Tale of Two Tyrants and the Eternal War

"Who should we find next? I have no idea where the rest of us would be." Twilight sighed. The quartet sat on a large, sun-baked rock.

"I'm not sure, Twilight. Maybe Rarity?" Fluttershy suggested meekly.

"I'm not sure about findin' Rarity. She might not handle th' terrain well." Said Applejack, taking a bite of a half-rotten apple.

"I'm sure she can handle it. What do you think, Twilight?" Piped Fluttershy. AJ and Fluttershy turned their heads to Twilight in unison. Twilight's face was buried in her hooves.

"And how do you plan on finding her!?" Twilight snapped her head to Fluttershy, then Applejack, her left ear twitching. An insane smile spread across her face, and she giggled crazily.

"Twilight, please calm down…we'll find her." Fluttershy said reassuringly.

"DON'T TELL ME TO CALM DOWN!! Don't you get it!? We're all doomed. Hear me? DOOMED!! Now tell me, Fluttershy, Applejack. WHY SHOULD I CALM DOWN!!" Twilight snarled. A soft whimper came from Flora, followed by crying. Twilight quickly relaxed.

"Flora, I'm sorry…I didn't mean to scare you." Twilight held out her hoof, bit shrank back when Flora started crying louder.

"Shh, Flora. It's alright, aunt Twilight didn't mean it. It's ok." Flora's crying turned into a whimper. "Hush now quiet now, it's time to lay your sleepy head, hush now quiet now, it's time to go to bed…" Fluttershy sang softly. Flora quieted. Twilight just sat, petrified.

"Twilight, are you ok? You've been kinda…off." Said Applejack.

"To be honest girls…I'm not ok. And I don't think I'll ever be ok again. Too much has happened…I just can't." Fluttershy and Applejack exchanged worried glances.

"C'mon, Twilight. Lets just go." Applejack ushered the girls away from Ponyville. Too many painful memories here.

"Twilight, we need you to think. Where could Rarity be? She dreamed of working in Canterlot, she designs dresses, and she loves gems." Said Fluttershy. "That's it!!"

"What's it?" Asked Applejack and Twilight.

"I know where Rarity is! She's in the gem fields! Follow me!!" Fluttershy cheered. She then started to gallop down a narrow trail, Applejack and Twilight at her heels.

...................

Fluttershy stopped at the edge of the gem fields, hidden by the underbrush. She scanned the vast plain, and saw a freshly dug hole, still filled with gemstones.

"Girls, over there!" Fluttershy galloped to the hole and carefully studied it. "By the looks of it, this was hoof-dug. The dirt is still cool, so not long ago." Fluttershy looked around. She trotted over to a nearby thorn bush, and removed a torn strand of purple hair. She trotted back to the girls, and held up the hair for them to see.

"That looks like Rarity's." Stated Twilight. Applejack nodded. Fluttershy motioned for them to follow. The quartet made their way across the fields, following strands of hair, and drops of blood. Their trip ended at a tall hill, with a large broken rock at the top. The silhouette of a pony stood out. Twilight trotted up the hill. A white unicorn sat at the top, her purple and pink mane blowing in the breeze.

"Hello? I'm Twilight Sparkle, and-"

"Twilight? Is that you?" The mare turned around. Twilight immediately recognized her. It was Sweetie Belle. Claw marks ran across one of her pale green eyes, and they both were glossy and blank.

"It's me, Sweetie Belle."

"Twilight? Where are you? I can't see anything!" Sweetie waved a hoof in front of her. Twilight trotted up to the now grown filly, and held her close.

"I'm right here, Sweetie. Do you know where Rarity is?"

"No, I don't. Not since we were attacked…" Sweetie sighed.

"Attacked? Where?"

"A little bit east of the fields. Something jumped out of the bushes and attacked us. It took Rarity, so I made my way here. I could barely see, and now I can't see at all. Go find Rarity." Said Sweetie.

"Sweetie Belle, it's not safe. I can't just leave you here alone."

"Twilight, go. I'll just slow you down."

"No, Sweetie. Come with us."

"I said no. Rarity needs you. Now just leave me."

"You're coming with us. And that's an order. You can't deny a Princesses' order."

"…Ok…I'm only coming because you ordered me…"

"Alright. Lets go find Rarity." Twilight led Sweetie Belle down the steep slope to where Fluttershy, Flora, and Applejack were waiting. "Girls, here's Sweetie Belle. She's been blinded by a creature that attacked them at the eastern edge if the fields. That's our best lead. Understood?" The two mares nodded in unison.

"Alright then, lets go find ourselves a Rarity."

.................

The 5 arrived at the eastern edge of the gem fields, where the attack took place. Bits of fur and hair were strewn about, as well as blood splatters, and a storm gray feather. Twilight levitated the feather, then put it in her saddlebags. It was a feather all right, but Twilight couldn't tell what bird it came from. Twilight led the troupe through the thin woods. Twilight tracked the mystery bird until they reached the bottom of a steep mountainside. Flora pointed to the top of the mountain and squealed. Fluttershy looked to where the filly was pointing.

"Twilight, Applejack, look at this." Said Fluttershy, pointing with Flora. Twilight's jaw took a trip to the ground, and Applejack just stared.

"What in tarnation is that?" Asked Applejack.

"I don't know, but it looks promising." Twilight gaped.

"It's all we've got. Good job, Flora. Mama's so proud!" Fluttershy nuzzled Flora.

"Mama!"