The Great Divide

Chapters

Enter Nightshade
Celestia's Orders
On the Hunt
Gestalt Awakens

Enter Nightshade

Gestalt: a structure, configuration, or pattern of physical, biological, or psychological phenomena so integrated as to constitute a functional unit with properties not derivable by summation of its parts. - Merriam-Webster dictionary

“She does look elegant, doesn't she?”

“Yes; a new princess is always a sight to behold.”

“Ha! Listen to her talk of friendship and love; she knows nothing of true friendship, and what it really entails.”

“I like how she says Celestia ordered her to 'study' friendship. As if friendship could be quantified by science.”

“I think it's time that we put our plans into motion.”

“I agree. I shall make the arrangements.”

“Equestria shall truly know friendship, for friendship will be the only option.”

The warm Ponyville day touched Twilight Sparkle as she lay on her balcony, reading. Becoming a princess had already been taxing on her stamina, so she took solace the only way she knew how. Twilight's eyes scanned the musty pages, absorbing every last hint of knowledge to be gleaned from them. She would have continued, were it not for her loyal dragon friend Spike stepping onto the balcony.

“Hey, Twilight!” He announced.

Twilight glanced up from her pages to see the diminutive purple dragon carrying an envelope. “Oh, hey Spike!” She got up on all fours, leering at the envelope. “Whatcha got there?”

“I was just about to ask about that!” Spike replied. “You busy tomorrow?”

“Well, no, not really.” Twilight answered. “After that business beyond the mirror, all I planned to do was read.”

“Awesome!” Spike declared. He reached into the envelope and pulled out a slip of golden paper. “Because we've got VIP tickets to a concert!”

“A...concert?” Twilight stammered.

“Yeah! We've got front-row seats to see the master of darkness himself, Nightshade!”

“Nightshade?” Twilight asked. “Who's that?”

Spike looked at her with an almost abysmal level of disappointment. “Oh, c'mon Twilight! Nightshade!” He declared. “The horse of horror! The colt of calamity! The equine of evil! The greatest performer this side of Canterlot!”

“Nope, doesn't ring a bell, Spike,” Twilight answered. “And are you sure you should be following someone like that?”

“Oh, c'mon Twilight, it's just showbiz!” Spike replied. “He isn't really evil. It's just a stage persona.”

“Well, if I were him, I would have picked a better, um, stage persona,” Twilight mentioned.

“Ha! You just don't understand art!” Spike pouted.

Twilight laughed. “Since when were you a music connoisseur?” She teased.

“Uh, when was I a what?” Spike replied.

Twilight shook her head. “Nothing,” she said. “Anyway, when did you say this concert was? Tomorrow?”

“Yeah, tomorrow night!” Spike answered. “All the other ponies are gonna be there, too! Oh, I hope I get a seat next to Rarity!”

Twilight chuckled again. “Keep your feet on the ground, lover boy,” She mocked. “And I might as well go to this concert. After all, what type of friend would I be if I said no?”

Spike lunged forward and threw his arms around Twilight's leg. “Oh, thank you, Twilight! This is gonna be so awesome!” Twilight couldn't help but blush and smile.
One day later...

The concert hall in Canterlot was abuzz with noise as Twlight and Spike entered. Thousands had gathered to see Nightshade perform. The extravagance of the hall was nearly overwhelming: The path to the VIP seats was adorned with red carpet, and the floors were black speckled marble. The hall rose to an immeasurable height, and the walls were almost pure white.

Twilight approached the VIP box up on the balcony. Peeking inside, she could see all of her friends inside. Pinkie Pie, a pink earth pony, was excitedly bouncing up and down in her seat, while Rarity, a white unicorn, watched amused. Rainbow Dash and Applejack, a blue pegasus and an orange earth pony respectively, were engaged in conversation, while Fluttershy, a bright yellow pegasus, was watching the rest of the group. They all instantly turned to see Twilight when she entered the room.

“Twilight!” They all shouted.

“Hey, girls! Hope I didn't keep you waiting!”

Pinkie Pie leapt out of her seat, and hastily motioned towards Twilight. “Are you excited? 'Cause I'm excited! This is gonna be the most exciting concert in the exciting history of excitement!” She babbled.

“Slow down, Pinkie,” Twilight commanded. “Don't burn yourself out too early.” The rest of the group laughed at her antics.

“Hey, Twilight!” Rainbow Dash called. “Grab a seat right here! We saved the best seats for you and Spike!”

“Sweet!” Spike exclaimed. He lunged toward the seat, plopping himself flush into the chair. “Hey, c'mon Twilight! The show's gonna start soon!”

“Alright, alright,” Twilight acknowledged. Just give me a s-” She felt someone bump into her. She quickly turned around to look. “Ohmigosh, I'm sorry!” She apologized. “I was just talking with my friends and...” She stopped once she saw who it was. A regal, navy-blue alicorn stood in front of her, her dark mane flowing on it's own accord. She wore a crown with a black gem, and a moon symbol on her chest. Twilight Sparkle recognized her right away. “Princess Luna!” She called out. “What are you doing here?”

Princess Luna smiled and replied, “We have been called to enjoy this concert, same as you.”

“Wow,” Twilight Sparkle remarked. “What's the occasion?”

Princess Luna blushed. “We haven't been too open about it, but today is when we were born,” Luna answered. “My sister thought we would like Nightshade, so she asked him to perform for us.”

“Whoa, it's your birthday?” Twilight exclaimed. “I never would have thought.”

“Yes, but we've stayed here too long,” Luna explained. “Let us go join your friends!”

“OK!” Twilight replied. They found their seats amidst the group, while the rest of the ponies greeted Luna. Within a few minutes, the lights began to dim, and the entire hall fell silent. The ponies all took their seats, and watched as the searchlights danced across the room.

“Fillies and gentlecolts!” An announcer boomed. “May we present, on this most auspicious of occasions, the one, the only, Nightshade!”

The curtains flew open to reveal a tall unicorn, deep purple in color, standing in the center of the stage. He wore a long black cape and a wide-brimmed black hat, and had a de-thorned rose as elegant as the one on his Cutie Mark in his mouth. The audience roared with delight. Cries of “Nightshade! Nightshade!” filled the room, while Nightshade himself gazed and waved at the audience.

He spat out his rose as he reached for the microphone. “Greetings everypony!” The audience cheered in response. “I'm looking forward to taking you all through the darkest, deepest corridors of our world. It will be a perilous journey, wrought with danger and evil, but hold fast and we shall make it through! But first, I'd like to acknowledge a very special guest tonight. Fillies and gentlecolts, please welcome Canterlot's very own Princess Luna!”
` A searchlight beamed down above the ponies' heads directly into the VIP box. The audience cheered and clapped their hooves for Luna, all while the guest of honor herself was blushing and sheepishly waving.

“Yes, yes, I am very honored to have Princess Luna bear witness to my work. As we give our thanks and appreciation to the princess of the night, let us remember what she, and her sister Celestia, protect us from.” The lights on Nightshade and Luna began to dim, and Nightshade's horn began to glow.

“Our nation is safe only because of the princesses, and the gifts they have bestowed. They would rather not have their subjects see what I am going to show you.” Two balls of magical energy began to emerge and spiral out of the horn. “But I shall show you anyway, for we cannot simply cower in the face of unspeakable terror! Join me, and I shall bestow upon you the knowledge you need to protect yourself.”

Twilight rolled her eyes. “Seriously? What a ham,” she whispered.

“Ssshh, Twilight!” Spike muttered. “I really wanna see this!” He turned away and fixed his eager gaze on Nightshade.

