The Legend Of The Lonely Ladybug

by Ladybug Minster

Rating: teen
Tags: Original Character, Comedy, Adventure, Tragedy, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Main 6, Romance
Length: 76033

Can Twilight and her friends help a lonely individual prevent the birth of a new villain?

There comes a time when every pony needs to make important choices. Some concern everyday life. Others affect everyone. And everything. Can Twilight and her friends help a lonely individual in preventing a being as powerful and of the same dreadful origin as Night Mare Moon from being born?

The story of the ugly duckling retold.............with a twist.

Published 2012-03-12 00:04:02 UTC
Last updated 2012-11-27 10:08:34 UTC

Chapter 1: The Farmer's Children

The Farmer's Children

An empty plate landed to the middle of the dinner table. More became piled on the first one, a yellow hoof scooping them to skillfully balance all of the plates on another. A female earth pony brought the cutlery to the sink at the back of the kitchen, a mother sporting a dark mane and a blueberry cutie mark. A dinner had just been finished. At the table two young fillies and a colt sat at their seats, slurping after a satisfying meal. One of them burped which caught the mother mare's attention.

“Mind your manners, Ginger,” she lectured.

“Sorry, mom. Couldn’t hold it,” the pink filly expressed and rubbed her belly in satisfaction, having enjoyed her meal.

“That’s alright," the mother chuckled, "Go play outside kids. Just remember to stay within the yard, the uptight neighbors prefer that you don’t goof around their property and you all remember what I have told you about Everfree forest being a no-go zone.” There was a visible frustration in all three children upon hearing the instructions. The look in the mare's eyes was all too familiar to them because they had seen it many times before, a notion of a loving mother expecting communication from her off-spring.

“Yes, mom,” all three uttered in surrender before they started to leave the kitchen. “You forgot something,” the mother called after them. Again the calves glanced back in boredom, impatient to leave the house. “Thank you, mom,” a reply came from three tiny voices.

The mare was pouring water into the sink that started bubbling from the dish washing soap, thinking by herself for ideas that she could utilize to uplift their spirit. “That’s more like it. Say, how’d you say if I’ll join you after I’m done cleaning and we can go do something more fun at the town together?” she asked them. Almost as if she had anticipated it, the two fillies and colt almost hit the ceiling after hearing the proposal and raced up to hug her. “You’re the best, mom!!”

After embracing her the little ponies galloped out of the door while the smiling mare remained at the sink. Her plan had been successful.

Outside the pink fillie named Ginger, a red colt named Rubber and green coated Vanilla exited through the porch, the children of Blueberry Janice and Mint Marley, the owners of the farm. As they reached the middle of the yard the calves began to ponder what they could do on their own while waiting for Janice to finish her dishes. “Wanna go play catch in the field?”, Rubber asked to which his siblings replied with a subjective cheer. The children then moved on to the corn fields not too far from the house, quickly joined by the family’s pet cat.

The game started. After seeking cover Ginger hid between the tall corn, trying to spot her friends in the belief that her location was a perfect hiding spot. Too late the filly heard rustling behind her which made her realize that her sister had already found her, having set up an ambush. The hunter was now the hunted. "Clever girl," she muttered before Vanilla leapt and tackled her sibling, bringing both fillies through the tall corn and to their sides in a turmoil of laughter. From behind them Rubber came to view, having stayed aside to watch his sisters goofing around.

“At this rate we’ll level the entire field,” he exclaimed with a chuckle. Rubber remembered the last time when they had messed with the cabbage plantation which Marley had not been pleased about. The children had offered to make salad from the uprooted vegetables to make up for it out of newly gained respect for their father's plantations. At the moment their father was away working with his true expertise in the mint fields that sustained the family's livelihood.

“I think that was more like hide and seek than true catch. Maybe we should invent a combination,” Vanilla giggled. “You mean something like homing?” her sister's suggestion produced more loud giggling from all three. Their pet cat meowed as it ran past them playfully, amusing Rubber with it's playful antics. “She certainly likes to home in. Heeeere kitty, kitty, kitty.” The colt approached the cat that retreated through the field as he got near, showing unwillingness at being stroked. A shy feline wants to draw the line.

“Come on Lenny! Don’t be such a bad sport,” Rubber called after it while trying to keep up, his siblings following behind. Lenny had taken a long lead to them, running away in blind retreat. It's chosen direction took the cat towards the far edge where a row of trees could be seen, trees of ancient nature from a time before a single pony existed; Everfree Forest. The ominous trees grew larger as they got nearer, a close presence that made Vanilla visibly nervous.

“She’s heading to Everfree Forest!” the filly gasped. “Lenny, come back!” Rubber called out to the cat, “Lenny!”

The cat finally ceased it's run next to the rugged tree line at the very end of the corn field, licking herself and coughing up a fur ball. Ginger reached over to stroke it which the cat tolerated better because her stroke felt softer than Rubber's. “Bad kitten! You won’t last in Everfree," she taunted it. “At least we caught her,” Rubber sighed in relief and observed the trees rising above their heads. Around them everything was silent.

Something came flying from the trees with a screeching that sounded like a predatory bird. A greyish green leathery creature with bat-like wings and a thin neck ending to a long beaked skull with conical teeth flapped through the air with glowing red eyes, a swishing tail ending to a bony club. The creature passed above the heads of the calves which cast a lingering shadow on them. They had disturbed it's dark slumber. As expected, Lenny freaked out and freed itself from Ginger’s hooves, making a mad scramble to the forest.

“Lenny! No!” Vanilla shouted.

The cat's meows were still heard, growing distant. The calves looked concerned and unsure about what their next move should be, thinking about what would happen to Lenny might they hesitate too long. “What do we do now?!” Ginger cried to her siblings, becoming panicky. ”She won’t survive in there,” Rubber exclaimed in a mutually depressed mood.

“We have to go after her,” Vanilla spoke out, being the bravest one from the trio. “What about mom’s warnings?” Rubber brought up a valid argument. “We must find Lenny,” Vanilla replied and had already began to run to the shroud of the trees, waving for her siblings to follow, “Come on, we can’t lose her!”

“Oh bucket! If mom and dad learn about this we are in so much trouble,” Rubber uttered nervously with loud exhales in remembrance to what they had been told and what it would mean to their own safety. Way more reluctant than his sister, the colt's face began formed droplets of sweat from taking in the sight of the creepy trees.

“Maybe we’ll catch Lenny before she gets too deep,” Ginger coached him with her optimism. Eventually both of the calves followed Vanilla into the forest that quickly wrapped them behind the shroud of it's mist. Little did they know about the sheerness and danger of the environment that they had stepped into.

A longer distance away the mother of the calves emerged to the porch, having finished her task and now looking around the empty yard for her two daughters and son, having already expected them to be in sight. It didn't worry the mare, she had experience with how her children behaved.“Kids! I’m done now! Kids," she called out, expecting to hear the voices of her three calves. No such answer. Patient, the mare progressed to the middle of the yard. “Kids! We can go to Ponyville now,” she repeated.

“I heard there’s one really good ice cream stand……....,” she spoke with a look of increasing concern, almost desperate to catch their attention in remembrance of how much they loved ice cream. It isn't a lie that in Ponyville ice cream is a well-made if not rare delicacy. Yet the yard around her remained silent.

Where were the children? The worried mare began to wander. “Vanilla! Ginger! Rubber! Come out right now wherever you are. This isn’t funny,” she called louder. It wasn't just a game anymore. Janice sought through the yard, finally coming upon the cropping at the field the kids had been at and observed their hoof prints through the field to the edge of Everfree Forest where a visible mist had formed between the trees.

“Ginger! Rubber! Vanilla!” Janice shouted at full lungs, beginning to shake from the creeping thought, "Not in Everfree!” Now deeming the circumstance more serious, she felt the punch of reality in her gut. The worst possible thing had come to be.

During that moment a grayish stallion with a red mane arrived to the yard. Marley was coming back from work to have dinner with his mare and children, having been late again because of over-devotion to his work getting the best of his focus. Priding what he grew as the best mint in Equestria, such devotion earned him his mint leaf cutie mark.

Such thoughts disappeared from Marley's mind as he rushed up to see what was going on. "Janice darling, what’s wrong?” the stallion asked in concern and gently lifted her up from the spot where she had half-collapsed, seeing her shocked state. “The……the……..the……..," Janice attempted to speak without success. “Speak to me darling,” Marley exclaimed to his mare.

“The children! They’ve gone to Everfree Forest,” Janice finally uttered with a jittery lip, weeping with only superficial respiration all of which made Marley’s eyes widen.

***

The day went by slowly. Too slowly for Janice and Marley.

Inside the house the mare leaned on the dinner table, staring at the floor in silence with a crushingly strong worry for the fate of her children that was pounding her senseless. Behind her Marley trotted in circles, impatiently expecting someone who Janice had messaged earlier during the day, agitated by lots of ways and deciding to channel what he was nurturing to his mare.

"How could you just let them wonder out like that?!"

Janice lifted her head, taking it all in. It had been her responsibility but she also knew her children. "Mint, I was only inside for a few minutes and told them to stay at the yard. We both know that they wouldn't do something reckless if we tell them not to." Marley halted momentarily, knowing that she was right as both of the adults trusted the kids, working vigorously to come up with other reasons for why they'd have done something so stupid until a literal light bulb went off above his head. "Lenny must be the cause. They love that buckering cat a plenty."

Marley too liked Lenny. When he was lying low from work exhaustion she'd come over and rub her soft fur against his flank before laying down next to him to purr kindly. Marley didn't consider himself too capable with animals but Lenny had been a unique exception. He knew it's bad sides too. The pet cat loved to scratch furniture when no one would be watching. It also tended to go wherever it would want to go, a stubborn cat among stubborn cats no matter how adorable.

Janice turned around to look at Marley from her seat, establishing eye contact in tears. "Mint darling! I'm so afraid," she uttered shakily which instantly motivated Marley to pull her away from the table and to an embrace which successfully reduced her trembling. "Janice dear, if this cousin of yours that you called is anywhere near as experienced as you say she will find them in time," he soothed her with a soft voice, having met many ponies from her family tree, all farmers from the very agricultural foundation of Ponyville.

"Darling, it still does not reduce my worry for the children," Janice immediately replied, sounding desperate. "Have faith, darling, have faith," Marley kept soothing his mare in a continuing embrace.

"Ya got yourself a fine colt there, Janice," a new female voice with a country accent spoke. At the doorway stood a tan female pony with a blonde mane who wore a hat, a cutie mark of three red apples easily noticed at her yellow flank.

"Oh Applejack! Thank you so much for coming. We have a big problem. I didn't know who else to turn to," Janice quickly exclaimed as she and Marley rushed up to meet her. While accompanying Marley to Ponyville's yearly country fair Janice frequently met with up the mare and loved chatting about timely subjects when the work horse was selling her own apple products at her stand. Both enjoyed each other's company and Janice strongly trusted her exceptionally honest relative who had assisted her many times before. In their current situation such assistance was more than welcome.

Applejack immediately noticed her state. "It's alright, Janice. The messenger sure said that it sounded serious so Ah came here as soon as Ah could. Ya can count on mah aid even if it means cutting short the apple tree seeding," she assured with a flip of her hat. "Among the most sincere and helpful in the family," Janice spoke back, impressed by the displayed confidence, "Listen up, cousin."

***

Outside it had started to rain. A distant lightning storm illuminated the countryside in a series of flashes, an experiment by the pegasus weather factory gone haywire and yet to be contained. The storm frontier was passing right beside the farm of Marley and Janice which only added to the looming threat of Everfree. One could only imagine how it might be affecting the minds of two young earth fillies and a colt whp were lost in the forest.

At the porch Janice and Applejack emerged, still in conversation. Her cousin had by now told the work horse everything regarding the disappearance of Ginger, Rubber and Vanilla. Applejack listened, not too happy about the fate of her relative's children. "This ain’t good. Everfree Forest is full of dangers, some magical while others are plain killers," she said, "Those kids ain't experienced enough to go in," the mare finished, resting her elbow against the porch railing while her green eyes scanned the edge of the forest with keen focus.

"Can you please do something," Janice asked nervously. "If Ginger, Vanilla and Rubber remain cool they might still be found in one piece," Applejack returned a concerned answer, already looking away from the forest to face her friend, "Ah'll go find them. Personally. They are mah family too and family sticks together."

"All by yourself??"

"No, this does take a larger search group," Applejack said to bury any doubts and gave the other mare a comforting smile, "Don't be afraid mah dear cousin. When Ah go in Ah will have perfect assistants by mah side. With their help we will bring the kids back."

"Please hurry," Janice wept against the work horse who had already closed her to an embrace. "If ya excuse me, got an urgent message to send," she told Janice in deep thought.

She already knew who she was going to send a message to.

***

***

Chapter 2: The Search Party

The Search Party

Hours earlier Applejack had sent an urgent letter to a certain librarian with a request to gather the team to assist with the search for the three lost children of her relative. Having been in Everfree Forest for many times now, the work horse trusted nopony better than her five friends when visiting the treacherous region. With their help she felt confident about saving Ginger, Rubber and Vanilla in time. The mare yawned, standing near the edge of the forest, her urges of constructive action beginning to run rampant in her already tired brain.

Had her friend gotten the message? And even if she did would everyone be ready in time? The longer it took for the search to begin the more danger the three calves might end up to. Not allowing assumption about their current state cloud her mind, she kept herself cool to her best capability. "If Ah had a watch Ah'd probably be able to tell that it's late as night," she pondered to herself with a long deep breath. Still Applejack kept waiting patiently. Even then her eyelids were drooping as a foreboding sign.

She never fell asleep. A bright flash abruptly startled the mare from half-slumber. At the middle of the corn field stood Twilight Sparkle who was in the company of Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Fluttershy. She had teleported everyone with her to spare time in reaching Applejack's location, a plan that had worked perfectly aside the distinct smell of burning plant matter that made everyone frown. Curious about the cropping that surrounded her, Pinkie snatched an individual corn to her mouth and began to chew. "Om nom nom! Popcorn!" came from her muffled maw.

"I think it should be heated first.........," Fluttershy noted awkwardly.

Rarity had a disgusted look on her face after she saw what they had landed to. “Ick! Good that I didn’t have my favorite sweater on..............wrong shoes! What am I going to do now?!” the white unicorn uttered loudly.

"You have shoes?"

Rarity gave Fluttershy a bothered look amidst grinding her teeth. "I thought that we were going for a long hike, not digging in a muddy corn field," she uttered, feeling the soft muddy ground under her pristine hiking shoes. The location had not met her specifications.

Twilight released a deep exhale, having taken notice of her despair. "Sorry, girls. I really need to fine-tune my targeting," the unicorn apologized, "Pinkie Pie, please put that away." In an instant a lavender hoof slapped the corn from Pinkie's mouth to put an end to her feast. As a result the unsatisfied pony returned a raspberry. All four mares then approached Applejack, Rarity the slowest to keep up because she was constantly assessing where she stood, wincing in her attempt to preserve what parts of her shoes remained untouched.

“Ya finally here. Took long enough,” Applejack spoke out before she scanned their surroundings. “Where’s Rainbow?” she asked curiously.

“She said she’d come here her own way,” Twilight was quick to explain. As soon as the words had left her mouth a sound of a strong whirlwind became audible. Hearing it, the group saw a streaking rainbow approach the field at a fast rate. Rainbow Dash, the distinct blue pegasus of the team came down with a satisfied can do stance after pulling off a voluntary somersault in mid-air.

“Naturally.......," the work horse murmured without a bit of surprise when Rainbow walked up to join them. “What’s the matter, Applejack? Still don’t like my style?” she blurped after a playful punch was delivered to Applejack's shoulder. “Same old Rainbow Dash," her friend chuckled amusedly.

"Okay Applejack, we are here. You said that you need our help in rescuing someone," Twilight spoke eagerly to hear what Applejack would have to tell them about the task, curious about the description of it's urgent nature. The anticipating work horse observed everyone and proceeded to nod her head. "Alright, everypony! Listen up,” the mare began only to find an ecstatically listening Pinkie Pie nearly glued to her cheek. Pushing the party pony to a more comfortable distance, she allowed herself to continue. “Okay, here’s the deal. Mah cousin’s three young kids went after their pet and seem to have gotten lost in Everfree Forest.”

The full description of the subject matter made the other mares react in concern. “When did this happen?”, Twilight asked worriedly. “Earlier today. Janice is all worried about their safety and I promised her that I’d bring them back," Applejack explained. A self-maintained determination overrid what concern she may have had now that her friends were present. “In that case we have to act at once if we want to find them before it's too late!" the unicorn concluded loudly, "Let’s go already."

"Follow me," Applejack instructed and marched forward impatiently. She never got far when Twilight bumped in front of her. "Ahem, if you don't mind Applejack, it's pitch black in there during the night and we need to see where we are going. It will take a little while till we find any tracks and we don't know what else we might bump into. I'll go first," she proposed, her horn already illuminating the surrounding field. "What ever ya say, sugarcube," the tan earth pony admitted, steadying her hat to distract her energetic over-eagerness with a relieved grin. Having two unicorns in the team had halfway ensured their still slight chances of success.

"I'll fly above the forest and scan the surroundings. Keep your lights bright. I'll find you if I see anything," Rainbow was heard from behind them, a notable confidence in the depth of her voice to which Twilight glanced back at. She already knew all too well that the pegasus was planning her usual reckless routine that the others too had become accustomed to during their long friendship. "Okay, Rainbow. Be careful," the unicorn advised.

"I'm not the one who needs to be told that," Rainbow snickered proudly, flexing her cyan blue wings to their full length a small distance behind them, "The forest is awfully clear above the canopy." She immediately shot up from the field and had gone behind the tree line which prompted Twilight's shoulders to sag while she watched her disappear. The cyan pegasus was among her dearest friends but her sometimes almost stallion-like antics can still frustrate a mare. "She’s such a show-off," Twilight sighed and simultaneously rolled her eyes.

Rarity was busy rubbing the dirt from her shoes yet couldn't help herself from noticing her friends bothered exterior. "Don't mind her. Maybe she knows what she’s doing," the other unicorn told Twilight. Pinkie Pie dropped her corn, willing to add something to the conversation. "Or maybe she doesn't," came her two bits, individual corn chunks sent flying by her moving lips.

"I think she’s really brave," Fluttershy stated quietly, having watched Rainbow's chosen route. Rarity chuckled at the comment. "Like we didn't all know that."

Twilight's attention was back at the forest, by now sharing Applejack's preparedness. "Come on, girls. Let's go find those calves." With her in the lead the group finally departed into Everfree, illuminating their chosen path with her light spell which Rarity too was mimicking. Understandably nervous to enter the forest, Fluttershy stuck firmly between the two lights whereas Pinkie Pie was hopping up and down, as sure of herself as she always appeared to be with the corn still carried along in her mouth.

"Ya don't reckon it's wrong to eat someone else’s property?" Applejack pointed out to which Pinkie Pie reacted by halting momentarily so she could spit the corn to the ground in order to reply. "It's going to be a long night! At least some of us need lunch," she claimed in a childish sounding revolt and picked her corn up again. Hopping circles around the others, the party pony began to hum some song that she had invented.

***

Low fog clung close to the ground, making everything appear more eerie as the mares made progress through Everfree Forest. Twilight halted the group to look around, the light in her horn shining. "Hello? Anyone in there?" she called out, carefully watching out for what was at their vicinity. "Vanilla! Rubber! Ginger! Please answer!" Applejack bellowed in turn. What answered was the echo of her own voice that that rang deep within the forest. A silence replaced it with standing calmness.

Fluttershy and Rarity observed their surroundings, nervous and unsure about the choice of action from the part of their companions. "Uh, Twilight. Applejack, are you sure that it’s a good idea to make noise like that in here?"

"How else are we going to attract the children’s attention?" they heard AJ ask.

"That's............kinda the problem," the white unicorn replied openly, visibly reluctant for her own specific reasons.

"We........don't know if it attracts someone......or something else too," Fluttershy added swiftly.

Twilight had not ceased from watching the surroundings but had understood what they meant, her own determination left unhindered by fear of the unknown, the light in her horn blazing as an almost symbolic representation of said mood. "Yes, I know. This place always gives plenty of surprises," she admitted, "But making noise is our best way to find the kids in such a large location. There could be miles between us and them."

Having moved closer, Applejack eyed Fluttershy confidently, knowing her capabilities. "Besides, even if something comes near us ya know how to talk it down don't ya, Fluttershy? You're among the best animal handlers that I'm aware of." The mare pegasus hesitated, inable to gather herself. "I uh.........uh.......," was all that she could muster in return.

"Hey, remember how ya made that dragon cry?" Applejack reminded, still remembering the time when the group travelled up a treacherous mountain slope to speak to a dragon that was polluting the air of Ponyville with it's smoke. Without Fluttershy's help their quest could have ended badly. She had gained her confidence to lecture the creature to the verge of mental breakdown when finding the others between a stone and a hard place. The resulting rain of dragon tears had literally soaked everyone. While it had happened years ago it still felt like yesterday to the work horse. Fluttershy was invaluable against all sorts of creatures that they had encountered.

"Well...........yes but........," Fluttershy mumbled with tacky exposition, still too hesitant to argue.

"Please don't tell me that you're afraid," Applejack chuckled in dismay. Fluttershy restlessly studied her surroundings, rubbing a hoof against another. "Well..........I kind of am," an awkward reply came.

"What kinda creature could still possibly scare ya?" AJ asked, having never thought of Fluttershy as someone to have anything left to be afraid of. Whether it be manticores, cockatrices or dragons, she had faced almost everything from the animal kingdom that Applejack herself knew anything about. Despite said belief Fluttershy was disturbed, eyes darting. "Well...........I fear creatures that.........stick to the dark," she revealed reluctantly.

A rustle startled everyone, followed by deadly silence. Alertly scanning the area with her eyes, Twilight used her illumination to wipe away the pitch black shroud among the trees and the trail only to find nothing on it. Yet the silence remained ominous, threatening, fog still clinging to the bottom of the dark forest.

The risk of a surprise attack was all too real for the group. It could be anything. Whatever it was, she would be the first one to face it.

Out of nowhere an upside down screaming form of a being that was hanging from mid-air popped to view. Intimidated, everyone jumped back in fear, even Twilight who's light became slightly filtered from the abrupt surprise. As soon as it happened Fluttershy was already gone, having executed a quick retreat through the roof of the forest.

Following all this was a laughter that suddenly filled the air. Dropping to the ground from where she had been hanging by using the thick, low-lying branches, Rainbow Dash cackled with satisfaction from the successful jump scare. Before she could gloat on the stunt too long Twilight walked up to her with a furious expression and sharply jabbed her to the chest with a fore hoof. Wincing in surprise, Rainbow keeled down in pain. "What did you do that for?!" she asked confusedly.

Twilight glared daggers at her friend. "This is no time for playing games, Rainbow," the unicorn scolded, "We have to find those children. Why aren't you up there looking for them?" Rainbow was looking down in shame and rubbed the spot assaulted by Twilight's hoof that had hit it's mark well. "I can't really see anything from above the canopy. It's too dark down here and it’s risky to fly within the forest," she explained unhappily, having been confident about her capabilities thus ignoring that light barely enters the forest during night time till she had discovered her mistake.

Taking in the explanation, Rarity looked on disbelievingly until she decided to move ahead from the arguing ponies. "I take back what I said earlier," the fashionist grumbled, "She doesn't know what she’s doing." Hear ears detected a faint thud of a dropping object. "Hey, that’s not a nice thing to say!" she heard Pinkie exclaim from behind her. A slight pause followed until the mare continued with clear sarcasm. "Yup, told you so," she giggled, having taken the whole thing as unseriously as was common from a serious party pony, the most resistant soul that Everfree Forest would ever meet during it's entire time of existing.

Having realized the seriousness of her stunt, Rainbow absently shrugged shoulders with a look of embarrassment, having grown regretful at seeing everyone react so harshly. "Whatever. I'll just go back up, that's where Fluttershy went. Call me when you need me," she expressed ashamedly. Before anyone knew it the mare had already gone as fast as she had appeared.

A grunt expressed Twilight's current feelings. "A total show-off......," she murmured with off-put depth from behind eyes that had now narrowed to mere cracks between two pairs of sagging lids. What confidence she had felt had been disturbed by none other than one of her own friends. If Rainbow alone had succeeded so easily it now became a good question how her nerves could withstand an actually dangerous encounter.

Applejack walked past, shadows moving around as she moved around the unicorn's light. Some minor skirmish between friends had not punctured her mental shield, a stern depth of voice indicating at central seriousness as she spoke. "Come on, Twilight, we must keep searchin’," she coached the unicorn, "I ain't stopping till we bring the kids back, intact or in several bits even if it means that Ah'll myself take the beating to make that happen. Ah made a promise and Ah ain't breaking that."

Motivated by her example, the group pushed on, Rarity and Pinkie Pie occupying the rear. Pinkie hopped along, having stuck behind Rarity to both for her amusement and confusion.

"Aren't you done with that corn already?" Rarity asked, looking at the bare skeleton of the vegetable that stuck out from between her friend's constantly moving lips. Pinkie Pie shook her head in reply and mumbled something playfully, still humming with perfectly synchronized up and down bounces in a seemingly endless energetic motion.

The threatening darkness of nightly Everfree surrounded the searchers, some of the trees swaying in the light, looking more or less alive than they might really be, a fact of life in a cursed forest that's older than any of the ponies who now occupied it's nightmarish reign. "Rubber! Ginger! Vanilla! This is Applejack! Can ya hear me?" Applejack's deep shouting rang through the area again.

Rarity rolled her eyes and trailed after Twilight and Applejack during which she searched the bushes and spaces between trees with her own illumination, the unicorn's motherly instincts fueled by a mental image of three lost younglings. "Poor little youngsters. Where can they possibly be?"

"You tell me......," Twilight exclaimed cluelessly while the search party swept through the area with nothing but Pinkie's bouncing and humming to comfort their minds. There was no way around the fact that the time needed to find the calves was going to be a lot more than a few hours. Mane 6 was facing a long night in the forest that again threatened the lives of innocents.

Unknown to everyone, something observed them in the darkness of the canopy, a silent eavesdropper that knew more about it's surroundings than they ever did.

***

Chapter 3: The Spider Whisperer

The Spider Whisperer

Above the canopy Rainbow Dash moved around in circles in futile attempts to observe the forest that lied beneath, crossing her arms in frustrated disappointment when it gave her no results. "Damn it! I can't see anything down there in this light," she growled.

Coming upon a beautiful looking flower that grew at the top of the tree, the mare halted to flap in place and studied it curiously. "Wow," she uttered to herself while watching it. To Rainbow's shock it snapped it's petals shut in an attempt to bite her snout when she got too near, a not so pretty offense to it's audience.

"Only Twilight and Rarity can illuminate their surroundings," Fluttershy told Rainbow a short distance away. The mares had stayed close to each other and were following the main group from above the forest by tracking the illumination of the unicorns. "I wish I had a horn too!" Rainbow shouted back in boredom.

***

Down in the forest the other mares had stopped to rest at a clearing after hours of searching. Twilight looked uneasy. The group still had found no clues to where the calves might have headed. With no such clues their efforts would not bring them any closer towards success. It might not even help prove whether or not the calves would still be alive.

"It's hopeless. The forest spans a vast distance. They could be anywhere," Twilight uttered as her face sank. Deciding that she was hungry, the lavender mare dug into her saddle pocket and pulled out a salad wrap, starting to munch on it. Near her Pinkie was eating what still remained of the corn that she had smuggled from the farm which Twilight was careful to avoid looking at, preferring not to lose her own appetite by the sight.

