Chapters Chapter 1
The Royal Mission
The Sun rose above Ponyville that morning like it did every other day. As the roosters began crowing, ponies of all kinds began to wake up and go about their daily business. Earth ponies and unicorns began picking their gardens and opening stores and marketplaces. The Skies began to be cleared by Pegasai and the word came down from Cloudsdale for the daily weather patterns. All in all, it seemed like a fairly normal day for the citizens of Equestria.
On the road outside of town, an orange earth pony with a cowboy hat was busy taking her apples to market. Apple Jack had gotten up before Celestia had raised the sun so that her and her brother could pick the days harvest and get a jump on the day before it started. She was always happy when they worked together, and she was really grateful that he was willing on helping her that morning. Everything went well and she got on the road as the light broke over the horizon.
One thing bothered her though. As they picked the trees, they noticed eaten apples around the base of one of the tree trunks. Normally, she would have dismissed the munched fruit as the work of those pesky squirrel and rabbit friends of Fluttershy. Those critters were always getting into mischief around her property. The thing that bothered her the most though was the way the apples were eaten. There were large teeth marks in the fruit, much to big to be the work of the small woodland creatures around.
Her older brother, Big Mac, told her he would ask their younger sibling, Apple Bloom, if her or her friends new anything about the situation. She decided to put her mind at ease and relax. As she trotted down the road, she hummed a tune that her Granny Smith sang to her before she went to sleep years ago.
Soon, the downtown of Ponyville came into sight. There was already a bunch of ponies in the marketplace doing their daily shopping. Apple Jack rolled up to her stall and was just about to start unloading the produce when a very familiar sight came streaming across the sky. The fast approaching rainbow colored trail made it obvious who it was. Before she knew it, a blue Pegasus with rainbow colored mane and tail came to an abrupt stop in front of her.
She just tipped her hat back and addressed the newcomer with her southern drawl. “Well howdy there Rainbow Dash. What brings you by my stall so early?” She said, “I'm not open for business just yet.”
With an out of breath voice, Rainbow Dash responded. “Letter... from Princess Celestia... At Twilight's... need... go!”
“Wow! Princess Celestia sent another letter to us? Must be important. I need to let Big Mac know...”
Rainbow Dash cut her off. “ Already stopped by your place looking for you and let him know. He is coming out here with Apple Bloom to take over. Now lets go!” She began pushing Apple Jack along.
“Hey now, no need to shove.”
***********************
As the two approached the library, a pink earth pony was standing by the front door. “They're here!” She said in her high pitched voice.
Apple Jack turned to her. “Hey there Pinkie Pie. What's happening?”
A white Unicorn with purple mane walked up to her and in a very polite and proper tone said, “We just got a letter from Celestia. It seems important.”
A Yellow Pegasus who was standing there said in her super shy tone, “I wonder what it could be?”
As the group of mares were talking, a purple alicorn flew down from the ceiling and landed on the floor. All 5 of them bowed to her. As one they said, “Princess Twilight.”
The purple pony looked at them. “For the last time, please, stop calling me princess. Your my friends. It's just Twilight!”
Apple Jack looked at her and said, “Alright then, what's with the letter? What does it say?”
The other ponies started chiming in with excitement and curiosity when Twilight spoke up. “Hold a moment and I will read it for you.” The group gathered around ready to listen to the letter from the leader of their land.
Dearest Twilight and friends,
A new threat faces Equestria. I went to check on Cerberus on the Gates of Tartarus to see if he was doing well when I noticed that he was knocked out and two of the evil creatures that had been imprisoned inside years ago had escaped. The two that are missing are brothers to each other. The first is a beast called Revenge. He can cause ponies to hold grudges and cause sepration between friends by utilizing unforgiveness. He can also implant himself in a ponies mind and hop from pony to pony, leaving thoughts of hate in the last place he abode. The younger brother is called Remorse. Unlike his older, beast-like sibling, he looks like a pony. He can change shape, appearance, and uses his victims past to claim victory over his enemies. When my sister and I defeated them years ago, the elements of harmony alone was barely enough to stop them. These two will cause great problems for Equestria if we don't capture them or defeat them. I am counting on you to do what is necessary to stop them. The fate of Equestria is in your hooves.
Princess Celestia.
The six stand around in silent. The Princess had asked them to go on assignments before, but nothing like this. This was a massive undertaking. Before, it was to dispel a single villain, but now, there were two, and both had incredible powers. How would they do it? Where would they find these two? If they elements of harmony could barely take down these two before, did they stand a chance?
After a few minutes, Twilight spoke up. “Well, we know what we must do.”
Rarity stepped forward. “What shall we do?” She said.
Twilight looked at her. “We will do what we have always done.”
Pinkie chimed in. “If the princesses could barely take them with all their princessey powers and alicorn magic, do we have a shot?”
Rainbow Dash flew in. “Of course we do! This is nothing. We have taken many villains down before, and we did it together!”
Apple Jack optimistically jumped in. “Yeah! Remember when we faced the Flim Flam brothers who tried to take my farm?”
Rarity joined in. “Or when we defeated those ruffians the diamond dogs?”
“Or smashed Sombra?” Rainbow Dash added.
“Or changed Nightmare Moon and Discord to good!” Pinkie Pie said with cheeriness.
“And don't forget the time we sent Queen Chrysalis flying!” Twilight said.
“Trixie?” Fluttershy said with timidness in her voice.