“But remember,” Nightshade continued. The two magical balls began to spiral around him. “Knowledge is terrifying. Once you know, you cannot forget. Once you see, your sight cannot be erased! There is no escape from knowledge! Especially for those in the VIP seats!”

Twilight perked up when she heard that last line. What does he mean by that? She thought.

In a flash, the two magical balls flew from the stage toward the VIP box. The balls burst, and an immense curtain of flame began to encircle the box. It formed a wall around all of the ponies, trapping them. Outside the curtain of flame, screams began to erupt, shortly being drowned out by the ponies' own screams.

Twilight turned to Spike, “Is...is this part of the show?” She shouted over the roar of the flames.

Spike's frightened eyes turned toward hers, and replied, “No! He's never done anything like this before!”

Twilight nervously glanced around the room, desperately searching for a way through the flames, but none was to be found. Twilight figured there was only one way to douse the flames: magic.

“Alright, girls!” she declared. “I'm going to get us out of here!”

Suddenly, a bright flash filled the room, and emerging directly through its center was Nightshade.

“Silly filly!” Nightshade taunted, with a dark smirk on his face. “Like I said, there's no escape!”

Princess Luna sprang from her seat to confront him. “Nightshade! What is the meaning of this?”

“Let's just say I have big plans,” Nightshade replied. “And you're going to be part of them.”

Rainbow Dash took to the air on her mighty wings, and stared Nightshade down. “Oh yeah?” She said. “Well, I'm not gonna be part of no stinking plan!” She began to make punching gestures with her hooves. “You don't look so tough! C'mon! Put 'em up!”

“Oh, believe me, I'd love to,” Nightshade replied. “But I have neither the time nor the patience to deal with you. So I might as well do what I came here to do.”

“Which is?” Twilight demanded.

Nightshade quickly reached for his cape. In the time it takes for lightning to strike, he ripped it off, and threw it across the room onto Princess Luna. Twilight looked at the cape as it soared past her. In the light of the flames, she could make out a symbol printed on the underside. She recognized immediately what it was.

Nightshade's horn began to glow again, and with the same methodological quickness, he fired a beam at the cape. As soon as it struck, the cape began to glow, enveloping both it and Princess Luna in its light. The form of the cape-enshrouded Princess Luna began to shrink, becoming smaller and smaller, until it finally disappeared.

The other ponies all gasped. Twilight immediately turned toward Nightshade, and bellowed, “That was a teleportation rune! Where'd you send her?”

“None of your business,” Nightshade replied. “But if you want to save her, you better move quickly.” Nightshade's wicked smile intensified. “I'd love to stay and chat, but I have to go as well. Ta-ta!”

Nightshade's horn glowed once more, and a flash once again filled the room. When it settled, Nightshade was gone, as if he was never there. The flames began to subside, then disappeared completely. Twilight ran to where he stood, and pounding the ground violently. “Get back here, you coward!” She shouted.

“Twilight, stop it!” Said a voice that Twilight recognized as Applejack's. “There's nothing we can do!”

Twilight looked back at the other ponies. They all showed that a deep concern in their eyes. Right before them, one of the two princesses of Equestria had been kidnapped. She returned her gaze to the floor, and sighed.

She looked over the balcony. Where there was once a screaming crowd, there was nary a soul. Twilight figured the hall had been evacuated.

“Princess Twilight Sparkle!” She heard a voice call. Several Canterlot guard pegasi were flying above the stage, probably directing panicked concert-goers to the exit, and trying to find a way through the flames to the ponies. One of them flew down to the VIP box and landed next to Twilight. “Are you all right?”

“Yeah, I'm fine,” She replied.

The guard glanced around the VIP box, searching for something. “Where's Princess Luna?”

“Well, uh,” She stammered. She looked back at her friends. They all nodded to her, telling her what the best course of action was without speaking. She turned back to the guard, and with the deepest melancholy spoke, “She's gone. Nightshade took her with a teleportation rune on his cape.”

The guards eyes widened in surprise, and he cursed under his breath. He looked at Twilight, and said, “I have to report this to Princess Celestia. And I bet she'll want to see you.” He gestured toward the exit. “Please, come with me.” He walked out of the VIP box and towards the concert hall lobby. Twilight looked toward the other ponies, and gestured them to come along. The six ponies all exited the hall single file, to face the aftermath of Nightshade's heinous deeds.

Celestia's Orders

The door to the throne room stood tall and proud, in perfect contrast to how small and weak the ponies felt as they waited outside. The white marble comprising the castle walls and floor felt almost tainted, as if the events of the night had caused it to lose it's luster. Twilight paced back and forth, making the only sound in the room as she waited or the guard to give his report. It was Spike the dragon who finally broke the silence.

“Twilight,” Spike started quietly. “Please stop pacing.”

Twilight stopped and turned to look at her friend. “I can't help it, Spike,” She returned. “I'm just so...agitated.”

Fluttershy stepped towards Twilight, and looked at her.“We all are, Twilight,” She said softly. “But we have to wait until Celestia is ready. Who knows how she feels right now...”

“Ooooh, I can't believe the nerve of that guy!” Rainbow Dash piped, stomping a hoof. “He played us all for fools with that little concert of his!”

“I agree!” Rarity concurred. “What an uncouth pony, tricking everyone who came for a night of fun and celebration!”

Applejack stepped toward Rainbow Dash. “Y'know, I really don't think this is the best time to complain about being upstaged,” She scolded. “A Princess of Canterlot has been taken. I bet Celestia's gonna have a hard time keeping folks calm.”

Pinkie Pie bounced into the center of the group. “Don't worry, Applejack!” She squeaked. “I'm sure the Princess knows just what to do!”

“I hope so, Pinkie,” Twilight replied. “I really hope so.”

Spike let out an audible sigh. “I just don't get it,” He wondered aloud. “Why would he do this?” He sounded as if his heart had been broken.

Twilight faced Spike, and said, “I don't think any of us knows, Spike.”

“I guess he really is the equine of evil, huh?” Spike mused. “I feel so let down...”

Rarity walked over and lifted Spike's face with her hoof. “I'm sure you're not the only one who feels that way, Spike,” She assured. “I know its hard when someone you respect and admire turns out to be a terrorist, but try to keep your chin up. If anyone can rescue Princess Luna, its us.”

Spike looked into Rarity's eyes, his eyes starting to well up. “You think so?” Spike asked.

Rarity smiled at the little dragon. “I know so,” she replied. Spike flashed a smile back.

The mighty door opened. A solemn-looking guard stepped through, his white coat and his golden armor gleaming in the light of the hall. “The Princess will see you now,” He declared. He gestured for the ponies to enter.

The ponies all turned toward the opened door and began to step through. The enormous throne room felt like it was swallowing them up. Red carpeting and a checker-patterned marble floor gave rise to towering Corinthian columns holding the enormous domed ceiling. Princess Celestia stood at the far end of the room, overshadowed only by the enormous windows on the far wall. Her coat of pure white and her iridescent flowing mane gave her a presence of authority over the six guards flanking her. There were two other ponies in the room as well: a pink alicorn with a purple mane, and a white unicorn with a blue mane. Twilight recognized them right away as Princess Cadence and her husband, Captain Shining Armor.

Shining Armor moved towards Twilight, a gaze fraught with worry. “Twily...” he began. “Are you all right, sis?”

Twlight looked back at him. “I'd be lying if I said I was fine,” she replied. “But I'm not hurt, big bro.”

Shining Armor raised his head in response, “I'm glad. That's all a big brother can ask for.”