Applejack stood firmly in her position near them, determined eyes observing every direction with a resilient fire burning behind them which fueled her towards her goal. "Like Ah've said, it can take all night, the next day and even the night after that till I abandon them. Vanilla! Ginger! Rubber!" the work horse began shouting again, "Follow mah voice if ya can hear me!"

Pinkie Pie was heard mumbling something, still muffled by the corn which made Rarity all the more annoyed. Her own desire to touch any food had been lessened by the sight of the drool covered skeleton of the corn sticking from the pink earth pony's mouth.

Having finished the salad wrap, Twilight sat down to think and was speaking to herself, a troubling realization creeping in her mind. "Damn you, Twilight Sparkle! You should have brought Owlowiscious along. He'd be a perfect scout to help us. How come I didn’t think of that in time? Now it’s only going to be harder to find them." Sighing, she recalled how the owl had guided her to safety through the pitch black forest when they had saved Spike from a particularly grumpy dragon.

Pinkie had relaxed, persistently sucking at the remains of the corn until she suddenly sprang up upon seeing something and pointed up mumbling to alert Twilight and Rarity. "M-m-m-mmmfff! M-m-m-mmmff!"

"What is it?" Twilight asked. In an instant Rarity's unease returned. "I think she saw something." Pinkie kept mumbling. Twilight and Rarity looked far up to their right upon spotting what she had gestured at. Applejack drew near the others, also viewing it. High above between the trees a small red light had appeared, floating at mid-air in silence, moving sideways and starting to circle the clearing where they were which perplexed everyone.

"Never seen a red gloworm before," Applejack uttered. "I......doubt that's a glow worm...," Rarity whispered fearfully, uncertain about what she should expect from what she was viewing. In Everfree such uncertainty wasn't uncalled for. Twilight observed the phenomenon behind narrowing eyes. “It’s a ladybug.”

What she and everyone else saw was a red symbol floating in mid-air against the darkness of the forest that depicted a round beetle-like insect, a red carapace covered in black dots and a darker head with two antennae. A ladybug no less.

"Come this way," a whisper spoke to them without warning, echoing around them in the transmitting space of the forest. The brightly glowing ladybug moved away from them, down another path between the trees, away from the clearing.

It's intention was clear but could the ponies trust it? Making up her mind, Twilight acted at once and jumped to all fours, galloping down the same route it had taken. The others heard her determined shouting. "Come on! Come on! Follow that light!" Rarity looked on without budging in contrasts to her friend. "How do you know it's safe?" she called to the lavender unicorn.

"I'll take my chances," Twilight's voice replied back from the darkness as it became more distant. "You mean our chances!" Rarity screamed and went after her friend, trying to keep up as he group rushed to chase the red glow. Pinkie Pie bopped up and down like a bouncing rubber ball, the corn remains still carried in her mouth without a single sign of nervousness.

Everfree was a dangerous place but if it were a person it would be utterly ashamed knowing that it would never be able to break this particular earth pony.

***

Above the canopy Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy took note on Twilight’s odd movement which made Rainbow rub her mane confusedly. “What’s going on? She has picked up speed.”

“Maybe……they have met something?” Fluttershy assumed.

Doing a somersault and starting to descend, Rainbow called out as she went below the canopy. “Come on, Fluttershy, we have to go down to see what’s up!” Fluttershy did not comply and remained stationary, the rattle of her teeth acting as an argument. It would take a lot more to make this mare go back after Rainbow's earlier gag had scared her out of her mind. The other pegasus seemed to have learned it because she immediately came back to get her. “Come on, Fluttershy!” she shouted demandingly.

“Oh……….oh. Okay…..,” Fluttershy mumbled nervously and began to follow after Rainbow until her wrecked nerves got the best of her. She only got back up a few meters until a sharp tugging in her tail stopped her scramble. Looking down, she noticed that Rainbow had grabbed her tail with her teeth as a last resort and was giving her a stern glare. If it depended on her friend Fluttershy wasn't going anywhere but down after the others.

***

The glowing ladybug smoothly glided through the forest. Right behind it was the group of Twilight, Applejack, Rarity and Pinkie Pie, all in full gallop to stay in visible distance to the mysterious being that guided them.

“You will find them under the roots of the tree right behind me. Watch out for the trapdoor spider,” the whisper spoke again after the red light eventually slowed down, diving out of sight as soon as it stopped communicating. Twilight brought everyone to a stall after noticing something ahead. “There they are!”

Applejack had gone rushing past Twilight, being quick to spot the three tiny silhouettes below the tree some thirty hooves distance from where the group had emerged. “Rubber! Vanilla! Ginger! We came to take you back home. What’s wrong?” the work horse called loudly. At that moment Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy joined the others, having found them with the aid of Twilight's illumination and Applejack's calls. In their viewpoint the three calves had taken shelter between the large roots, spooked half-dead by something. Rainbow was grinning upon seeing them, remembering how they had departed the field only five hours ago and had expected the search to take much longer. With Twilight's teleportation they could all return home.

“We found our quarry,” the pegasus sighed. “Yes. But something isn’t right,” Twilight was heard, sounding iffed which made Rainbow's grin take a backseat. She knew what it meant, when Twilight suspected something it was rarely out of place.

“Kids! Why aren’t ya answering?” Applejack exclaimed worriedly. “Didn’t that voice warn us about a spider?” Rarity uttered, turning her head around nervously. “That ladybug sure didn’t take us here to misguide us," Twilight stated while she examined the open, slightly damp and marshy area that they had emerged to with seriousness, "Keep your eyes open.”

“That does it. I’m going to them,” Applejack grunted and boldly headed for the tree without fear at anything that would attack her. It took a short moment to the others to gain confidence but the others ended up following, eyes scanning the surrounding forest. Ahead of them Applejack reached the tree and peeked between the roots at Vanilla, Rubber and Ginger, Lenny the cat placed between Ginger's hooves that shielded it from an unseen enemy. Despite the confusion Applejack attempted to comfort the calve's unease. “It’s okay. Applejack’s here. Let’s get ya back home."

Vanilla's standing eyes stared at her rescuer, fearing for her safety aside her own. “Watch out, Applejack! It senses vibrations!” the tiny nervous voice of the filly warned the adult earth pony. What ever had scared the kids so deeply had left a visible mark. Acknowledging the mysterious nature of Everfree Forest, Applejack retreated her head back out upon the calve's warning to observe the forest yet what could be threatening them at the moment hadn't shown any signs of appearing. “What in darnation is going on in here??” the mare uttered and glanced around her in confusion, only seeing the other mares who now stood beside the tree. Like their friend, they were looking around.

Twilight's unnerve was slowly disappearing. Any giant spider that she had ever been in contact with would find it hard to ambush them in an open marshy environment without being seen. “No spiders here,” the unicorn concluded. "M-m-m-mmmfff," Pinkie Pie started mumbling again without making sense because the corn still muffled her voice which Rarity growled at in return and yanked the vegatable out of her mouth, loudly expressing her irritation with a grunt. “Will you please stop sucking at that corn?!” the unicorn cried out in anger in regards to the disgusting antic.

Having again lost her corn, Pinkie licked her lips with a "hmph" before speaking. “Just wanted to emphasize that the voice specifically spoke about a trapdoor spider which tunnels itself underground," she began until her focus suddenly became directed elsewhere when she spotted something. "Oh, and I also want to notify you about the presence of that wyvern.” The pink pony then pointed a hoof at the trees.

A local forest inhabitant had found the search party.

To the pony's dismay what looked like a trunk of a bulky tree turned out to be the wing membrane of a stealthy creature. The wings pulled apart to reveal a malevolent beast closely resembling a dragon or a hydra that stood on two legs like an over-sized chicken, sporting long talons with sharp claws in separate arms hidden under both wings and a head of a carnivorous fish. A long tail uncoiled itself, a split to which several barbed forks ended at each tip. The mouth opened wide to vocalize a spine tingling screech like nails scratching on a chalk board.

Momentarily distracted away from the danger, Pinkie Pie was looking at her eaten corn, studying and sniffing it until she pulled back, realizing how long she had tried to feed off the vegetable. “Blegh! I need a new corn.”

The wyvern approached the group, forcing them to retreat against the tree, the calves still having not moved from underneath. “Fluttershy!”Twilight's scared voice raised above the scared gasps and whimpers of her friends and the commotion of the monster. The mare pegasus squeaked once she heard her friend who continued. “Only you can stop that creature. Do something now!” Twilight shouted.

“Like what?” Fluttershy asked which made Applejack stare at her in dismay. “You know, like, talk to it?”

“Oh, I don’t know about that…….," the shy pegasus argued which only helped to heat AJ's temper. “Just remember the dragon!!” the work horse barked, now made impatient by Fluttershy's hesitation, a coaching that seemed to finally hit it's mark. “Oh………okay……” Fluttershy gave in and began to flap her wings, flying to meet the wyvern.

Seeing the approaching pegasus, the dragon-like beast halted it’s progress and snarled, drool falling from between it’s long teeth. Fluttershy reluctantly approached and tried to communicate. “Uh………hi, mister or miss wyvern, whatever gender you are,” the mare began. Another snarl left the wyvern's mouth that was licked in preparation by a long tongue. The beast liked what it saw, a potential dinner that had willingly come within it's reach, it's behavior indicating that it hadn't eaten for days. Instead of panicking Fluttershy simply continued. “I was simply going to ask you if you could possibly………leave us be?”

Behind her the group witnessed a conversation you wouldn't expect to find yourself in. Utterly dismayed, Twilight found her own hoof embedded against her face, a gesture that Applejack repeated. They had not expected Fluttershy to be so reluctant. Everyone was in danger yet the shy mare pegasus was unusually slow to act on everyone's behalf.

The wyvern sprang forward like a snake, trying to grap Fluttershy who evaded it in time with a sideways dive, the monster tracking it’s floating prey. A new snarl emanated from the long throat and the mouth widened to roar with a great force, the gust of air blowing Fluttershy's mane back and splattering her with strands of sticky drool.

The creature's last mistake. Shy or not, no one would be messing with Fluttershy's hygiene. Her eyes narrowed and began to radiate, locking to those of the wyvern. The Stare! Any creature that gets captured by it stands no chance. No different from it's preceding victims, the wyvern became frozen in place, visibly surprised as Fluttershy approached her attacker, settling right in front of the beast's eyes like she were repeating her encounter and discussion with the mountain dragon that had taken place years ago.

The tables had turned.

“That is not how you speak to a fine lady!” Fluttershy exclaimed angrily to which the wyvern returned a feedback of scared squirming, becoming visibly afraid, “Listen miss or mister wyvern!", I don’t know where you have learned your bad manners but that has got to change at once!" the enraged mare lectured, "You have no right to treat innocent travelers the way you do! Did I make myself clear?” she added and crossed her front hooves.

The creature was already nodding in panic, having curled up to a ball which grew a wide grin to every face in the closeby audience. “All she needs is some better self-confidence," Applejack giggled

Fluttershy wasn't done yet. “Now I’m going to ask you to be kind enough and leave us alone right away," she kept scolding the monster, "And don’t you dare bother anypony else either from this point on or else we are going to have another conversation about your manners. Alright?” To this the wyvern nodded in surrender and hastily uncoiled itself from it's fetus stance, moving away from Fluttershy with surprising speed. It's fear had overwhelmed what hunger had tormented it. This wyvern certainly wouldn't be attacking her again.

Deeming the situation safe, the naturalist rejoined her friends, the other mares applauding at the feat that she had once again pulled off. “You did it again, Fluttershy!” Rainbow congratulated to which she added a shoulder punch. “Way to go, sugar!” Applejack added to the already overwhelming praise.

”I think now is a good time to get the kids back home. This forest offers more dangers than that thing," Twilight remarked and pointed at the wyvern a distance away that they could still see retreat across a clearing littered by jagged trees.

It didn't get much further. An invisible entity snatched the creature diagonally from under the ground with a giant pincer and dragged it out of view, a happening that was over in a time shorter than it takes for you to say cupcake. The ground elevated from a belch at where the pincer had emerged, having swallowed it's prey. Witnessing it as it happened, the search party was muted by utter shock of the surprise.

“Poor wyvern still had so much more to learn,” Fluttershy deemed with sadness and wiped away a tear. As badly as it had behaved toward her she still felt sympathy for the creature.

Before them the clearing started to move again like a vertical lid, accompanied by loud tremors that shook the ground underneath the mare's hooves. Something immensely large was pushing it up from beneath as easily as you can open a garage door, the trees growing on top of the lid wobbling and spraying dry leaves from their aged branches. The enormous entity that had eaten the wyvern revealed itself, several armored limbs and feet that belonged to a giant trapdoor spider unlike any that Twilight and her companions had ever seen emerging with flexible motion. This spider was a colossal monster almost half the size of an Ursa Major, so huge that it had to live under the forest. Things had gotten more serious, an unfortunate fact that made Twilight's ears droop down.

“That………….is………….one……….big…..spider!!" Rarity barely managed to express from behind her own rattling teeth. “Wow! Compared to that the spiders in our barn look like scrawny mites,” came from the awestruck work horse who's mouth was hanging on it's hinges. Having exited it's hole, the spider looked down at the ponies, mandibles clicking against each other, the grid of eyes glowing greedily which everyone backed away from.

Twilight's limbs wobbled as she faced what new doom threatened her life, still taunting herself for having forgotten Owlowiscious before she noticed that Fluttershy had inexplicably disappeared from her side. “Uh……….Fluttershy?” she called out nervously as the waking spider's deep grunting and burping filled their ears. “F-F-Fluttershy? We……really…….need you again,” the unicorn repeated during which the monster finally moved forward, dragging it's huge sack of a body towards them, the long feet leveling the soft green turf. It belched again, another ground trembling step bringing it even closer as it's massive bulk brushed against the foliage. The forest was barely offering it enough space to move without toppling from it's path.

“Fluttershy! Where are you?!" the unicorn's terrified voice called for the only pony in the group who could turn the tables for their favor again, said pony now uncooperatively hiding under the big tree with the fillies and the colt. Two hooves shielded her head, every joint in her body trembling, a sight which Applejack's head popped between the roots to spot and gape at. "You’re not afraid of spiders!!" she literally roared. Instead of answering Fluttershy squeaked in fear, further shielding herself.

“Y-y-y-yes I am,” she stuttered quickly.

"How come?!" AJ shouted disbelievingly at what she was being told, "Ya get along fine with ones back at home!”

“Not when they are the size of a corn field.”

Despite loyalty to friends some occurrences can overwhelm a pony to such an extent that it leaves very little room for reasonable thinking. The animal handler had met her match. Taking it in, Applejack’s eyes crossed over each other from the sheer disbelief overload which resulted to an expected conclusion. The work horse flopped to her stomach and laid still, having fainted.

The spider was rubbing it's longer mandibles together like a cook sharpening knives. It was getting ready for the dessert following the wyvern. What distance there still was between it and the mares wasn't enough to give them the time needed to get out of the way. Twilight thought furiously, a neural process that did not fail her when she came up with a plan to buy everyone an opening. The unicorn concentrated at the essential move of her strategy and clenched teeth. A bright flash of light followed, released from her still glowing horn that was aimed at the monster's eye grid, a plan that succeeded to momentarily blind the attacker. “Run! Take cover!” Twilight cried out and rushed to the opposite direction, she knew that her small trick would only slow the spider for a few seconds, seconds that could separate them from painful death that she wanted her and her friends to be safe from.

Yet she had forgotten something essential, skidding to a halt once she remembered what it was. “The calves and Fluttershy!” Twilight gasped in horror. It was too late to regroup, the spider had already regained it's sight and lifted itself on all eight legs to chase the ponies that messed with it's vision, the fatter middle section now levitating over the forest on the support of the legs that carried the immense weight of it's user.

Things had gotten very serious indeed.

“Applejack!” Rarity called at the earth pony who now lied motionless beside the other threatened hiders. Applejack had gained consciousness just enough to realize what peril now faced her, Fluttershy and the calves when she looked up to see a giant armored leg land not far from her position. Deciding to take the gamble that she knew might already be lost, the mare rolled to the safety of the tree's underskirt, dropping her hat in the process. Her hoof reached over to grab it to pull her beloved decorative possession out of view, a perfect timing when the spider circled around the tree. If the ponies stayed still and quiet long enough there was still hope that they'd remain undiscovered.

“I’ll save you!”

The colossal spider looked up just in time to notice a cyan blur come flying at it with a bullet's speed. Landing a square hit at it’s armored face, Rainbow ricocheted back from the carapace of her robust opponent and came to a halt a few meters away, eyeballing the colossus and what it was doing. Even with the futility of trying to cause enough damage to the giant insect she put up her hooves with eagerness to fight it. “You might be hard as nails but you still have to keep up with me!” the mare gloated.

The spider grunted, lifting one of it’s pincers to deliver a strike which Rainbow dodged. An individual tree became an alarming example of the monster's brutal strength when the hit intended for the pony struck and shattered it's trunk. Not hindered by fear of what she had seen happen to the tree, the mare continued her attack with two corkscrews, skillfully passing around the spider’s legs to seek an optimal position. Rainbow spun like a drill bit and went for another offense, this time attacking one of the eyes in the grid with well aimed blow. Again the spider rubbed it’s face, getting antsy which tempted the mare pegasus moon and cackle at it. “Oh, look at the big bad spider. Over here, slow poke!” she again gloated to lure the eight legged behemoth away from her friends.

She had successfully drawn the creature's attention to herself but what happened next took Rainbow by surprise; The spider suddenly gave a primal shout of such intensity that it formed a strong whirlwind which struck her and caused the mare to spin backwards, ending up flattened against a tree. Without a sign of passive slowness the maddened spider was already upon her. Screaming, Rainbow pulled away to save her coat from a pincer that proceeded to uproot the tree as fast as you can unwrap a candy paper. Saved from the initial attack, the pegasus gasped when the trunk crashed over her landing position. The spider had used the tree as a fly swatter to hit what to it's point of view was a pesky blue fly that had yet again saved itself by moving out of the way.

Despite it's immense size the spider effortlessly jumped after her, chasing the flying pony through the clearing and threw away the tree that it was carrying. Agile like a four armed boxer with a fix at the flying nuisance of a meal, it delivered punches to thin air, each strong enough to shatter the pony's every bone. Now in a pickle, Rainbow was finding all of her acrobatic skills invaluable in avoiding herself from becoming mincemeat.

Momentarily losing track of what it was trying to turn to pudding, trees uprooted themselves at the path of the monstrous spider when it tore through the forest in a not-too-good mood, unused to work so much in catching meager evasive food, a beast that you wouldn't want to be in the same proximity with when it goes ponypoop crazy. Said lesson in her mind, the pegasus that had become a target to it's rage regret letting her guard down with beliefs about a finished mission as she pressed her back against an individual tree that she used as her hiding spot after diving out of view. Rainbow swallowed quietly and felt a new impact tremor rock her surroundings. Her breather wasn't going to last long, the colossal spider was already getting close.

Yet she wasn't by herself. Twilight and Rarity had joined right beside her to use the same tree for cover. “It’s tougher than I anticipated. There’s not much else that I'm capable of,” Rainbow whispered to her friends. “You can distract it," Twilight whispered back, "That way I will get enough time to reach that tree and teleport the children back to the corn field." “More of the same for other words," the tomboy of the group sighed, "Sounds like a plan."

The tree pulled away and was replaced by snapping pincers. The screaming mares fled for their lives as one such pincer burrowed itself to the soil, having again missed it's intended three targets. The titanic monster invertebrate hadn't given up on venting it's fury. And the ponies were it's stress relievers, something that was against reminded to Twilight, Rainbow and Rarity by a crashing noise that was followed by a whooshing current of air that blew their manes over their eyes. A trunk had just been uprooted and flung with great force, smashing against other trees several yards away. The spider's poor aim had thankfully spared them from an instant death.

Nearby a rattling suddenly became audible. “Stop rattling your teeth, Fluttershy," Applejack's loud exclaiming followed. Hearing it, the spider turned curiously. Distracted from chasing the other mares, it moved back towards the tree where Applejack and Fluttershy had been situated, their cover now blown. The group was running out of precious time.

“Oh no!” Twilight exhaled upon noticing, "Rainbow! Distract it away from them!"

The only pony capable of manouvering fast enough to stand a chance had taken flight again and was floating still on the support of her wings as she listened. “Here we go again.....," Rainbow shrugged reluctantly and went for a new dive, preparing herself for a new desperate struggle with a lethal powerhouse. Even with her expectations on a good basis she gad underestimated the opportunistic memory of her opponent that now anticipated her approach, having learned a thing or two about the pesky airial attacker. Guessing her position, the colossus positioned one of it’s limbs sideways to cut her off.

Unable to dodge what she couldn't spot in time, Rainbow bounced against the hard armor with all wind knocked out of her lungs and fell like a damaged fighter plane that formed an impact crater on the forest floor. Loose soil rained to litter the edges of the hole, two cyan hooves and a rainbow tail sticking above the ditch. “That was cheating! I want a rematch!” a delirious voice uttered from the bottom of the hole.

Scooping her up, the spider studied it’s captured meal with curiosity, stroking the rainbow mane and shaking her. It’s tongue slurped, sliding against the other tusk-like mandible. The wyvern may have been larger than most of the ponies but the spider's appetite was not gone. A small delicacy is still a delicacy which the colossus took along like a big child carrying a small blue doll during it's move towards the hiding ponies that it had seen. Helpless to assist, Twilight and Rarity remained aside to watch the unfolding tragedy, feeling small and helpless themselves against a foe that they had ran out of ways to repell.

The spider came upon the tree to uproot it which revealed Applejack, Fluttershy and the calves from underneath akin to pastel colored parodies of small burrowing insects that attempt to stay out of a predator's reach. Under the mercy of their potential doom, the eyes of the fillies and the pegasus grew wide. By now Applejack's toughness had gone on a vacation, the work horse feeling a new sensation within herslef when every bit of her body turned to jelly at the sight of the giant spider that reached at them. They had found the calves but could Mane 6 survive the forest inhabitant?

“Stop right there!” a powerful voice hissed which for reasons unknown seemed to have an immediate effect when the spider hesitated. “You won’t eat those ponies! Step away from the tree!” the voice continued, the same whisperer that had guided everyone to the location.

A brain housed deep within a mountain of soft parts and a hard carapace became confused. During it's entire thousand year lifespan no being had spoken to it like this. The giant spider was grumpy and hesitant, not appearing to have fully understood the demand of the whisper that continued, “I said step away from that tree!” it sounded much louder with a clear male tone.

Whoever was speaking had abandoned his mere whisper, all for a true need against an especially difficult customer that finally backed away from the uprooted tree. “Put her down. Now!” the voice shouted in awareness of the tiny captured figure that still dangled from one of the pincers. Afraid by the strange speaker that mastered it's tongue, the behemoth squealed nervously, carefully lowered Rainbow to the forest floor and swiftly pulled back once releasing it's grip from her. The voice had it under it's charm.

In the darkness of the trees the glowing ladybug symbol approached. As it got near the shadows subsided and revealed a green pegasus with a slightly messy brown mane sporting red highlights. The ladybug was situated at his flank, an apparent cutie mark. “Good girl. Now go back into your hole," his words resonated around the forest which the spider growled unhappily at. The other tiny creature had confiscated it's dessert.

"Just get out of here, you big brute!” the green pegasus exclaimed more loudly. Still repelled by the strange voice that spoke to it, the monstrous body sagged from a deep breath as it took in what it had been ordered to do. The colossal spider's cracking limbs leveled the soil when it pulled itself back to the giant hole entrance, crawled inside and forcefully slammed the lid shut which caused the trees on top to shake for a moment before everything settled to a rain of dry leaves.

The pegasus kept an eyeful watch on the spider’s hole to make sure that it wouldn't come back. Starting to descent from where he had been floating on his wings, the strange pony ended up next to Fluttershy, the calves and Applejack who simply returned a silent look at his surprisingly feminine facial features, the hooves of the pegasus eventually coming down.

“Are you hurt?” the pegasus asked the mares.

***

Chapter 4: Bringing Back A Stranger

Bringing Back A Stranger

The green pegasus watched Applejack calmly as the mare's jaw still hung below her face. "No worries. How…….how did ya……..who are ya?" she managed to utter a reply to his question. Before he could answer the pegasus noticed Twilight, Rarity and Pinkie Pie approach them, Pinkie carrying Rainbow who looked battered and had a black eye but appeared to be doing fine with the earth pony's help whereas Twilight was busy eyeing the newcomer.

"Those types of questions have to wait," the unicorn stated and walked over to the calves who had gotten up from what used to be the bottom of the uprooted tree, all three mesmerized by what they had witnessed moments ago. “Okay, Vanilla, Rubber and Ginger," she told to all three, "I want you to close your eyes because there will a bright flash. It will take us back to your home. Are you ready?” The kids nodded in unison and did as she had told them. Even Lenny the cat had understood the instructions because it's eyelids shut themselves as it rested in Ginger's caring grip.

“Keep an eye on him girls. I’ll be right back," Twilight said without forgetting the pegasus who was worriedly scanning everyone around him, observed in return by everyone present.

“Thank you for helping us, mister," Vanilla shouted in gratitude right before a bright light went off. A silence followed, the strange pegasus still looking concerned and probably thinking to himself whether or not he should stay as everyone remained put.

After only a minute had passed another flash of light signalled the reappearance of Twilight who came back alone. As the smoke settled she rejoined the rest of the group, again observing the stranger who barely returned a glance, a situation that he found truly awkward from his own point of view. “Now we can discuss properly. Who are you?" Twilight asked their reluctant assistant who took a long time to reply. “Call me Ladybug Faith," the pegasus uttered quietly.

Hearing the name, Pinkie Pie and Rarity started giggling which caused Faith to blush. “Yeah, it is a rather strange name for a male pegasus," he admitted. Unlike the others Fluttershy wasn’t showing signs of bewilderment, instead resorting to a simple, warm smile. “I think it’s a beautiful name for a beautiful stallion," was her usually shy statement.

“That spider was behaving like it understood you," Twilight addressed sternly, "May you care explain it?” Faith sighed at the enquiry, reluctant to give away his secrets to those that he didn't know beforehand. “Why do you want to know that?”

“Are you kidding me? Without your intervention some us would be in it’s stomach by now," she replied, treating the question as pointless, "Speaking to an enormous creature like that isn’t something that every pony can do.”

“Uh…….I can," came awkwardly from Fluttershy. “Ya were clattering your teeth under the roots with me in case ya don’t remember," Applejack scolded her friend which gave her the turn to blush in shame. “Sorry about that," she apologized.

Wary at how the purple unicorn was speaking to him, Faith backed some steps to add breathing space between him and his newly gained companions which didn't add sought comfort because the mares immediately came closer to adjust the distance. “Seriously, when did this become an interrogation? I can talk with insects," he uttered defensively, "It’s an ability that I have, simple as that.”

“I’m sorry, Faith. We have only just met and some of us are rather shaken by that spider," Twilight added politeness to her approach, proceeding to step over and place a hoof on his shoulder, all to Faith's displease. “Thank you for your help. We owe you a favor now. I’m Twilight Sparkle.”

Rainbow Dash stretched herself next to Pinkie Pie, giving the stallion confused glares as another bone in her body relocated itself which caused a loud crack that made her sigh in utter relief. "Rainbow Dash, at your service," she greeted him half-deliriously. "Ah am Applejack, thanks for helpin', handsome", the tan earth pony exclaimed cheerily. ”I'm Rarity," the fashionist added her own greeting, "Is there anything that we can do for you in return?”