“Yes Fluttershy. And when we came together to stop Trixie. When we work together, we can do anything!”
The group cheered together in a new found courage. The joyful sound was cut short by a rare sound. Fluttershy was shouting over the top of them. When they stopped and looked at her she went timid again. “You don't understand. Trixie.” She pointed at the door with her hoof.
Standing in the doorway, was the blue unicorn with a tatered up cape and hat. “Um, hi... I was wondering...” She went quiet for a moment contemplating something before speaking up again, “... If you don't mind and would be open to it... could I stay here.”
The room was quiet with an awkward silence that seemed to linger.
Flashbacks
Trixie stood at the door waiting for a response. She wasn't expecting much, especially how she had treated them all the last time she was in town, but she held out hope. She had to. She had nowhere else to go.
The night before, she had just finished being chased out of Appleoosa by the local ponies. They had remembered her and the fact that she was a laughing stock, but more importantly, a relative of Apple Jack, who had heard what she did in Ponyville, had rallied everyone together. They had chased her out and threatened on attacking her if she came back.
Her life had been like this for a few days now. Every town she went into was cold toward her. She couldn't find help anywhere she went. Everypony would hurt her and threaten to attack her if she stayed for what she did in the past. Many times, she had tried to make right what she did wrong all those times. Everything seemed hopeless.
But she knew that there was one good thing that had came along. Less than a week earlier, she met a young stallion. He had a brown mane and blue coat. What more, he almost looked sad like he was contemplating something he had done wrong. When she approached him, he turned to her and with a voice that sounded like it had cracked said, “Have you ever done something that you wish you hadn't and know there is no way of atoning for what you had done?” At first she disagreed with him saying that there is always forgiveness, but after the last few days, she began to understand what he was talking about.
The night before she arrived in Ponyville, she had wandered into an apple orchard and ran across the stallion again. This time, she wanted to ask him something. “The other night,” she said, “You said that there was no way to atone for things you have done in the past. Well, I have been thinking about that and I almost agree with you, but what if you know someone has forgiven you?” She thought back to the night she was stripped of the Alicorn amulet. She had confessed to Twilight and said she was sorry, and she heard Twilight forgive her.
The blue male looked up to the stars with his dark eyes and sighed. “No one ever truly forgives. They always hold onto the past waiting for that moment to strike. That moment to get even. That moment for revenge. What more, revenge is blind and it doesn't care who gets hurt, as long as it is taken upon those that did the wrong.” He looked at her. “The only thing we have is to have remorse for what we have done.”
Trixie began looking at the ground as the colt walked up. “I see that you have much to regret. You were defeated and shamed. You tried to change, but no pony allows you to shine through. You need to travel with others like yourself.” He looked her in the eyes. “Others like me. I make a great traveling companion, and what more, I never leave.”
She looked at him. Someone who really cares. Someone who looks past anything because they understand what you feel. This seemed like a dream come true. With a quiet voice, she said, “I think I need time to think this over. There is one more place I need to check. If you are right about what you say, then I shall join you.” Just then her stomach growled. She had been running from town to town so much that she hadn't had time to eat. “But before I go, I need to get something to eat.”
The colt walked up to a tree and back kicked it dropping a few apples to the ground. “There. Take some.”
Trixie walked up to the fruit and looked at it. “I don't think this is a good idea. I mean, these trees aren't ours.”
“Yeah, but I don't think the owners will notice some fruit coming up missing, or even put to much thought into it.”
Trixie took a moment to think it over and took a bite of the fruit. I mean, the owners would understand that she was hungry and needed the food. Right?
*******************
Trixie was standing back in the doorway of the Library. This was the moment. Was that colt right? Was she truly an outcast because she was bad in the past? What if they decided to hurt her? She was getting more and more lost in thought every moment.
********************
She was eating the apples with the male pony standing there. As she swallowed a bit bite of Red Delicious, she asked, “What problems do you have that caused you to see the world the way you do?”
He just stood there looking into the sky. “I couldn't help them,” he said in his usual voice.
“Who?”
“My siblings. Both of them. One died, and one changed. I tried, but I couldn't do anything.”
Seeing that he had drifted back into thought, she began eating her apples again. Soon, she felt tired and walk out of the farmers land to a nearby field and laid down to get some sleep.
*******************
She was so lost in thought that she had completely tuned out the others that were in the room with her. Rainbow Dash was speaking out loud, “Remember last time she came to Ponyville and everything she did to us? Do we really want to risk her doing it again?”
Twilight looked at her. “Yes, we know what she did, but remember, we took the amulet away and she said she was truly sorry. We should at least give her a chance.”
The others took a moment to think and soon agreed. If she really had changed, then she could be trusted, though it may take some time. Twilight walked up to her. “Trixie?” She waved a hoof in front of her face causing her to snap out of it.
“I'm so sorry,” she said crying, “Please don't hurt me. I promise I am changed, I am different. Please don't run me out of town!”
“Woah there sugarcube,” Apple Jack said, “We won't do that. You're safe. Relax.”
Twilight continued. “That's right. You can stay at the library as long as you like. We have to go out of town for a bit on a mission of Equestria.”
“Thank You, thank you... Princess.” Trixie said as she hugged the group. “I'm so glad my troubles are over! Thank you, my friends.”
Outside, the pony, Remorse looked through the window as something that was hiding in Trixie's head hopped out and into one of the mares hugging her. He started backing away from the window and said, “Oh, it is just beginning, my regretting little mare.” He walked away from the window changing into a whole different body to blend into the crowd and walk down the street.