Twlight looked over to Shining Armor's side. Princess Celestia had advanced soundlessly over to his flank, and was staring at the group with a mixture of sorrow and anger. Twlight could hardly bear to look at her. Seeing the agony in her mentor's eyes twisted her heart in knots. All of her friends bowed before the Princess, followed by Twlight herself.

Celestia began to speak in a forlorn voice. “You all know why you're here,” she began. “So let's just get started.”

“Princess...” Twilight uttered. She could plainly see that Celestia was putting on a strong face.

“I have a task for all of you,” Celestia continued. “Find my sister, Princess Luna.”

Rainbow Dash shot up into the air. “You don't need to ask, Princess!” She declared. “We'll get right on it!” Celestia gave a small smile, clearly comforted by Rainbow Dash's determination.

“Do we have any leads on Nightshade's whereabouts?” Twilight asked.

Shining Armor stepped forward. “We don't have anything,” he replied. “He hasn't stayed at any inns, nor has he visited any shops. He has no record of criminal activity in any area, either. As far as we're concerned, he's a ghost.” Twlight's heart sank a little.

“All we know is that he has a penthouse in Manehattan,” Celestia intervened. “We've sent several members of the Canterlot guard there, but they haven't turned up anything yet.”

“So you want us to help with the investigation?” Rarity interrupted.

“Yes, that's exactly what I want you to do,” Celestia replied. Her eyes became simultaneously sullen and piercing. “I ask this from the bottom of my heart: if you find anything, anything at all that could lead to either my sister or Nightshade, please let me know immediately.”

“Of course, Princess!” Applejack affirmed. “You can count on us!”

Celestia smiled in response. “Good,” she stated. “We have a carriage prepared. Please hurry. There's no telling what Nightshade is planning.”

“If I may, Princess Celestia,” spoke a voice from behind the princess. Everyone turned to see who it was. One of the guards from the group of six had dispersed, and was taking a position behind Celestia.

“Yes, Sergeant Frost Fletcher?” Celestia asked.

“I was going to suggest that Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends take the Elements of Harmony with them,” Frost Fletcher replied. “Nightshade has proven to be a dangerous foe. The Princess should have all the means at her disposal to defeat him should he show his face.”

“I agree!” Shining Armor declared. “He managed to kidnap a princess. There's no telling what he's capable of.”

Cadence stepped towards Shining Armor, and shook her head in disapproval. “But, dear, without the elements of Harmony here, someone might try to attack Canterlot!” she resisted. “We can't risk the safety of our capital for a chance of capturing one pony!”

Shining Armor sighed. “I know the risks, Cadence,” He started. “But as long as we keep everything under wraps, there shouldn't be a problem.”

“The important thing is that Princess Twilight and her friends be safe,” Celestia interjected. “I will allow the use of the Elements of Harmony.”

A pang of worry shivered down Twilight's spine. “Is it really that serious?” She asked.

“Yes, it's that serious,” Celestia answered. “We know next to nothing about our enemy. All precautions should be taken.” Princess Celestia turned toward Shining Armor. “The populace still doesn't know what's going on. As much as I'd love to tell them, it would be best to keep the situation in the dark. If anyone from the press asks about Luna, tell them that she is safe and sound in the castle.”

“Of course, Princess,” Shining Armor complied.

Celestia turned back toward Twilight. “And as for you, go to Nightshade's penthouse,” she ordered. “Find anything and everything that would lead to Luna's whereabouts.”

“Yes, Princess!” Twilight acknowledged. She turned to the door. “All right, girls, let's go get the Elements of Harmony and head for Manehattan! Celestia's counting on us!”

The room filled with the cheers and acknowledgments of the other ponies.

5 hours later...

In the pitch-black of early morning, Twilight's carriage came to a complete stop on top of the penthouse. Manehattan was as bustling as ever, even during the wee hours of the morning. From her vantage point, Twilight could see bright lights and trotting ponies across the city. But Twilight was in no mood for sightseeing; she had a job to do, and she aimed to complete it.

Twilight and her friends were greeted by a trio of guards keeping watch on the roof. One of them advanced to the carriage, and began to speak. “Welcome, Princess. It's an honor.”

Twilight stepped off of the carriage, and addressed the guard. “Thank you,” She replied. “Tell me what you've found so far.”

The guard shook his head. “From our initial investigations, we haven't turned up a whole lot,” He reported. “The place was dusty when we got here. It seems like Nightshade hasn't been here for weeks.”

“That's odd,” Rarity piped up, stepping off the carriage towards Twilight. “If I had something as magnificent as a Manehattan penthouse, I would do my best to keep it in tip-top shape.”

“You'd think,” The guard replied. “The only thing that wasn't covered in dust was an alicorn statue.”

Twilight looked at the guard, puzzled. “An...alicorn statue?” She inquired.

“Yeah, a life-size statue,” The guard continued. “Really odd-looking, too. Here, I'll show you.” The guard maneuvered over toward a stairwell on the far side of the roof. He gestured for Twilight and the others to follow him.

The ponies all marched toward the stairwell. Descending into the depths of Nightshade's penthouse, the ponies entered a large foyer. Sure enough, the room was filled with a musty air that crinkled Twilight's nose. A thin film of dust covered the floor, which would have perfectly coated it, were it not for the footprints left by the guards.

“Ugh! What a pigsty!” Rarity exclaimed.

“Yeah, seriously,” Spike agreed.

Except for the dust, the room itself was of impeccable taste. A hardwood floor extended across for most of the room, save for the black and white tile that gave way to a kitchenette and counter-top. A small chandelier dangled from the center of the room, brightly lighting up the entire space. Paintings by various artists covered the walls, and mahogany bookshelves took up a solitary corner of the room. Finally, sticking out like a sore thumb, was the alicorn statue the guard had described.

“Wow!” Twilight exclaimed, catching a glimpse of it. The statue was almost stark white, save for some black elevations around the joints and neck, and some black lines and numbers on the statue's side. Its horn was curved and smooth, rising proudly from it's base, and its wings were fully extended. It would have looked magnificent, save for some odd features. The mane and tail were gray and shaggy, and it wore a chain necklace and anklet. The final defining feature was a dark blue blindfold covering its eyes.

“Well, that certainly is...odd,” Rarity commented. “Gaudy, if I do say so myself.”

Twilight advanced to the statue, entranced by it's peculiarity. “This looks like one of the Automatons!”

“Uh, one of the what, Twilight?” Applejack commented.

Twilight turned back to Applejack. “It's from a novel I read once,” Twilight explained. “A mad scientist created an army of mechanical ponies called Automatons to take over the world, and this statue looks a lot like how they were described in the book.” She turned back toward the statue. “Look! It's even got a six-pronged gear as the Cutie Mark.”

“Well, that's nice and all,” Rainbow Dash began. “But it still doesn't get us any closer to Luna.”

Twilight ignored her. “I think I'm going to take a closer look,” she declared. She trotted over to the statue, and gave it a brief tap with her hoof. A soft metallic clang rang out, otherwise, nothing happened.

Rainbow Dash groaned. “Are you done yet, Twilight?” she complained. Just as she finished her sentence, a bright blue glow began to shine at the statue's horn.

Twilight was the first to notice. “Wait, is that statue's horn...glowing?” The other ponies looked at the horn, and sure enough, what they saw confirmed Twilight's suspicions. They started to murmur among themselves.

“Twilight, I think we need to leave...” Fluttershy meekly suggested. Twilight continued to stare at the horn, as it grew brighter and brighter until finally, Twilight could see nothing but white.

Panic began to spread through Twilight's body. Her thoughts began to race. Was it a trap? What was happening to her? What about her friends? Her mind raced faster and faster, until finally, her vision slowly began to return. It was fuzzy at first, but from the details she could make out, she could see the tops of trees and the starry sky. The scenery grew clearer and clearer, until finally, her vision returned to normal. They had come to a forest clearing, shrouded by the early morning darkness.