Having listened keenly, Pinkie Pie instantly changed position. Faith was already nervous from seeing how the overly ecstatic pink earth pony moved quickly as she did, her following suggestions in no way less peculiar. “Yeah, yeah, I could make you a perfect cake or something! Oh, I know! A party!!" she exclaimed in anxiety and pulled confetti out of nowhere to shower it over him. How the earth pony had concealed the party decoration without any visible bags or a harness he could not guess.

“Thank you so much for your offer but………..," he tried to talk himself out, a decline which cast a silence over everyone.

"But?” the work horse enquired.

Faith sighed again and shook his head and looked up towards the forest canopy. “I have spent much of my young life all by myself here in these woods. Guiding others back is something that I feel is all that I need to do," he explained, a sign of almost melancholic pride seen from his face. "It is a duty that I gave to myself. I'm sorry but I really want nothing in return."

The mares seemed moved by what they heard, staring wide eyed at Faith who gave them short glances with a fake smile to boot. “I get what I give. That’s my own personal belief,” he concluded, “Thanks but no thanks. Now, I think you should return to your homes. Everfree Forest is a dangerous place," the stranger advised. His wings carried him straight up where he came to a halt to give the other ponies one last glance. “Have a safe journey," he shouted one last time until his forward momentum carried him away.

Again by themselves, the group stood frozen and slack jawed until Twilight suddenly shook her head. She wasn't satisfied, in fact the contrary. The stallion had refused a good offer for ridiculously noble reasons as well as having left out crucial details about himself, details that she wanted to know now. “Now………now hold on just a moment," her loud voice exclaimed.

Some distance away Faith was unaware of the given call until he came to an abrupt stop in mid-flight when a magenta aura enveloped him. “Wha-------? Hey! Let go of me! Let go," the stallion wriggled in the magic that had closed him to an unbreakable bind and now pulled him back towards the clearing and the group. Having returned Faith to their reach, Twilight finally let go, somewhat careless because the pegasus landed on his butt, quickly back on all fours.

“What are you doing? Didn’t I tell you that I don’t want anything?!" Faith protested in fear. “Don’t be afraid," Twilight attempted to ease his mind in turn, "We don’t wish you any harm.”

“Then……….why are you looking at me like that," the doubtful pegasus asked slowly before Pinkie Pie popped up right beside him which motivated the stallion himself to jump sideways. “Relax! We just want to reward you for helping us. I'm Pinkie Pie, by the way," she finally introduced and winked an eye at him which was followed by her dropping out of view as quickly as she had taken position.

“Please! I don't want anything,” a now startled Faith kept protesting and swallowed quietly as his eyes darted side to side like Pong dots to keep track of everyone around him, a tragically comical sight that brough a smile to Twilight's face.

"Okay, that’s it, I’m out!” Faith claimed nervously and made a run for it in an attempt to escape but was instantly pulled back by Twilight who dropped him back to his now shaky hooves with the same feat of magic. Trying to flee appeared futile. “I’m warning you! I know some martial arts! What do you want from me?!" Faith asked half-heartedly and put up his hooves to a mock fighting stance in an attempt to perform his way out, already knowing that his pretended toughness looked pathetically fake, an argument that was only returned with affection and kindness. “To help you in return for your help, " Twilight communicated, "Why don’t you come to Ponyville with us.”

“What?!" the pegasus' surprised yelp answered, "Everfree Forest is my home," came the claim that only brought a grin of bewilderment to the unicorn's exterior. “No it isn’t. You just said it yourself. It’s dangerous here even for you. Please, come with us," she pleaded.

“Why? Why do I have to? I’m doing fine here," Faith whimpered, "Can’t you just let me be? Seriously, you're starting to creep me out,” came the new part of the debate which helped maintain Twilight's amusement.

“I’m……..afraid we can’t just leave you here," she giggled, "You said you're all by yourself. You really shouldn’t be alone, Faith, not when you are still young," she explained and approached him, helping the stallion back on his trembly hooves. “Despite your attempt you won’t be able to conceal that there is more to your story than what you have told," she added confidently. "We’d love to learn all of it but can’t do that here. It means that you have to swallow your pride and come back with us.”

“Why am I so special all of a sudden that you actually give a darn about my problems?" Faith argued with more depression seeping through during which his face flopped towards the ground. “I just know," Twilight claimed, "Come on, Faith. Let’s get you to a more comfortable place to discuss.”

Not willing to do as told for his own reasons, Faith bit his lip and kept backing away. “Please, you don’t understand," he spoke in panic, "I have been isolated too long to follow you. Please, Twilight Sparkle! Don’t force me to go against my own will. I’ll be fine, I'll be fine!”

Twilight gave a wink at her friends who immediately guessed her intentions which they signalled with a returned gesture which is when she spotted a tear roll down Faith’s cheek. Smiling affectionately, she reached over to gently set a hoof on his shoulder after wiping it off. “I understand you, Faith," she again tried soothing his mind a claim that came out of the blue for it's listener.

“You...do?" he asked in disbelief. “Uh-huh," Twilight answered with a nod, suddenly filled by anticipation. “Girls…..”

“Aye aye, captain!” came from five energetic mares who rushed over with a look on their faces that spoke against the belief of the stallion who's eyes filled with fear at the instant when he realized what was happening, already finding himself tackled and held against the ground. Faith struggled under the mares, their combined weight effectively trapping him in place. They were planning something that demanded for him to remain stationary. “Let me go!! I don’t want to come with you! Don't force me!”

”Stop wriggling, Faith! We’re making this easy for ya,” Applejack barked without releasing the grip that she had gained from around his back limb. ”Help!! Help!! Somepony!! Anyone!! I’m being violated by crazy ponies!!" a deafening shout from Faith's vocal chords rang in the woods which the mares giggled at. They knew that he was overreacting. As they struggled with him Twilight rested down beside the others in preparation after she had ensured that they would manage without her help.

“Faith, we are in Everfree Forest. Stop being ridiculous and relax. We're trying to help,” she reassured until her eyes shut themselves. The unicorn's horn lit up and gained incremental brightness which brought back the image of the unicorn teleporting the three calves to Faith's mind, a spell that she was obviously going to use again only this time with everyone else who held him pinned.

“No Twilight! No! No! No! Please! Listen to me! Don't do it!" Faith begged desperately, instantly stopped from crawling away by the steady grip of the other mares. “Keep him still, girls," Twilight instructed them, "We don’t want him to slip away at the wrong moment. Teleporting all of us back to the library eats up a lot of my energy."

“I don't want anythiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing!!!!," one final desperate cry left the pegasus.

The glow at the tip of her horn grew blinding and a white orb took shape as she clenched her teeth, still hearing Faith's loud sobbing. The time was late for him to scramble.

A bright flash swallowed Twilight and her friends, leaving behind the empty forest clearing which again became disturbed when the giant spider peeked from under it's lid to confirm itself that they had gone, a short inspection that ended when the lid fell back down.

***

It was an hour past midnight as Twilight's living room sat empty, in peaceful quietness, a scene quickly broken by a bright flash that went off in thin air and dropped seven tumbling ponies to the middle of the wooden floor.

“I d-don’t w-want………anything," a stuttery voice whispered from underneath the pile.

Twilight rested on her side, breathing heavily from the teleportation that had taken a lot from her stamina. Lying on top of the others until the unicorn's strength slowly re-charged, she rolled off Applejack and Rarity, flopping to her stomach on the floor which a short whistle followed. "That might be the longest distance that I have travelled by teleportation so far with six ponies no less," the mare stated in exhaustion, still breathing with heavy gulps until she finally gained enough energy to get up standing, "Well, it worked." Satisfied, her steps brought her through the living room, leaving the rest of her friends to gather themselves up from the floor. "Come on everyone. Let's have some tea," she told them while navigating her apartment.

Rainbow Dash was rubbing her blackened eye, barely managing to stay on the support of her hooves. The mare's stubbornness had allowed her to assist the others in holding Faith still but only barely because her injury made it difficult. Secretly ashamed, she was forced to admit to herself that the giant spider had not only given a beat up to her physical essence but also the mare's self-esteem that currently ached more than the facial bruise. "I hope you got coffee because I could use some right now. I'm a smashed potato."

Applejack noticed Faith who wasn't moving. "Come on, handsome, it's over now. Please join us, you're the honored guest here," she tried to cheer him, "Don't be afraid, you’re in good company." Faith didn't respond nor move, nudged and tapped with the work horse's hoof until a sigh expressed her fristration.

"Twilight. Mind coming here for a second?" AJ shouted for Twilight who was already approaching them from the kitchen. "I put some water boiling," she told the farm mare and inspected the stallion who had by now began to hyperventilate. "Please try to co-operate, Faith. Relax, we only want to help you," she repeated calmly yet in growing concern as she sat down beside him.

It was then that Faith's eyes snapped open and stared at the ceiling. Two grown dishes that were his retinas were dampened. "It's no use! I can't do it! I can't do it," he murmured, sounding nearly broken and barely capabloe to whisper, "You have taken me out of my own personal solitude against my will. I will never last in the civilized world. Don't you understand? I'm finished!"

"Aww, don't be such a pessimist," Applejack cooed like a mother speaking to a complaining child and gently touched his shoulder, "We'll help ya find your place." The mares lifted Faith up from the floor. A work horse, a badass and a caring friend to those in need, Applejack followed her instincts by catching the falling stallion against her shoulder as he began to tip sideways. "We can't just leave you alone in your own devices, Faith. You need friends. And a good place to stay at," Twilight encouraged him almost as if she knew of some underlying potential. Combining their effort, the duo carried him to the long couch located very close which Faith flopped down on.

Deciding that she had helped enough, Applejack went to the kitchen to join the others. Left behind, Twilight gently stroked Faith's brown-to-red mane and took in his facial features that made him look surprisingly mare-like, a mixed trait that she had yet to encounter in opposite genders. The stallion was skinny and barely clean enough to be considered hygienic from living in the forest for a time that had yet to be defined.

"Just give us a chance to help you. Rest here while I bring you some biscuits to eat. You look tired," she told her guest and went away momentarily, soon returning with a plate of and set it down to a chair beside the couch. Faith kept his eyes at the ceiling as another tear rolled down the feminine cheek. "You seriously believe that you can help me. "

"Uh-huh. I do," Twilight nodded.

"Then I sadly must inform you that it won't be possible," The pegasus sniffed, "You can't help me. No pony in Equestria can." He paused hesitantly. "The name Ladybug Faith, it's something that I made up for myself. I have no original memories of who I am, who my family was and where I used to live. I do not remember anything from my past. I can't..............remember...........," was the last thing that came from his lips before the stallion's eyes took a roll back after which he began to snore quietly. The stallion's tired mind had slipped away to sleep.

Grabbing the blanket on the sofa, Twilight pulled it over his shoulders to walk back towards the kitchen with a moved smile. Even so her mind found itself greatly disturbed by the reveal that concerned the memory loss of the pony who called himself Faith.

***

Chapter 5: Seeking For Clues

Seeking For Clues

“That giant spider hits like hundred mules and a brick wall at once,” Rainbow uttered, wincing as her damaged nerves signaled her brain when she rubbed her sore looking eye at the table the three mares stood around.

Applejack gave Twilight a questioned look as the mare unicorn rejoined them. A glowing mug of tea floated up in her magical aura, the pot of hot water following to pour the mug full.

"He is resting now,” Twilight said and simultaneously poured milk into her cup, stirring it with a spoon as steam crept up from it's contents.

“Poor stallion. He must have been under a lot of stress,” Applejack spoke silently to break the momentary silence.

“Well, we can’t completely blame him for resisting like he did. We did take him here by force," Rainbow said while slurping the good tasting herbal tea from her own cup.

"Faith needs help, Rainbow, " Twilight told worriedly, "He has been living alone in Everfree for who knows how long with no one by his side. Being by yourself is one thing. Being mentally lonely is even worse."

“What can we do for him?” Rarity asked as her tired gaze followed the strands of vapor floating up towards the ceiling.

”He said that he does not recall anything from his past," Twilight replied thoughtfully as the other listened silently, still recalling what Faith had told her just a moment ago, "That means he must have lost his memory somehow. We should start by renting him a temporary apartment from Ponyville."

“What if he tries to run away while we are busy?”, Applejack asked.

”I’ll keep him under my watch," Twilight answered, still thinking, "Spike and Owlowiscious can help me with that,” the unicorn decided. Judging from how Faith had tried to escape them she deduced that he wouldn't stay around when awake.

“Then what do we do after he has settled down?" Rarity asked while pushing her now empty cup aside.

”We could try to search for his family," Twilight told the other unicorn, having finished up her plan at that point, "He certainly must have relatives. It might take time because we don’t know where he originates from. He could be from anywhere.”

“That’s not something that we can’t handle. Just show his picture everywhere in the pegasus state,” Rainbow said, by now also done with her tea and looking better.

“You got the job, Rainbow," the unicorn exclaimed in delight at the suggestion, "In any case Faith is going to spend a while here in Ponyville.”

“Hang on. Where’s Pinkie Pie?", Applejack said, looking around for their pink companion and taking note of her suddenly missing. The other earth pony had apparently slipped away while the others had been discussing.

"She's always full of surprises.......," Rainbow uttered, narrow lids concealing an eye roll.

***

Outside Celectia’s magic was bringing along a new day as the sun raised itself to view from behind the horizon. Beams of sunlight illuminated the space of the living room and the sofa where Faith slept quietly.

There was a sound of quick footsteps heading down the stairs. Along came Spike, Twilight's baby dragon assistant who had just woken up from his good night's sleep. At the bottom of the stairs he began stretching and yawning to get his fluids flowing before spotting Faith at the cough.

"Huh? Where did this fellow come from?" the surprised dragon googled at the stranger.

The sound of hooves clacking against the floor signaled his ears about Twilight's appearance to the living room. Proceeding to check on how Faith was managing, she approached her assistant, having gotten up way earlier than he had.

"Nothing to worry about, Spike. I invited him here while you were sleeping."

"’Invited?" Spike asked curiously, "You make it sound like he doesn't have a home."

"He soon will. I promised to try and help him," Twilight said, "He has been living without any company for a rather long time."

Spike was now observing Faith's facial features. "Funny, he looks like a mare," he said curiously before double checking, "Are you sure you got the gender right?"

The remark made Twilight deliver a slap over his head with her hoof. "Spike," she scolded, "Have you still learned any manners? You can't just speak of a pony like that because they look a certain way," she lectured in a sudden uptight mood which made a look of embarrassment appear to Spike while he rubbed the crown of his green head scales.

"Sorry, Twilight. I went a bit too far."

Next to them Faith had moved slightly, eyes already open and stealthily looking around the living room. Twilight and Spike had not noticed.

“I hope you don’t mind if I must ask but where exactly does he come from? He looks a bit skinny,” Spike asked the unicorn.

“You don’t want to know,” Twilight replied, a bit nervous about what she referred to.

In a swift move Faith jumped up from the sofa and flied towards the open window. The timing had not been good as Twilight's eyes caught the attempt.

“Oh, no you won’t,” she exclaimed. The horn on her head lit up.

Faith found himself once again pulled back by a magical aura that enveloped around him, preventing him from moving on his own. Instead of struggling futilely he simply crossed hooves, already used to being constrained by such a way from the previous night. This unicorn was skilled enough to keep him well contained with her magic.

“Just put me down already," Faith spoke out in annoyance.

Twilight brought him over to where her and Spike stood, gently placing him down on the long cough.

“Why are you imprisoning me like this," the pegasus asked, slightly depressed.

Spike listened in dismay. “Did I miss something?”

“It’s for your own good," Twilight told the pegasus, "If you run away in cowardice we will never be able to find a solution to your problem.”

Faith remained indifferent. “I don’t know what that is supposed to mean, miss Sparkle,” he replied in frustration.

Twilight smiled at him kindly, glancing at Spike who was studying Faith aside her before speaking up again. “This is Spike. He’s my personal assistant. Say hi, Spike,” she said cheeringly.

Spike rubbed his chin with a hand until communicating. “Uh…….hi. You are?”

"Just call me Faith,” the pegasus introduced with a fake smile. “Nice to meet you, Spike," he added politely.

”Hope you enjoy your stay in Ponyville,” the baby dragon eventually smirked and headed through the living room, ”I’ll be in the library. Those plant books need sorting out," he said to Twilight.

“Just make sure you brush your teeth and eat your breakfast first," Twilight called after him in an almost motherly fashion.

“Yeah, yeah! Always giving me the same lessons," Spike was heard uttering in annoyance.

Twilight and Faith were now alone. Deciding to walk over to the cough and sit next to the pegasus who himself remained silent with both hooves and hind limbs crossed, Twilight received no eye contact from her house guest who was looking more tense by the moment.

“You do realize that this is considered a kidnapping?" the pegasus mumbled at her, clearly bothered by her close presence.

“Only if we took you away from your actual home," Twilight said jokingly.

“Why can’t you believe what I said last night?," Faith argued with clear annoyance, "Everfree forest is my only real home. I can’t find true solitude from elsewhere.”

“You know that isn’t true, Faith,” Twilight replied.

A momentary silence lingered.

”Listen, Faith. You can’t just run away from your own problems. Please speak out. Trust me," Twilight said, a sign of worry tangible in the tone of her voice.

There was yet another long pause until Faith eventually communicated again. “I can’t. It’s too complicated for all of you to understand," he answered with a sad, almost indifferent way of speaking.

“I have learned many things since moving to Ponyville that you yourself might find way more complicated," Twiligh told Faith, "I believe that your problem isn’t too difficult for me and my friends to help solve.”

She looked down on Faith’s flank at the ladybug cutie mark. It's vibrant reds and blacks stood out clearly from his greenish coat.

“Let’s start from your cutie mark. Do you remember how you got it?" she asked him.

Again Faith remained silent, doubtful and looking away.

“Please, Faith. Speak to me," she pleaded him calmly.

After a third long pause Faith sighed, chest sagging. “When it first appeared I had………," he started slowly.

“Keep going," Twilight egged him on, intent on listening.

“I had gone through a difficult ordeal," Faith finally added, still reluctant.

“What happened?," Twilight enquired.

Faith kept himself quiet. The conversation had progressed rather slowly.

“I don’t want to speak about it," the pegasus mumbled.

”The only way I can help is with information. Please trust me, Faith," Twilight tried to assure him. Her effort had carried them only half-way towards results but the unicorn remained patient with her case.

Faith got up from the sofa and walked through the living room as Twilight tracked him, confident that Faith now understood the futility in trying a retreat. Even if he would she'd be ready to stop him during such an instance. As she watched the pegasus sat down to the middle of the floor and crossed his back legs to a meditative pose of sorts.

“When I was a young colt I could not find my own place among others because of my physical features," he said, "I was deemed strange by other youth, especially the stallions. A physically feminine male horse is indeed hard to come by."

A short silence lingered.

"All that abuse and loneliness.…..I’m a freak," Faith uttered under deep breath, face sinking.

"That isn't true either," Twilight soothed her guest, "There are plenty of physically unique individuals all around Equestria."

In her own mind she wondered whether she was being completely honest to him. Faith was truly the first feminine stallion she had ever met.

He too behaved doubtfully towards her claim. “Oh really? Well, I was the only weirdo around my neighborhood," he said back with visible sarcasm.

Twilight prepared to speak again before something else crossed her mind which made her confused. ”Hold on a second there," she exclaimed, "If you can remember those details how come you can’t-----“

“Remember my own name and family?," Faith cut her off before she finished, "I just can’t. It’s all a blur.”

Twilight's stare started wandering as her mind reached an obstacle. “That can’t be right," she uttered.

“Well, that is nevertheless the case," Faith spoke from the middle of the floor, having closed his eyes while relaxing in his position, "I have no memory of my own identity."

Twilight had again gotten up from the sofa and approached him. “What happened before you got your cutie mark?” she asked professionally.

Faith took several deep exhales, again visibly nervous. The mare unicorn was really keen on getting near him and he didn't seem to like it one bit.

“Take your time," he heard her say calmly.

“To best explain it I must describe the emotional state that I was going through back then,"Faith began, uncertain about how to accordingly narrate it to her, "It was a tug-of-war. Me against my own bitterness.”

Twilight listened silently, once again with an expression that reflected concern.

“I was in a serious pickle," Faith continued, "The bitterness was gaining a life of it’s own and tried to overpower me. It almost corrupted my essence.” He looked up from the floor and at Twilight standing next to him. “I had to do something. I care about what is happening to me,” he sobbed as tears started to roll down his cheeks. Immediately Twilight’s horn glowed and a handkerchief floated over to which Faith blew his nose.

“Thanks."

Twilight smiled. “So let me get this straight," she said, "You faced your own bitterness and pushed it away?"

“You certainly know how to make conclusions, Twilight," Faith uttered in surprise.

“After you pushed it away. What happened then?", Twilight asked his guest.

Faith rubbed the back of his neck with a hoof while recalling details. “I believe that is the exact moment when I lost my identity and got the mark.”

Twilight looked at him, eventually turning and heading down the same direction Spike had gone earlier. “Come this way, Faith. We have to check my library," she told him.

“Regarding my cutie mark?", she heard the pegasus speaking. An impressed smile widened. “Seems like I’m not the only pony here capable of making good conclusions," she said joyfully.

Behind her Faith had gotten up from the floor and was following her out of the living room. Moments after they entered the library, finding Spike standing on a ladder, busy in organizing books against the high shelf.

“Just make sure that you don’t mix the Poison Knowledge with Potion Awareness,” Twilight spoke to him.

Spike shrugged his shoulders as he worked. “It’s the hundredth time that you tell me that, Twilight!" came a frustrated reply.

Twilight chuckled. “Just making sure that you keep up with the routine, Spike. You’ve been slacking lately.”

“Alright! Alright! Thanks for the advice. Again," Spike growled at her.

Faith observed their conversation shyly. Twilight turned her attention back to the pegasus. “I need to ask you something very important. Just try to remember," she told him.

Faith sighed, his head taking a steep downward incline. “Bring it.”

“Was your flank empty before the ladybug appeared," Twilight asked.

For a moment Faith tightly focused on recalling his past. “No," his answer came, "I believe I did have one even before that."

”Then that must naturally mean that the ladybug is your original mark," Twilight concluded.

“I personally doubt it," her guest uttered skeptically, “It’s strange but it almost feels different. I can sense it somehow. This is not the cutie mark I used to have," Faith concluded.

Twilight's brows literally bent as she glanced aside thoughtfully, eyelids narrowing. “That seriously can’t be right. Every pony remembers when and how they have gained their marks and also what it means to them," she said, not making sense from what he had told her. Going to a book shelf, the unicorn let her eyes sweep it.

“Should be right around………there!"

Twilight used her magic to pull a singular book out from the shelf and set it down to the reading desk. Instantly the book opened up, the pages turning in a magenta glow as Twilight observed the pages.

“This book contains knowledge about the purpose of cutie marks. If I’m right it should explain things.”

Faith remained at the back, watching the shelves curiously as Twilight flipped through the book.

“As you may already know, a cutie mark appears to a pony after they do something that they strongly enjoy," she said, "It defines our abilities and roles in society. Your own cutie mark holds a clue towards a solution.”

Behind her Faith rolled his eyes, bothered to listen. “What I pulled off was hardly enjoyable. How does my cutie mark relate to that?”

“It does relate quite much, Faith," Twilight smirked while still reading, "You said it appeared during your memory loss. As strange as it sounds everything that happens in this world has some sort of purpose. Everything affects everything either by magic or by simple natural law.”

“Karma," she heard Faith state from behind.

“A decent figure of speech," Twilight replied. The piece of literature closed up and floated back into the shelf.

“The book didn’t mention anything about a switch between cutie marks and your condition definitely isn’t cutie pox," the unicorn said behind narrow eyes, adding an additional shrug, "That means this is going to be a whole lot more difficult to crack.”

After taking a quick look at Faith’s flank she came to another shelf and scanned it the same systematic way. Another book was pulled out and placed on the desk.

“What do you know about ladybugs?", the unicorn asked him.

“From what I have heard while listening insects I know that they have a role in the natural balance," Faith answered, not fully sure about the intention of the given question.

”There’s more than just that," his mentor explained. The book opened up to a page depicting a rather stylistically illustrated drawing of a ladybug casting a blessing on a sad pony, the blessing changing it's mood to that of happiness.

“A ladybug is also known as a bringer of good luck to those who treat it kindly. That cutie mark must have some relation to it," Twilight theorized and closed the book to send it back to the shelf before again observing the feminine stallion.

"What ever happened to you years ago has been a rather bizarre form of good luck," she said.

Faith seemed doubtful. "Twilight, I respect your opinion but I can't treat it as good luck," the pegasus chuckled half-heartedly and glanced at the ladybug on his flank. Looking back, he found Twilight's hoof placed on his shoulder, much to his annoyance.

"My dear Faith. If it had not been good luck you probably wouldn't be the way you are," she comforted him.

Faith's other eyebrow lifted in confusion. "Could you please speak the common language?", the pegasus mumbled, now being the pony not making sense of things.

"What I mean is that if you had not gained this cutie mark your bitterness would have probably won you over," Twilight added.

Faith was silent for a moment, eyes standing open upon a realization. "You have a point, Twilight," he admitted concernedly, "But it still does not explain why I can not remember certain things."

"I'm confident that there is a reason for why you lost your memory, Faith. We'll figure it out together," Twilight again assured before a grumbling sound interrupted her.

Faith's stomach had just expressed itself loudly with visible signs of hunger.

"Poor Faith. We need to get you something to eat," Twilight chuckled, holding a hoof against her mouth as she exited the library.

"Back in Everfree I survived with berries, roots, and fruits," Faith explained as he followed her with the same reluctance he had displayed during the entire time he had spent in the house.

Hearing the reveal, Twilight gasped in shock upon hearing and spun around. "It's extremely good luck that you are still breathing, Faith! Don't you know anything about Everfree?" she lectured the stallion in anxiety.

Faith took her reaction calmly, recalling things that only he had experienced somewhere in the depths of his mind. "Yes, most of the plants in there are either cursed or poisonous," he admitted, aware of the gamble that he had once taken, "It is very useful when you can speak with insects. They know everything about what is edible to a pony like me."

The ponies arrived back in the living room.

"Why don't you start with the biscuits I left for you last night. They've been sitting unattended," Twilight told her guest. Wrapped to a glowing magenta aura, the plate came flying and set down to the nearby coffee desk. As soon as it stopped moving Faith grabbed one of the cookies and started chewing.

"Once Applejack returns from the town she'll be able to offer you something better food wise," Twilight told him when Faith swallowed the small bakery product.

"Thanks. I still don't understand why you have all been so helpful towards me. All I did was convince the spider to leave you alone," the stallion said, grabbing another biscuit.

"You did much more than that, Faith," Twilight added, "If you stick around patiently you will learn about what I mean."

She looked over, having detected a knocking from the front door. "It's Applejack," Twilight exclaimed in delight, jumping up and down as her horn glowed to let her friend in.

A grin widened at the instant Applejack saw Faith standing. "Look who's all up and shining," the work horse cheered and walked over, "How ya doing, handsome?", she snickered.

Faith blushed, starting to choke on the biscuit he was chewing, prompting Twilight give him a slap to the shoulder to try and help him breathe.

"Doing all fine," Faith garbled, still coughing. After managing to loosen the biscuit in his throat he then proceeded to smile weakly, a slight improvement to his earlier fake grins. Applejack brought her hoof forward to nudge his other cheek.