Past Sins
Twilight and her friends walked out of the house leaving Trixie behind. Twilight felt relieved that not just did Trixie come back, but had also given up her old ways, even if she had troubles getting over her past. It seemed like every thing was going to even out, but what bothered her though was the fact that Trixie had pleaded for them not to beat her and run her out of town. What had happened to her in the time that they last met her that caused her to not just be sorry about what she did, but be fearful of others.
Before she could dwell to long on the thought, the others has called her to a situation at hoof. The marketplace was very quiet, much to quiet at this time of day. The lack of sound led to an uneasiness that seemed to shake the group. As they walked through the town, Apple Jack spoke up. “I wonder what's gotten into them?” she said.
“It almost looks like every pony just found out that that their lives were over,” Rarity added. The group looked around and sure enough, each pony did seem unusually sad. The flower-mares were quiet and poking the ground, the stands seemed very desolate and even the Cutie Mark Crusaders, who were all at the Apple family fruit stand seemed down.
Fluttershy spoke up quietly. With her usual timidness she said, “Oh my, it seems everyone is sad.”
Pinkie's ears perked up. “Sad?!” she said, “UNACCEPTABLE! It's time we turned these sad frowns upside down!” She jumped up on a nearly table at a flower stall and started into a song. “Oooo when you're feeli...”
“Pinkie, not now” Rose, the red maned flower-mare said cutting her off even before she could really get singing. “I don't feel like it.”
“Aw, but why?”
Lily and Daisy, two of Rose's friend's walked up behind her. “Just leave her alone!” Daisy said, “In fact, just go away. We don't feel like it.”
Pinkie got off the table. “Wow. This is bad.”
Twilight jumped in. “Right. I bet one of the two brothers are in on this.”
Apple Jack looked at her. “I bet your right. Let see, by the clues given to us, I would almost bet that Remorse is somewhere nearby.”
“Right. Remember, keep an eye out for any pony that looks out of place.”
Rainbow Dash chimes in. “Right, we should split up I'll take to the skies and look for him from up there.”
“No, wait!” Twilight tried to tell her, but it was to late as Rainbow Dash was already off. “Great. Fluttershy, follow her. We can't split up. Remember what happened when Discord split us up? We can't afford them to do the same with us.”
Fluttershy looked at her. “Oh, okay.” She flew off in the direction that Dash took.
Twilight looked at her remaining friends, “Pinkie, your with me. Apple Jack and Rarity, you go together. If anyone gets lost, come straight back to the market place.”
“Right!” They responded and began the search.
********************
Fluttershy was hopelessly lost. She had completely lost sight of Rainbow Dash and was now flying through the sky just trying to find her other friends. If only Rainbow had stayed close, but knowing how Dash thought, she just had to shrug it out. She just wished that Dash had at least been in sight.
As she flew above the buildings, she saw a very cheery sight. Pinkie Pie was walking down an alley searching under dumpsters and behind walls. Fluttershy flew down to her. “Oh Pinkie, I am so glad I found you, I couldn't find Dash anywhere.”
Pinkie looked at her. “Really? You think she would have stayed around the group long enough to know what to do instead of just zooming away like she did.”
“Right,” Fluttershy said and then began to look around, “Wait, didn't you get paired up with someone?”
“Yeah, I did, but I quickly came to check out this alley, see if anyone was here.”
“I see.” Fluttershy began looking through the alley with her when it seemed the alleyway was empty, they began to leave.
“Say, I have a question for you.” Pinkie said.
“Yes?” Fluttershy turned her head.
“Remember when Iron Will came to town?”
“Yes?”
“And remember when he convinced you to change?”
Fluttershy was a little slower with responding. “Yes?”
“And you tore into Rarity and I making us feel bad?”
Fluttershy was much quieter when she responded this time, “Yes.”
Pinkie looked at her. “That really hurt,” She said.
Fluttershy looked at her. “Please don't bring that up.”
Pinkie went a little quieter. “Oops, your right. Sorry. It's just that it really hurt and got us crying the fact that you became a monster. You had changed and threw some hurtful words at us that could never be taken back. Oh well. Let's get going!” Pinkie began to walk away. Fluttershy wasn't walking though, she was sitting alone in the alleyway crying with painful memories now brought back to her mind.
“Please Pinkie! I'm sorry for what I did!” She said, “Please forgive me!” But Pinkie wasn't there anymore. Instead, behind her a blue pony with dark eyes stood, changing her peace of mind with remorse for what she had done. He walked away when he sensed she had dropped to the point of all the ponies in the market square.
***************
Rainbow Dash was quickly flying from point to point searching for any sign of a out of place pony. When she had flown around for about a half hour, she was on her way back to see if she could find any of her friends. “Grah! Why was I so hasty in flying off like that?” She asked herself as she face-hoofed, “I should have brought along someone like Fluttershy or even Twilight. Now I can't find any of...” Her voice trailed off when she saw a pony that was truly out of place. Not because the pony was stranger, but because she was an old, very familiar friend. Rainbow landed behind her and looked at the mare in awe.
What would have normally been a strong, cyan Pegasus mare was now a poor, weak, and disheveled homeless pony. She turned and looked at her. “Hey Dash.” She said in her weak voice.
“No way! Lightning Dust? Is that you?” Dash said in total shock. “What happened to you?”
