The coming of a new year.

As I walked into the old club I noticed a certain gray mare standing by the turn table along with a memorable electric blue mane.

"Rarity," I said getting her sister's attention, "That's Octavia!"

"Really now? In this club? Oh well we must go meet her."

As we wandered through the pulsing crowd of ponies I noticed a group of stallions in particular sit at a table and watch our progress.

"Octavia!" I said as we approached the classical gray mare. "What are you doing back in ponyville again?"

"Oh my Sweetie? Why I'm just here to meet my wife Vinyl for a night on the town."

"Oh you two finally got married? I'm so thrilled for you both!"

"Right? Tavi here was all this and that about it because we're fillyfoolers but we got the princesses to sanctify it for us!" Vinyl Scratch said squeezing between us.

"And why didn't I get an invitation?" Rarity thundered in.

"Er, uh, TAVI!" Vinyl said shoving the mare in front of her.

Even Octavia, the endlessly cool cellist, cowered under Rarity's glare.

"Well um, I would have sent an invitation but I guess it slipped my mind while me and Sweetie were traveling."

At this Rarity stormed off to the bar to go get a drink still muttering about 'unthoughtful ponies' and 'made their dresses'.

"So. Where are you two going for the honeymoon?" I asked to break the tension her sister had left.

"Oh we're just going to stay in ponyville. Maybe expand our home since we're going to have an addition to the family soon."

"You're kidding me?"

"Not at all, while our ensemble was last in Canterlot I went and saw Twilight at the magic university and she gave me a potion formula that allows me or Vinyl to turn into a stallion for a year."

"Really? Who's going to be the stallion?"

"We've decided Vinyl since I have to run off and play all the time."

"Hey I play too!"

"But not in broad daylight."

"True."

"Alright well my sister's been by the bar quite some time so I'll see you guys later?"

"Sure 'nuff."

"Indeed."

As I walked over to the bar I noticed the strange men still watching me warily.

"Hey sis you alright?"

"Urghhhh."

"Hmm maybe not."

I suddenly noticed a very familiar person from my filly days.

"SPIKE!"

"Huh?" The purple dragon said before being tackled by the white mare.

"Spike it's so good to see you!" I said hugging my childhood crush.

"Sweetie Belle? Is that you?" The dazed dragon asked.

"Yep!"

"Still got those lungs huh?"

"Oh please it's not like you hated them during our private times" I said flicking her tail on his nose.

Spike blushed deeply at that. "So uh why are you in Ponyville? I thought you were touring with Lyra and Octavia."

"I was. But the tour's over and I'm back home to check up on everypony."

"Oh. So how've you been?"

"Oh you know. Been dealing with typical stuck up ponies in Canterlot."

Suddenly from behind her Sweetie heard a loud snoring.

"Oh um would you mind taking Rarity home?" Sweetie said sheepishly.

Spike groaned and stood up. "I may as well. VINYL! I'M TAKING THE REST OF THE NIGHT OFF!"

"ALRIGHT!" They heard from up front.

"Thanks."

"No prob."

As Spike lifted the sleeping Rarity and headed towards the boutique I walked back in to say goodbye to my fellow musician and friend.

After saying my goodbyes I set off for the Carousal Boutique. As I walked along the lonely road I felt another presence behind me.

Twirling around I shouted "Who's there?!" Seeing no one I continued my walk to the boutique. Suddenly I felt something heavy grab me from behind and stuff a bag on my head.

"HEY! LET ME GO!" I shouted until something heavy hit me on the back of the head.

After I slumped down in unconsciousness one of the thugs clicked out a phone.

"We've got her."

2 hours later

I groaned as she managed to stand up. "Where am I?"

"You're still in ponyville. No one's going to hear you though." A voice from the corner said.

"Who're you?" I asked.

"I'm surprised you don't recognize me." The voice said as it stood up and walked into the lamplight to reveal a thin and gaunt Silver Spoon.

I gasped in surprise at her old rival's condition. Quickly I ran over to her to look her over.

"Hey, what the, huh?" Silver shouted out inconsistently between the random prods and pokes I was giving her.

After giving her a complete and thorough check up I threw Silver into a hug and started sobbing.

Recovering from the shock of what had just happened Silver hugged her back and softly stroked my mane.

"Why are we here?" I asked through my tears.

"I don't know yet." Silver said with an unknowing look towards the door.

Suddenly a loud bang came from outside along with a stream of cursing. After the cursing stopped they heard some very loud snoring.

"What're we going to do?" I asked.

"Wait I guess. We don't have much strength between us." Silver said poking me in my squishy forearm.

"Hey! It's not like you have much upper body either." I said pouting.

"Never said I did."

After about 2 hours a slot in the door opened and food was pushed through.

"Don't eat it. It's drugged to bog your mind." Silver said quietly.

I looked longingly at the food but resigned to not eating it.

12 hours later

"I'm so hungryyyyy" I whined.

"Wait. Aren't you able to use magic?" SIlver said realizing her friend's abilities.

I facehoofed so hard a rock would've hit me lighter.

"Yeah. I can." I said before concentrating.

"AHHHHHHHHHH" I yelled as I felt a strong electrical current course through my body.

"STOP CONCENTRATING!" I heard Silver yell through my pain.

After I stopped and slumped over Silver ran over and flipped my hair off my horn revealing a metal device glowing with residual energy.

"They put a dampener on you. Don't you dare do that again." Silver said hugging me close and sobbing.

"Don't worry I don't want to really feel like that again."

The next time food came through Silver pushed it closer to me.

"I thought you said it bogs my mind?" I asked through the pain.

"It does but you need to eat so you don't hurt as much."

"Why are you being so nice to me? We used to hate each other. What changed?"

SIlver sighed and started on her story.

"After you crusaders left to follow your dreams me and Diamond Tiara stayed here in Ponyville. After a while our friendship started falling apart because Diamond went off to university while I stayed here to tend to my parents. She'd write every so often to tell me about how she was but I could tell the strain the distance was causing. Eventually she came back to visit but we sort of had a falling out after I told her I was going to become a Silver smith. She hasn't talked to me in years and it's just nice to see a familiar face that doesn't hate me."

I had tears silently streaming down my face when she finished and all I could do was just lean forward and hug her.

"Thank you Sweetie but I'm fine." Silver said.

"No you're not. I know what it feels like when a friend drifts away. I haven't talked to Scootaloo or Applebloom in about 5 years and I'm thrilled to be touring but it's so lonely without real friends. I mean Lyra and Octavia are nice ponies but they're like 15 years older than me and the only thing we have in common is our talents. When I heard that Applebloom was going on to Equestria Global Construction I was thrilled for her but I knew that I wouldn't be able to see her so I made an excuse to not see her off." I had to stop here so I could calm myself and stop the tears. "I didn't even say goodbye to her. She never got to see me wave goodbye." I couldn't hold it anymore and just broke down at this point.

"Shhh. It's not your fault. It's not easy to say goodbye to somepony you love. I know that because I couldn't even face myself to attend my mother's funeral. If I had I'd probably be in the ground with her because I would never be able to see her alone in that wooden box." Silver said soothingly.

"I guess I might as well tell you what happened to Scootaloo too. When she left for Wonderbolt initiation camp with Rainbow Dash I realized it would be awhile until I saw her again but it's still strange not going with her on her scooter anymore. It's like I lost a piece of myself when they left. I wish the days could be like they were. When all it was was you picking on us and us trying to stop you."

Silver was silent for a second before saying, "I don't."

Suddenly the door exploded inward and a familiar voice said, "Miss us?"