"Look at ya poor thing! All skin and bones," she uttered with worry while Twilight chuckled next to them."

"Our guest needs something to eat. He is starving," the mare unicorn explained.

"I've got just what you need, Faith! Follow me," Applejack told the green pegasus and turned to trot back towards the front door with him not too far behind, Twilight also accompanying them.

Outside rested a wagon full of different apple based foods from which Applejack produced a beautiful pie and threw it right below Faith's hooves. "Dig in handsome. All free for you and there's more where that came from," she told him kindly.

Faith looked down at the pie. "What?", he gasped. "Oh, no, no, no I can't……," the pegasus babbled.

"Please do, Faith. You have to eat," Applejack spoke as assuringly as an experienced apple farm keeper could, stepping forward to push the pie closer in order for him to take it.

Faith stared down at the apple pie placed right underneath him, hooves suddenly wobbling. The girls watched him, confused to see him react the way he had. Faith's state worsened as he began to gasp repeatedly, tears streaming down both cheeks.

"Did Ah do something?", Applejack asked nervously.

Still aware of his feedback, Faith toughened up just enough to speak with a tremble. "I have never been given this kind of hospitality since I became-----------“

A new emotional surge cut off his exhale and made him freeze momentarily. The the mares it seemed clear what would happen next.

Eventually the dam broke. Faith burst out crying and sunk town to his knees to weep loudly, the lawn below him getting a soak.

"S-hhh! It's okay," Applejack attempted to soothe him, the trio already getting looks from a few passer-by ponies who had taken notice.

One of the windows in Twilight's house opened by itself. A flying handkerchief appeared outside and floated down at them, settling in front of Faith who once again blew his nose. A glow disappeared from Twilight's horn.

"Thanks," Faith's broken voice told her.

"Now be a good boy and eat your pie before it walks," Applejack told him. After a short pause Faith finally took a bite out of the pie while the farm mare looked on proudly with a loud deep breath.

Faith continued to feast, getting more accustomed to eating as Applejack returned to her wagon. After doing some digging she returned with more pies in tow, piling them next to Faith, slipping another pie under his radar as soon as he completed the first one. Faith's eyes watered as he looked up, licking his lips.

"Thank you, miss," came the polite thanking.

"Call me Applejack," she said, wincing at the sight of his skinny frame, "How did ya ever end up to such bad shape?"

"We got plenty of time to go through those details," Twilight bumped in thoughtfully, "Faith and I have been talking about it."

Sounds of munching accompanied her voice. Faith had reached a fifth bite on his second pie.

"I think everyone would like to hear it from him personally," Applejack replied while looking at the stallion.

As she too observed Faith's dining Twilight remembered their tea conversation from the preceding night, quick to bring it up. "To change the subject, did you find an apartment?," the unicorn enquired her friend.

Applejack seemed amused by something regarding the mention, lifting the edge of her hat with a hoof.

"Would ya know it, Pinkie Pie has already arranged it," she revealed while laughing.

"Really?", Twilight blurped in dismay. "Well..........she’s awfully fast."

Applejack's eyes rolled. "Unsurprisingly," she added. By now Pinkie's peculiarities were all too familiar to her friends.

Faith finished the other pie and carefully cleaned himself, finishing it all with a satisfied burp, slapping a hoof on his mouth in shame. "Pardon me. I haven't eaten like this for a long time."

“Don't worry, Faith. Eat as much as your stomach can muster," Applejack cooed, liking his manners.

Faith rested on the grass, rubbing his full belly. "I think that was about it for now," he sighed, closing his eyes. Before he fell asleep Twilight approached and nudged the pegasus. "

So, how'd you say if we go check your apartment?"

Faith jumped to all fours with a gaping mouth, the eyes of the pegasus standing wide. "My.......apartment??", he uttered, not believing what he had heard as his head tilted sideways, "First I get a night rest, then apple pies and now an apartment? Who are you ponies?!"

Twilight and Applejack erupted to a simultaneous giggle from witnessing his reaction.

***

Chapter 6: A Home To A Stranger

A Home To A Stranger

Twilight, Applejack and Faith passed a gardener who was hydrating potted plants under an opened sun canopy while fillies played with a hula hoop a distance away. It was a rather ordinary day in Ponyville except for a searing heat that descended upon them as they made progress through town on their way to see the hastily acquired apartment that Applejack had told Pinkie was responsible for.

“Looks like Princess Celestia is working overtime today. This heat is robbing mah liquids. Ah haven’t pulled enough carriages lately," the work horse said from under a deep breath while pulling her cart and wiped sweat forming on her forehead.

“The infamous goddess of Canterlot,” Faith asked curiously, seemingly having learned about the name before.

“Yes, Faith. Maybe you’ll get to meet her and her sister someday," Twilight said to him.

The pegasus shrugged half-heartedly.

“I don’t think a powerful being like her really cares too much about lesser creatures like me," Faith mumbled after showing visible doubt at Twilight's certain sounding pep talk which made her glance at him.

“Don’t swallow till it drops, Faith," the unicorn told him, "She is much more than just a typical ruler. Princess Celestia cares about all living beings. Trust me, I'm her student."

When Faith had met the six mares the preceding night he had already felt confused about the unicorn's strangely obtrusive willingness to help him. The revelation regarding her profession made it sound slightly more sensible yet peculiar. Instead of asking her more the stallion turned silent again to watch Applejack who stubbornly pushed on with her load, more sweat soaking the mare's strained face.

“May I share the load?”

“Thank ya but I think I’ll manage," Applejack spoke.

While it added a nuisance the heat wasn't affecting her motivation nor strength for she had been accustomed to work in such conditions. Nevertheless forced to stop with a look of momentary annoyance by Faith who suddenly blocked her path, the farm mare saw him return a stare like a kitten begging for a toy.

“You just gave me two free pies, Applejack," Faith continued his polite approach, having gotten to an overly assistive mood, "It’s the least that I can do as a favor. Please.”

Eventually giving in, Applejack grinned from impression. “Okay, Faith. Just look out for bumps in the road. It’s a heavy load," she said before getting out of the harness. "And don’t stress yaself too much,” she added thoughtfully as Faith immediately took her place.

After strapping himself he started pulling, clenching his teeth, limbs shaking as he yanked slowly. The wagon wasn't budging. After a moment Applejack was shaking her head, wondering whether it was a good idea to give the pegasus the reigns after all.

“Are ya sure ya can manage, Faith," she asked concernedly.

The wagon finally nudged forwards to slowly gather speed. Faith had still not given up, focusing his energy to the task.

“This is not………….just a matter of……..…….simple muscle mass," he managed to utter from behind closed teeth, puffing, “It’s……..………also the matter of…….………muscle control.”

The pegasus was embracing the task openly. Although not equalling the pace of Applejack, the wagon now moved at decent speed. Showing effort in pulling it, Faith managed the load, gaining smiles of approval from Twilight and the work horse.

"Lookin' promisin', handsome! If ya teach yaself just right we might hire ya to work at Sweet Apple Acres," the work horse nodded with a short chuckle.

Some distance away Pinkie Pie had appeared, smiling her usual over-the-top cheery grin and bouncing up and down like a rubber ball as she approached. Twilight, Faith and Applejack instantly halted their own advance at the moment of seeing her.

“Pinkie! Where have you been? You left without telling us last night," Twilight sternly barked at her friend who pranced over to hop in place in front of the three ponies.

“Sorry, Twilight. I got so ecstatic in planning Faith’s party that I couldn’t wait to start the preparations," Pinkie explained so fast that the words almost merged with each other.

”Pinkie,” came simultaneously from both mares who shared the same narrow eyes of disapproval.

"What," Pinkie asked with the same happy posterior, "Faith needs some cheering up after his long time in Everfree.”

“Don’t ya think it’s a bit too early----------," Applejack began to ask before Pinkie cut her off, focus shifted to Faith who had stopped pulling the wagon.

“Hi, Faith! Nice to see you exercising already. Wanna come see your party place,” Pinkie's voice enquired with fast forward speed.

“Pinkie! He hasn’t settled in yet,” Twilight contrasted in annoyed resistance.

“Nonsense, Twilight," Pinkie replied happily, "Every pony needs to have their own welcome party as soon as they move in. It's my special gift.”

Already she had jumped next to Faith. Very few in Equestria equalled the sheer mental energy of Pinkie Pie, something which he was finding disturbing.

“Let Twilight and Applejack handle the wagon, Faith. Relax, you’re gonna have so much fun," Pinkie's meshed quick-speech babbled.

“That’s exactly what I’m afraid of," Faith uttered after barely keeping up with her intentions. He was still too slow, already yanked off the harness.

"What----------?!” Faith exclaimed as Pinkie literally carried him away.

Twilight ran after them, more annoyance tangible when she shouted.

“Pinkie! Wait for us!”

Somewhere ahead they heard their friend call out to them. “Just turn left from the next intersection! It’s the house right next to the big green one. Can’t miss it," she instructed them.

“Help!!” Faith's panicky scream followed.

Applejack strapped herself to the harness to join Twilight, apple products tumbling around the wagon as they gave chase. After passing the roads using the given directions they came upon to the porch of a vintage styled olive green house. The work horse removed her harness and walked towards the front door to spot a custom made banner with pink letters reading “Welcome Ladybug Faith!” suspended just above the doorway. As they approached their ears were picking up sounds of music from inside.

“Pinkie Pie is going to scare him away before he gets any chance to find himself a suitable state of mind in Ponyville," Twilight growled.

“That’s our typical Pinkie. Always rushing to things," Applejack replied, "Come on, sugarcube, let’s go save Faith.”

***

Inside the building’s brightly decorated lobby was a group of ponies invited by Pinkie, having gathered around her and Faith who was quietly shaking.

“Oh, this pony is so cute!", a mare laughed warmly.

The now all anticipative Pinkie nudged Faith's side. “Go on, Faith. Say hi to everyone!”, she encouraged him.

“Uh………hi," Faith managed to mumble at the party guests.

“Hi, Faith!”, a loud answer came from the crowd which to his ears sounded like an explosion.

A chatty stallion with a moustache walked over.

“Welcome to Ponyville, Faith! Hope you enjoy your stay with us," the stallion said, shaking hooves with the green pegasus who simply went along quietly, "You will have plenty of friends before you even know it," the stallion continued, blinking an eye at him.

Treating it as an awkward situation, Faith was giving everyone around him a fake smile, constantly evading eye contact until a slap to his butt added a severe shock that made him leap a distance off the floor with a sudden yelp. Behind him the moustached stallion was moving on to chat with other party guests. He had mistaken Faith for a mare and was expressing his own playful antics.

Before Faith recovered Pinkie Pie landed on the table that he was standing next to and exclaimed anxiously “What are we waiting for," she gave a shout, "Let’s get the party started.”

Popping a vinyl disc to the record play and bringing down the needle, Pinkie rocked her hips in sync with the provocative fast tempo music that started to play. She leapt off the table to slide through the floor on her belly using the forward momentum and came to a halt to roll back to her hooves in a wide spirouette, starting to dance. Looking at it, the rest of the party group was inspired to get drawn in to the same activity.

Faith stood frozen and simply stared at what was happening, feeling clueless about how he should correspond without sticking out too much. Sneakily the pink earth mare popped up behind him, having changed positions in a blink of an eye. “Come on, Faith! Don’t just stand there like a statue. Have some fun.”

Faith found himself grabbed again. “I’ll teach you to dance," Pinkie told him and yanked the stallion closer to take both of his hooves into her own, rocking herself to every direction. Witnessing it first hoof, Faith noticed a warm sensation spreading to both of his cheeks to realize that he was blushing.

“I call this move the Axle Twist," Pinkie said with a giggle, her dance partner swallowing quietly. In an instant Faith's point of view rotated like crazy. Pinkie had started to spin him in place like a thrombi, balancing his head with her hoof like a rotating basketball placed upside down.

“Pinkie Pie! Please stop! I’m getting queasy!”, Faith's increasingly anxious voice shouted from the middle of the turmoil which made her release him. Faith stopped spinning, dropping half-way to the floor as his eyes still went on in circles around the sockets. Shaking his head to regain his bearings, Faith found himself completely disoriented.

“Sorry, Faith!", Pinkie giggled, "You’re going to need more dancing lessons till you get to really appreciate it.” Noticing his state, she moved a hoof side to side in front of Faith’s vision. “Hello? Earth calling Faith. How many hooves?”

What Faith himself heard was a doubled voice.

"Come enjoy some sweets," Pinkie said, already pulling him away from the dance floor. After reaching the coffee table she took a cream cake from among the offerings and stuffed it in her face to chew loudly and swallow the treat.

“Yum yum! Strawberry cream cupcakes," Pinkie slobbered, "Try one, Faith! They’re really good. Freshly baked. I made them myself.”

Without waiting she grabbed and placed another one right in front of Faith’s snout. Still disoriented, the stallion turned ill from seeing the cream on top in addition to Pinkie's still messy face. The stallion's cheeks bulged outwards, a hoof covering up the lips as he tried to hold back the apple pie still within his stomach from exiting through his mouth.

“I’m sorry, Faith. I shouldn’t have used the Axle Spin on you so soon," Pinkie uttered, slightly embarrassed when she licked her face clean.

At that moment Twilight and Applejack entered the lobby.

“Told you two it wasn’t hard to find," Pinkie called out once spotting her companions who came upon the coffee table.

“What are you up to, Pinkie?” the unicorn chuckled with a head shake.

“What? I just figured he’d need an apartment during his stay," Pinkie uttered in return.

“That’s……..kind of what we had in mind too if you had just waited a little," Twilight told her amusedly.

“Well, because of the acts of a certain hard working mare he now has one ahead of time!", Pinkie revolted, already next to Faith as she pranced up and down, her quick speech making a comeback.

“You have got to see your living quarters. The rent has been paid to the house owner and I’ve done some decorating for you. C’mon!”

Again she yanked him away to head up the stairs. Twilight and Applejack followed their trail. “Pinkie Pie!” the mares called out simultaneously.

***

Pinkie slammed the apartment door open and pushed Faith through, landing to her knees with open limbs to present the space.

“Ta-daa! So what do you think, Faith?”

Faith wasn't about to answer, instead staring ahead with utter horror in his eyes. Behind them Twilight and Applejack galloped through the door, coming to a screeching halt after seeing the apartment with their own reaction not very far from that of his. What they were looking at was a two-space apartment with walls a mix of pink and red color, all pink furniture, huge plush teddy bears littering one corner and a basket full of candy placed on the table, the ceiling crown above the desk wrapped in pink confetti. The bed at the far back had been piled with pink heart pillows. Opening right behind that was a large open window with pink curtains, sunlight filtering from between them.

What Pinkie Pie had arranged worked well for a party pony who preferred an all-pink color palette. All except for one setback; Faith was not an experienced party pony nor accustomed to all-pink. As he stared at the room in the same frozen state the stallion found his other eyelid throbbing.

“Really?” Twilight uttered with an extremely slow exclaim.

Applejack was now holding a hoof in front of her mouth, looking like she had seen a really good comedy.

“Oh dear Pinkie," the farm mare chuckled.

“I’d like to see you do better,” Pinkie exclaimed bitterly, annoyed at the feedback her work had stimulated.

Faith's sobbing broke the following momentary silence.

“Don’t you like it?” the party mare asked worriedly as the sobbing continued.

“It’s………..fine!”, Faith replied, the white lie obvious from underneath.

Changing spaces, Pinkie now appeared between Twilight and Applejack to blow a raspberry next to their ears “See? I knew he’d like it," she revolted, almost sinking through the floor to zip back by Faith's side with a rediculous smirk.

By now Twilight's face got a playfully devious look as she moved deeper into the apartment. “Don’t worry, Faith. I’ll handle this," she tells the stallion, full of determination.

Aside Pinkie's eyes widened.

Strange things started happening in the apartment when Twilight's magic got to work; the pink furniture changed color, the confetti unwrapping itself and flying away. The plush toys at the back began to float and glide out of the window with the heart pillows. With a gasp Pinkie leapt forward to tackle one of the teddy bears in mid-air and brought it down, hugging it as she did.

Despite her best effort the plush teddy disappeared to thin air in her grip. The pink pony's face sunk with a deep exhale. “Gimme a break," she uttered from behind a drooping cotton candy mane.

The changes went on, furniture realigning itself with new pillows appearing on the bed. After everything else settled down one single pink heart pillow set down among the new ones.Twilight was grinning joyfully at Pinkie who rolled her eyes from noticing the small touch.

“Jeez! Thanks, Twilight," the earth mare thanked with heavy sarcasm and crossed hooves.

“Just so Faith remembers that we do care about him," the unicorn replied and glanced at the wall that shifted colors, the shades of pink and red turning to green and purple. "There. Already much better," Twilight noted, sounding satisfied after finishing the task.

Accepting defeat, Pinkie slinked over to the bed to flop down on, burying her head under the one sole heart pillow.

Having underestimated some of Twilight's capabilities until seeing them in action, Faith stared at the new apartment with a hanging mouth. It looked like a different room.

"Well?" the mare unicorn asked, snapping him awake.

"I suppose it will do," the stallion uttered back.

"Now that you have moved into your apartment I suppose we can finally leave you to enjoy some well deserved solitude," Twilight said before taking a sharp look at the feminine stallion. "But before we go there is something important for you to know first," she told in seriousness, simultaneously coming closer to where Faith stood, "Don't try to sneak away from Ponyville. I will be watching you by ways that you possibly can't grasp with two of my assistants for back-up day and night. You are within my reach and as long that is the case I will stop all of your escape attempts the same way I have done before. Will you promise that you won't run away?"

Faith listened with an eye roll, a deep breath leaving his lungs. He had understood.

"Yes, Twilight. I promise to stay put," he admitted reluctantly.

"You have spent a long time alone and aren't used to staying in a town full of ponie who you don't know against your will," his mentor spoke, calmness having returned back to her voice, "I know it feels strange. But I wish for you to trust me and my friends. We are doing this for your good from our own free wills. If we work together you will find a better life again."

Faith appeared to not like what she was saying, staring out of the window absently like he was trying to escape an upcoming consequence.

"Come on, girls. Faith wants some peace," Twilight expressed as she went for the door.

Before she and Applejack had gotten anywhere near leaving Pinkie jumped out of the bed and came after them.

"Wait!"

The exclaim of the other mare halted Twilight at the door as Pinkie reached her and Applejack. "The party is still going on downstairs," she babbled, "I arranged one more surprise for Faith."

"Well, spill the beans, Pinkie," Twilight said curiously, already facing away from the door.

"There's a photographer waiting to get a group picture of us so Faith can always recall his bachelor days in Ponyville," Pinkie explained eagerly.

Behind her back Faith turned pale, having overheard. Before he could conceal it a loud gasp exposed his reaction to the others.

"Something wrong, Faith?", Applejack asked the pegasus, ready to assist him.

Faith quickly changed tactic. "Nothing, I've been through a lot last night and today," he replied with best attempt to make himself look tired. The horse moved over to the table and sat down near it, looking towards the floor. "I think I should rest a little."

"But the party-----," Pinkie's argument started going before Twilight's voice put an early end to it.

"Faith has a point, Pinkie," the unicorn stated, "A photo session can wait for another day."

The earth pony shrugged in disappointment, her face taking a new incline as she waved a front hoof in a fit of frustration with bent down brows. "Butterfly’s buttocks! Oh well, we could always have another party later." Shrugging yet again, she trailed after Twilight and Applejack who themselves were already at the door.

"Rest good, handsome. I'll bring you more pies," the work horse told before closing the door.

Faith remained by the table, hearing the others leave and now by himself in the two-space apartment.

***

Downstairs the group of ponies was still partying, dancing and enjoying sweets. Pinkie passed by everyone, face hanging as she headed over to the table housing the record player. The music cut off as her hoof lifted the needle off the vinyl record. The party crowd reacted in surprise as Pinkie gave them her full attention.

"Party's over," she exclaimed half-heartedly, "Faith is resting upstairs and wishes to be by himself. I'm so sorry about this, everypony."

A small uproar of protests answered the statement. To Pinkie it was a sign of reduced party hours spent with friends and colleagues.

In due time the crowd had accepted the early end to the party and exited the building’s front door, some of them satisfied by the little treats they had enjoyed, others let down by an abrupt stop to their fun time, none more than Pinkie Pie herself who stood at the doorway, personally giving farewells to the party guests. The photographer she had mentioned was among them, a stallion with a fashioned grace wearing shades and a costly looking jacket, a masculine colleaque of Photo Finish.

“All this valuable time wasted when I could have spent it taking photographs of something better," the stallion grumbled with a smooth accent, sounding rather unhappy.

“I’m so sorry about this, mister Flash Hoofer! Could we try again a bit later?” the pink mare called after him.

”There won’t be a next time, miss Pie," she heard a displeased shout answer a distance away, "Find somepony else!”

Her eyes watered, shoulders sagging, Pinkie's bitter disappointment having received the cherry on top of it's icing. The banner hanging above flopped down and covered her body like a cape when she pulled at the rope used to suspend it. The party mare stared at the floor, almost imitating Faith with her current state. Twilight and Applejack passed this sight as they exited the front door, the last mares to leave the house.

“Don’t you think it’s a little strange?”, Twilight asked AJ, the work horse returning a confused look.

“What? Something about Faith?" the other mare uttered.

”The reason he has been hiding," Twilight continued sceptically, "It feels a little too elaborate to be just because of his lost memory. It isn't the reason for why he avoids social contact and it's still unclear why he was hiding in Everfree Forest. We need more information.”

“Twilight," the work horse stated defensively, "Hasn’t he been through enough?”

Applejack shrugged at her companion who grinned at seeing her protective stance for their guest. By now the farm mare had gotten to appreciate Faith's respectfulness towards others, a trait well hidden by his shyness while still held in high standards at Ponyville.

“Don’t worry, Applejack. We won’t force him to do confessions," Twilight comforted, "With enough time I believe he’ll warm up enough to openly speak with us. He’s a good pony.”

As they came upon the road Pinkie Pie walked up behind her friends, her cheery attitude on a vacation, the party banner still acting as her personal cape.

"Don't be sad, Pinkie. There's always the next party," Twilight comforted with a giggle.

"It's not that, Twi," the pink earth pony replied quietly, the cotton candy hair hiding part of her drooping facial features, "I think it's the first time that I have failed to give somepony a good party."

"Don't give up on that just yet," her lavender friend pep talked, "He hasn't left Ponyville."

Twilight was glancing at Faith's third floor window that faced the street way above, the green pegasus seen watching the town from behind it. He moved out of view upon noticing the mares as well as the unicorn's observing eyes, the last thing seen being the curtains as he pulled them over the window.

“I have a theory about what is bothering him so much," Twilight told the others before looking back at the apartment in her thoughts, “It concerns his former mental ordeal.”

***

Chapter 7: Revelations

Revelations

Below the closed window Faith laid relaxed on his back on the bed and stared at the ceiling. It was night time but the pegasus had not fallen asleep yet.

After the mares left him to his apartment the stallion had been forced to reconsider his options after learning that Twilight was supervising his whereabouts. How she were to pull it off for a full cycle of day and night left a lot for assumption. Faith already suspected that she knew he had something to hide which acted as her motivation.

The mares had been kind from the start and it was all thanks to them that Faith now had his apartment, a surprising act of generosity unlike any that he had been given before by anyone. None had gone through such an effort from what he remembered, something that he found himself admiring.

But was it a good enough reason for him to reveal his troubling background?

Wrestling with the question, Faith's eyelids drooped, eventually closing as he crossed the border of thought and entered the reign of dreams.

Outside dark blue clouds blotted the sky, Luna's moon only just starting to peek from behind their obscuring shroud. Amidst this a flying silhouette approached. What turned out to be an owl ended up on a branch, it’s gaze pointed to Faith's apartment not very far from where the tree that it perched on grew.

"Our mental connection is working perfectly," Twilight's voice said, "If you see him doing anything out of the ordinary let me know."

"Who," the bird hooted to itself, two large eyes glowing an eerie magenta hue.

***

Sunlight illuminated the apartment as morning arrived. After exiting the bathroom Faith moved over to the window and opened it. The pegasus rested on his elbows as he watched below at the street where ponies were passing the house. Leaving the window and finding a comfortable spot, Faith got down on the floor, crossing his back legs and falling into a trance-like state, listening something that only he seemed to be hearing.

Some distance away from the apartment a family of small mice ran between four yellow hooves.

"Be careful, little ones! This is a busy street," Fluttershy spoke to them, seeing some stallions carry heavy boxes out of a building nearby in awareness regarding the potential risk for the tiny rodents that the town square posed. A bumblebee caught her attention as it flew above her head. A smile spread on Fluttershy's face. She loved all wildlife but flying insects were among her most fascinating sources of interest.

Because of her distraction she was greatly startled by a loud "whooooooosh" coming from Rainbow Dash who landed next to her, coming to a screeching halt like a speeding fighter jet on an aircraft carrier only way quicker. Fluttershy's teeth rattled simultaneously while her hooves trembled.

“Hi, Fluttershy," Dash greeted her friend determinedly.

Fluttershy lowered her face. “You startled me again, Rainbow!”

“Alright! I’ll try to be gentler in my approach next time," Rainbow gave an underwhelmed promise before looking at the street and the ponies going about their business. “So, what’s up?" Rainbow eventually asked, seemingly curious about what her friend was up to, "Doing anything of importance?”

Fluttershy returned an awkward stare. “Just looking after the little ones," she said and glanced down on the mice zig-zagging between her legs to make sure the pack remained together, "The town square can be dangerous for them.”

Just as she finished her sentence Fluttershy's eyes shrank when a careless pony loudly tipped over a box containing something heavy. Another pony was heard shouting angrily at the one who dropped the box. The mare dropped to the ground to form a curled up ball. After a moment had passed Fluttershy managed to speak to her cyan friend again. “So, what are you doing here, Rainbow?”

The pegasus stroked her multicolored mane as she continued to search her surroundings expectingly. ”Pinkie Pie asked me to help her with something. Can’t really see her around here.”

“Ah, there you are, Dashie!" a loud cheery voice abruptly exclaimed right next to her, " How great that you could make it," Pinkie added, having appeared out of nowhere only a few inches behind her friend. This time it was Rainbow's turn to get completely caught off-guard, jumping in the air while holding her beating chest. She began hyperventilating as cold sweat rolled down her forehead.

“And they say that I’m good at making surprise entries!”, Rainbow exhaled loudly.

“You got to help me," Pinkie spoke anxiously as she clung against Rainbow to bounce them both up and down, "Twilight asked me to get a photograph of Faith as soon as possible so we can start searching for his family. But the photographer I hired for Faith’s party refuses to come back!”

Rainbow was listening and rubbed her mane in confusion after released from the grip of her ecstatic friend.

“Why do you need me in that, Pinkie?", she asked doubtfully, "Can’t you just operate a camera yourself? It’s not like that’s hard to do."

Pinkie hadn't stopped bouncing in place, intense like a rubber ball as the cotton candy mane kept swaying up and down with her movement.

"That’s just it! Faith refuses to leave his apartment and won’t let me in," she continued anxiously, "I need you to be my assistant.”

Rainbow stared silently at the earth pony, not certain about what her own role in Pinkie's plan would be.

***

Inside the apartment Faith remained in his meditative pose until a knocking sound came from the window. The pegasus ignored it, focused at his trance. After a moment a new knocking followed which finally made him open his eyes and look to the window’s direction to see nothing behind it.

Was another pegasus playing tricks on him? Now on suspicious mood, he got up and walked over to take a gander.