“You did Dash. You happened. When you had me thrown out of the Wonderbolts, I had no choice but to go home to my father, to my father who was angry with me!” He voice raised as if she was choking back tears.
“No!” Dash said.
“Yes! He threw me out and I have been homeless, unable to get a job, and have been hungry. Was it worth it Dash? Was it?”
Rainbow looked at her. “I'm so sorry...”
“I hate you. I hate what you have done to me, and I hope you pay for what you have done.”
“NO!” Dash blurted out as she began to cry, but the plea fell on deaf ears. She was so deep in her inner turmoil that she didn't notice Lightning Dust change into Remorse who had already began filling her with even more painful thoughts.
************
Trixie had already got settled in and had even gotten herself something warm to eat, thanks to Spike. She had sat down in a chair and had began to eat when the door came busting open. Apple Jack came running in. “YOU! IT WAS YOU!” She ran up to Trixie and knocked her food over and pushed her to the ground. “I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN!”
“What's going on?” Trixie said in complete fear. Rarity came running through the door in an attempt to restrain Apple Jack. Trixie looked at the scene. “What is going on?!"
Revenge takes a shot
Rarity and Apple Jack had just gotten the orders from Twilight on what to do, and they decided to check the outskirt of Ponyville to see if they could pick up on Remorse's trail. Sadly, it didn't seem like they were having much luck. Outside of the sad ponies they had seen in the marketplace a few minutes earlier, they was no sign that Remorse was anywhere in town.
While searching for him, Rarity began to think about Trixie and how the young, brash unicorn had shown up to the library. Last time she saw her, Trixie had treated her horribly. Of course, she knew that the blue magic user was under the control of the Alicorn Amulet at the time, but then there was the time before, when she was made a mockery in front of the whole town. “Now Rarity,” she began telling herself, “It is not good to dwell on the past. Yes she did treat you bad the last few times she came, but did you see her? She was in a mess and was very different. She hasn't boasted once the entire time she has been here. Just let bygones be bygones.”
Apple Jack, on the other hoof, wasn't so sure. Rather than trying to stay focused on the present task, her mind kept wandering back to the orchard that morning. An apple tree was eaten out of and now Trixie shows up? Her mind kept putting the two situations together. Whenever she tried to dismiss the two, they would always come back together in her mind, almost like something was putting them together or constantly bringing up the situations. She turned to Rarity. “Hey, Rare, I have a question for ya.”
The white unicorn turns back to her. “What is it?” she asked properly.
“This morning, I was pickin' fruit to sell at the market today, and I just happened to come across several apples eaten under the tree, and now Trixie shows up. I thnk she may have swiped a few of the apple off mah tree.”
“Are you sure?” Rarity responded. “I mean, if she did, then not much to really worry about. I mean, you have given apples to starving travelers before.”
“Yeah, I know, but it's Trixie. I mean, she humiliated me, Dash, you, and enslaved all of Ponyville. If I saw her, I would have left her to starve.”
“Now Apple Jack!” Rarity said with surprise, “I have never heard you talk this way before! Why, you heard that she was sorry for what she did. Why are you being so mean to her?”
“Just because she said she is sorry, doesn't mean that she honestly means it.”
“Yes, but you are such a helpful pony. Why are you like this? It's not you.” By this point Apple Jack wasn't going to talk to Rarity anymore. She had made up her mind, if Trixie was involved with this theft at her farm, she would pay.
The two walked in silence until they got to the farm to check there. As they went walking through the acres, there was still a definite silence between them. The search had gotten awkward and now they were not right next to each other, but were at a slight distance from each other.
Rarity didn't know what was wrong with her friend. The honest, helpful, and goodhearted country mare had now taken a dark turn. If only they could find Remorse, then maybe it would bring her back to the situation at hoof.
Soon they stumbled across the area where the apples were found. Rarity looked the whole place over with the apple cores still laying there. “See, it could have been anything from animals to an pony wandering through at the time, and look at the tree that they were bucked off of.” She walked up and put her hoof on the trunk. “There is an indentation right here where somepony kicked this tree. Trixie wouldn't have needed to buck it since she has magic, right?”
Rarity turned toward Apple Jack who was staring at something on the ground. Apple Jacks eyes were wide with a rage that was very unlike her. As the unicorn walked up to look at the ground, she saw what was making the earth pony so upset.
There on the ground was a torn piece of purple cloak with a star on it.
*************************************
Trixie had already got settled in and had even gotten herself something warm to eat, thanks to Spike. She had sat down in a chair and had began to eat when the door came busting open. Apple Jack came running in. “YOU! IT WAS YOU!” She ran up to Trixie and knocked her food over and pushed her to the ground. “I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN!”
“What's going on?” Trixie said in complete fear. Rarity came running through the door in an attempt to restrain Apple Jack. Trixie looked at the scene. “What is going on?!”
Rarity attempted to restrain the infuriated Apple Jack. “Look, she may have been there last night, but you need to get a hold of...”
Apple Jack busted out of her hold and ran up to Trixie. “You stole the apples out of my orchard last night. Admit it, thief!” Apple Jack was above her ready to attack.
“Please, I can explain!” Trixie said trying to get her to calm down.
“Admit it!”
“I did... but you don't understand...”
“I understand all right. You stole from my farm and came here requesting for us to take you in. You are all sorts of low.” Apple Jack came back ready to attack the now terrified mare. As she brought her hoof down, Rarity knocked her off.