As she took in the new environment, her thoughts suddenly turned to her friends. She quickly spun around. “Is everyone alright?” She sputtered. Her eyes in the dim morning moonlight caught all of the ponies and Spike looking around the wilderness, confused.

Fluttershy finally responded, “Yeah, we're OK, Twilight.” Twilight let out a sigh of relief.

Rainbow Dash flew over towards Twilight, an angry look in her eyes.“Well, look what you've gotten us into, Twilight!” She roared.

“Me?” Twilight protested. “How is this my fault?”

“You touched that stupid alicorn statue, and it warped us here!” Rainbow Dash explained. “It was a trap! And you fell for it!”

“Well, excuse me, she of profound observational skills!” Twilight retorted. “If you knew it was a trap, then why didn't you say something?”

Rainbow Dash stared into Twilight's eyes with malice. “Oooh, why I oughta!”

“Quiet!” Pinkie Pie screamed. Rainbow Dash and Twilight stopped and turned to face her. She had an exasperated look on her face. “It doesn't matter whose fault it is! Arguing isn't gonna get us any closer to Luna!”

Applejack stepped towards the two fighting mares. “Pinkie's right!” She yelled. “We need to figure out where we are!”

“Now really!” Rarity piped up. “You know you need to calm down if Pinkie is being the level-headed one!” Pinkie turned to Rarity with a stare that betrayed her disapproval with Rarity's assessment of her character. Rarity saw it and immediately blushed in embarrassment. “Um, no offense, Pinkie dear,” she added. Pinkie's face returned to normal.

Twilight sighed. “All right. I'm sorry, girls,” She apologized.

“I'm sorry, too,” Rainbow Dash admitted, embarrassed.

Pinkie Pie let out a bubbly laugh. “Oh, it's OK, girls!” She assured. “I think we're all a little on edge.”

Rarity let out a sigh of relief. “Well, now that that's over, what are we going to do now?” She asked. “I don't recognize this place at all.”

“Um, it looks like there's a road heading north,” Fluttershy pointed out, extending a hoof towards the road. “We might be able to get to a town if we follow it.”

“Well then, let's go! We'll ask someone in the next town over where we are!” Spike exclaimed. He began to walk down the road. The other ponies nodded in agreement, and began to follow him, completely unfazed by any danger the woods may hold.

On the Hunt

The ponies and Spike all were slowly growing weary and tired. The road just continued with seemingly no end in sight. No signs of civilization had ever crossed their path, and dread began to take hold of the group. The stillness and quiet of the woods did them no favors.

“Ugh, how much longer?” Spike complained. “My feet are starting to hurt.”

“I think that's true for all of us, Spike,” Twilight responded.

“It's been hours since I had anything to eat,” Pinkie Pie moaned. “My poor tummy's rumbling...”

“I hope we can find a town soon,” Rarity wished. “This forest is just dreadful on my hooves.”

“Ugh, Twilight, we are going nowhere!” Rainbow Dash spoke. “Does anyone have any idea about where this place is?”

“No one has a darn lickin' clue, Dash!” Applejack replied. “We haven't seen any signs or anything that would lead to a town!”

“Do you think Nightshade set that trap to get at us?” Fluttershy questioned. “I mean, it seems to be doing just that.” A dark air hung over the group from Fluttershy's words. The severity of the situation was taking a toll on all of their psyches. They collectively reeked of desperation, and they needed some forward momentum if they were to catch Nightshade and find Luna.

Some bushes on the right hand side of the road began to rustle. All of the ponies turned to look. They rustled again.

“Uh, Fluttershy? Any idea what that might be?” Rainbow Dash nervously asked.

Fluttershy shook her head, “It's not a little forest critter, I can tell you that much,” She answered. The ponies all stared intently at the side of the road, as the rustling sound grew in volume. Whatever it was, it was getting closer.

“Umm, Twilight? I think we should go,” Applejack suggested nervously.

Twilight faced the bushes and bent over in an aggressive posture. “No way! It could be Nightshade!”

“What?” Rarity piped. “You really think so, Twilight?”

Twilight continued to stare at the bushes. “It could be,” She reasoned. “He might try to strike when we're vulnerable!”

“Twilight, you're starting to scare me...” Pinkie Pie uttered.

“Get ready, girls!” Twilight demanded. “It's getting closer!” In the bushes beyond the road, Twilight could make out a large shadow approaching the group. Her eyes struggled to make out a shape in the darkness, but it was there. The others saw it as well.

The shadow moved through the brush, rattling them in its wake. It came close to the edge of the road, causing Fluttershy to emit a small scream. Twilight's posture grew more and more rigid. The moonlight slowly revealed the creature in the brush. As it stepped onto the road, it was clear that the shadow wasn't Nightshade at all, but a lone male griffin with a jet black head and a white body with black spots. He had a small basket at his shoulderblade.

“Whoa, hey, easy!” The griffin sputtered, noticing Twilight about to attack him. Twilight eased her posture. “Everyone OK?” The griffin asked.

Twilight stared at the griffin, confused. “Yeah, we're fine,” Twilight answered. “But what are you doing here?”

The griffin sat on it's haunches. “I was going to ask you the same question,” The griffin replied. “I was out collecting herbs in the early morning, then suddenly I heard you. I went over to see who it was, then bam! Here we are.”

“Well, this certainly is a surprise,” Rarity remarked. “We haven't seen any sapient life out here for hours.”

“Yeah, you're pretty far out,” the griffin replied. “The next town isn't for 15 miles.”

“What?” Rainbow Dash uttered, surprised. “How far out from Manehattan are we?”

“Manehattan?” The griffin replied. “I'd say least 30 to 40 miles north of Manehattan.” Rainbow Dash's face contorted with shock. “But I'm surprised,” the griffin continued. “I would have thought that travelers would know their way.”

“Um, it's a long story,” Twilight mentioned.

The griffin raised his eyebrow, then let out a sigh. “Well, whatever,” He stated. “You're welcome to come to my place. I need to drop these off.” He gestured to his basket.

“Oh, thank you, Mr. Griffin!” Rarity cheered. “You are truly a gentleman! This trail has been murder on my hooves!”

The griffin laughed and responded, “My name's Siegfried.” He motioned towards the woods. “Well then, shall we go?”

Fifteen minutes later.

Siegfried's house was warm and cozy, and the furniture nice and soft; it was the perfect antidote for weariness. The ponies all laid down and rested their hooves in various areas of the living room. Spike had found a small chair, and had curled up on it. Rarity and Fluttershy had taken up one of the large couches, while Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie took up the other one. Twilight took up residence in a large armchair, while Siegfried was standing near the entrance.

“Everyone comfortable?” He asked.

“Yeah...” The group collectively replied.

“Well, good!” Siegfried remarked.

“I can't believe you have such a wonderful home so far out of the way!” Rarity wondered aloud. “Why do you even live out here, anyway?”

“Well, I just like peace and quiet,” Siegfried remarked. “I figure if I want to socialize, I can just hit the next town over. Or at least contact some of my friends.” Siegfried looked curiously at the group. “But I have to ask, what were you ponies doing out there?”

“Well...” Twilight Sparkle began. “We're looking for someone.”

“Oh?” Siegfried uttered.

Rainbow Dash shot a nervous glance at Twilight. “Twilight, are you sure it's a good idea to tell him what we're doing out here?” She questioned.

“Yes it is, Rainbow Dash,” Twilight answered. “We need all the help we can get. Besides, he hasn't done anything to hurt us.”