A surprise waited him.

Pinkie Pie elevated to view, gravitating outside the window with a large tripod camera in possession. The earth pony grinned, the remote switch ready in the other hoof. “Say cupcake,” the mare uttered.

Faith covered his face in futility, blinded by the flash sent by the camera. She had taken a picture of him.

“Are you done yet?!”, Rainbow was heard from underneath Pinkie, panting as she struggled to support both of them outside the window.

The pony standing on her shoulders took another photograph of Faith who had backed deeper in the apartment. “Yup, that one will be framed to my wall," Pinkie snickered joyfully, "I'll place it between Big Macintosh and Dumpster Dan."

Taking it as a "yes", Rainbow exhaled tiredly, exhausted from carrying her friend and the camera. As the pegasus fell from uner her Pinkie lagged behind, momentarily suspended in thin air to wave at Faith with a smirk.

“Thanks for the photo session, Faith," the mare said cheerily as she plummeted, followed by a crashing noise.

Pinkie now sat on top of Rainbow Dash who was sprawled beneath on her belly in the grass. Next to them Fluttershy chuckled with a hoof covering her mouth, having stumbled upon the scene after becoming curious about what they had been doing beside the house.

“Aw, Dashie. I didn’t expect you to be so thoroughly assistive," Pinkie told Rainbow, "You really caught me.”

Rainbow rolled her eyes, resting a chin on her other hoof with plenty of tangible annoyance. “The last time I’ll be a paparazzi," she growled as Pinkie Pie got up to examine the camera. Deeming it untouched by the fall, she began to carry it down the street while whistling.

"If you excuse me, got some pictures to manufacture," she told Fluttershy while passing her.

Above them Faith had opened the window and had observed what the other pony was doing. He flew outside and descended to cut her off.

"Wait," his scared voice called out.

Pinkie set the camera standing in front of her as Faith landed on her path. "Still want me to take photographs, Faith?" she asked, already preparing the remote switch. Before she could activate it Faith leapt to cover the camera's lens with his hoof, gasping at each breath.

"No!" the scared pegasus rejected. Pinkie gave him a funny look.

"No! That will be enough!", Faith added.

"So what is it then?" the mare asked.

"I..........it's...........I......."

Pinkie's warm laugh rang. "Speak up, Faith. You sound like Fluttershy from time to time," she said, pointing to the other mare behind them who was listening calmly. Behind her Rainbow was displaying a sceptic look on her face.

"I.........I........I............," Faith's hesitant tongue continued to bounce against a brick wall. He had to come up with some explanation for why he didn't want pictures taken.

Pinkie grinned, having guessed what he was trying to bring across. "Aww you silly willy lilly!", she cooed at him, "It's okay to be picture shy! Don't worry, they'll be ready in no time so you'll get to see them before anypony else." Before Faith could react the party mare had quickly passed around him and was again hopping down the street, the camera swaying on her shoulder.After she had gone Faith collapsed.

"I can't," a weak utter left his mouth.

There was no more pretending. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy approached him.

"Can't what?", Rainbow asked curiously when Faith's face took an ascend to face everything above.

"I told Twilight that it's too complicated for all of you to understand," he spoke darkly.

In a flash Rainbow had moved in front of the stallion, her own voice full of determination after growing tired. "Hey, enough with the hiding already," she shouted, lifting him up to all fours, "Grab yourself by the ear and open up!"

As Faith was taking in Rainbow's advice Fluttershy appeared to his other side.

"Rainbow is right, Faith," the other mare said calmly, "You have to believe in your cause. It is not the end of the world to be found." She positioned herself behind him and started massaging him, an experienced physiotherapist capable of healing a bear's sore back.

"You're all tense," Fluttershy says after finding tight areas from between his shoulder blades, "This should let some new flow into you."

She continued the massage, skillfully tapping into Faith's clogged muscles. His neck softened which made the head sink, a slow smile creeping up. The eyelids of the pegasus drooped.

"Now that you mention it, that actually does feel kinda good," Faith admitted, sounding relaxed as his hind legs went limp and dropped the stallion.

A snoring filled the air. It didn't last long before Rainbow shook the other pegasus to give him an abrupt awakening.

"Wake up!", she barked, "This isn't a place for napping."

"Sorry," he mumbled after glancing at her with blushing cheeks. The massage had worked better than expected.

Deeming the stallion back awake, Rainbow impatiently scanned above them and flexed her wings, jumping up and down like an athlete ready to perform, having decided that she had stuck around long enough. "Well, I'm off again," the cyan mare pegasus exclaimed, "Got some clouds to catch up with." She leaned back to get a good start up and fired herself off, the rushing wind blowing Fluttershy's mane backwards.

As soon as Rainbow exited a grey mare pegasus arrived to the street and noticed the remaining duo, coming up to greet them.

“Hey, Fluttershy," she asked curiously, "Who’s your friend?”

“This is Ladybug Faith," Fluttershy told the mare quietly.

“Hi, Faith. My name is Ditzie," the mare chatted, "Some call me Derpy. It's my occasional eye crossing, see?”

Almost as a reply to her reveal, Ditzie's left eye moved towards the right one before flopping back. She was fast to raise a hoof politely. Faith reluctantly returns the shake, smiling back weakly.

“How do you do, Ditzie?”, he asked with equal politeness.

“Nothing too fancy. I work at the post office,” Ditzie answered, “Nice to meet you, Faith. It’s always great to have a new girl in town.”

The remark made Faith's smile disappear, the stallion's lip beginning to throb from what now stirred beneath his posterior, a reaction that immediately confused Ditzie.

Are you alright?", she asked concernedly with a head tilt, "Did I say something offensive?”

“He’s a stallion," Fluttershy revealed awkwardly. Both of Ditzie's yellow eyes grew in size, acting independently upon the surprise of hearing Fluttershy's explanation while Faith sobbed, trying to fight the tears forming around his eyes.

“Oh my," Ditzie uttered in embarrassment, the right eye now doing several spins in it's socket, "I’m so sorry, Faith. I didn’t know,” she squaked.

“It’s……..i-i-it’s okay," the stallion pretended indifference to try uplift the mare's spirit, "I’m not offended………”

The acting had not only failed to look convincing but it also didn't prevent the conclusion. A fountain wetted the pebbled road under their hooves as Faith began to cry.

”Please forgive me, Faith," Ditzie soothed, the mare's left eye now contrasting the spinning of the right with a bouncing sideways movement, "I seriously didn’t know.”

“No! No, I forgive you, Ditzie," Faith answered for his best capability yet sincerely, managing to stop the flow of tears. "I should treat this with the right attitude anyway.”

The green pegasus walked down the street. “I’d like some privacy now if that’s okay," he mumbled under a sigh, having had enough about chatting.

“I’ll come with you," Fluttershy called after him and followed to keep him company. Ditzie watched them go, saddened by how their brief discussion had ended.

Before he got too far Faith suddenly halted and looked back at where the grey mare stood in a sudden need to redeem himself. A simple acceptive nod of kindness was sent back as a sign of a forgiven misunderstanding. A weak but sincere smile appeared to supplement it. Seeing it, the mare pegasus smiled back, her mind put at ease upon witnessing the noble gesture as her eyes relaxed. As strange as he was the feminine stallion had still behaved respectively toward her.

Faith and Fluttershy moved on, soon nearing the edge of the town. Faith's path was taking them closer towards the trees seen in the distance.

“Uh…..Faith," Fluttershy enquired.

“Yes, Fluttershy?"

“Aren’t you supposed to return to your apartment?", Fluttershy asked as she kept switching glances between Faith and the trees, uncertain about his intentions, "Twilight might not appreciate to know that you're going too far.”

Faith was already made aware. “I gave her a promise about not escaping," he explained to reduce his companion's doubts, "I just want to rest somewhere with more peace and quietness. The town’s noise is blocking me from hearing the insects."

“Oh! Now I remember your ability," she recalled what she had seen at Everfree Forest two nights ago, "That is such a great skill, Faith!”

“I suppose so," Faith mumbled and sighed, having been successful with said activity moments before Pinkie and Rainbow had interrupted.

“We should find you a good place over there in the woods," Fluttershy suggested, most of her doubt about his intentions now gone, "Some ponies do occupy the public park but less frequently than in the town. Lots of insects too.”

Near them an eavesdropper's green scales stuck above nearby foliage. Spike raised his head from the bush, having been given the task of tracking Faith and Fluttershy. “Twilight! Can you hear me?” a thought resonated in his brain, "You asked me to report and I got something."

As a reply someone answered him, sounding distant. “I hear you," the voice of Twilight spoke, "There is a slight disturbance in the field though. Try to focus, Spike," she told him.

“Okay," Spike's thought replied back and looked over to see that his targets had not left, "Just letting you know that Faith and Fluttershy are heading to the nearby forest.”

“I suppose he simply wants some peace in a quieter place," he heard the voice of the unicorn ponder, "That is allowable.”

“Should I follow them?" Spike asked Twilight, "Fluttershy is with him.”

“Yes, Spike. Don’t let them out of your sight. If Faith somehow decides to scamper she alone won’t be able to stop him from doing that."

Twilight's voice grew a hint of worry, almost pressuring her assistant. "We must keep him within the borders of Ponyville to help him.”

“Going after the subject now," Spike replied with a made up accent to try to sound official, forming a made up communication device to the cup of his hand.

“Just focus, Spike,” Twilight's amused voice scolded him.

“Yeah, yeah,” the young dragon shrugged with sagging shoulders and exited the bush with a leap.

***

Faith stood still to listen the surrounding forest, a new look of sadness having gained influence on him again. Aside the stallion Fluttershy gave him looks of odd curiosity.

“Who am I, Fluttershy?”, Faith's lips mumbled with a touch of melancholy.

“Uh………we’ll help you figure it out,” his yellow friend said awkwardly.

“It’s been an age since I’ve been in true social interaction", Faith told with a sigh, "Even if I do end up remembering I’m not sure if I can find comfort from the company of others anymore.”

“You being alone doesn’t mean that you can’t have loyal friends," the mare answered softly, "Please believe me."

Despite what he was told Faith didn't look completely sold. “You don’t know the burden that I still carry, Fluttershy," he replied, something else aside loneliness adding to the weight of the stallion's misery.

“I believe you’re not the only pony in Equestria with burdens," Fluttershy calmly stated, "All that we need to do is look around us.”

“Fluttershy," she heard Faith say.

“Uh……yes?”

The stallion returned eye contact, a genuine smile crossing his face. “You’re the kindest mare who I have ever met."

Fluttershy blushed from the statement, clearing her throat.

Time passed by slowly. Near them butterflies occupied the air above a nearby crop of flowers. Watching it, momentary sadness seemed to have already disappeared from Faith's eyes.

“It’s so beautiful," the stallion stated behind closed eye lids, “Nature alone can give a lonely soul all the comfort that it desires," he continued with a whisper, "It was all that I had during my solitary time.”

In his ears Faith heard countless tiny voices constantly exhanging basic information. Bees and butterflies directing their kin to the best flowers. Ants digging in their construction sites. Snails slowly moving about with no such thing as rush. Spiders weaving their complexly simple webs. Hearing it greatly eased the mind of the pegasus.

“It is a delicate balance," he continued explaining, "A basic foundation to everything that grows above it. Listening to it has always allowed me to feel like I belong somewhere.” Faith shifted his attention back towards Fluttershy to see how she was doing. The mare hadn't noticed the butterflies nor the other insects, instead looking at him under the same strange curiosity.

“It takes a lot of punishment too," Faith continued, "Forests can be burned. Streams can be poisoned. The air can be polluted. But with enough given time everything eventually grows back while the source of whatever was hurting it usually ends up withering away.”

Crickets chirped in the bushes as Faith relaxed as if listening to a five star opera. He looked away from his now fully enthralled mare companion and to the sky. “I suppose the reason I am still somewhat intact is because I had the patience of nature at my side. I trust it. It hasn't deceived me and allowed me to bounce back without breaking."

Fluttershy was growing a throbbing smile. Even when she tried to hold it back the mare's eyes were watering.

“Uh……..Faith…," she uttered, "…..I……..I want to ask---------”

“Fluttershy," a loud tiny voice called out before she managed to finish the sentence. Fluttershy and Faith look aside to find three local fillies approach. Recognizing them, an awkward smile overtook Fluttershy. Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle arrived upon the two pegasus, Scootaloo riding on her two-wheel skateboard with her friends jogging by her side.

“Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle," Fluttershy greeted them, slightly surprised of how they had snuck upon them so well, "How is your day going?”

“We’re having fun," Apple Bloom giggled, having been out at the park with her friends until stumbling upon the two adult ponies, now looking at the other pegasus.

“Who are you," Sweetie Belle asked Faith who's shyness made him hesitant to introduction until Fluttershy attempted to do it for him.

“Uh……..this is…….this is……," she stuttered awkwardly.

“You can call me Faith," the feminine stallion replied with gathered confidence, redeeming the awkward situation. At first Faith's masculine voice confused the fillies who had expected a female from what they saw. After adjusting to the peculiarity they themselves introduced.

“Ah am Apple Bloom," the yellow earth filly exclaimed joyfully.

“And I’m Scootaloo," her yellow pegasus friend followed.

“Sweetie Belle," the third filly finished, "We are the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Welcome to Ponyville, Faith.”

Faith watched Apple Bloom thoughtfully, the filly herself gazing at him upon noting his curiosity.

“Do you happen to be related to Applejack, Apple Bloom,” Faith asked the earth filly who jumped as soon as she heard the name.

“Yeah, she’s mah big sister," Apple Bloom exclaimed, grinning delightedly from a new pony knowing members of her family,"You know her?”

A nod was given back to the filly.

“Yes, we somewhat know each other. Maybe if you ask her she can tell you more about me,” Faith teased the child. Listening his voice, all three fillies gave him a funny look until Apple Bloom's grin took regained it's residence.

“Nice to meet ya, Faith. Come visit our farm at Sweet Apple Acres, lots of friendly guys and gals who’d love to meet ya," she said.

“Maybe I’ll drop by," Faith answered politely, impressed by the hospitality of the earth filly, "Thanks for the invitation.”

“Bye then, Fluttershy," Apple Bloom greeted the other pegasus before the children moved on with their activities.

After they had gone Fluttershy stood frozen in place eyes nailed to Faith who had already returned his sights at the forest. “What was it like, Faith? Being at Everfree forest,” she ended up presenting her original question.

“It is rather indescribable in pony talk for most part," her partner explained.

“Being in the middle of all those monstrosities alone must have been horrible," Fluttershy mumbled, voice trembling.

“I was certainly dodging dragons, timberwolves, manticores and other foul beings left and right," the green pegasus recalled without fear, "But with the help of the insects I found plenty of safe pockets. My solitude and peace was there." Faith paused as he recalled his daily survival in the most dangerous forest of Equestria. "I ate what the good insects told me were edible. I drank by streams that they pinpointed while avoiding ones that they did not touch.”

For a moment the sounds of the forest filled the void. Bees buzzed by plants.

“The first time when I found ponies who had gotten lost in the forest…...........I could sense their fear, the desperation," Faith uttered sentimentally. Like many times before, his eyelids closed as he narrated. "They had done nothing, most of them at least. They weren’t to be blamed for what had happened to them. They just wanted to find their way back.”

In his mind he saw individual ponies wandering the dark depths of Everfree without a sense of direction, afraid by the blackness littered by glowing predator eyes.

“Without my help they could have certainly fallen prey to the dangers. I realized that I could be useful. I’d feel like a true pony again without demanding anything from others," Faith told, "It was the least that I could give to my kind. I do not care about fame or fortune. I just want to have a real purpose. So I guided those lost souls back."

He looked back at Fluttershy who had started to whimper. Teary retinas filled the entire volume of her eyes like large holes. What she had heard was more than she could ever expect from any pony.

Faith smiled quietly, calmness in his voice. “For years that was the entire case. I was the silent guardian.”

The insects buzzed around him and Fluttershy who both stood motionless in silence that Faith's voice eventually broke.

"Light even without light. Shadow even without shadow. You know what I've truly learned, Fluttershy? I believe that right attitude is decisive to both love and life," the stallion said, almost fully lost in his thoughts, "It really knows no age, gender, race nor nation. It helped me help others in peril. It's the thought that counts."

The stallion paused. "Maybe it proves that you’re right, all we need to do is look to see what is around us," he admitted, momentarily taking a glimpse at the surroundings as if to ensure what he had just said, “Stallion or mare, a pony has to believe in something instead of giving up," the pegasus added. "I really like you and your friends. When my tiny spark was getting wet you helped me cherish it and have been kind without even knowing me. It takes deep loyalty. Thank you for that."

All of a sudden the tone in Faith's voice collapsed, now sounding darkly cynical as he stares towards the ground, a seriousness apparent.

"But that can not last forever. Not for me. Not all stories have happy endings," Faith stated as Fluttershy wept in tears.The story she had endured moved the mare pegasus deeply. Faith got closer in order to comfort her. "I cant be a burden to those who don't personally know me. It just can't last. What I need is truly unbreakable.”

He gently took her hoof into his, looking to her eyes. Fluttershy gasped loud as soon as it happened. “I’m not sure if I have enough strength left to establish it anymore," Faith told her quietly.

Very close to them Spike was listening to the discussion. Because of a well picked hiding spot the baby dragon had overheard everything. To his surprise he found that his eyes watered too. “I wish you could hear what I have just heard, Twilight," he almost whimpered to himself, a fat tear dropping from the corner of his eye.

For a while Twilight did not reply. Finally her voice seemed to return, now sounding broken. Apparently she had also heard the conversation.

“Oh dear Faith…….," the unicorn's sad voice uttered.

Spike wiped a tear of his own and sniffed with a compassionate grin. Then he shook his head in surprise. “Wait! So you can hear through me, Twilight?!" he exclaimed loudly.

“Of course I hear and see through you, Spike," Twilight said in his head, "I need your eyes and ears to keep track of Faith. The mind connection permits me to do that.”

“And you didn’t tell me before establishing it?!” Spike shouted angrily, none too pleased about what he had learned about Twilight's new magic.

“Will you please concentrate, Spike?" her annoyed voice taunted him, "Lower your voice! You're giving your location away.”

Having already spotted Spike, Faith trotted over to the bush and pulled him out from the foliage. After setting him down the pegasus gave the baby dragon a long deep stare. “By ways that I can’t possibly grasp, eh Twilight?”

“W-w-who are you talking to, Faith? I see Twilight nowhere which means that I must be by myself………hehe!”Spike pretended innocent to try buy himself a way out.

The tactic didn't sway Faith. “Miss Sparkle," he continued loudly, "Can’t you just stop spying on me? I’m not going anywhere.”

Beneath his shadow Spike was glancing at Faith nervously with the same pretense and held up his arms. “Believe me Faith, I’m not Twili---------!”

Before he could finish Spike was abruptly put to a trance by an unseen force. The eyes popped wide, a purple glow setting behind them. Spike began to move again except now his gestures looked more feminine like another individual was occupying his body. As he spoke the voice that Faith heard was that of Twilight.

“If you remember what I said to you about a day ago, we can’t just leave you to your own devices," she said through Spike's body, "Someone has to keep track of you and I have the best abilities to do that. Despite your promise I can’t trust you enough to give you freedom to go wherever you want. You'll just run away.”

“Yet you want me to trust you?", Faith uttered loudly, his back hoof kicking up soil in a fit of frustration, "Heaven’s sake, Twilight! I’m a full grown stallion, not a pampered colt!”

Spike’s face dropped to reflect Twilight’s concern. “I know it feels strange, Faith, but it’s for your own good," here voice tried soothing.

“You’re going too far in looking after me," the pegasus grunted with a well audible deep breath. "Listen, I know you mares have good intentions. But my fate does not concern you. It doesn’t concern anyone. I believe I know I have what I need to do what is right.”

Twilight Spike became doubtful and gave him a glance. The unicorn wasn't taking the claim literally.

“Do you?", her voice asked him.

The dragon suddenly found Faith’s snout pushed right against his.

“Yes! I! Do!", he revolted, "And I’ll be coming over to your house to talk about it as well as the bind of our little contract.”

“You are most welcome, Faith," Twilight again tried to soothe him, "But don’t be mad, I really do this with the best of intentions.”

As he listened her Faith’s eyes suddenly narrowed.

”Some of the worst things imaginable can be done with the best of intentions, Twilight," he exclaimed darkly until going silent when a new thought crossed his mind.

“And if it isn’t too much I now must ask you to leave me be," Faith told the remote controlled baby dragon, "I’ll come speak with you personally once I have managed to gather some of my thoughts. And I want to do that by myself. Okay?”

Spike remained quiet, watching him from behind the glowing purple of his eyes.

“Okay??" Faith repeated with a raised voice.

.“Alright, Faith," Twilight was heard sighing, Spike shrugging his shoulders in acceptance of his demand, "You have me convinced. Come meet me at my home once you are ready. Please don't run away.”

The glow in Spike’s eyes disappeared. Back awake, he shook his head in disorientation and looked around.

“What did you do? I had it all under control,” he shouted in an upset mood.

“Sure, Spike," the dragon heard Twilight's amused voice answer, "I had to momentarily take control of you to calm Faith down. He doesn't like observers. Come back home now. Let's allow him to be alone for a while.”

Spike's anger wasn't showing any signs of settling as he departed back for the town while the two pegasus watched him go. ”Alright!", the baby dragon exclaims loudly, "But after this is over I will rather clean the library spotless than go along with these sorts of tricks again!”

“Sorry, Spike, I promise to never do this to you again," Twilight told Spike as he strolled back to the streets of Ponyville, "You’re a fine assistant in any case. Once you've returned I'll remove this link.”

“I can already feel the uplift," Spike growled sarcastically, the mind control ordeal having not pleased him one bit.

“How about I make it up to you by readying you some gem stone treats?”, he heard Twilight say.

Spike ended up shrugging, a grin signalling the disappearence of his anger. Gem stones could soothe down the heart of any dragon.

“I forgive you. Just no more mind control,” he told himself, by now nearing the town square on his way to Twilight's library.

Faith and Fluttershy had remained where Spike left them. Deciding to retreat to a calmer place, Faith turned around and headed further into the woods.

"So where are you going?", Fluttershy asked him.

"I just want to be alone," the green male pegasus answered, sounding eager.

"You're not planning to run away are you," the other pegasus squeaked in genuine worry.

Faith glanced at her in absolute silence.

"No, at least for now. I'll stay here for a while and will then head to Twilight's apartment. You can find me there," was his answer.

Fluttershy accepted the notion in a still shaken state from what he had told her, giving a kind smile as she went back towards Ponyville using Spike's route.

Faith made sure that she was gone. Again by himself, he trecked deeper into the woods before finding a comfortable place at a clearing when he rested down to cross his hind legs and closing his eyes to listen to the insect orchestra that surrounded him.

***

Chapter 8: The Bitter Chronicles

The Bitter Chronicles

The stallion sighed.

Moments ago he had returned from the depths of the forest after a period of gathering his thoughts, two hours no less in complete silence and no one but insects for company. Now Faith was taking a walk through the town to ease his mind before finally going to talk with Twilight. Heading to where he knew she lived for having already been there, he remembered what he had promised.

The pegasus would finally reveal his history to a total stranger.

Right now his mind pondered whether or not it had been a good idea to make such a promise to begin with. What did she care? The mare unicorn hadn't gone through a youth as a peculiarity shunned by other calves and forced to be solitary by a freak accident. She nor her friends had not made those decisions. They would never understand the emotional stress that he had gone through.

"To them I am just an obligation that comes and goes," Faith thought to himself, turning around the corner and now seeing Twilight's house looming in the distance.

He naturally hesitated as his mind cooked up excuses to abandon the whole thing. In his life Faith desired nothing more than being what he felt better being; a neutral pony living solitary life far away from society with better capability to give good deeds to the lost than they'd ever be able to return him for being a lost soul himself. As a silent guardian no evil could ever hurt him the same way again, not anymore after spending almost four years in Everfree Forest.

Not even It could.

"Leave now when she isn't watching. The one chance to escape. Still enough time to get as much distance between me and that unicorn as I can," the pegasus thought. Despite it Faith's loyalty prevented the urge from driving his actions.

He remembered how Pinkie had gone through the trouble of renting him an apartment, how Applejack had fed him, how Fluttershy had massaged and talked to him. They had not asked anything in return, only social interaction.

"How could I let them down after all the hospitality that they gave me?", the pegasus asked himself. Approaching the house, he still tried to convince himself to turn and run, but eventually closed it from his mind. He would not try fleeing anymore, not like that. A gentlecolt will walk but never run.

Telling her his story was the least he could give in return. To him there would be no turning back. Faith would let Twilight herself deem his case impossible. Perhaps she would even let him go.

Faith arrived to the treehouse that served as the unicorn's library. An open window at the second floor closed, noted by Faith who had not expected himself to be observed yet.

'If that was Twilight my chances to escape are now gone,' he thought.

Having made up his mind anyway, he trotted over to the front door and prepared to knock it with his front limb.

At that moment the door opened from inside. Twilight stood at the doorway, having indeed been expecting him.

“Nice to see you, Faith," she greeted calmly, "Thank you for not running away."

As a returning gesture Faith grinned his usual fake smile and moved inside with eagerness to get it all over with. As soon as his gaze met the living room the now surprised pegasus came to a stand upon noticing what else greeted him.

All five of Twilight's friends were found gathered in the room; Rainbow Dash laying on her back at the cough while taking a nap, Fluttershy and Applejack occupying the space near said cough with Pinkie Pie sitting on the floor and snacking on chocolate candy that she had brought with her in a paper bag. Rarity was holding a portable mirror and tidying her hair not too far from them. They had all been waiting for his arrival too and stopped their free activity to approach him as soon as his presence got noticed.

“I called everyone else to hear you too if that isn’t a problem," Twilight told Faith who for a moment looked troubled for not having expected the other mares. Accepting the larger crowd, the pegasus shrugged.

“Alright," he complied slightly frustratedly.

Unknown to him and the six mares, the walls had grown ears. Being the last of the six mares to arrive to the meeting, Applejack had attracted her little sister's attention who had followed with her own friends right over to Twilight's house and were now eavesdropping on the conversation.

“It is Faith! Ah knew Applejack had more to say than she did," Apple Bloom whispered beside the window.

“Shhhh! Quiet! I can’t hear what they say," Scootaloo hissed, pushing her ear closer to the window.

Inside Twilight stood among the rest of the mares and was watching Faith.

“Most of the ponies here have played a part in assisting you so I think they too deserve to learn your story," she told to him "That’s if you wish to explain it to them. The Elements of Harmony are listening, Faith.”

The feminine stallion observed everyone around him quietly, a smile eventually creeping on his face.

“You have cared for me when I was only expecting a momentary satisfaction in guiding you to those calves and drawing the spider away," he began, "I literally got what I gave and more. I hold you my deepest gratitude.” As he finished his sentence Faith respectfully gestured his head in an incline to bring across his respect and impression. A nod was returned to him by all six mares.

“Because of this I also somewhat trust you," Faith continued. "I believe you could be the ones to understand what I have gone through.”

Despite the claim Faith was confident that they wouldn't, still treating his case the same way. As he walked to the middle of the living room the mares followed and saw the pegasus rest down to the carpet. Taking a few deep breaths, Faith went quiet, preparing himself for the difficult task ahead.