“Apple Jack. Settle down. Relax and take a breath. Trixie had a good reason,” she said in a now agitated voice. As she spoke, Trixie got up and began to run to the kitchen and she turned her head to look at her go. As she was distracted, something small jumped out of the angry Apple Jacks head and into hers.
“Let me go!” Apple Jack said with frustration.
“No. I will not.”
“I need to have her pay for what she has done!”
Rarity was about to say something when a thought came into her head. “No, and you know what, since we are bringing up things done in the past, remember when you had me make that horrible dress for you for the Gala and it nearly ended my career?”
“That was a long time ago.”
“Yeah, but you made me work hard and made me feel awful.”
“Get over it.”
“And the time I had to stop my work and drag you back to Ponyville cause you ran away, and I got stuck in the dessert with Pinkie Pie because of that.”
“And as I said, get over...” Apple Jack was cut off by Trixie who was in a full on cry now.
“Please!” She screamed, “Stop fighting! I'm sorry for what I did, but I know how good of friends you are. Please, don't fight.”
Rarity let go of AJ and began walking toward Trixie. “No, you know. Apple Jack is right. You put me in those ridiculous clothes. You turned my hair green, and you made me a slave to make your banners. You really do need to be taught a lesson.”
Trixie saw what was going to happen so she did the one thing she could do. The one thing had been doing for the past few days.
She ran out of the Library. As she started running into the distance with tears in her eyes, she heard Apple Jack and Rarity yell, “Don't come back!”
In the Library, as they yelled at the fleeing blue unicorn, something jumped out of Rarities head and took off into the town.
A Brotherly Chat
Remorse had just finished his work on Rainbow Dash. He was enjoying his freedom in this fresh new world. There was years of pent up sorrowful emotion in these ponies and he wasn't going to have it any other way except out in the open. Though his face was in a perpetual frown, there was a gleam of joy in his eye.
As He walked through, a voice rang out to him. “Oh brother,” The voice spoke with a grufness that was unmistakeable to the blue pony. Remorse quickly turned around and smiled.
“Revenge? Is that you?” he said into the shadows. In a moment, a large, black clawed hand appears out of a nearby alleyway. The beast that emerged had large, sharp teeth, horns on both sides of his head, black fur, and what looked like pony hooves as its back legs. Its lumbering walk and hunched back showed signs of great strength. The beast walked up to Remorse, who was significantly smaller than it.
It opened its mouth and began to speak to the much smaller pony. “Hello younger brother.” The pony jumped on the monster and hugged it. “Now, now, no need for that. How has your end been looking?”
Remorse jumped down, “Fantastic,” He said. “The two pegasai will be out of commission. Turns out they both had some deep, deep regrets for things they had done in the past, which were very easy for me to see. Apparently, one was forgiven by their friends, but they never forgave themselves for what they had done. The other didn't know what happened to somepony, but because of their actions, they always wondered if they did the right thing, hoping that the pony would be alright. It was very easy to tap into their weak points and get them to feel down.”
Revenge just laughed, “Oh, you know what to do to cripple the emotions of anyone. Well, I took out one of the earth ponies and the prissy unicorn. Turns out they are, in most intents and purposes, complete opposites. After I jumped into the orange one head, I was able to pull out some of her anger she had in the past for our blue traveler and her friend. I just needed to rekindle the flames a bit. It also helped with her eating the apples last night. It helped the matter.”
“Great, now, where is Trixie anyway?”
“She ran off. Don't worry, she will be back to us soon enough. The bigger question. How do we deal with the Pink one and the princess?”
“Yes, they will be harder to deal with. I tried to see what regrets they had and outside of a couple of incidents in Ponyville. I can't find any regrets, and it will be next to impossible for me to imitate either scenario, especially the pink one. I hate a Mary Sue, especially these two.”
“Hmm, I could try to find a way of generating hate.”
“Maybe, but the princess would recognize if you entered.”
“Well, we need to find out how to take them out.”
“Hmm, I do have an idea to at least take one of them out. I believe the other will tip their hoof in time. Right now. We have more pressing matters. Let's get going.”
**************************
Twilight and Pinkie heard the commotion at the library and ran in to check it out. When they got there, Apple Jack and Rarity had already been fighting for a few minutes. Rarity's mane was a mess and Apple Jack was covered in dust. The Library was a complete mess and books were knocked all over the floor.
Twilight pulled them away from each other with her magic and looked at them. “What is wrong with you two?” She said in a question trying to keep them far enough apart so they don't hurt each other.”
Pinkie Pie joined in. “Yeah! You're friends. You shouldn't be fighting!” She said trying to defuse the situation.
Rarity started in first. “Apple Jack is nothing more than a self centered friend whose thoughtlessness has gotten not just herself in trouble, but has put others in trouble as well. Including me!”
Pinkie looked at her. “Yeah, but that was in the past. Remember? We forgave her and...”
Apple Jack cut her off. “Trixie got away after she stole some of my apples and Rarity let her escape!”
Twilight looked at her. “Wait. Apples? Your mad because she took a few apple from you?”
“Yes! She will pay for...”
“But you give them away to ponies who need it, don't you.”
“This is different.”
“No. It's not. Neither of you are acting yourself. Now, we need to find Remorse before...” She stopped. “Wait. There are two. Oh man. Usually there is one problem. I totally forgot about Revenge. It looks like he had gotten to you guys.” She looked at Pinkie. “Quick. Try to find Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash.”