“I'm not sure I follow,” Siegfried said. “But I'm glad I've earned your trust.”

Twilight turned toward Siegfried. “I suppose I should explain,” She began. “See, we're looking for a wanted pony.”

Siegfried's eyes shot up in alarm. “A wanted pony?” He exclaimed. “There's someone like that running around?”

“Yeah,” Applejack answered. “We were in Manehattan looking for him.”

“This wanted pony, what did he or she look like?” Siegfried inquired.

“Well, he's very tall,” Fluttershy began. “He's got a dark purple coat, and a rose Cutie Mark. He also wears a wide-brimmed hat.”

Siegfried's expression was grim and terrified. “Oh, dear...” He uttered.

“What?” Pinkie Pie asked.

Siegfried averted his gaze. “Well, someone came by last night that fit that description...” He admitted.

“What?” the group yelled.

“Yeah,” Siegfried replied. “Said he was looking for something in the mountains East of here.”

“Did you get his name by any chance?” Rarity asked.

“Yes,” Siegfried answered. “He said his name was Nightshade.”

The group all gasped. “Well, that's it, then,” Twilight declared. “We're going to the Eastern mountains.” Twilight got off the chair and started to move toward the entrance.

“Wait!” Siegfried pleaded. “Are you really sure you should be going after someone like that?”

“We're on a mission,” Twilight explained. “We have no choice but to go after him.” She turned toward the group. “Isn't that right, girls?” The ponies all shouted and hooted in agreement.

Siegfried sighed. “Well, it seems I can't do anything to stop you,” He said. He moved away from the entrance. “Just be safe.”

“We will. Thank you for your hospitality, Siegfried,” Twilight replied. She looked back toward the group. “C'mon everypony! Let's go!” She trotted over past to the entrance, when she noticed that Spike was still curled up on the chair. “Let's go, Spike! We need to catch Nightshade!”

Spike rolled away from Twilight, groaning. “C'mon, Twilight, just give me a few minutes...” Spike moaned.

“Spike!” Twilight shouted, more forcefully this time. Spike leapt out of the chair, and over to Twilight's side.

“Yeah, yeah,” Spike acknowledged. “Man, that chair was so comfy...”

Twilight giggled. “Don't worry, Spike. We'll take a big siesta when we catch Nightshade!” Spike seemed relieved by this, and hopped onto Twilight's back. The other ponies quickly followed suit.

“Bye! Good luck!” Siegfried called. “Be safe!” The ponies closed the door after them. Siegfried's friendly expression dropped, and contorted into something resembling guilt. Siegfried let himself dwell on his thoughts for a few minutes, then sighed. He then called into the next room. “You can come out now,” He said.

Nightshade stepped into the room, his presence casting a dark shadow over Siegfried. He had a serious look on his face. “Did she believe you?”

“Without question,” Siegfried answered. “She's really nice. She reminds me of...” Siegfried stopped before saying his next word.

Nightshade looked puzzled. “Of who?” he asked.

Siegfried shook his head. “No one,” he replied.

Nightshade stewed on that answer for a bit, then entered the living room. Siegfried turned to face him.

“Nightshade...are you sure about this?” He asked nervously. “What we're about to do...I don't think anyone will forgive us.”

Nightshade took up residence on the armchair where Twilight was sitting, and looked Siegfried straight in the eye. “We don't need to ask for forgiveness,” He explained. “Rather, it's they who need to ask for forgiveness from us. There is no excuse for what they did to us...to her.”

“I know that, Nightshade,” Siegfried replied. “I know that better than most. But still, I really have some apprehension about doing this.”

“Nothing was gained without sacrifice, Siegfried,” Nightshade responded. “If we need to throw away our reputations and our well-beings to achieve a better world, then so be it.”

“But...oh...” Siegfried stuttered. He averted his gaze from Nightshade. Nightshade, seeing Siegfried avoid him so, got off the chair, and approached Siegfried.

“What troubles you, my friend?” Nightshade inquired. He looked at Siegfried with honest compassion and sincerity.

Siegfried, struck by Nightshade's earnestness, responded, “It's just...I don't know if what we're doing is right.”

Nightshade maintained his earnest gaze, and asked, “Let me ask you this, what life-forms did my audience consist of when I abducted Luna?”

Siegfried shot a glance at Nightshade. “You don't need to remind me of the homogeneous nature of Equestria's population, Nightshade,” he protested. “I'm wondering whether or not it's OK to make everyone be friends.”

Nightshade moved over to the other end of the living room. “Not only is it OK to do such a thing, Siegfried, it is absolutely necessary,” Nightshade argued. “Listen. Don't worry about a thing. Once Eclair and Adflatus get what we need, everything will just fall into place. You'll see.”

“I hope so, Nightshade,” Siegfried replied. “I don't want to feel an ounce of regret.”

Nightshade smiled at Siegfried. “You won't,” he assured. “Now if you'll excuse me, I must go. More arrangements need to be made.”

“Yeah,” Siegfried replied.

“In the meantime, think about what I said,” Nightshade suggested. Nightshade's horn began to glow. A flash brightened the room, and when it disappeared, so did Nightshade. Siegfried looked away from where disappeared, his hunger for answers still not satisfied.

30 minutes later.

The sun was just peeking over the horizon as the ponies made their way to the mountains. The trails grew more rugged and harsh on the ponies' hooves, but the discomfort did little to deter them. Twilight Sparkle gazed at the distant mountaintops, wondering where in this mighty mass of earth Nightshade would be hiding. Perhaps she should have asked Siegfried.

Rainbow Dash flew enthusiastically over towards Twilight, clutching a large piece of cloth in her hooves. “Hey, Twilight!” she excitedly called. “Look what I found!”

Twilight and the other ponies all gathered around Rainbow Dash and stared at the cloth. “What is it, Rainbow Dash?” Twilight asked.

Rainbow Dash landed on the ground, and spread the cloth out. She then looked at Twilight, smiling. “Look familiar?”

Twilight stared at it for a moment. It was a black cape, with an aura of familiarity around it. Twilight gasped when she figured out what it was. “This is Nightshade's cape! The same one he used to abduct Luna!” She declared.

Rainbow Dash nodded in agreement. “Yup! The very same!” she replied. “That means Nightshade and Luna have to be close!”

Applejack approached the group. “Where in the wide world of Equestria did you find this, Dash?” She asked.

“I found it snagged between some rocks in front of a cave not far from here,” Rainbow Dash answered. “C'mon! I can take you right to it!” Rainbow Dash took to the air once more, and began to fly north. The other ponies galloped after her.

Twilight could feel her heart race. At last, a chance to capture Nightshade! She rushed forward with everything she had; the scenery blurred around her as she ran. A mixture of excitement and apprehension filled her thoughts. Would Nightshade be expecting them? Would there be another trap? Still, she pressed on. There was only one course of action for her to take; there was no way she could ignore a possible lead to Princess Luna.

Rainbow Dash touched down a few meters away. The ponies all galloped up to her, stopping in front of a large cave entrance. The cave was ominous, but it beckoned Twilight forward into its depths.

“So, uh, where'd you say you found that cape again?” Applejack questioned.

Rainbow Dash pointed to a pile of rocks stacked on the left end of the cave entrance. “Right there,” She said. The ponies all turned to look.

“I wonder why he would leave his cape right there?” Rarity wondered aloud.

“He's probably expecting us!” Twilight Sparkle barked.

“You think?” Spike asked nervously.

“Get ready, everypony!” Twilight addressed the group. “Who knows what we're going to find in there!” Twilight moved into the cave, followed by all the other ponies.