“I will tell you my story as far as I can remember it," he started, "I recall very little from my childhood, being an individual among the rest of my generation of young pegasus calves. I am a stallion. Yet I look like a mare. The adults told me my physical traits were unique for a colt. It isolated me from the rest of my age group. I was either shunned and ridiculed by the obnoxious kids or avoided by others because they were ashamed of sharing my company. I didn't understand why they treated me the way they did. As a result I became wary of other ponies."

Faith's eyes remained tightly closed, preferring to not look at the mares he spoke to. At this point all he cared about was letting them know and be done with it. They wouldn't be able to help him in either case.

"I was longing for loyal friends but my sense of unity was under vigorous beating. I tried everything to find my place yet I still became an outcast. The beauty of the surrounding natural world was all that I had left for comfort. I do not remember anything about my family. Maybe they helped me, maybe they didn't. But the loneliness was constantly there. I felt like an alien amongst others which broke my heart."

Behind his closed eyes Faith heard a whimper.

"It kept going on so long that I grew bitter, looking on as the happiness and romance of others blossomed. My insides boiled from hatred and jealousy that I didn't even want. I reject those emotions. Alone or not, I have a responsibility in what I give not just to others but also myself."

Faith paused, coming up with the best way to continue to explain his mind to his audience.

"I forced myself to accept the situation to give myself peace. Despite it I felt worthless. The bitterness wasn't going to leave. It kept growing...........and growing...........all by itself........it wasn't stopping at all! It became an entity of it's own."

The stallion's eyelids tightened. Faith was reaching the hardest recollections of his past. "It tried to turn me over to it's side. But the better side of me kept it back. I wasn't going to give it what it wanted."

A deep, troubled breath left the stallion's lungs, a gasping exhale following it. A whimper was heard again.

"I struggled to remain a good pony. But I was deeply depressed. I wouldn't be able to keep fighting it forever, not with my limitations. I was torn to two directions. I had to do something radical before I'd snap. And I had to do it on my own. So I sought an isolated place........" Faith paused again.

"What did you do?", Twilight's concerned voice asked him. For a moment the pegasus did not answer.

"I knew what I wanted to protect. So I banished it, threw it out of myself to the void. It said that it would find it's way back to reclaim me and everything I love. When I heard it I didn't recognize the pony that I had known as myself anymore.................it wasn't a pony at all. I was greatly weakened. But when my strength came back I felt relief and gladness about what I had given up on. I would never carry a grudge towards others again. I had succeeded. But it was then that I realized that something was still wrong. Everything around me lost it's colors. The world started warping...........it must have been the isolation."

A third whimper went off.

"Quiet, Fluttershy!", Rainbow uttered.

"Keep going, Faith," Twilight added kindly.

"Something bizarre happened," Faith again narrated. "I suddenly felt lifeless, like a huge chunk of me had been removed. I was afraid. Then everything went dark. When I woke up during what I assume was the following night.........I couldn't remember anything. There was a burning sensation in my flank. The cutie mark that I do not recognize was there."

Twilight knew this part of the story for having gone through it with him just a day before. Regardless of it those same details kept her thoughtful, the ladybug mark remaining elusive.

"I was still afraid that the bitterness would do as it had threatened," Faith pushed on, "A storm arrived as I pondered. I ended up fleeing from my home grounds."

"Why didn't you try to find your parents?", Twilight asked.

"I had to protect them!", Faith exclaimed, "I had to protect myself. So I travelled. A few times I tried to talk to others but my shame made it impossible...........I'm a freak." He sighed as his face fell, none of the mares saying anything.

"Since then I avoided most contact until I stumbled upon Everfree Forest, one of the few places in the world where I could spend time with myself. You might be wondering how I have survived in such a hostile place. Before I got there I became aware of an ability that I had somehow gained. I understand insect language. In the forest I could use their guidance."

A calmness in his voice hinted at more pleasant memories as the pegasus approached the end of his story. "I learned about the dangers and how to share space with them. Helping others find their way out of the forest is how I have given my existence a purpose. This I have already told Twilight and Fluttershy. So after four years, here I am."

By now having completed everything he had to tell, the pegasus remained in his meditative position without making a single noise. The mares surrounding him looked on, made silent by what they had heard. Rarity was holding a hoofkerchief and blew her nose loud, being the first mare to speak again after a rather stretchy silence.

“Great, my makeup is now ruined," her voice trembled, "Sweet Celestia, what a tragic story!”

Upon opening his eyes Faith's own stare pointed itself to blank distance as Twilight drew herself near.

”Thank you so much for trusting this story to our ears," she told him sincerely before closing the pegasus to a short embrace. Releasing, she looked him in the eyes while thinking. “What would you want us to do?”

"There is nothing that can be done," Faith shook his head calmly, having accepted the hopelessness of his situation.

”I know we can do something," Twilight argued confidently.

“You have already have done so much for me," Faith replied back. "I can not possibly ask for more.”

The group still remained mute, Fluttershy’s lips wobbling.

“There has to be something, Faith," Twilight argued, "Something to explain the memory loss.”

As he listened the unicorn Faith got up on all fours and quietly returned glances at the mares.

Before anyone saw it coming, the front door was literally thrust in from the outside. The Cutie Mark Crusaders rushed into Twilight's living room. Crying openly, all three fillies leapt simultaneously and tackled Faith which took him by surprise.

“Mister Faith! We sympathize with ya,” Apple Bloom's tiny voice squeaked loudly.

“Apple Bloom! Why aren’t ya at the Acres?”, Applejack gave a dismayed shout.

”Sweetie Belle?”, Rarity was heard uttering not too far behind the work horse.

The fillies still clung to Faith, soaking him to a tear fountain.

“I know, sis," Apple Bloom sniffed. "But ya left in such a hurry. I had to satisfy mah curiosity.”

”We are so sorry for eavesdropping, miss Twilight,” Sweetie Belle babbled deliriously, a flow of liquid flowing freely from her eyes.

The fillies eventually released Faith, standing by him with retinas the size of dinner plates and trembling, wobbly grins directed at the now all confused and wet pegasus who returned a silent stare at them before shaking himself dry like a dog. A grinning smile was now directed back at the fillies.

“I had no idea how many here would associate with my story. I’m speechless,” Faith uttered, the fillies chuckling sentimentally. Aside them the mares now wore smiles of their own.

By itself Faith’s grin ended up disappearing and his stare absently wandered back down at the floor which made the other ponies look worried.

“That is why I deeply regret what I must ask you next," Faith spoke darkly, looking up at Twilight, “If it isn’t too much to ask I’d like to leave Ponyville," the pegasus said politely.

The entire group of horses found itself under utter confusion without making any sense of his intention.

“Uh……….don’t you want our help?”, Twilight asked Faith uncertainly.

“You have helped me immensely, girls," Faith answered sincerely. Again his gaze wandered up at the ceiling. “But I already told you before, Twilight. My fate does not concern anypony else. I have an inner karma that I must balance. Only I can help myself with that. No one else can. It is my responsibility.”

Twilight kept herself determined in helping the stallion. “Of course it is, Faith," she admitted calmly, "But it doesn’t mean that we can’t help you help yourself. Please accept our help.”

The unicorn sighed, now giving him a begging look. In the way she saw it, Faith was only complicating his own task by refusing the offered help.

"What's an inner karma?", Sweetie Belle bumped in before Rarity gestured her to remain quiet. Such terms would go way beyond her little sister's head even if they were explained to her. Even Rarity herself pondered how much she exactly knew about strange terms that originated way beyond the borders of Equestria. Maybe a zebra akin to Zecora was involved somehow? It was all theory and the unicorn decided to think of something else.

“It’s weird how you spoke about your desire to be with other ponies if you only want to distance yourself to everyone," Rainbow murmured doubtfully.

“Just let him speak, Rainbow," Twilight gave an utter while glancing back at her.

Listening their exchange, Faith became nervous again.

"Don’t you understand?", he whimpered with a troubled posterior, "It’s years too late now! My old bitterness! It said that it would find its way back and seek me out. When it returns I have to be ready. I can’t let it hurt others! That monster is not who I am! I don’t want to be a bad guy!”, the pegasus whimpered desperately which made the mares and fillies afraid.

“How………..how were you planning to deal with this?”, Twilight asked, uncertainty gaining more ground.

Faith suddenly straightened himself with a new strange determination. He had somehow expected such a question.

“I have to protect others from what I myself have grown," he exclaimed loudly if not desperately, almost sounding like he was ignoring everyone else and speaking to himself, "I get what I give. I will find the right way to defeat it.”

“By yourself?! You’re crazy!!”, Rainbow barked, having become upset at what her ears were hearing.

"Calm down, Rainbow," Twilight gestured hoof at her friend.

“He’s crazy I tell you! After all that we did for him,” Rainbow's outburst went on.

“Rainbow?”, Twilight raised her voice in a none too pleased manner as a sign that she wouldn't tolerate an angry debate. The cyan pegasus crossed her front limbs, giving up on arguing against the unicorn.

“Fine!”, she exclaimed bitterly.

While not as off-put as Rainbow by Faith's speeches Twilight wasn't feeling any less worried when she established new eye contact with her guest.

“With all the due respect, Faith, Rainbow is onto something," she lectured him calmly, "You can’t just isolate yourself to find a solution.”

Making Faith understand her point was not going to be easy.

“What if you lose? What if that bitterness takes you over?”, she asked him, slightly afraid of the implications to her question. A long silence followed. In the kitchen they heard a drop of water plopping in the sink. At the wall the clock ticked. Outside birds sang fluently.

“Then as a last resort I will make sure that it won’t hurt anyone else,” Faith's answer came with brass confidence.

There was a loud gasp coming from several shocked ponies. In a short time they had fully digested the meaning behind the statement. Applejack was covering her sister’s ears, already being too late. Apple Bloom’s jaw hung wide, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle mimicking her. Dash shook her head in disbelief.

“Hate to say that I told you so. He is crazy," the mare pegasus murmured, a hoof covering her forehead.

“Faith, you have opened yourself to us much quicker than I thought you’d be able to do in such a short span of time," Twilight was heard uttering, long delayed by her own emotion before finally managing to express her concern. "There is still hope for you. But I personally ask you to stop from exclaiming plans of self-sacrifice to us just because you want to be a better person," she scolded the stallion, "Do you realize how you are doing a big disservice to everyone in this room with such a statement?”

Faith looked at the concerned expressions around him. His face eventually took a plummet with the eyes again closing tight. A fat tear rolled down both of his cheeks.

”Please forgive me,” he whimpered regretfully.

Before he even finished Twilight's hoof already set upon his shoulder. “All is forgiven. But you must remove such vile thoughts from your mind," she advices him, "It only gives bitterness more what it needs to win a pony over. You can’t just give up on yourself, Faith.”

Around them the mares and the fillies had already forgotten what he had said, ready to act as mental support save for Rainbow Dash who had become rather disturbed thus upset by the entire discussion and refusing to look at Faith’s direction.

“I would personally want you to stay with us but it is a decision that you make yourself," Twilight expressed. Despite the rather cynical nature of their preceding conversation her helpfulness remained strongly present. "As a test of trust I will allow you to go wherever you wish to be without using my magic as long as you won’t go back in Everfree," the unicorn promised with kindness, "But if you want our help you must stay within Ponyville.”

Faith didn't say anything, instead observing the other ponies standing around him. What he detected in everyone was a sincere fear for his safety. Even Rainbow's own restless body language hinted at regret despite her evasive mood.

Taking note of it all, Faith returned a look to the unicorn owning the house.

"Thank you for everything that you have done for me, Twilight Sparkle. At first I was afraid that I’d be forced into something I would not appreciate when you took me out of the forest. But now I accept that it was indeed a favor in return of my own.”

Backtracking, Faith gave glances to the mares and the fillies. “I’m so sorry, everyone. You have been invaluable," he apologized openly, "You taught me something about myself that I will never forget. I really am happy that our paths collided. Please believe me and forgive my cynicism. But I must move on.”

Still having gotten over his previous statements, Rainbow glanced over furiously and trotted to the feminine stallion. Hitting her front hooves loudly against the carpet as she stalled, Rainbow's voice became full of sourness, an upset glance hinting at let down expectations. “

"Alright then, mister hypocrite. Go on with your lonely journey if you so want. Run away." Her face tightened. "Coward!”, the cyan pegasus added with a loud exclamation, literally spearing him with her gaze to which Faith's own eyes now returned a look of surprise.

A shocked gasp left Twilight's mouth. “Rainbow,” the unicorn uttered in disbelief when her dismay changed target.

”Am I the only one who really follows this loser’s way of thinking?!", Rainbow's frustrated shout answered her friend, "He is only running away from himself! After all that we did for him!”

Pinkie Pie’s hair popped at hearing the outburst.

“That’s not a nice thing to say, Dashie," the earth mare murmured.

Listening, Twilight’s eyes narrowed and she clenched her teeth, finding it hard to remain cool headed. Rainbow's own antics were making her incrementally more frustrated.

“You’re not being fair at him at all, Rainbow!”, Twilight argued defensively as she glared daggers at her friend.

“Oh, is that so?", Rainbow barked back, her gaze still piercing Faith. "What do you have to say for yourself then, coward? Why are you running away from us?”

A sorrow was already seeping out from underneath the mare's burning crust.

Without saying anything Faith returned eye contact to Rainbow. Moving closer, the stallion settled right in front of her face, a calmness having overtaken him. For a moment nothing happened, just the two ponies looking each other in the eyes as the other mares and fillies alike stayed aside.

“You’re right, Rainbow. I am a coward," Faith answered without a hint of shyness or fear. In their place there was sadness and honesty.

Not having expected such an honest reply, Rainbow was caught unprepared. A derped expression replaced the furious one and the ears of the mare pegasus flopped down.

“I have been shying away from truly handling my own emotions as long as I can remember. It's almost automatic. It is hard to seek lasting comfort from other ponies because of a mindless fear. Such is the price of a long mental isolation," Faith told her, all of his former nervousness now gone. The stallion's eye contact with Rainbow remained consistent.

Despite it her off-put stature returned momentarily. “That’s only because you didn’t have the guts to truly give others the chance to build that unbreakable bondage!”, Rainbow roared, now sounding more upset than angry.

As the stallion listened a warm grin spread around his face.

“I can tell that you represent the element of loyalty, Rainbow," Faith mumbled politely, by now confident about truly speaking with a friend.

A bigger surprise now overshadowed her last one. Rainbow's head tilted sideways so fluently that it would have made Twilight's pet owl feel jealous. What little she had expected was nowhere near what he has ended up giving. Faith had guessed the name of her Element without having been told about it.

“I do not blame you for feeling the way you do about me," the other pegasus said from under his smile, "It is justified and I do not hold a grudge. But I really hope you too can someday let go of your own. You have done nothing to earn my extreme talk."

The other dumbfounded ponies overheard the exchange, almost repeating Rainbow's reaction.

"None of you have," Faith told everyone, "I am truly sorry about this.”

A friendly glance was returned to Rainbow Dash who's eyes had gotten huge.

"Rainbow, you take better care of your friends than I probably ever could. I mean it," her target of displease expressed sincerely.

“Wha……….you………..huh??”, Rainbow stuttered in dismay without forming any sentences. Faith had now redeemed himself with manners that at first she didn't believe had even existed behind his posterior.

“If you excuse me, I must take my mindless cowardice elsewhere so it won’t offend anyone else," Faith expressed calmly if not with a small hint of grief.

“I’m not offended," he heard Pinkie's slow mumbling.

Having decided to leave, he passed Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle on his way out while nodding at them as he went, emotional stares returned back at him by the three fillies. Looking indecisive, Twilight came after the pegasus. The rest of the mares remained frozen, Rainbow’s head stuck in a diagonal tilt. Fluttershy had collapsed to the floor, weeping.

Reaching the front door, Faith reached and opened the door to step outside. As he did so Twilight caught up with him, voice full of embarrassment as she communicated.

”Faith, I’m---------," she attempted to apologize before Faith literally covered her mouth with a green hoof.

“It’s alright, Twilight. I understand," he answered, having guessed what she was trying to bring across, "At least I think I do. She is a passionate friend to all of you.”

Faith's hoof slid off the unicorn's lips to gently grab her forelimb. Twilight was taken by the gesture.

“Take care. And don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine,” Faith told her quietly before he turned and departed outside. Twilight watched him go without saying anything, eventually marching back inside once he was gone.

The unicorn's mood had taken a switch for the worse. And it's target was obvious.

“Rainbow Dash!”, the unicorn snarled like a feline predator that had smelt blood. Still oblivious since Faith's exit, Rainbow snapped awake.

“What the smolder did I just listen to??”, the pegasus mare uttered.

Twilight's horn shone brightly as she marches right in front of her friend. Rainbow finally focused at her and began to realize how far she had gone to upset the other pony.

“You will go outside and apologize to him at this instant or I will change you into a tortoise so you can keep your pet company, Rainbow," Twilight shouted to her at full lungs, "Faith is still within reach!”

A glow set behind her eyes. Rainbow knew what it meant.

“Just cool it, Twili-------," the cyan pegasus whimpered.

“Right now!!!”, Twilight exclaimed with a noise that could scare a beast straight out of Everfree. Scared such a way, the other four mares keep their distance, deciding to not get involved in their dispute.

A concentrated beam of light scorched the floor right underneath Rainbow's hooves. The pegasus jumped back, again whimpering nervously.

”Can’t we talk about this?”

In desperation she raised her front limbs to call a truce between herself and Twilight. It didn't work. Twilight neared Rainbow, a new loud growl emanating from behind her interlocked teeth.

The pegasus swallowed loudly. Soothing Twilight's anger would demand much more than she had thought would be the case in the specific instance.

Rainbow dove to her left to evade the maddened unicorn. Twilight sprung forward to pursue, the horn shooting out sparks. Caught in the way, the others jumped sideways to give her space as she thundered after the pegasus while shouting angrily. In a short moment she had galloped out of the living room.

"Get back in here, Rainbow! I am so displeased with you now!”

Before she acknowledged it Fluttershy had already picked herself up from the floor and almost half-flew through the front door of the house.

Behind her she heard a loud explosive blast going off. The mare wasn't thinking about what was happening between Twilight and Rainbow. What her mind now focused at had already gotten a head start that Fluttershy intended to catch up with as soon as she could, running through the town as fast as her limbs carried her. Scanning frantically in hopes to find what she wanted to locate, the mare lungs took a huge inhale to produce a shout.

“Faith!”

She reached an intersection, halting.

"Did you see a green pegasus mare with a reddish brown mane walk through here?", Fluttershy asked a passerby, speaking extremely quickly. The pedestrian she made the question to rubbed his chin, an elder earth stallion with a grayish beard.

"I think I did see some green pony heading towards the forest way behind me," he told her, indicating his front limb at where Fluttershy remembers having been at with Faith a few hours earlier, "I think it was indeed a pegasus."

Fluttershy's eyes shrank. “Faith!”, the mare repeated loudly as she rushed towards the outskirts of the town, leaving the elder to a cloud of dust in her wake.

"How rude, she didn't even thank me," the stallion mumbled to himself while coughing.

Fluttershy's frantic search continues through the forest. Going around the trail, through the bushes, even pulling up rocks in her search for the feminine stallion, Fluttershy sensed a fear growing in her mind. She had already felt it back at Twilight's house only this time it had doubled. A whimper emanated from the mare's vocal chords as she attempted to keep it from exaggerating itself.

"Faith!"

She trashed through more bushes, disturbing the courtship of robins, an act would usually against her character because Fluttershy loved and respected all animals. But the yellow mare's own worry had made her forget it as she searched frantically.

Time stretched on, starting to break her hope apart.

Having exhausted herself, Fluttershy collapsed to the ground, hyperventilating, leaves and other plant bits tangled to her mane. The weeping of the mare pegasus was now the only sound heard, eyes squeezed shut with tears starting to emerge.

By now Faith must have gotten far beyond the border of Ponyville. She did not know whether or not he had chosen to fly or walk. It didn't matter in any case, her search had taken way too long.

From behind her a flock of butterflies enveloped Fluttershy's lying form. Still wallowing in her loss, she didn't react to them.

Despite it one chose to land right to the tip of her snout. The butterfly flapped it's delicate wings, seeing a stream of the pony's tears running down the cheek. The flock passed them, fluttering over an open hill spanning some distance away from the forest path where the mare had collapsed to. The lone butterfly sitting on her snout took off again to follow the rest of it's kin.

A simple fascination motivated her eyes to follow it's flight when it crossed the neutral space above the ground and she sniffed. Then Fluttershy gasped.

She had found Faith. He was standing at the top of the hill.

***

Chapter 9: Friendship Is Magic

Friendship Is Magic

Faith watched the horizon where the sun had begun to set, the fading light giving his motionless frame a resemblance of a green marble statue. The stallion had become distracted by his thoughts, keenly focused on the beautiful scenery, pondering about his future and the ponies he had met on the way.

He had not yet seen his pursuer who rested on the ground at the bottom of the hill.

Fluttershy found herself unable to move from her position of collapse. It's like she had seen a ghost and paralyzed in place by a strange fear.

Now that she had found him, what should she do?

Faith wouldn't stay around. Even if she would find the courage to go up to him Fluttershy wouldn't be able to sway the stallion to remain in Ponyville. Bringing across her feelings would only embarrass her to him. Or would it? A confusion and shyness prevented her from making up her mind. In any case the mare would have to act soon.

To her luck a part of the task was suddenly made easier when something made Faith's focus shift. As he looked down the hill the stallion saw her at the forest path. As soon as he did his face dropped in surprise. The two pegasus observed each other, divided by a span of neutral forest meadow.

He smiled after noticing the mare's worn state. She had gone through a lot of trouble to find him. A feel of pity moved his internals although Faith's overall calmness remained at the crust. Maybe he would wait for her to come over. As a contrast Fluttershy's tremble wasn't stalling. Despite it a warm though a tad wobbly grin appeared.

She had made it this far. She wouldn't let him leave. Not yet. Not that easily. All she'd need to do is gather herself from the ground and go up to speak with him.

The stallion's smile eventually began to fade. His mind had reached a reassuring conclusion; Faith would have no future in Ponyville regardless of what he feels. His own fate had been set years ago with the seemingly permanent memory loss and a monster that he knew had originated from his soul still lurking somewhere in the void, waiting at the chance to re-emerge thus repossess him. It remained all too unreal to him. Faith would not allow Fluttershy be among the ponies to suffer because of the ghosts of his past. He had created them, he would have to carry the responsibility for himself. If it came down to it he would fight to the end to fulfill his redemption.

Glancing back at the dawn seen in Ponyville's horizon, Faith perceived it as his last sunset at the neighborhood. Having decided to move on, the stallion smiled weakly and gave his friend one last inclining nod of farewell before continuing down the path that he had used. From Fluttershy's point of view his shape was shrinking as he became distant, starting to disappear behind the hill.

Her breathing gained rounds. Fluttershy was seeing her one chance slip away before her very eyes. Tears running down, the hooves of the mare shook powerlessly as she wrestled with the hesitation and stress.

Faith was leaving.

Then Fluttershy snapped out of it. There was still time to act.

“Faith!!"

Without hesitating any longer, the mare rushed forwards, wings spread. Rising to the air, Fluttershy swooped over the hill like a storm frontier and approached the other pegasus who still followed the path ahead. In a few seconds she had closed the distance.

Faith gasped as a weight landed on his back. Four yellow hooves wrapped around his mid-section, holding a tight grip on him. Fluttershy cried loudly, clinging on for dear life. Faith wobbled under her weight, caught by the intensity of the tackle but it didn't prevent him from moving.

”Let go of me!”, Faith exclaimed to the mare pegasus, trying to shake her off. It proved useless because she had stuck herself on like a tick.

“Faith! Please stay! Don’t go! Please don’t go!”, his assaulter whimpered in a greatly distraught state.

Faith sighed, slowed down by their combined weight. Another pony riding on his back was not going enough to sway his decision. ”

You have your own life, Fluttershy. I got mine," the stallion told her with confident sincerity while still marching forward.

“You can’t just abandon me, Faith!”, Fluttershy argued loudly and desperately.

Faith felt the mare's tears wetting his neck. A loud sigh signaled that none of it pleased him.

“Please, Fluttershy. Go back to your friends. They will look after you. I’ll be fine," Faith again expresses with the best politeness he can gather. It still doesn't hide his frustration.

Fluttershy slid down the stallion. This time her hooves closed around his back legs. Because of it Faith was forced to completely halt his progress.

“Fluttershy. Please let go of me," he half-whispered, now made upset by the mare's extreme antics with the desperation to walk away stronger than ever which Fluttershy had made all too difficult.

“You will have to kick my head in to get rid of me!”, she threatened, strongly locking his legs together to keep him from moving. Now ashamed and saddened, Faith shut his eyes to remain silent.

"Is everyone in Ponyville like this?", the concerned thought resonated inside his brain.

The feminine stallion returned eye contact to Fluttershy beneath him. The glassy eyes expressed desperation as they gazed up at him. To say the least, her state looked pitiful. Faith had made an impact that wasn't going away anytime soon.

He would have to discuss with her more to reach a better agreement.

"Why can't you just let me go?"

"Because I love you, Faith!"

“Get up on your hooves, Fluttershy.”

The stallion grabbed Fluttershy gently, starting to lift her from the ground, now sounding amused by her theatrics. Supporting her, he succeeded in getting her to stand back up. A green front hoof lifted up her fallen chin as soon as it had flopped down.

“Don’t stress yourself for my sake," Faith told her, "There’s plenty of stallions in Ponyville who are much better for you than I am. You'll get over me.” Sounding sincere, Faith secretly knew what he meant.

Why would Fluttershy fall for him out of all the stallions she had known way longer? The green pegasus rolled his eyes, not willingly buying it. “What does she even see in me?”, he pondered to himself quietly, a self-convinced loner toughened by long periods of isolation. None of what he had told her and her friends would justify such binds.

“You said earlier that you had learned about what it means to have a good attitude," Fluttershy recalled silently. Faith nodded his head in agreement, their preceding conversation not forgotten from his mind.

“It is indeed important," the pegasus admitted.

“You know what I’ve learned, Faith? Sometimes…………..things just happen."

As she spoke the mare drew herself nearer. Witnessing it strengthened Faith's growing unnerve. While the stallion's breathing shallowed a weird curiosity he hadn't felt for a living memory made him allow her approach.

Before he knew it Fluttershy’s hoof had already crept behind his neck. Faith jumped slightly upon noticing. Yet he remained in place, too nervous to make sudden moves.

He had barely known her for two days. Yet some emotion was driving them closer, something that felt good. Way too good to be true. Faith remembered being deceived by similar sensations during the younger years that he still had memories of. To him it was unclear why he still did while the rest of his recollections remained shrouded.

“This isn't happening! She wouldn't! What am I doing?!”, Faith's mind argued hesitantly in a internal struggle.

Yet Fluttershy's snout was slowly brought closer to his. Yet he too was drawn closer. Time slowed down around Faith. It had ceased from mattering. A kiss between the two pegasus was looking imminent.

At the last second the couple heard an explosion from the trail behind them. Snapping awake, it was all Faith needed to pull himself free from Fluttershy's grip, again showing strongly reluctancy. Their bind had been broken by an unexpected distraction.

A lonely tear formed to roll down his cheek. “No! No!”, Faith cried in stress. He wasn't going along with the illusion of romance. Not this time.

He stumbled back, not looking at Fluttershy's reaction from behind now tightly shut eyelids. What he did hear was a silent whimper indicating at the mare's own disappointment.

