herald. She saw that Cthulhu had the azure, viridian and chartreuse trumpets and prepared her sword.

Fluttershy and The Cutie Mark Crusaders while Rainbow Dash leads the other pegasi in an attack. Apple Bloom held the violet trumpet.

Cthulhu had struck the ground with another charged slam. The ice cracked after the attack.

Shining Armor and Applejack held the crimson and magenta trumpets. The latter went forward to ram the legs of the fowl herald, but Cthulhu grabbed her.

Apple Bloom saw the eldritch trumpeter lift her sister in the air. “Applejack!” She kicked Cthulhu. “Let my sister go!”

Cthulhu saw Apple Bloom and glared at her. Apple Bloom gulped when she realized that Cthulhu saw the violet instrument. Cthulhu took Applejack’s instrument and flung her into the air.

Cloudchaser managed to rescue Applejack before she fell into the cold water. She saw Apple Bloom run away with her instrument while Cthulhu trying to take it.

“You’re not getting my sister!” Applejack galloped as fast as she could. She rammed into the trumpeter’s legs.

Rainbow Dash followed up Applejack’s attack with an uppercut and Rarity used the opportunity to get the fillies to safety.

Celestia and Luna then fired more magic beams at Cthulhu. The herald stood up and tried to attack the Princesses, but Shining Armor defended them with his magic forcefield.

Cthulhu grew two more arms raised them to be struck by lightning. He slammed the ground and caused a shockwave large enough to knock the ponies back.

The force of the attack caused Apple Bloom and Shining Armor to let go of their instruments. Cthulhu then picked up the two trumpets up and diverted his attention to Twilight Sparkle.

Celestia and Luna went in front of Twilight. Celestia said, “I won’t let you hurt them. Nor will I let you finish the ritual.”

Twilight took the vermillion trumpet and went away. She passed the instrument to Rainbow Dash.

Cthulhu tried to grab the trumper from Rainbow Dash, but Luna and Twilight fired some beams and distracted him. The herald swiped at them, but they dodged. Celestia went forward with a slash and managed to wound Cthulhu The trumpeter knew that he must catch the last instrument.

Rainbow Dash flew around the area. Cthulhu tried to grabbed the instrument, but he was blocked by attacks or interceptions. He held up his two arms agai. Lightning struck the arms. He then used one arm to sweep away the ponies. Rainbow Dash tried to fly to the left of the giant herald, but he used the other charged arm and swiped at her.

Rainbow Dash was flung high into the atmosphere. Her instrument slipped off her hooves and into Cthulhu’s hand. She fell into the ice.

“Rainbow!” Twilight said.

Rainbow Dash fell into the ice. The fall had wounded her badly. Twilight, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders rushed to her while Celestia and Luna tried to stopped Cthulhu.

Fluttershy and Twilight tried to heal her. Fluttershy said, “Are you alright?”

“It’ll take more than that to stop me,” Rainbow Dash said.

Cthulhu ascended to the top of the alter. His arms now hold all seven trumpets. He held the magenta one to his mouths while new mouths appeared on his hands to play the other six instruments.

Celestia, Luna, and the other ponies tried to stop him, but it was too late. Cthulhu played the trumpets.

The sounds of the trumpets boomed all over the arctic causing the ponies to cover their ears. The princesses cast a spell to dampen the noise. The ponies were veiled in magic.

As Cthulhu played the trumpets the Crown of Conquest, Sword of War, Scales of Life, and Scythe of Death appeared in front of Ithaqua’s corpse.

The ponies could hear maniacal laughter over the deafening sound of the trumpets.

“It’s over. Thy battle is lost. Thy land is lost!”

Legion appeared in front of the corpse. The corpse and talismans glowed and emitted a blinding flash of light. The windigoes went into the light.

When the light vanished, the ponies couldn’t see Cthulhu, Legion, Gale Force, the windigoes, or the talismans. There was only the corpse of Ithaqua. The corpse started to move and change. Large golden armor appeared on Ithaqua as it stood. His two arms became four. Three of the talismans appeared in his hands while the Crown of Conquest appeared on his head. His eyelids opened to reveal crimson holes that appear to suck all matter in.

The ponies felt the temperature fall and the sea freezing beneath them.

Ithaqua’s voice boomed, “Bow down before me and knoweth that your world is forfeit!”

Author's Note

There are two alternate endings after this. The next chapter is Ending Alpha. The chapter after that is Ending Omega.

lxα - Harmonia's Triumph

The ponies were in front of a giant monstrosity. Ithaqua had returned to his body. The Princesses, Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Spike, The Cutie Mark Crusaders, Shining Armor, Lyra, BonBon, Flitter, Cloudchaser, Thunderlane, Star Song, and the thirteen guardians of the talismans were the only ponies left.