The darkness of the cave swallowed them all up completely, and the cave was so still that all they could hear was their footsteps. Twilight couldn't make out a single shape in the blackness, so she figured she would have to provide a light source.

“Let me light things up,” Twilight announced. She focused and forced magical energy into her horn. Within seconds, a blinding light had emerged from the tip, giving the ponies the ability to see the craggy limestone walls of the cave. “Stay close,” Twilight cautioned. “The last thing we want is for Nightshade to pick us off one by one.”

“I wholeheartedly agree, darling,” Rarity concurred with some nervousness.

The cave continued for several meters, never branching. Were it not for the copious amounts of stalagmites and other rock formations, Twilight would have thought it a pony-made tunnel. There were no animals in the cave with them, not even bats. The stillness of the cave was absolutely unsettling, and were it not for the other ponies backing her up, Twilight would have lost all vestige of rational thought. They trotted for what seemed like a minute or two, never running into anything of note, until Twilight saw what she thought was a faint light in the distance.

She stopped, and the others stopped with her. “Do you guys see that?” she whispered.

“Yes,” Fluttershy replied, scared. “It looks like we're not alone after all.” It was just after she finished her sentences that the footsteps started to reverberate off of the cave walls. They were soft, barely audible, but they were there.

Twilight strained her eyes, looking at the light. It was soft and orange, and barely gave any hints as to what was emitting it. The light seemed to be growing in radius. Twlight could only figure out one reason why: whatever was carrying it was getting closer.

Rainbow Dash flew in front of Twilight and addressed the light. “All right, Nightshade!” She yelled. “Ready to pony up this time?”

The light grew close enough to reveal the shape of the figure carrying it. It was a diamond dog, with a thin, slender build and a thick, shaggy, golden coat. It carried a lantern in its left paw, which no doubt was the source of the orange light, and had a knapsack slung across its body.

“Nightshade?” The diamond dog asked in a feminine-sounding voice, confused. “Unknown person. Think you need eyes. Or head examination.”

Rainbow Dash was caught completely off-guard; her mouth hung open slightly. “Wha? You're not Nightshade!” Rainbow Dash observed. “Who are you?”

“Would ask same question,” The diamond dog replied.

Fluttershy came up front, and chimed in on the conversation, “Um, I apologize. That's Rainbow Dash. I'm Fluttershy,” She clarified. “We're looking for a unicorn named Nightshade. Have you seen him?”

“Describe appearance,” the diamond dog requested.

“Huh?” Fluttershy stumbled, not sure what the diamond dog was asking at first. “Oh, OK. Umm, he's dark purple, wears a large hat, and has a rose Cutie Mark. Have you seen him?”

“Perhaps,” the diamond dog replied. “Payment necessary for further information.”

Rarity stared at the diamond dog in complete disbelief. “Are you asking us for money?” She exclaimed, shocked. “Ugh, what a typical diamond dog! Valuing material wealth over others!”

The diamond dog shook her head, ignoring Rarity's comment. “Not money,” she clarified. “Trinkets will suffice.”

Twilight raised her eyebrow. “Trinkets?” She asked.

The diamond dog pointed to her throat. “Trinkets,” She repeated. “Around necks.”

The ponies all looked down to the base of their necks. Each one was wearing their Element of Harmony around their neck, save for Twilight, who wore hers as a crown. The ponies were all stunned when they figured out that they were what the diamond dog wanted.

“We can't give you these!” Applejack protested. “These are the Elements of, uh.” She stopped when she saw the other ponies were staring her down, beckoning her not to reveal the true nature of the objects. “Uh, I mean, these are very important!”

“No trinkets, no info,” the diamond dog said, resolute.

Rainbow Dash let out an annoyed groan. “Forget you, then!” she declared. “We'll just go further in and look for him ourselves!”

“You will not,” the diamond dog replied. She began reaching into her bag for something.

Rainbow Dash just looked at the diamond dog, flustered. “Oh yeah?” She questioned. “Well, why not?”

The diamond dog set the lantern down. She pulled out what looked like a plain-white ball from out of her bag, and covered her nose and mouth with her free paw.

“Oooh! Are we gonna play a game?” Pinkie bubbled.

With as much force as it could muster, the diamond dog threw the ball into the ground underneath the ponies. It burst into a thick white smoke, and the smoke spread among the group. They all began to cough violently. Twilight felt as though her throat was going to be hacked out of her mouth.

Through the smoke, Twilight could see the diamond dog slowly backing away, her paw never leaving her mouth. Twilight lurched forward towards the retreating diamond dog, and struggled to speak. “Hey! Cough, cough. What's the, cough, big, cough...idea....” she demanded. She could feel her legs slowly weaken beneath her, unable to support her growing weight. She collapsed on the hard cave ground, feeling no pain due to her dulled senses, and slowly began to lapse into unconsciousness.

Gestalt Awakens

Twilight's eyes slowly fluttered open, but all she could see was blackness. Her mind was foggy and scrambled, and she struggled to remember where she was and what she was doing. Her body felt stiff and rigid, and she struggled to lift herself off of the cold, hard ground. Slowly, her memory began to return, and she focused magical energy into her horn, giving light to her surroundings.

Sure enough, she was still in the cave, although the diamond dog that knocked her and her friends out was nowhere to be found. Her head felt light and airy, and she clutched her temple in her hoof and starting rubbing it in a vain attempt to alleviate her dizziness. After rubbing it for a few seconds, Twilight felt a sharp jab of worry. Something that should be perched atop her head was no longer there. Her Element of Harmony was gone.

She looked around her at the limp, motionless bodies of her friends, paying special attention to their necks. Sure enough, their Elements were missing as well. She went over toward the nearest body, which happened to be Rainbow Dash, and started to nudge her with her hoof.

“Hey! Rainbow Dash!” She addressed. “Wake up!”

Rainbow Dash began to stir. Her eyes slowly opened, and she let out a couple of soft groans. Twilight backed away to give her some more space. Rainbow Dash stared at Twilight for a minute, and said in a meek voice, “Twilight? That you?”

“Yes, Rainbow Dash, it's me,” Twilight responded. “Now get up. Something awful's happened.”

“Wha-what?” Rainbow Dash questioned. “What's going on?” She began to rub her forehead. “Oh man, my head's all fuzzy...”

“It's the Elements, Dash! They're gone!” Twilight explained. Rainbow Dash lay there for a moment, still processing the information. Once she did, her eyes suddenly shot open.

“What?” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. She sprang up to her feet in an instant, ignoring her weakened and drugged state. She looked Twilight straight in the eye, panicked. “What do you mean the Elements are gone?”

“That's just it, Dash! They're missing!” Twilight responded. “Look!” She gestured toward the others. Rainbow Dash squinted across the cave, looking at the other ponies. The realization and gravity of the situation struck her like a wrecking ball. Her face contorted into one of worry, then one of anger.

“I bet that diamond dog took them while we were out!” Rainbow Dash proposed.

“I was thinking the same thing,” Twilight responded.

“Well, what are we going to do now, Twilight?” Rainbow Dash wondered. “We can't just ignore this.”

“I agree, but we need to be at our peak strength before we can do anything,” Twilight explained. “Let's wake the others, then we'll decide what to do.”

The two ponies immediately wandered over to their friends, nudging them with their hooves until they woke. They moved across the cave until all their friends were awake. Twilight allowed the formerly unconscious ponies and Spike to gain their senses back, then began to speak.

“All right everypony, listen up!” She started. The ponies and Spike all turned their attention to her. “The Elements of Harmony have been stolen!”