Pinkie saluted, “Okie Dokie Loki” and took off out the door.
Twilight looked back at the two mares she was holding in the air. “If I let you go, can you two cool off enough for me to send a letter to Celestia?” The two looked at each other with glares that gave her her answer. She sighed, “Spike come in here and take a letter please.”
The Purple Dragon walked in wearing some armor made from a pot and some pillows. “Got it.” He quickly pulled out a quill and some paper.
Dear Celestia,
It seems that things aren't going good for us here in Ponyville. I need to ask you about something. Revenge and Remorse are brothers, but we don't know anything about them. We are on our own and have no idea as to how to fight these two monsters. Can you please explain what made them the way they are? Please respond as soon as you can.
Sincerely, Princess Twilight Sparkle
The message was quickly sent and Twilight looked at the two. “Now as soon as Rainbow and Fluttershy get back, we will try to figure out what to do next and be able to stop this nonsense.” Pinkie Pie walked back in the room behind Twilight. She turned with relief. “Finally you found them, we can...” She stopped and saw the two pegasai and the aftermath of what Remorse did to them. “Oh no.”
Pinkie looked at her. “I'm sorry Twilight.”
“It's okay.” She said with a sigh.
“No, I really, really am sorry,” the Pink pony responded with straight hair.
“Oh, no! Not you too. Oh I hope that letter gets back here soon. For the sake of Ponyville, I hope it gets here soon.”
A Friendly Visit
Pinkie went out to search for the other two ponies. She had not gone to far when she came across the crying Fluttershy who was walking along and it wasn't to long after that when Rainbow Dash was spotted. Seeing their condition was no better than the others in the town, she figured the best thing she could do was to get them back to Twilight as soon as she could.
As she walked along, she saw something out of the corner of her eye. As she turned her head, she saw there was nothing there. Had she really just imagined something? She thought she might have when she saw it in the corner of her other eye, so she got up on her back hooves. “Come out here you meanie! I can take you!” As she turned, her countenance dropped. She saw what it was that seemed to move around her.
Walking out of the shadows was Gilda the Griffon. At first, she gave a second glance, but had to break away eye contact when Rainbow Dash started crying even more. When she turned back around, Gilda was in front of her. The pegasai began to cower as she began to speak. “Well, if it isn't the party pony herself.”
Pinkie looked at her. “Gilda, we are kind of busy right now. I need to get my friends here too...” She was cut off by a roaring yell from the griffon.
“Friends? What do you know about friends? Because of you, I lost my best friend, and she never really liked you all that much. If they were, then they wouldn't have broken your heart on your birthday, now would they have” The Griffon began surrounding her. This moment gave the Pink earth pony enough of a gap to run in. She began to take off from the two in an attempt too flee the lion-eagle.
As she took off down a side alley, she saw that she was pinned. She turned around to see Gilda approaching from behind. “Well? What do you have to say, dweeb”
Pinkie began giggling like a crazy-pony. Gilda was absolutely confused as to what was going on, so she looked at her. “Why are you laughing? Have you gone insane?!”
“No,” Pinkie said, “But you really need to be a better actor to fool me, Remorse.”
The blue pony shifted out of the griffon form and into his usual state. “How in Equestria did you figure it out? I used sore points in your life. I disguised myself as something that caused you pain. How did you see through me?”
“That's easy, dolt colt. You mentioned what happened in my birthday party, but Gilda was never around for that.”
“So, what are you going to do? Hmm?”
She began to walk past him. “I am not going to do anything. I am going to take my friends and see Twilight. The guessing game was fun. We need to do it again sometime. Now it's time to make my friends smile again.”
He turned to face her. “Too bad it will fail.”
She turned to look at him, “What?” As she spoke, Revenge jumped up behind her and got inside her head.
“Oh, quite simple. Once I touch ponies, they never come out from under the depression I put them under.” He never broke his lonely tone. “It's a sad existence they live now. It's a shame too. It didn't take either of them long to fall into the husks they became now.”
Pinkie felt the anger rise inside of her. As she jumped at the young looking male, Revenge jumped out of her head. She took a swing at the sorrow causing equine as he jumped back and hit her. The strike threw her off long enough for him to escape. “I just hit a pony,” He said almost sounding like he was going to cry. “Yet another sorrow.” He took off down the street leaving Pinkie Pie there who was now coming to her senses.
“Oh no. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, sad, forever?” She was just on the verge of crying as her hair began to fall straight.
*********************************
Remorse stopped running as Revenge walked up to him. With his gruff, and slightly infuriated tone, he asked, “What did you do to stop this one. I mean, just less than an hour ago, you were at a complete loss as what to do.”
The smaller brother looked at the beast. With his usual tone, he spoke up. “Oh,” he said, “I was at a loss and thought that I may have found a mare who was impervious to my ways, but then I remembered that my personal favorite way of getting a pony sad.”
“That is?”
“With the other two, one of them was sorrowful for something they never forgave themselves over and the other was sorrowful for something they had done. This one needed a little push, so I did probably the cruelest thing I could. Have them dwell on things that they can't fix.”
************************
Twilight looked at Pinkie Pie. “Wait... he what?!” She couldn't believe what she heard. Once you fall into Remorse's trap, there is nothing anyone can do to get you out? At first she didn't think that was possible. If that was the case then most of Ponyville was done for. “Pinkie, don't you think he could have been lying?”