Ithaqua said, “Tremble before me, the king of the frozen wastes!”

Ithaqua fired large shards of ice at the ponies. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna cast a fireball and it some of the ice. Shining Armor prepared a barrier to deflect the shards that passed the alicorns.

Rainbow Dash, Flitter, Cloudchaser, Thunderlane, and Star Song flew to attack the giant. The others followed the pegasi.

Ithaqua responded, “So you still persist. Insolent fools.” He tried to attack the pegasi, but they flew and dodged the attacks.

Twilight Sparkle cast a spell. A red blaze emerged from her horn, Spike supported twilight’s spell with his green fire.

Ithaqua was unfazed by the flames. “Yes, continue your attacks. It will be all for naught.” Six hundred sixty six eyes appeared on his body and he struck the ground with his crimson sword.

Twilight Sparkle teleported away. Applejack and Rarity emerged from behind her and struck a mighty blow onto his legs.

The force was enough to push the leg back. The fillies and Fluttershy threw snowballs into some of the eyes and blinded some of them.

Cloudchaser flew behind the head and saw something unsettling. She saw Gale Force trapped inside the head. “Gale!” She charged into the head, trying to free her former leader from Ithaqua. Ithaqua turned around and slammed Cloudchaser with the scales.

Celestia and Luna saw the zodiac ponies rushing forward. The thirteen ponies and four talismans glowed.

Ithaqua was stunned. He couldn’t move.

Luna said, “What are you doing?”

Aries said, “Buying you time.”

Taurus said, “Use them, quick!”

Pollux said, “We may have failed at keeping Ithaqua out of his body...”

Castor said, “But we won’t let him wreak havoc over Equestria.”

Cancer said, “We’ll stop him from interfering.”

The zodiac ponies’ magic weaken a little. Ithaqua tried to swipe at them with the scythe, but Celestia used her telekinesis to hold it back.

The other ponies ceased their assault. Twilight Sparkle realized that she and her friends were still wearing the Elements of Harmony. She went to gather her friends.

Ithaqua said, “Why? Why do you persist?! Thine efforts are worthless. This world shall be frozen in ice!”

Leo said, “Not if we can help it!”

Virgo said, “We may be figments of imagination and magic...”

Libra said, “But we have a job to do. And we are gonna do it.”

Scorpio said, “We will protect our friends.”

Twilight had gathered Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy together. The zodiac ponies’ spell was weakened.

Sagittarius said, “Thank you friends.”

Capricornus said, “Good luck, and take care.”

Aquarius said, “Ithaqua, you will fall.”

Pisces said, “We won’t let you hurt our friends anymore.”

“Friends?” Ithaqua said, “Bah, what a foolish sentiment. Thy spell will be the one to fall.” He attempted to smash the ponies with his sword and scales, but Cadence and Luna used their telekinetic magic to hold them back.

Celestia said, “You don’t get it, do you? You underestimate the magic of friendship.”

Apple Bloom said, “You don't know what it’s like to have a friend.”

Rainbow Dash said, “You don’t have a sense of Loyalty!”

Fluttershy said, “Or Kindness!”

Applejack said, “And you manipulate ponies to do your bidding!”

Pinkie Pie said, “All you bring is sorrow and grief!”

Rarity said, “And you certainty are a selfish ruffian!”

Sweetie Belle said, “You don’t show remorse for your actions!”

Scootaloo said, “Or forgiveness!”

Spike said, “And you’re certainly a coward!”

Diamond Tiara said, “You certainly are the worst!”

Silver Spoon nodded. She, Flitter, Cloudchaser, Lyra, BonBon, Thunderlane, Star Song, Shining Armor, and Princess Cadence went closer to their friends.

Twilight Sparkle said, “You try to sever bonds and pit them against each other. You try to create a world without friendship, without life!”

The Elements of Harmony shot a rainbow beam into the sky.

Princess Luna said, “The magic of friendship was your downfall last time, and it will triumph this time.”

Princess Celestia said, “Ithaqua, the Equestria you conquered is gone. This world has more compassion than you had ever seen. If you try to extinguish that, then I will stop you!”

Everypony and Spike were covered in a veil of flames. The fires danced up to the sky and collided with the beam from the Elements.

A burning rainbow heart appeared between the ponies and Ithaqua. The heart pulsated magic unlike anything Ithaqua ever noticed.

Ithaqua saw that his form was melting away. “No... No...” He reverted back into Legion, a single lone windigo.

Gale Force fell into the ice.