Without either pony noticing it, a deeply scared blue pegasus came flying at them from the forest, cruising at high speed. Rainbow Dash landed, out of breath. As soon as the mare had reached the ground she stumbled behind Fluttershy, looking like she had been through a hell. And now Rainbow sought shelter. The other mare was slow to note her presence, a wave-like motion disturbing her lips from the initial shock of her so far disastrous crush.

“You got to help me! She has lost her mind!”, Rainbow's terrified voice begged the other two pegasi.

“Rainbow Dash!", an ominous, high pitched scream called out deep within the forest.

As soon as she heard it Rainbow whimpered loudly. Nearly equalling Pinkie Pie's speed, she had already moved where Faith stood and collapses to her knees in front of him. The mare crossed her front hooves.

“I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry, I’msosorryI’msosorryI’msosorryI’msosorry for what I said to you, Faith! I’m so sorry! Please don’t kill me!”, Rainbow begged, speaking quickly.

The confused stallion returned a silent glance. He had not witnessed Twilight's conversation with the mare pegasus after exiting the house.

Another explosion rocked the ground which guided the focus of all three ponies to the forest just in time for them to witness a sight not too short from creepy.

Twilight sped through the air in a glowing aura that she used to carry herself, a feat rarely pulled off by unicorns because it can easily backfire with lost concentration and eats up a lot of energy. Despite it she didn't seem exerted or concerned, floating at speed that easily equaled Rainbow's with an expression so intense that it would scare a manticore turdless. She was looking for the mare pegasus, having located her quarry.

In a quick ironic moment Faith felt four hooves wrap around his mid-section a second time. Rainbow had jumped to his back, the mare's entire body shivering violently which Faith sensed clearly.

The other two ponies had not reached an agreement, Rainbow being the underdog. Even as the fastest pegasus in Equestria she had personally learned a valuable lesson; do not madden a unicorn with strong skills of teleportation and levitation.

Twilight halted before their eyes and took a descend, the glow surrounding her remaining as strong as ever. The entire space of her eyeballs was covered in solid white which gave the lavender mare a none too pleasant appearance.

"Well?", Twilight enquired coldly, having aimed her question to the other mare now glued to Faith's spine.

"I apologized! I apologized! I apologized!", Rainbow whimpered repeatedly.

Faith had become her last floating plank left from a sinking ship which she held on to desperately, none too sure about how far Twilight would go in her offense which greatly disturbed her usually bold stamina.

Having taken what she heard as a positive sign, the white in Twilight's eyes started to fade out. Along with it went her fury. She exhaled loudly as fatigue took it's place. The friendlier mare had returned to the presence of Faith, Fluttershy and Rainbow who still took excess time in convincing herself for it to be the case.

The pegasus finally tumbled off Faith's backside as she passed out in relief, her ordeal now over.

After Rainbow had recovered and was standing up from the ground she found Faith's attention upon herself. "There is nothing to apologize about," the green pegasus told the other, helping her as she scampered to all fours, "You were right. How can I establish unbreakable friendships if I distance myself to other ponies?"

Rainbow stared at him silently, the meaning behind what had been said fully sinking in. Faith's polite sincerity had impressed her yet again.

"You know what, Faith. You're not such a coward after all," the mare replied in admittance.

To her embarrassment she now found herself in a gentle hug, finding it awkward to her tough imago but reluctantly adapting. The mare's hoof tapped Faith's shoulder acceptingly, a shy flush going through her cheeks. The stallion eventually released her, returning a nod of respect. which Rainbow repeated out of principle.

As the interaction happened Twilight watched them from aside with a warm grin. The friendly affair between Faith and the Elements had so far remained intact.

Also observing the interaction close to Faith and Rainbow, Fluttershy had momentarily forgotten her heartbreak and smiled. Maybe there ws hope for him staying after all.

But was it certain? Fluttershy's mind went through the possibilities. Before Rainbow appeared they had almost............. No, Faith had been reluctant the whole time. Even at that critical moment she had felt it in his gaze, in the way he spoke.

What would have happened if they had gone through with it? Would one kiss be enough to change anything? Faith had disconnected himself with so little.

No, he wouldn't believe in such a bind. Faith was still going to leave.

The mare’s uncertainty returned with a vengeance. Squeezed by it's acidic grip, Fluttershy's eyes narrow. She would have to go the extra mile to ensure success.

It took a mere second for her to be in his plain frontal view. Faith only got a split second to face towards her to assess what she did before the mare's eyes started radiating.

Before he knew it her subject suddenly felt that he wasn't able to turn away. Faith was now held in place by a strong gaze that pierced the back of his head. He had fallen victim to Fluttershy's stare.

"I demand you to stay with me," she exclaimed loudly and confidently.

Rainbow and Twilight looked on, confused by what their friend was doing. By now both mares had realized that what they had interrupted wasn't just two ponies saying goodbye to each other.

Faith's eyes watered from the strain, finding it impossible to look away. His nerves were being squeezed far worse than during their previous contact. Somehow he had become tiny in an already larger world. Fighting back momentarily, Faith realized that he was literally swimming against a stronger current.

Then a simple ideal materialized.

Why fight it? All that Fluttershy had seemingly wanted was for him to stay a bit longer. Faith wasn't really a prisoner anymore. Twilight herself had given an oral promise about not using her magic. He was free to move around the vicinity. These ponies trusted him as much as they wanted him to trust them. He would have enough time to settle this clash of views without the need of excess force.

All that it would take was more time.

A shaken yet compassionate expression replaced his shocked look as Faith gathered some of his good self-esteem. The mare gasped as soon as she realized the meaning behind his facial language, her focus starting to break.

Faith slowly progressed forward to approach the keeper of his bind located a very short distance away, willingly keeping his eyes pointed at Fluttershy's instead of trying to look away from them. He had opened up completely, accepting the hold of her stare, that it existed and what had be done.

Fighting it was futile. Fearing it was even more futile. Regardless of how long it would last, Faith would have to treat their relationship as a journey.

He reached the mare. A sincere gaze answered the intense stare, neither of the ponies speaking yet what was seen from their faces explained itself; Fluttershy's half-open mouth warped from the wave-like motion going through her tear soaked lips. Faith's jaw shook, eyes teary from the inner turmoil. Regardless of their differences the ponies were sharing emotions.

A loud whimper went off. Fluttershy literally broke down, the stare withering as she dropped after having lost the strength from her body. Faith caught her fall before she hit the ground, holding her delicate frame gently against his own.

A weeping filled the air, coming from not one but two ponies. Time went by, minutes passing like an eternity.

Eventually the unease settled and a new eye contact was established. Looking deep in the blue sapphire eyes facing his own, an impulse zipped through Faith from the tip of the hooves to the depths of his very core. Almost simultaneously he felt the mare's body vibrate. She had undergone a similar sensation.

"I am so going to regret this....," Faith's deep inner voice uttered to itself.

The snouts of the two pegasus came together as Faith bended over to kiss Fluttershy. Another eternity rolled by, the surrounding world closed outside their senses.

Then their lips released. Pulling back, Faith and Fluttershy still remained bound from their eyes, unwilling to break the exchange until Faith finally remembered the other two mares. Thoughtfully the stallion turned his attention to where Twilight and Rainbow were standing.

Both mares had not prepared for what they had witnessed between Fluttershy and Faith, having seen it in what to them was only a short moment. Two stretchy mouths now hung limp below baffled faces, a rather amusing look on two ponies.

Holding back a chuckle the best he could, Faith grinned at their reaction. Fluttershy seemed to be having less success, muffling a giggle behind her hoof.

"I have changed my mind. I think I could stay a bit longer in Ponyville after all," Faith told to the mare unicorn.

The eyes of Twilight and Rainbow shrunk to an almost invisible size before their limbs gave away. The now unconscious mares took a simultaneous plunge to their sides.
***

The vast meadow housed an ocean of yellow flowers spanning as far as the eye could see. Bees and butterflies had taken the air for themselves in a task that concerned the lively colored sea, adding movement to the mostly passive environment aside kinetic waves created by a weak summer wind pushing against the plants. The insects were scattered as individual swarms, landing to the golden petals to collect the important nectar that ensured the yearly survival of their colonies. The swarms were talking amongst themselves by a pitch and a language so alien that no pony could translate it to words.

Almost no pony.

Somewhere amidst the yellow surface a lonely green pegasus had stationed himself, resting low to the ground with his spine kept horizontal, back limbs crossed in a meditative sitting stance.

Faith ignored the visual details of the beautiful phenomenon surrounding him. He already acknowledged it's existence in perfectly self-accepting harmony. The stallion felt the soft wind swaying the summit of his reddish brown mane, enjoying it's brush against his green coat. He was listening to the conversation of the tiny beings occupying the air above his head, eyes closed to help him focus.

One of the bees landed against his cheek, curiously exploring it. It found no traces of nectar to collect from this peculiar unflower. Faith's lip formed a grin from the tickling sensation of it's tiny limbs. He had his place in the larger world and allows himself to co-exist with the tiny stinging insect without evoking it. Instead of instinctive repulsion the pony deeply admired what had landed on him, having spent years of his life amongst tiny living beings like it.

"Keep working, little one," Faith told the bee, "There are plenty of good flowers for you and everyone else in your family. You're doing a good job."

The insect lifted to it's wings. "Thank you for the compliment," it answered as it flew away, having understood what he had said. Faith sighed, relaxed in his position. Nothing could possibly be better than this and he was wishing for it to last eternally.

The pegasus was forced to open his eyes when something disturbed his senses.

The gentle breeze had abruptly died down, no longer massaging him. Even the insects sensed the disturbance, scattering away. The air instantly became standing. A powerful fear had been aroused by something not related to the weather. Faith turned his head to try and locate this new presence only to find himself without a clue about where it was. To make his fear worsen, a calm yet monstrous growl was heard.

What ever it was, the creature was coming closer to Faith who was hopelessly exposed. A chill went through his spine like a sixth sense warning about the presence of approaching danger. Yet he saw nothing.

"You are mine now........," a deep raspy voice spoke out from somewhere near him.

Faith recognized the voice. When his eyes shot themselves wider the pegasus felt another chill shaking him to the bone.

It had returned for him!

He jumped up from his meditative position to scan the field for the invisible being now stalking him while trying to remain confidently cool headed.

"Show yourself!", the pegasus shouted to the empty looking field.

A throbbing pain and a tightening around his chest made Faith press a hoof against it. The sensation quickly worsened to a searing burning of hot needles, twisting the stallion's face from agony. Faith winced, barely staying on all three legs that still kept him upright.

A morbid cackle began to ring from every direction like the entity gripping him had been divided everywhere yet was nothing more than an echo crossing the area. Panic took over Faith's mind, freezing him with a third chill. Along with it the pain increased, tearing at him akin to a stinging knife.

"Not my heart! Not my heart!", Faith screamed, the tone of his shout upset by fear and agony.

The cackling laughter didn't show signs of ceasing, unbearable to listen.

A new hurtful throb forced Faith to keel down and he collapsed when his now senseless limbs gave away. The pegasus realized that his heart was failing him, kept under a tight corrosive grip by the supernatural assaulter. Pressing his chest with both hooves, the stallion went to a violent twitch like a fish out of water.

The strength in his body failing along with his heart, Faith was witnessing himself slip away to the other side, the invisible beast tearing into his physical essence like a potent predatory parasite. The pegasus became limp as he went into cardiac arrest, flailing powerlessly as it happened.

"Noooooooooooo!!!!!!!!, a voice in his mouth by now drained from it's strength brought along one final scream as darkness swallowed him.

 "No!!"

Faith jumped up in the dark, hyperventilating, cold sweat already pouring down his forehead. The stallion held a hoof against his chest, afraid for the heart that was beating at quick rate deep under his coat.

"What's wrong, honey?" he heard Fluttershy's soft voice ask from right next to him.

She too had been asleep before his abrupt awakening had woken her up as well. They had been sharing the same bed in his apartment mostly due to her insistence after Faith had returned there. Finally remembering where was, the stallion sighed loudly to fall back against the soft bed sheets.

"I just had a horrible nightmare," Faith eventually revealed after his shock has died down. Fluttershy snuggled closer, stretching out her front limb to stroke the other pony's brown mane.

The hoof then turned his face so they could exchange looks. “Relax, darling. It was just a dream.”

"Thankfully," Faith replied silently, "It felt too close for comfort."

Sensing his tenseness, Fluttershy tickled his neck. "What was it about? You can tell me."

Instead of explaining right away Faith rewinded through the nightmare in his head. He had never dreamed of It before, not even once after banishing it from his soul many years ago, still feeling strong rejection towards the creature that had once lived in him. Yet It had easily overwhelmed him in the dream.

What would that mean to him in reality? Faith didn't believe to predictive nor prophetic meanings of dreams. The pegasus decided to forget the enigma to get better sleep for the rest of the night.

"The bitterness shattered my heart," he eventually revealed to the mare lying at his side.

Fluttershy reacted in shock when learning it, holding a hoof against her mouth. Quickly snuggling tighter against him, she stroked the stallion's mane again. "Poor Faith," her voice cooed comfortingly, "Let me try and fix that broken heart."

She leaned over to gently kiss Faith's chest, resting down against him to rub his green coat, a gesture that made him flush entirely. It's like his heart had exploded. In a good way.

"Just what a broken heart needs," he whispered with a shy grin and a gaze stuck in the mare's blue eyes.

"Come visit my home tomorrow. I think you will get along well with my little friends," Fluttershy whispered.

Faith closed his eyes, hearing Fluttershy sigh emotionally as he quickly drifted back to better dreams in the comfort of her company.

***

The next morning Fluttershy and Faith departed his apartment to go to the animal nursery cottage that she called her home, taking a shortcut through the town square while they did so to stop by the local market. With her consumer experience Fluttershy located a vegetable stand.

"Stay here if you're too shy in interacting," she told Faith awkwardly before walking over to make a purchase.

The other pegasus remained stationary, curiously eyeing the other town locals passing by him, by now much calmer and more confident even at the relative loudness of the crowd. As the stand keeper handed Fluttershy a bag of groceries a short distance away she quickly thanked the other pony before returning to Faith who had not moved.

"Can you manage?", the mare asked him with a warm smile.

Faith gave her a wink and a grin of his own. "A few ponies making a racket, that's all there is. I actually think this place isn't half-bad." He now noticed the large cabbages hanging from Fluttershy's saddle bag among a few other vegetables. "Are your little friends addicted to cabbage by any means?"

"Most of them eat all sorts of food," Fluttershy giggled, "I got these for little Angel, my white bunny. Fresh cabbage helps keep him satisfied. It comes in use, he can be rather pestering and hot headed."

The mare intentionally walked right past her companion to gently brush against him as she trotted past. "Come on, darling. I can't wait to introduce you to my house. Some more peace and quietness.......just for us," Fluttershy cooed with a hint of seductiveness.

Almost blushing, Faith gathered himself to walk in her trail after managing a cooler mindset.

Passing the city square, Fluttershy and Faith were suddenly forced to stop again when she spotted an individual squirrel limping alone besides a tree growing at the street and headed over to inspect. Faith stuck by her side despite hearing some obnoxious voices shouting loudly a distance away. The squirrel squeaked at the two pegasus tensely, not showing willingness in letting them get too close.

"Awwwww, you poor little fellow," Fluttershy communicated to it calmly, "Let Fluttershy have a look at you."

The squirrel went quiet as it picked the calming tone of her voice, curiously limping closer. It sniffed the tip of her hoof as she outstretched it to prove her helpful intention and jumped on it after deeming the mare harmless. Fluttershy examined the squirrel's bent limb after bringing it beside her.

"Did you dislocate your paw? We should take you to my home so we can have it treated at once so you can get back to your search of acorns as soon as possible," she explained which the rodent nodded at in seeming understanding as the mare placed it to an empty saddle pocket at her other side.

Faith watched it happening from aside, smiling warmly at how she treated the animal.

"I like your talent. If more ponies had it the natural world would remain more harmonic," the feminine stallion commented.

Fluttershy giggled nervously, a flushing going through the cheeks. "Oh my, that is so kind, Faith."

Before her uplift lasted too long the mare's face dropped upon the understanding of the reality that surrounded her life. "I really, really wish that were the case. I'm mostly by myself......aside my five friends of course. I'm too shy to find others. It's even harder to find ones who share my point of view about nature. I think you're one of the few who I can truly relate with."

She led the way as the duo continued down the street with the injured squirrel now for company. Faith saw it scamper to the middle of Fluttershy's back from the saddle bag when it's sharp senses got alerted to the approach of more ponies.

Three stallions crossed the same street from the opposite direction, heading where the two pegasus had been moving from, speaking at each other with excessively loud drunken voices, their attitude indicating at spoiled backgrounds. These ponies had been making the racket during Fluttershy's discovery of the squirrel.

As the two parties passed each other one of the stallions noticed Faith.

"Look, guys! That's the infamous mare stallion that everypony's been speaking about," the obese pony barked under slobbery laughter.

The other two stallions, a long skinny one with pimples and a hunk with a reddish brown coat now took note and started laughing mockingly.

"That's not a stallion at all! What a joke to his gender," the thinly built pony cackled an insult.

"What do ya reckon, is he a redhead or a brunette?", the hunk snickered, a grin revealing a cluster of three poorly maintained upper teeth inside his mouth, the rest apparently lost to some sort of dental rot.

"I dunno but he sure looks green from envy," the fat pony remarked which caused all three stallions to keel over from synonymous laughter.

Listening them made Fluttershy look like she had a lump embedded to her throat. At her side Faith's expression tightened regarding the insults directed at him which made him look behind calmly.

If he had taken Rainbow's outburst the way he had these three jerks wouldn't be a bigger challenge to overcome despite how different they obviously were be to the mare pegasus. Faith would have to teach himself to accordingly face the more difficult ones if he was to get along with anyone.

Making up his mind, he had already stalled and turned around to move back towards the three ponies still rolling at the ground before Fluttershy saw it. Coming up to them, Faith prepared for his greatest test yet as the mockers noticed him and stood calmly in front of their viewpoint.

"Or maybe, just maybe, green is a natural color," Faith expressed with self-restrained confidence, returning eye contact with the adult bullies.

A hoof covered her gasp. A short distance away Fluttershy too had now taken notice to what Faith was doing. His decision could get him to trouble if it got out of hand. On the mare's backside the squirrel was squeaking loudly, jumping up and down.

The mockers were momentarily left speechless at the bold approach until a louder laughter had them keel over again. The three stallions then got to all fours and pressed closer to him. The brutish hunk with a poor dental hygiene came nearest, his two friends sticking by his both sides, grinning deviously when he towered over the pegasus to size him down.

"Well, well, well, what do ya know, a tough buck defending himself."

"Loser! Loser! Loser! Loser!" The two other bullies almost synonymously started chanting at Faith to emotionally oppress their target.

Spending time with Twilight and her five friends had already done miracles to Faith's formerly shattered self-esteem that now withstood the oral abuse thrown at him. Watching the stallions without surrendering to grief nor fear, Faith calmly maintained eye contact, visibly showing to the three stallions that he wasn't the succumbing type.

"Have a nice day," the pegasus told them almost indifferently before heading back.

"Keep failing, green loser," the toothless hunk closest to him threw his final insult. Not looking back, Faith went where he had come from without a hint of worry regarding the stallion's childish behavior.

He had passed the test.

Fluttershy's eyes were standing when he returned by her side, the squirrel on her back still squeaking angrily at the direction of the stallions who had mocked Faith.

"Ignore those fools, Fluttershy. They're harmless," Faith expressed when he passed by, gently brushing against her.

Blushing yet again, the now taken Fluttershy moved on with him. The squirrel had not stopped venting it's anger, jumping up and down on her saddle, finally making her focus on something aside her surprise as she gestured a hoof over her shoulder and spoke to the tiny animal assuringly.

"Calm down, little fellow. We have to get your paw fixed."

The squirrel settled after hearing her. Having succeeded at calming down her patient, Fluttershy moved quicker to keep up with her green companion.

"That was amazing! And reckless! Dangerous even! How could you?! They might have harmed you," Fluttershy exclaimed loudly after catching up with Faith, sounding aimless in her fear for him.

A questioned expression appeared on the feminine stallion when he looks back at her. Fluttershy cleared her throat, once again sounding awkward.

"Sorry, Faith. I got a little concerned for you there. Forgive me for snapping like that, it's not something I do too often."

She remained silent for a moment to look him in the eyes before a grin of compassion from the other pegasus melted her poor self-esteem which allowed her to speak again. "You handled those jerks well. I couldn't have gotten anywhere near it without Iron Will."

"Who's that?", Faith asked his companion who once again became quiet for a few seconds.

"Never mind it. You wouldn't need a coach like him anyway," Fluttershy said, willing to push away the subject matter of her past experiment conducted with a minotaur's overkill teachings at self-esteem that had almost cost her two friends.

***

A familiar group of five mares and a purple baby dragon crossed the dirt road that ascended the flowery hill before Fluttershy's cottage. Soon coming upon the front door, Twilight knocked it with her hoof. For a moment nothing happened.

"Wasn't she supposed to be home?", Applejack asked.

"I don't know why she wouldn't be after telling me and Rainbow where she would bring Faith," the lavender mare replied before knocking a second time, rewarded with nothing but a new moment without answer that made the unicorn sigh.

"If she isn't home where could they be? I doubt they stayed at Faith's apartment," Rainbow pondered.

"Maybe they are napping," Spike theorized with a shrug of his shoulders.

"I think they would have heard us coming if they were," Twilight chuckled.

"Perhaps we can come again later. Big Mac could use mah help back at the Acres," Applejack mumbled, becoming bored at hanging in the doorway. It didn't last long when her sharp eyes located something out of the ordinary which made the work horse curious. "Scratch that, let's take a look at the backyard," she dismissed her previous statement with a hat flip before circling around the cottage, "There's something going on in there."

The other mares and Spike stuck behind her, now similarly aware of a strange presence behind Fluttershy's home. Reaching the backyard side of the cottage, they came upon a strange sight which made them stare silently.

A herd of all sorts of big and small forest animals had gathered to an organized formation that was moving in unison, repeating a fine array of movements, shifting from one pose to another, even the four legged ones standing on two legs.

In the midst of this strange herd the mares saw Fluttershy and Faith moving the same way, most of Faith's green coat covered by yellow butterflies that for some reason were being attracted to him. What the pegasus and animals alike were doing appeared to be a morning exercise akin to taiji or yoga.

The exercise came to a stop once the animal herd scattered upon noticing the mares and the baby dragon. Fluttershy gasped before she also stopped. Holding a hoof on her mouth, the yellow mare pegasus started to giggle at the awkwardness of the situation. The humor of the moment caught on to the others who started laughing.

Faith remained well focused, calmly gazing the blank space straight ahead of him and forming a ball with two front hooves as he took a simultaneous step to the left, the butterflies on his shoulders and mane hinging their wings. The entire exercise appeared to be his invention or something that he had learned a long time ago.

The five mares approached the duo.

"Seems like you're having fun," Twilight said with her chuckle still going.

Fluttershy looked excessively happy as she came up to meet them. "Yes, it has been a fun day." The mare pegasus glanced behind her at Faith who continued his activity at the background, a blushing having appeared to both of her yellow cheeks.

"A truly fun day indeed........"

***

Chapter 10: Dodging A Rainbow

Dodging A Rainbow

Along Princess Luna's shift came the newest night. During the dark hours almost everypony was spending their time just for what it meant to them; sleep.

Unless watching the canvas of the sky attracted them.

Far below this sight a different sort of light emitted yellow flickers. In the dark a long tongue extended outwards to snatch a roasted onion, retracted quickly when it's owner gained a grip on the snack pierced by his stick. Spike retracted the prehensile tongue back in his mouth. The baby dragon snickered while swallowing the onion.

From aside Twilight was heard chuckling. "Oh, Spike! Learn some eating manners!"

Twilight, Spike, Applejack, Faith and Fluttershy had gathered some distance away from her cottage, long sticks roasting apples, vegetables and marshmallows over the crackling flames of a camp fire.

Beside the fire Faith recalled the same day's evening during which Twilight, Spike and the other mares paid Fluttershy a visit. All sorts of fun activity had been arranged for him to participate in ranging from playing board games to helping Fluttershy collect honey from the bee hives, a task that he had managed the best. Even before that the two pegasus had enjoyed each other's company while taking care of her animals.

There was nothing fancy about it, just ponies spending time together. It had been a great day.

Beside him Fluttershy watched the sky, her front limb wrapped around Faith's own hoof. Slightly glancing at her, the stallion felt grateful for the change of plans that the mare had helped set in motion.

"I used to stare at the stars all the time when alone," he revealed, "Some of the most beautiful sights that I've ever put my eyes upon."

A hoof reached around to gently touch his other cheek. Faith's focus shifted away from the stars to reveal Fluttershy's eyes that reflected the opposite horizon, a detail enhanced by a loving look on the mare's face. It was pointed to him. She pressed herself closer, another hoof wrapping around his torso.

"You're hard to top," a soft voice whispers just loud enough for him to hear it.

Relaxing by her side, Faith sighed calmly. Even with his future remaining uncertain he would at least have some friends capable of helping him face it.

***

Light descended upon the land the following day.

Far from Ponyville a forest clearing acted as a momentary pit stop to somepony. A wagon that somepony used to travel had been parked near the edge of the grassy open space right near the edge of the woods. Littered around it were many varieties of tools and equipment spanning from clay containers to boxes filled with fireworks and parts of an unassembled stage, all neatly organized by their owner.

Near this wagon a table was set up. Grayish steam was evaporating from within a small pot heated by a candle flame. An aged looking book was resting opened next to it, easily big enough to take up considerable amount of space. More clay containers had been fit neatly aside that, their contents used in a still ongoing experiment.

Her attention at the book, a blue coated mare unicorn with a bright silver mane was studying the information held within the worn pages, each one turning by itself in front of her eyes under the influence of yellow magic. Eventually glancing at the bubbling green mush inside the pot, the yellow light intensified. Almost immediately a utensil surrounded by a glowing aura of the same color appeared to dip itself to the liquid, scooping a sample.

The unicorn turned her attention to a rose conveniently placed on the table. As soon as she had looked at it the plant lit up in a new yellow aura and was lifted upwards, eventually stopping in mid-air aside the utensil which immediately poured the concoction on the petals. The liquid drizzled, covering up the entire tip and parts of the flower's trunk as gravity made it seep down. The mare rubbed her chin, waiting for an expected reaction. Yet the flower remained unresponsive.

"For flying feathers! Still not working," the grey pony shouted disappointedly at the insignificant results. The plant and the utensil dropped to the ground in front of the table when her attention shifted back to the book. Scanning through the ingredient list with a hoof, her brows descended.

"Might need more volcanic ash," she told herself half-obliviously, a yellow aura surrounding one of the containers which the mare started opening.

At the ground the rose was lying on it's side, a luminant green glow now visible where the concoction had covered it.

The unprepared unicorn was startled by an abrupt noise and yanked the lid. The sudden pull flung it several feet up in the air. Because of the sudden change of pressure the dust held within the container followed. Once the cloud settled the mare had become covered in a fine grey layer from tip to hoof.

She wasn't noting it, instead looking down at what had now caught her attention. Where the flower had been moments ago a smoldering black spot remained, apparently from the parts of the plant not touched by the substance. Quickly cleaning off the dust, the mare circled around the desk to assess what remained of her guinea pig.

A wide grin eventually set upon her.

From the call of her horn a medallion floated into view from somewhere among the unicorn's random possessions and settled on an outstretched hoof, a blood red ruby etched to the middle of the amulet depicting a winged golden serpent arched in a coil. She moved it over the plant's last position. The ruby lit up akin to a detector, a promising reaction to it's owner.