“Maybe, but after what I did, I think he may be right.” The Pink pony said as she laid on the ground poking it with her hoof.
“Yes, it was wrong for you to attack him, but that could have been Revenge.”
“Yeah... but its still unlike me.”
Twilight looked at her friends. She couldn't believe it. These were not the friends that she had spent the last several years with. It couldn't be, but sure enough, here they were, depressed and fighting with each other, and what more, Trixie was scarred away. If Remorse got his hooves on her, then she would feel awful, and she knew he was going to try.
She thought back over the past few years. When Trixie first came, she was a bragger. The second time she came was not much better, enslaving Ponyville and banishing her to the Everfree Forrest. Above even that, she willingly forgave her. She had wanted to be her friend, yet now she was having a hard time convincing her friends to do the same.
Just then a knock was heard at the door. Twilight turned and looked. There was a shadow of someone there. They were a bit taller than your normal pony. She quickly got down, forgetting about the two mares she was holding with her magic, who promptly began fighting as soon as they were freed. Twilight could do nothing else but groan and start heading for the door. As she opened it up a little bit to see who it was, she was a bit confused.
Standing at the door, was Zecora. The zebra was standing there looking behind her shoulder. When she turned around and saw Twilight, she made a sigh of relief. In her think brogue, she spoke in her usual rhyme. “Ah, my friend, It''s good to see you again. If you would allow me, may I come in?” she said.
Twilight looked at her. “Sorry, things have been a little hectic lately to the point that we don't even know if we can trust you. You might be the pony Remorse in disguise.”
“I know that you may not trust me, you don't want to be deceived.”
“But we don't want to turn you away if you are the real one.”
Zecora thought for a moment then spoke. “Remember the time were banished from here. I gave you some advice quite clear.” She leaned in. “If Trixie's tricks have you in a fix, Combine your magic, and use the six.”
Twilight looked at her and opened the door. “Quick, come in.” She entered quickly. “What are you doing here in town?”
“I heard Trixie came back and changed, but when I arrived, everything seemed quite strange. I came to see how she was doing, but when I arrived, everything was quite gloomy.”
“That's because of the two villains that have come here. Revenge and Remorse are brothers who have been wrecking havoc on us all day.”
“I saw them in the town squarere, the smaller one tried to mock me there. They used a evil from my childhood, they almost won, but fast I stood.”
“How did you beat them. I thought it was impossible.”
“The only ally Remorse can get, is the one who holds on to past regret. Revenge is similar in his own way, he uses those who wrongs repay. As long as one truly holds either in their heart, then that is where their damage can start.”
“But what about my friends. As far as I know, each were doing fine until they came along.”
“Yes, on the outside they look quite torn, but that's because inside, each harbored a storm.”
“You mean, though they had each seemed happy, each had something they held onto?” Zecora nodded in agreement to what Twilight had said. “But then, what about Revenge and Remorse, where did they come from?” Just then, a sound came from Spike as her belched out a scroll.
“Twilight! Letter from the Princess,” he said as he ran up with it.
“Well then, let's see what she says about them,” Twilight said as she opened the scroll.
******************
Trixie had been running for several minutes and had just gotten outside the city before she collapsed and began really crying. The blue pony was right. Her past had caught up to her and now she was paying for what she did. Everyone held onto bitterness and was now taking it out on her. She was truly alone.
As she lay there crying, she felt a presence right by her and a hoof on her back. She turned to look at the pony. “You were right. They all hate me. I hate me, and now I am alone.”
“You don't have to be,” Remorse said, “I can accompany you. As I said, I make the perfect traveling partner.” She looked at him and with tears in her eyes, she nodded because she was to choked up to say anything. “The best part. I never leave.”
History
Twilight opened the letter from the Princess.
Dear Twilight,
The History of the brothers goes back over one thousand years. Back to the fall of the Crystal Empire. This is the story of three friends who each turned evil in their own way.
Back then, they were three young ponies. Two where brothers, Ruby Hooves and Zerconium, and one was a close friend, a unicorn, who they considered to be a brother. The three always traveled around together getting into mischief much like those three little fillies in Ponyville do, but sadly, their story didn't turn out as well at all. For one day, the brothers unicorn friend was wandering just outside the Crystal Empire when he discovered a cave, inside the cave was a door. At first, he didn't know what to make of this door, but when he opened it, the gateway lead to his fear.
Twilight looked up, “Hey,” she said, “That is the same door I found in Sombra's castle.” She continued reading.
Rather than snap out of the door and come to reality, no one was there to save him from his darkest fears, thus he accepted it, turning into the monster we know as Sombra.
When he returned to the Empire, he had all intents to conquer it. Ruby and Zerconium, who had seen what had become of him, tried what they could to stop him, but he was much too powerful by this time to be overtaken by his two friends. They wee some of the first ponies he had made into slaves.
From what I can gather, Sombra ran into a road block. The love many of the Crystal Ponies shown toward each other rapidly slowed his progress. During this time, he ruled part of the empire with the few slaves he had. Because this part was so dark and abandon, the sorrow grew inside the wall, and hearts of the ponies who where there, especially the two brothers.
Ruby had began to resent ever being Sombra's friend and started formullating a plan, not just to escape, but to make Sombra pay for what he was doing to him. Before long, he lost his sight as a prisoner, this caused him to become even more angry. Soon his hatred wasn't directed toward Sombra, but the other ponies of the Crystal Empire for not helping him and letting him stay as a slave. Zerconium, on the other hoof, fell into a complete depression and cried night after night that there was nothing he could do. The situation with his brother didn't help matters either. Soon, the two not just fell apart as ponies, but fell apart as brothers.