The rainbow beam of flames emerged from the rainbow heart. The beam hit Ithaqua. “Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!” was all he said before the windigo vanished.

The ponies saw no sign of the zodiac ponies, nor did they see the four talismans. Cloudchaser flew down to get Gale Force out of the water.

Gale Force saw Cloudchaser and Flitter. He turned and saw Thunderlane and Star were there too. In fact he saw several other ponies were here.

“What happened?” Gale said. The last thing he could remember was that he went to the Unicorn Range in seething anger. He saw that the windigoes were gone.

Cloudchaser said, “They’re gone. The windigoes are gone. Just please don’t do anything reckless like that again.”

Pinkie Pie cheered. “Woo-hoo. The windigoes are gone. Lets celebrate.” She fired her party cannon in glee.

“Um, Pinkie,” Twilight said. “I don’t think this would be a good place for a party.”

The ponies and Spike went back to Canterlot.

Three days later. The Cutie Mark Crusaders were in the schoolyard. They saw Featherweight pass them a copy of the Foal Free Press.

Sweetie Belle read the paper. “Huh?”

“What is it Sweetie Belle?” Apple Bloom said.

Sweetie Belle showed Apple Bloom and Scootaloo the gossip column. They saw the apology letter they wrote. The letter that Diamond Tiara intercepted.

“But how?” Scootaloo said.

The three fillies saw Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon nearby. Diamond Tiara was wearing her normal tiara again. The two fillies went to the Crusaders.

“Hello everypony,” Diamond Tiara said. “Did you read the paper?”

Sweetie Belle said, “You put this in?”

Diamond Tiara said, “Uh-huh.”

“But why?” Apple Bloom said.

Silver Spoon said, “We wanted to thank you for getting Diamond Tiara out of there.”

“Okay...” Scootaloo said.

Diamond Tiara said, “Maybe we could hang out sometime?”

The Crusaders were shocked to hear something like that exit Diamond Tiara’s mouth. “Um, sure?” Apple Bloom said.

“Thanks,” Diamond Tiara said. “Chao.” She and Silver Spoon left.

“What the heck just happened?” Apple Bloom said.

“I guess that whole windigo thing had taught her a lesson.” Sweetie Belle said.

The bell rang, and the Crusaders went into the schoolhouse. They were glad to see that everything was... well almost back to normal.

A week after the battle with Ithaqua, Twilight Sparkle, Spike, Rarity, Sweetie Belle, Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, Lyra, BonBon, Flitter, Cloudchaser, Star Song, Thunderlane, and Gale Force were at the reception of Shining Armor and Princess Cadance’s wedding in Canterlot.

Twilight Sparkle and her friends saw that the fillies were having fun again.

“They deserved a break after all that happened,” Applejack said.

“Yeah,” Rarity said. “I’m happy that this dreadful windigo business was over with.”

Twilight Sparkle saw that Pinkie Pie was already dancing. She noticed that Shining Armor and Princess Cadence were nearby and went to them.

Elsewhere at the party, Flitter and Cloudchaser were talking with Star Song, Thunderlane and Gale Force. A grey pegasus with a blond mane gave them their drinks.

“So what are you gonna do now?” Gale said.

Cloudchaser said, “Well, Thunderlane and I are heading to the Wonderbolt Academy. You?”

Star Song said, “I’m going back to Los Pegasus. The music hall calls my name. And I’m supposed to meet my new manager, Toola-Roola there.”

Flitter said, “I’m going with her to help her rehearse while you two are at the academy.”

Cloudchaser said, “What about you?”

Gale said, “I have some anger management classes in Baltimare. And then its back to work in Cloudsdale.” He sighed. “And without you and Over Cast there.”

Thunderlane said, “Don’t worry, we can still visit you Gale.”

Meanwhile, Lyra Heartstrings and BonBon were discussing another date.

Lyra said, “We can’t do it this Saturday. I have to help Star Song in Los Pegasus.”

BonBon said, “Well Sunday’s out as well. I have a lot of work to do then.”

“What work?” Lyra said.

“I had a huge order for some candy,” BonBon said. “Or bowties. “I’m not sure which.”

Lyra giggled a bit.

Everypony partied hard in Canterlot. For they celebrated not only the wedding between a princess and the captain of the guard, but the permanent defeat of the windigoes.

After the reception, the bearers of the Elements of Harmony and the Cutie Mark Crusaders went back to Ponyville together. They knew that nothing was gonna separate them again.

“Everything’s gonna be just fine.” Twilight Sparkle said.

Author's Note

This is Ending Alpha. If you're looking for Ending Omega (fell like giving your tear ducts a workout) , Go Here or click the Next Chapter button.

lxΩ - Harmonia's Lamentation