The ponies looked at her oddly at first, then placed their hooves on their necks where the Elements should be. When they realized they were no longer there, they all gasped.

“Was it that diamond dog?” Rarity asked. “Did she take them?”

“That's what we think!” Rainbow Dash replied.

“Well, what are we gonna do now, Twilight?” Applejack asked. “We don't know how long we've been out. That diamond dog could be miles away by now!”

“Hold on, let me think,” Twilight said. She turned around and started to walk deeper into the cave. “I could probably use some kind of...no that wouldn't work...how about...no that won't work either...maybe...” As she walked, a crumpling sound could be heard under her hoof. She could feel something crisp and dry; she seemed to have stepped on something.

She lifted up her hoof and examined it. Stuck to the bottom of it was a small piece of paper. She used her magic to levitate the paper in the air, and began to uncrumple it.

“What's that, Twilight?” Pinkie Pie wondered aloud.

“I'm not sure,” Twilight responded, still unfolding the paper. “That diamond dog must have dropped it.” The paper was successfully unfolded, revealing its secrets to Twilight.

“What's it say?” Spike asked.

“It says, 'I await your arrival in Fillydelphia,'” Twilight began. “'Signed, Nightshade.'”

The group collectively gasped. “Wait, did Nightshade have something to do with this?” Applejack asked.

“He must have,” Twilight answered. She released her magic grip on the paper, letting it float gently to the ground. “I'd even bet that that diamond dog is working for him.”

“But why would a diamond dog work for a mere pony?” Rarity asked.

“I don't know,” Twilight replied. “All I know is, we need to get to Fillydelphia.”

“Why don't we just have you teleport us there?” Pinkie Pie asked. “I mean, Nightshade teleported himself here. Surely you can do it.”

Twilight shook her head. “A pony teleporting on their own magic is limited by distance,” she explained. “It takes a lot of energy to teleport from city to city. Nightshade is probably using some kind of rune so that he doesn't have to use his own magic.”

“Well, where in tarnation are we gonna get a rune or whatever, Twilight?” Applejack asked.

“Hmm...” Twilight muttered. She stewed on the situation, racking her brain for any possibilities, until finally, she came up with an idea. “Rainbow Dash, do you still have Nightshade's cape?”

Rainbow Dash looked at her, confused. “Yeah, I have it right here,” Rainbow Dash said, holding up the cape. “But what do you need it for?”

Twilight extended a hoof. “Let me see it for a second,” she ordered.

Rainbow Dash maintained her confused look, but handed Twilight the cape all the same. Twilight snatched it from her hoof, and immediately flipped it over. Inspecting the cloth under the light of her horn, she found that the symbol she saw on the cape was still there.

“Perfect!” Twilight exclaimed, pointing to the symbol. “That rune he used to abduct Luna is still on the cape! We can use this to get to Fillydelphia!”

Applejack looked at Twilight, both ecstatic and astonished. “Well, I'll be,” She muttered. “Good job, Twilight!”

“Aww, yeah! Now we have a chance to show Nightshade who's boss!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

Twilight turned toward Spike, focused on the matter at hand. “We need to get the Princess in on this as well,” she explained. “Spike, can you send Nightshade's note to her?”

Spike smiled at Twilight, and said, “Sure thing! Just leave it to me!” He went over and picked up the slip of paper. Holding it up to his mouth, he took a deep breath, and exhaled a sea foam-green flame. It consumed the paper, reducing it to ashes, which then scattered and disappeared.

Satisfied that Celestia would receive her message, she turned toward the rest of the group. “All right, everypony, put a hoof on the cape!” She demanded. “I'm going to get us to Fillydelphia!” All the ponies cheered and complied. Spike, too, put his foot on the cloth.

Twilight focused her energy; her breathing began to deepen. She looked straight on the symbol on the cape, building energy in her horn. She imagined Fillydelphia, with its skyscrapers reaching up the heavens, and the streets crowded with ponies of all colors. Finally, she let go. A bright purple beam struck the symbol, and the symbol began to glow. A purple aura radiated from the cape, enshrouding everyone in its light. The light became blinding; Twilight couldn't even see her friends. The light shone for several seconds, until it finally subsided, and Twilight and her friends stood in something wet.

Twilight looked around the area. She seemed to be in a large tunnel, illuminated only by grates in the ceiling letting in the morning sun. The walls were solid concrete, as was the floor, and they were standing in a trail of murky water up to their ankles flowing further into the tunnel. A rank smell filled the air. The ponies all took in the new scenery, until Pinkie Pie broke the silence.

“So, uh, where are we?” she asked. “Is this Fillydelphia?”

Twilight glanced around the tunnel once more. She surmised that there was only one place they could be. “Looks like we're in the sewers,” She observed.

Rarity's eyes shot open and her mouth contorted into a startled grimace. “Ugh! Twilight!” She bellowed. “Why did you take us into the sewers, of all places? Ugh! I am standing in pony waste!”

Applejack guffawed at Rarity's antics. “Oh Rarity, always afraid to get her hooves dirty!” She mocked.

Rarity shot a glance at Applejack. “This is more than just dirty, Applejack!” She explained. “This is...this is...obscene! Oh, I cannot wash my hooves enough times!”

“Will you two stop? This isn't getting us anywhere!” Rainbow Dash asked annoyed. She then turned towards Twilight. “But yeah, this is weird. Why'd we end up in the sewers?”

Twilight pondered on that question. “Hmm, it's possible to have a rune teleport to one location and that location only,” Twilight answered. “This might be what happened.”

“But Twilight,” Fluttershy interrupted. “If the rune only teleports to one location, then that would mean...”

Twilight nodded in agreement. “That's right,” She started. “Nightshade must have sent Luna here!”

“Then what are we doing just standing around here?” Pinkie Pie wondered aloud. “Let's go find her!” The ponies all nodded in agreement, and began to walk down the tunnel.

The sloshing of their hooves in the muck echoed throughout the sewers, making the only sound. The tunnel seemed to stretch on forever. No other paths presented themselves, so they had to go forward. Several minutes passed, then the tunnel stopped in front of them, and sharply bent to the right. They continued to follow the tunnel, and just as they turned, in the light of a grate, they saw Princess Luna.

The ponies all gasped. The moon princess was trapped inside a pyramidal cage. The bars of the cage were all gold, and covered with runic engravings. Between the bars was some kind of blue force field, and pipe-like tendrils extended out from it, tethering the cage to the ground. Laid out beside the cage in blue spheres were the Elements of Harmony, arranged in a six-pointed star pattern.

“Wha...what is this?” Twilight wondered aloud.

Luna wearily raised her head toward the sound of the ponies gasping, and her face bent into a weak smile. “Twilight...Sparkle...” She wheezed. “You came...”

Twilight approached the princess. “Of course I did, Princess!” She affirmed. “There was no way we were going to leave you!”

Luna's smile faded. “Twilight...this cage...” She began. “It's making...us weak...We can't...” Luna's knees wobbled, and she collapsed inside the cage under her own weight.

“Luna!” Applejack cried. “Are you all right?”

Luna struggled to get back on her feet. The ponies could see her staggered breathing as she slowly and shakily rose. Her head hung down, gasping for air. With all of her strength, she turned toward the ponies, and solemnly uttered, “Get us out of here...before they...”

Twilight raised a hoof to hush her. “Save your strength, Princess!” she said. “We'll get you out!”

“I'm afraid that's not going to happen,” a deep voice rang out from deeper in.