The other ponies in the room had stopped what they were doing and were really beginning to listen to the letter that Twilight was reading.
Eventually, the darkness that was building up in both of them became to powerful and began changing them into monsters. Ruby Hooves became the beast Revenge and Zerconium let his loss and sorrow turn him into Remorse.
Sombra, seeing that two of his most valuable slaves had changed into what he considered equals, offered to let them join him. By this time. Revenge had decided that he wanted to punish his people for not helping him and Remorse just followed because it was the only way he felt he could fix anything.
Sombra used his dark magic to grant the two with their unique abilities and turned them loose in the Crystal Empire. Soon, where love once stood, sorrow and hate had filled instead. Because the Crystal Heart wasn't powered anymore, it allowed Sombra to sweep in with fear and conquer the rest of the empire in days. They took the Crystal Heart and hid the door somewhere we couldn't find until it returned.
The Ponies sat around quietly reflecting on what had been said. Sure enough, they saw how they had been acting toward each other, and toward themselves. Twilight continued reading.
When my Sister and I arrived to banish the Tyrant and restore the proper order, we had to deal with Revenge and Remorse before reaching Sombra. We imprisoned the two in Tartarus, hoping that one day the two would be brought back to normal. Shortly after the banishment, the empire disappeared with only few traces of it ever existing.
Remember, though they may seem evil, they let their circumstances dictate what they became. They never let go of the things that held them back. When dealing with them, keep in mind what happened with Spike when he became greedy. Just like him, anyone can become a monster unlike themselves if they don't put their past behind them.
Sincerely, Princess Celestia
The room was quiet. There was no fighting or moping, just everypony was deep in thought. Twilight looked up. “Wow, Revenge and Remorse used to be different. They had fun and they put their friendships first. They were in all ways like us.”
Zecora stepped forward. “But the tides have turned against your friends. These mares have become just like them.”
The group looked at the ground. Rarity and Apple Jack knew that they had been wrong in fighting each other and scaring away Trixie. Rarity looked at Twilight and spoke up. “I guess when you give yourself to hate, then you lose out on becoming better as yourself. You lose friendships and you become, well, blind to the fact that they have changed.” She then turned to Apple Jack. “I'm sorry for absolutely causing a mess of things. I promise to let go of anything I have ever felt toward you.”
Apple Jack reached over and touched her hoof. “Same here,” She said.
Fluttershy looked at the group. “I guess I never saw myself the same after the whole incident with Iron Will. I will forgive myself and just move on.”
Pinkie jumped up. “Yeah, it's no fun being sad and depressed all the time. I bummed me out when I couldn't help you so I felt bad too. Well, no more!”
Everyone was cheering up, but when they went to come together, they quickly noticed that there was one pony missing. They turned to Rainbow Dash who sat there on the ground. Twilight walked up to her. “What's wrong?” she said to the rainbow maned flier.
“It's just, well, it's Lightning Dust. When I spoke up at the Wonderbolt's academy and got her kicked out, I never saw her again. I don't know where she is or what she is doing. All I know is that she was disgraced, and it was all because of me.” She sat down and began to tear up.
Twilight wrapped her wing around her. “She was kicked out, that is very true, but because you spoke up, you opened up the eyes of many of the Wonderbolts, made things safer, and it all worked out in the end.” She saw Dash sitting there as if she wasn't believing her. “How about this. How about we write a letter and send it to her. We will see how she is doing. Is that okay?”
Dash looked at her. “Well, okay. I'll send a letter and see where it gets us.” Twilight quickly handed her a piece of parchment and a quill. Rainbow began writing the letter in the corner of the room.
As she wrote, Pinkie Pie looked around. “Hey! It looks like Remorse was lying. We are all better now!”
Zecora walked up to her and said, “No, he was not Pinkie Pie dear. He made his words really quite clear. No pony could help you get rid of your pain, it was you alone who could clean off that stain. Dwelling on that which brought you grief can only be fixed when you apply relief. No one else can ever cure that which in yourself has endured. Releasing the pain you helded deep down is the only way you can rebound.”
Pinkie looked at he and turned to Twilight with a confused face. Twilight cleared it up for her. “I think she is saying that only you could have helped yourself. Remorse wasn't lying when he said that nopony could help you. Only you can willingly help yourself in the end.
“Ohhhh!” Pinkie said with clarity.
“Done,” Rainbow Dash said. “I hope she gets it.”
“Good,” Twilight said, “What did you write.”
“It's just a letter saying how I never intended to hurt her and am asking her to hang out with me for lunch some time.”
“Great, Spike. Send it.”
“Right!” the little assistant said as he sent it out in green fire smoke.
Twilight looked at RD. “How do you feel?” she asked.
“Better. I guess I had to release the pressure that my feeling had been building up inside of me.” she said cracking a smile for the first time in a while.
“Great. Now, we know what we need to do right girls?!”
“FIND TRIXIE!” They all shouted together.
“Let's go!” The group goes charging out the door as Zecora stands there behind them.
She lifts her voice to the running squad. “Remember my friends, for you must know, there is only one way to stop this foe. Forgive and forget is the only way if you are to save the day!” She watched as the group ran in the direction that Trixie went.