Twilight peered beyond the cage and saw three ominous figures cloaked in shadow approaching. “Who's there?” Twilight demanded. The light from the grate began to shine on the figures, and Twilight all saw what they were. On the far left, there was a dragon, barely small enough to fit into the sewer, staring at her intensely with yellow eyes and a serious expression. His royal-blue scales contrasted with the gold of the morning sun. On the far right, the diamond dog from the cave stood. And in the center was none other than Nightshade himself.

“Ah, I see you've arrived early,” Nightshade said, his face contorted into a wicked grin. “Doesn't matter. You're still far too late to stop us.”

“Nightshade!” Twilight yelled, her face livid with anger. She pointed to the cage. “What in Equestria is this? What are you doing to Luna?”

“A fascinating contraption that is,” the deep voice boomed again. Twilight noticed that it came from the dragon. “It's a cage that permits nothing from entering or leaving it without the key. And the force field with its extensions allow for the easy extraction of magical energy from whatever is inside it.”

Fluttershy gasped. “Extraction of magical energy?” she repeated. “You're taking away Luna's power?”

“Mm-hmm,” Nightshade affirmed. “And you have a front-row seat to see what we do with it.” Nightshade's smirk never left his face. “You see, you have been cordially invited to see the first glimpse into this world's future. A future in which everyone shall be friends.”

Rainbow Dash flew up and stared Nightshade down. “What are you babbling about?” She bellowed. “How is hurting Luna going to make everyone be friends?”

“If you would permit him a chance to speak, he will explain,” A cool, feminine voice sounded out behind them.

They all turned to look. Standing behind them, as if they had appeared out of thin air, were Siegfried the griffin, and the alicorn statue from Nightshade's penthouse.

Rarity's looked at Siegfried with a curious expression. “Siegfried? What are you doing here?” Rarity inquired. “And why in the world is that statue there too?”

The statue's wings suddenly flew open, the white feathers glimmering in the light. Moving with the grace and dexterity of a swan, it marched of its own accord towards Rarity. She and the other ponies all hopped back, startled.

“Either my eyes deceive me, or that thing's comin' toward us,” Applejack commented. Her face was rife with complete disbelief.

“No, Applejack, your eyes do not deceive you,” The statue spoke in the cool voice that the ponies heard before. It planted its feet directly in front of the group. “I am fully capable of movement.”

Spike pointed at the statue, his face molded into an expression of utter terror. “Th-that thing's alive!”

“But that's impossible!” Twilight protested. “I felt it with my hoof! It was nothing but metal!”

“Ha!” Nightshade called from behind them. The other ponies turned around to listen to him. “Not only is she alive, she's far more of a pony than any of you will ever be!”

“She?” Twilight wondered aloud. She turned back toward the statue. “What are you?” She demanded.

“My name is Silence,” the statue replied. “And these...” She gestured to all the other beings in the room “...are my friends.”

“What?” Pinkie Pie uttered, completely confused. “Friends? None of this is making any sense!”

Siegfried stepped forward. “It doesn't have to make sense,” He argued. “All that matters is that our plan goes through to completion.”

Rarity stared at Siegfried in shock. “Your plan?” She stuttered. “Don't tell me you're in on this!”

Siegfried sighed. “I'm afraid so,” He replied. “It was my role to ensure that you got to the mountains.”

“But why, Siegfried?” Fluttershy prodded. “You were so kind to us!”

“My loyalty is to my friends,” Siegfried clarified.

“Your friends? Ha!” Rainbow Dash yelled. “Some friends you have! They're all kidnappers and criminals!” She looked at him with bloodlust in her eyes. “I oughta just pound you into dust! You're nothing but a criminal too!” Siegfried averted his eyes.

“Oooh, scary, scary!” Nightshade taunted. Rainbow Dash turned towards him. “You may be tough, Rainbow Dash, but no amount of physical prowess can stop this!” His horn began to glow with a dark aura. He shot a beam from his horn, striking the cage with his raw magic. The cage was soon enveloped by darkness, prompting a terrified Princess Luna to look on, stunned.

Twilight stepped toward the swirling shadows. “Quit it, Nightshade!” She yelled. She began to focus magic into her horn, hoping to do something, anything, to stop whatever was transpiring. Her thoughts raced as she tried to come up with a spell to stop the reaction, but nothing came to mind.

Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the dragon hunching over, growling. It opened its mouth wide, and a bright orange light began to emerge from its throat. A ball of flame shot forth from its mouth and lunged toward Twilight. She forced the magic she had built up into a shield, and watched as the flames struck it and rolled off. Twilight dispersed her magic, only to see Nightshade looking at her, amused.

“Ah, ah, aaah! No audience participation allowed in the ritual!” Nightshade scolded. His eyes began to glow white. His wicked grin faded as he focused his magic onto the swirling dark aura of the cage. “In unity, we vow. In friendship, we promise. In equality, our unbreakable oath stands! Bring forth life and love incarnate! Arise! Gestalt!”

The cage began to rumble the earth beneath it. The aura of the cage began to spin faster and faster. Princess Luna watched, her horrified look never leaving her face. From the darkness, six beams of blue light suddenly emerged, striking each of the Elements of Harmony. The beams caused the spheres encasing the elements to glow, and they began to rise off of the floor. Within the next few seconds, the elements began to spin around the cage in a centrifugal motion, the light beams tethering them to the cage.

The white glow faded from Nightshade's eyes, and he returned to normal. His wicked grin returned to his face, and addressed the stunned, helpless ponies. “It begins,” Nightshade cackled. “Equestria's new era begins!”

“What are you talking about?” Twilight demanded. “Stop this right now!”

Nightshade laughed. “There's no stopping this! Not now! Not ever!” he howled. He reached for his hat, pulled it off, and bowed to the ponies. “I'll be seeing you later! If you aren't consumed, that is! Ta-ta!” He, the dragon, and the diamond dog all disappeared in a flash.

Twilight looked behind her to where Siegfried and Silence were. They too had disappeared. Panicking now, she turned back toward Princess Luna. The elements were spinning faster now, and Luna was impossible to see amidst the funnel of light. Twilight racked her brain as she struggled to figure out a way to stop this. But her thoughts all hit a wall, as she didn't even know what was going on to begin with.

Suddenly, she felt something beginning to pull her in. A vortex was forming around Princess Luna's cage, sucking all the ponies into its center. The ponies all dug their hooves into the floor, trying to resist its pull. But it was of no use; it kept tugging and tugging at the forms of the ponies. Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy screamed as they struggled to hold on. Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Spike just grunted and dug in with all their strength. Twilight's racing thoughts could only come to one conclusion: they needed to leave.

Twilight focused energy into her horn again. She imagined Fillydelphia again, hoping, wishing that they could teleport back to the surface. “Hang on, everypony!” She called out. “Just a little more...”

In a split-second, all the ponies and Spike vanished. When they reappeared, they were on the streets of Fillydelphia. Twilight looked around, still feeling the earth shake from what was going on in the sewers. A number of the local population were on the streets with them, and were either staring at them, or looking around nervously, trying to figure out what was going on.

A yellow Earth Pony mare with a young foal approached Twilight and the group, a worried expression drawn onto her face. The foal stayed behind his mother, eyes fraught with worry. “You're Princess Twilight Sparkle, aren't you?” she asked. “What's going on? Why is the earth shaking so horribly?”

Twilight averted her eyes from the mare, uncertain as to how to respond. “Well, see...” she began. Twilight had no time to finish her sentence before the rumbling grew more severe, almost knocking her off her feet. It increased in intensity, then settled back down, then started up again, then settled. The undulating rhythm of the quake continued for several more seconds, like a heartbeat, until it peaked. Twilight could hear a violent crashing noise to her side, as if the earth itself was splitting open.

Twilight looked to see what had happened, and immediately wished that she hadn't.