Taking the golden chain to both hooves, the mare slipped the medallion around her neck and proceeded to close her eyes. A whining noise soon began to emanate and increased in volume, the centre of the ruby glowing bright.

Before the mare's hooves the spot where the plant disappeared became occupied by a materializing green mist seemingly under the amulet's control. After hearing a loud puff she found the plant at it's original position upon looking down.

"It works! It works!", the unicorn shouted excitedly, her eyes now standing wider.

Without hesitation she used the medallion again. Akin to the first time, the flower melted away. Compressing, the mist took flight to relocate itself a distance away. With a new puff of smoke the rose was re-revealed.

The purpose of the experiment had wielded it's first success; to make test objects jump between two spaces.

An ecstatic chuckle left the mouth of Trixie, an individual best known for awing ponies with her traveling show and outlandish claims of sorcery that some had disproved. Some time ago she had suffered a loss when an enraged Ursa Minor destroyed her other carriage but had acquired a new one by earning enough bits with her skills of improvisation and was seemingly again doing well as a traveling magician.

"With this recipe Trixie can turn her stage props semi magical. Top that, Twilight Sparkle!", the show mare exclaimed with an overly cocky laugh. Said laugh came to sudden stand. "Hold on, Trixie," she continued nervously, "It still needs testing before I can use it. That was only a small test subject. I need something bigger, something equally alive."

Scanning her surroundings in a search for a new guinea pig, Trixie soon spotted a boulder that stood out half-embedded from the ground in the middle of the grassy field. A noticeable cover of algae and long ivy vines grew outwards from it's surface. Suddenly glowing yellow, the boulder began to rise from it's half-buried position, plants and sediment torn apart when it heaved itself upwards.

Nearby Trixie bit her teeth. Despite being easily capable of lifting a full-grown pony what she now attempted to move almost equalled three stallions in weight if not more. So far her plan had been successful. The boulder was free from it's earthy binds, almost weightless in look as it floated higher in mid-air, a dangerous misperception to anypony caught underneath it.

"Come on, you big piece of rock! Come to momma," Trixie uttered from under her shaky breathing, having spent a lot of energy in uprooting the boulder.

In a quick forward movement the heavy natural object was brought towards the mare wizardess.

Way too quickly. Trixie's eyes shrunk and she leapt sideways when her test subject came crashing down on the spot she had stood at only a second ago, skidding to a halt a few meters away, a long dragging mark remaining as evidence for it's landing.

Having saved herself from an embarassing self-flattening, Trixie stumbled back up to all fours to approach the boulder, studying the plants stuck on it's pebbly surface. "This will prove whether my miracle formula works. If it does it's job on this boulder then it will work on anything," the mare pondered.

Once the pot containing the rest of the concoction arrived from the table she inspected the amount needed for the last phase of her test. Deeming it sufficient, her eyes moved down at the rock. An almost sadistic grin spread from cheek to cheek. "Sorry, pal, science needs it's donators."

The pot containing the formula tipped over, spilling the bubbling goo. Green flames were expelled up in the air when it came into contact with the algae, every single drop spreading on the boulder's outer surface. Tiny earth burying insects fled from the rock's former bottom side to escape the developing acidic fumes.

Trixie set the emptied pot aside to assess how the substance affected the rock. As she had expected, a glow enveloped it. In an instant the rock disappeared to a huge puff of smoke, small bits of stone raining everywhere which forces her to back away.

Trixie had used the medallion hastily. Coughing from the vapors, she eventually glanced back at the boulder's location which the settling cloud revealed to have disappeared and chose a new spot.

A high pitched whine again began ringing from the brightly glowing red jewel as she heedlessly took control of it again. At the chosen location a green mist formed into the shape of the boulder in mid-air. The rock fell, forming a dent at where it impacted the ground.

Trixie began jumping from joy, smirking with the grin of an overly eager kid wielding her dad's gun. "Yes! Yes! YES! Trixie, you have outdone yourself," the unicorn nearly celebrated, laughing like a maniac in the amulet's red glow.

The boulder un-melted next to the rose lying on it's side as the experimenter neared her two relocated subjects with a mad grin. "I can already imagine it. Everywhere that Trixie performs customers will cover her in bits just to see her shifting stage. No more constraint to fireworks!"

Only a week ago she had briefly visited the tropical costal region of Coltuba to make a special purchase. Using it's cheaper if not illegal trade services practiced by the few occupants living there, Trixie was by now a well recognized customer.

Because it was constantly kept under the watch of the royal guard Coltuba was less popular to common travelers. It hadn't scared her away from doing re-visits, a considerable advantage to a show mare who considered herself nowhere near a true criminal. With smart ways of business Trixie was never suspectible to authorities. Even if trouble did arise she could plead herself free with the usual explanation; Trixie used Coltuba as her dealer of rare chemicals needed for making the more outstanding fireworks.

Because her business was modest and swift what she told was mostly true and the royal pegasi let her be. But sometimes the unicorn's curiosity led her to study what else the ones living at Coltuba had to offer. In a drift store of used items Trixie remembered having once been shown something unique in the private collection of the shop's keeper.

According to the story told by it's last owner, the untitled book now lying on her table came from somewhere far beyond the maps of known Equestria, behind the darkest depths of the impenetrable jungle spanning just behind the popular tourist capital Gallopoli that was located a day's trip away from Coltuba. When it was first found the amulet had been discovered tightly attached to the cover which somehow connected it to many of the spells described in the pages as an almost symbiotic extension. From the expedition that stumbled on it's secret location only one barely sane team member came back with the book in tow. Who or what ever was behind it had almost otherworldly experience with magic only touched upon by experts, making it a borderline dangerous and unpredictable relic of unknown yet convenient powers to those who had the means and the skill to harness them, a challenge taken by no pony who knew because it aroused fear in the superstitious hearts of the Coltuban locals.

Little information about what lead to it's discovery and the fate of the other ponies from the expedition could be extracted from the poor earth pony who had brought it along. Most believed that a unicorn had written the complicated instructions on the pages that no ordinary pony could mimic. Some claimed that a gryphon was behind it. According to others the author wasn't a pony or anything else known in Equestria, some stories even speaking of a "she-demon witch" from a species resembling a black primate with a naked skin and opposable thumbs. Disagreeing theories circulated, it's writer still remaining a mystery. It had no name to speak of for being an anonymous piece of dark literature and fear continued to shroud it's secrets.

Kept intrigued by the details since hearing them, Trixie had eventually spent a lot of bits to get her hooves on the items. It had taken a lot of time and effort but the mysterious book and amulet now belonged to the unicorn.

Her chin elevated towards the sky in an overconfident gesture, a cold grin facing the clouds above almost as if it could easily poke right through and beyond them as she gloated with her accomplishment. "Equestria! The Great Trixie is about to blow your mind!"

Mired within her future fantasies, she did a trot around the misty boulder while planning. "Here's an opportunity to raise my price. Manufacturing the substance demands resources. The book and the medallion already cost me a small fortune."

The mare's chin lifted again in an overly self-certain gesture.

"It will take much more than an Ursa Minor for you to outdo me this time, Sparkle," Trixie exclaimed bitterly, still recalling her retreat from Ponyville because of the events that led to her envy and despise for the lavender unicorn who lived there.

In her thoughts she had failed to notice a disturbance that only moments ago had begun to transform the rock's depth semi-transparent.

Almost as if it was reacting to the bitter emotion behind her words the boulder's form suddenly collapsed within the centre of the mist. Trixie was brought back to the world of the living, confused by her subject's unexpected behavior and taking a closer look. What remained of the large rock was now a small black ball floating in the middle of the green mist that for reasons unknown had kept the object's original volume.

"Strange, that wasn't meant to happen," Trixie mumbled in uncertainty.

The stressful whining of the medallion hanging from her neck again alerted the mare.

The amulet was glowing orange. Trixie removed it in haste when she found that the metal had already become too hot to touch. Right as she did the mist gained a new life and independently transformed to a long serpentine form that swooped down at the flower, disappearing when both merged in one. The color of the mist shifted to grey and as Trixie witnessed it the rose began to evaporate.

"No! No! No, no, no! It was perfect," she uttered loudly.

The grey mist took a new shape, slowly growing in size. In a short moment Trixie was met by the shape of a pegasus. Two cat-like eyes appeared to the centre of what represented the creature's face, slitted and bathed in an orange flame. It's horrible gaze pierced her mind, filling her soul with pure dread. The smoke pony quickly towered over the scared and confused unicorn, ending up to a height of a three story building. The unicorn's body gained extra trembles when she heard the elemental creature speak to her with a warped, raspy growl.

"I have returned to Equestria for my body and my revenge. You will all perish!"

Without making further communication the monstrous fog pegasus reformed itself to a wispy thrombi that spun with force and disappeared under the ground. Trixie was left standing alone to the clearing, overwhelmed by chills. What she had unintentionally summoned went beyond her understanding.

Way underground a small individual seed was buried in the sediment, sprouting long roots in it's time consuming growth process that would eventually lead to a fully grown tree. It's simple existence suddenly came to an end. Surrounded by the grey mist, a strange corruptive power overtook it's target and mutated it's biological makeup. Possessed, each one of the long roots changed shape, moving with an agility no ordinary plant was capable of.

The now twisted seed's physical mass became increasingly larger from the quickly consumed soil. In only a moment the whipping roots had created a huge cavity to surround the creature.

Above ground Trixie's amulet was now a smoking puddle of molten metal, the red stone cracked from the middle. Slack jawed and whimpering, Trixie stared aimlessly at her overly costly experiment that had met it's premature doom, a reality which an abrupt silence in the surrounding forest didn't wake her up from until the ground underneath her hooves became restless.

Inside the travel cart a glass of wine sat by itself on a small desk. A sudden tremor formed rings across the surface of the drink. The wagon was rocked side to side when a violent quake started.

***

A powerful kick from Applejack's back hooves aimed to the trunk of the tree did it's job well. When the fruits fell off the branches a specific apple did not hit the ground because a lavender horn that was pointing to the wrong place at the wrong time pierced it from the middle.

Twilight gasped in surprise and tried to remove what had struck her with a front limb, vainly rubbing against the apple. An annoyed grunt followed the gasp when the unicorn found the fruit well stuck.

The tan earth pony chuckled uncontrollably upon noticing. "Ah still recall when that happened to Rarity."

Less amused than Applejack, Twilight frowned as a radiation built up to her horn. "You might want to take cover. This could be messy."

Taking in the seriousness of her notification, Applejack dived behind the tree in haste right before the trunk was bombarded by flying fruit bits. She eventually re-emerged with a troubled look on her face because of what she was now looking at. "Ouch! That looks painful! Ya sure it was such a good idea?"

Cooked remains of the apple plastered Twilight's face and shoulders. She had received minor burns from the overheated juice. "Next time remind me to just somehow pry it off if I happen to get another one stuck to my horn," came an agonized reply.

"Hmmmmm. You should try to make a living from frying apples. Less painfully, of course," Applejack stated after her tounge had taken a lick at Twilight's shoulder.

The other mare shrugged as she wiped off the mess. "Very funny, AJ. I personally don't see myself as that great of a co-worker."

Applejack reached over to help brush off the leftover bits from her friend, adding a cheerful grin to aid in lifting her spirit. "Don't fret about it, sugarcube. You've always been invaluable help anyway. Without ya our acres would belong to that pesky duo and their cider machine."

Applejack's smile faded at the recall from the day of the Flim Flam Brother's attempted takeover. Since then the work horse had given herself a personal oath about not making bold bets with strangers that would endanger her beloved farm and sole livelihood even if it meant swallowing her own pride.

"It was a team effort but I'm flattered," she heard Twilight saying, a touched smile backing the unicorn's respect.

A short distance away from them Faith carried a full bucket with his teeth, lowering it to catch a breath, a layer of sticky sweat covering his coat. "Jeez, that's heavy. You mares grow some quality apples. Do I put these in the wagon?", he asked the work horse for having never worked at fruit fields thus doubtful towards what exactly he was meant to do.

Applejack rolled her eyes. "Yes, to the wagon back there with the other ones, silly! Why do ya even ask," the earth pony scolded him.

"Not much of a work brain, am I?", Faith laughed as he blushed shyly.

"Now that Ah think of it, it's the other way around. You're too much of a work brain," Applejack chuckled with a half-joking intention, "Don't worry, handsome, keep doin' what ya doin' cause you're doin' it alright. Ya'll do it even better if ya'll just pay attention and don't hash over everythin'. After the carriage fills up ya can help pull it if ya want."

"Thanks, Applejack, but I think I'll still consider about that," Faith grinned shyly with a warm laugh, "There is already plenty enough work for me to get those apples off the tree." The pegasus bit the handle and lifted the basket, carrying it at the transport wagon located near the middle of the acre. He returned with an empty one, passing the two mares who keenly supervised on his way towards the trees spanning to the east.

Currently he preferred not to focus on the other ponies, there was work to be learned from. By an individual apple tree Faith lowered the basket and took position, ready to aim his fiercest kick at the trunk as he had been instructed earlier. Instead of landing to the basket a few apples rained down on his head which he had not planned. Unhindered by the plunder, Faith picked them up individually.

It had happened to him several times already but hadn't stopped him from trying.

Twilight and Applejack silently observed what he was doing, equal smiles showing how they were feeling. While he was a beginner Faith had earlier proven himself by momentarily pulling one of AJ's carts and had been shining with his brave attitude in approaching tasks.

"Ya were right, Twilight. He is showing progress," the work horse told the other mare with impression.

Twilight flashed a smile, recalling what had brought them to where they were. It had been half a week from when Faith was brought to Ponyville.

"It's like he himself mentioned. All that it takes is the right attitude." A glare towards the apples hanging above her head changed the subject matter. "Now, if I am ever to find a career in apple roasting you have to teach me to work without getting them impaled to my horn."

The remark got a hearty chuckle from the work horse.

Two hours came and went from what time Fluttershy, Rainbow, Twilight and Faith had already spent helping Applejack and her brother at the acre, an idea thrown by AJ herself during the group's stay at Fluttershy's home last evening. According to the plan they had met at the acre the following morning to begin early.

Not all of them were present; Rarity had politely dropped out to finish up an incomplete costume she was making for a customer whereas Pinkie was holding a party for new Ponyville visitors. Rainbow had come despite her reluctance of hard labour. She had joined up mostly because with the weather pristine and cloudless there was not much else for her to do other than enjoying spent time with her friends anyway. Besides, a tough girl's got to maintain her muscles.

"Can't last any longer! I'm completely spent," Twilight murmured, now laying sprawled against a full bucket of apples. The unicorn had assisted Applejack for years at the acres for occasions, underestimating the idea of a full day of just that for seven hours straight for having done similar work before. The workload had been too much for the dedicated book-worm who now wished to use a time spell to go back to Fluttershy's cottage for such an idea to be put to rest.

Despite it the group had reached a seventh full apple batch, a decent amount for one day's worth.

Standing over her collapsed friend, Applejack glanced aside to receive a nod from Big Macintosh which was his way to signal her about the carriage having reached a full capacity.

"Take a look at the bright stuff," she told the other mare, "At least ya didn't get any more apples pierced to your horn."

Rainbow and Fluttershy lowered two more buckets next to the cart that had been parked aside the road.

"Nope, it's full," the red earth stallion shook his head.

Having been given the needed excuse, Rainbow grasped an apple from her own bucket. "If we can't take these back we can always eat some ourselves," she exclaimed and hungrily chomped down on the fruit which received a giggle from Fluttershy who found the stunt amusing.

Applejack arrived to the carriage with the stumbling Twilight following closely behind. "Guess we are finished for today. Thanks for the help, everypony," she congratulated the others, "Why don't ya all come over, Granny Smith told me she'd make some dinner once we get back so ya can fill your stomach with more than apples. I think we all deserve it."

The work horse delivered a hoof pat to the shoulder blade of Twilight which almost tipped her over.

"Some fresh apple juice should put ya back in order."

Suddenly a loud rumble went off from far away, an unexpected interruption to the conversation that surprised everyone. Soon after the ground itself began to tremble, lasting for almost half a minute until settling as quickly as it all had begun.

By then Rainbow had dropped her apple. "What was that??"

"Dunno, quakes ain't very common in Ponyville. Must have come from far beyond our border," Applejack said calmly. Despite it her face now displayed a serious look. The farm ponies owning the land knew it's tectonic activity from experience which the preceding tremor had clearly stood out from.

"Eeeeeeeyup, ain't from here," her brother added.

With their job at the acres done Applejack pushed the phenomenon to the back of her mind to focus at the rest of the task still left for them to complete. "Let's take these to the farm," she told Big Macintosh.

With a nod the red stallion moved to the carriage, strapping himself to the harness at the front and effortlessly pulled it down between the apple trees surrounding the pathway.

As they began to leave Applejack took note on everypony to find one missing. "Faith is still workin'. Ah'll go get him, ya take care of the apple wagon. We'll catch up with ya."

The mare trotted back to where Faith had been workin as the others moved on after Big Mac at her insistence.

These ponies had given him a chance.

Confused and afraid, the green pegasus stood paralyzed by the apple tree located far from the others, faced with a choice that he found himself too torn to make. Whereas the sweat on his coat had been warm moments ago it no longer felt like it. There was no inhale nor exhale. The stallion's heart beat rapidly, eyes hanging open in their sockets.

The last spent days had been the best he has had in a long time without regret. But even they wouldn't help him escape. Everything had gone terribly wrong.

"Faith, we're leaving to the farm," Applejack shouted over to the pegasus while nearing him, "Come on, the others are gettin' way ahead of us. We'll have to fly back just to catch up with them if we don't go now." A lack of response eventually made her worried. "What's wrong, handsome? Did ya strain your ankle?"

Despite being in hearing range and aware of the other pony Faith had not reacted to her presence, glassy eyes staring at blank space. After seconds passed he finally turned to look at her, retinas shrinking invisibly small as he suddenly backed away, shaking violently.

"Are ya alright?", Applejack asked nervously after seeing his sickeningly pale face.

"No! Not for my sake! Not for me," Faith's tongue finally functioned.

The pegasus span around and fled to the opposite direction. Surprised, Applejack reacted by reaching for the rope hanging from her neck to try lassoing as a last ditch effort to keep him stationary. The attempt went fruitless. With a giant leap powered by nothing but willpower Faith had already slung himself up several meters and flapped away, leaving the earth mare standing by herself on the ground.

Applejack's mouth released it's grip on the bundled rope. It was too late to use it.

Utterly confused at what had happened to the modest and open minded pegasus she got to know during the last spent days, the work horse spun around and took off through the acre at full gallop, the next best plan now in action; to alert the others as soon as feasibly possible.

Far ahead her the other ponies continued down the dirt path behind Big Macintosh, by now nearing the gate.

"I wonder what takes them so long," Fluttershy asked nervously, having expected Faith and Applejack to have joined up with them which had yet to happen.

"Dunno, Faith seemed really keen on working," Rainbow replied with bits of apple falling from her mouth as she feasted on another one held in a front limb to allow her to eat while walking. Even on three hooves her trotting looked effortless.

As opposed to Twilight who was barely staying up with her friends. Chasing Rainbow down with the power of magic may have been simple to the unicorn two days ago especially when her excessive rage had been taken in count but when it boils down to true physical endurance her stamina didn't equal the pegasus nor the farm ponies today.

"I sincerely wish he doesn't overwork himself," the exhausted mare added to the conversation.

"Twilight!", Applejack's distant shout finally alerted them.

The earth pony arrived with long, desperate strides, hooves nearly giving away from under her once closing the distance, most of her energy spent to reach the others quickly in a race against time.

The creaking of the apple wagon's wheels instantly ceased. Big Macintosh had come to a dead halt upon noticing his sister.

"It's Faith! He took off," Applejack exclaimed and collapsed, barely managing to speak because of her strong respirations.

A confusion set in to everyone. "Are you serious?!", Rainbow uttered, "Why would he do that?"

"I dunno, he looked like he had seen Discord himself. Ah couldn't stop him," Applejack replied, still taking in huge gulps of air.

Like the others, Twilight was surprised to learn about Faith's unexpected backtrack. The mare's drooping jaw eventually closed up when questions emerged. "What is he up to now?"

Deciding that her magic was the only way to locate and stop the pegasus, her horn tip lit up to a magical aura. It didn't last long when Twilight's strength failed. She stumbled while trying to catch her balance with a look of almost passing out.

"Great, just great," the unicorn uttered, "Faith has gone outside my optimal field. I'll try to teleport after him."

Biting her teeth, Twilight struggled momentarily but only succeeded in creating a short white spark before she went limp, flopping to her stomach aside Applejack. Working hard the whole day had reduced her strength, preventing Twilight from using her magic properly.

"Celestia damn it! I'm too exhausted," the mare whimpered weakly.

Rainbow cast aside her third apple, willingness to help already shining through. "I'll go get him," she exclaimed with a stern look, aware that she could be the only one capable of catching Faith now that the farm mare and the unicorn had both failed at it.

"Hurry, Rainbow! He is gaining more distance as we speak," Twilight exclaimed back anxiously.

With a nod of her head it only took a mere second for Rainbow to prepare herself for the first starting leap. A long spectra light trail lagged behind when she got to speed. It took less than a blink till the mare cleared the acre and crossed above treetops spanning to the horizon in seek of Faith.

Then a hoof covered her face. "Beetle's bums! I didn't ask Applejack for directions!", Rainbow murmured in shame, the realization having crossed her mind too late in the game which would add major difficulty to the search.

Much to her surprise the pegasus suddenly heard a voice speaking, immediately recognizing Twilight. "Rainbow, listen to me! He has gone north from the acres," the other mare told her, becoming less audible when the distance between them increased. Apparently she had suspected for the mare pegasus to act before thinking. "Find him as soon as you can. If he gets too far we might lose him."

It dawned to Rainbow that her friend was somehow communicating through her head, momentarily boggled about how the unicorn had done it before she literally spoke to herself. "Any ideas about how I can bring him back? I'd really hate to punch the poor buck out if he doesn't co-operate. He has been kind to me."

"You're exiting my optimal field now," Twilight's disappearing voice replied loudly, "Think about my name repeatedly! I'll pinpoint---------," was all that Rainbow made out until the voice died as a sure sign of an expired mental link. Twilight would recover from the exertion in a short time and relocate her magic field but in that time Faith would already be gone.

With only moments left to find him, Rainbow accelerated to catch up.

***

Somewhere far ahead Faith himself had been crossing the canopy, wandering aimlessly and keeping a low profile to remain hidden from possible pursuers. The stallion was so close to the top of the trees that the leaves nearly brushed him from below.

A colorful streak grew in the distance, alerting his focus with the loud sound that it was producing. An acknowledgement about who was following him makes Faith react with a nervous gasp. Despite his good lead and effort to remain unseen Rainbow had already caught his wind thus his chances to escape were now hanging by a slim 2 percent. It had only taken few minutes from her to catch up with Twilight's given directions.

"There you are," Rainbow barked far behind, having spotted his form from amidst the green forest canopy with her sharp eyes, "You may be sneaky but not sneaky enough to escape me!"

A loud explosive sound forced Faith to glance back again. What he now saw was breathtaking; a spreading shockwave displaying all six colors of the spectrum rolling over the horizon. Rainbow's new acceleration had created her trademark phenomenon, a sonic rainboom.

At the moment he saw the rolling wave an arrow-like streak zipped past way above the speed of sound, watching in unnerve as it made a sharp turn a mile ahead of him. Rainbow was cutting him off.

With merely seconds left to avoid the mare, the green pegasus changed tactic.

Faith's wings closed tight against him at mid-flight. Having ditched his lift, the pegasus free falls beneath the canopy, a desperate manoeuvre to evade what was coming. The timing was well picked as his ears detected a loud whoosh and sounds of unrecognizable cursing right above his head before the rustling of leaves became deafening upon his descent to the forest. Broken branches and leaves rained down around him until finally Faith met up with the bottom, landing to several dense bushes.

So far so good, he had come down unharmed save for an aching rib.

The stallion scanned around him with deep wishes about Rainbow not having noticed where he had come down. Laying low, Faith decided to stay still amidst the densely grown forest floor, relying on his green color as a natural cloak. With the help of the densely overgrown forest she would never spot him.

A loud whoosh and rustling of plants helped disturb said optimism. "Faith, I know you're somewhere in there!", Rainbow's loud voice called out from nearby, "Stop hiding! I want to talk!"

He already saw the mare pegasus gliding some distance above the forest, having stopped to map her surroundings, right above his hiding spot to be exact. One look down was all that it would take for her to see, capture and drag him back to Ponyville. Faith swallowed silently.

In an answer to his prayer Rainbow’s view instead followed the dense forest spanning around her. Ignoring what was below, this search didn't produce anything, a disappointment to an impatient and restless pegasus.

“I swear, Faith, I swear that I’ll sweep this place quicker than you can say Daring Do," she barked once more, "We’re all worried for you and I don’t like playing these games! I only ask for you to make this less difficult than it needs to be!”

Without success in drawing Faith into view the mare settled to a loud sigh easily audible to his ears over the small distance dividing them. In another blink she had gone only for a new sound to arise akin to a tornado crashing through the forest. An experienced weather controller, Rainbow had started a thorough sweeping like she had threatened.

Getting away scoff free would be a job easier said than done with the fastest pegasus in Equestria.

With no seconds to spare Faith left the momentary shelter of the bushes behind. A mad gallop down a path leading away from the rumbling whirlwind sounds soon directed him to a new cover which was a hollow log resting on it’s side. Without wasting excess time, Faith scrambled inside to hide himself from Rainbow's nearing sweep.

For a pursued pegasus wanting to avoid detection the log was the next best place to hide, the next best place for a pony who speaks insect at least. Millipedes and termites greeted the refugee, countless holes in the log's inner cavity remaining as a sign of their everyday feeding activity. It didn't sway nor unnerve Faith. To him it was in fact ordinary. An alien language he had gained during the time of his accident made insects his friends.

"Talk about reducing myself to bottom feeding. I’m hiding among what everypony considers pests to escape potential friends,” a thought crossed the stallion's mind, followed by a troubled face. He sat down, ignoring the bugs moving around the log.

What he was doing was all that he had ever been good at if anonymity hadn't helped him prior to his meet up with the Elements. If his facial features were normal Faith wouldn't have been a loner. None of it would have happened the same way, his memory would still function like an ordinary individual's. His life could have had a real direction. Instead the stallion's already peculiar childhood had been spent in a seemingly hopeless survival struggle.

Yet it hadn't been all hopeless. Since their splitting Faith had been free from It's tyranny and could for once make his own decisions without committing crimes towards other ponies in mindless impulses, the ideal of non-obligating equality being worth protecting. He had succeeded, still innocent, still a fairly healthy pony at the prime of his life. Still pure in heart.

All was well until his worst fear came true. Recently Faith had let down the trust of the ponies who themselves trusted him. The unexpected departure had made sure of that. But even with the bad deed a strong fear outweighed his shame and now fueled Faith's retreat; while working at the acre he had sensed It, the grudge that once grew powerful enough to become a sentient being within him in it's intense hate and lust for revenge. What he overheard had been chilling by least.

This time it wasn't a dream. It has returned, having found it's way back to his world in it's own elemental form through the acts of someone else.

Faith listened Rainbow's sweep, now thinking about what would happen if she caught him.

A return back to Ponyville would place everyone in mortal peril. His absence would be the only way to protect the town and homes of the ones who had helped him. Otherwise they'd be in danger; because of an almost skitzofrenic symbiosis to his banished "ghost half" It would easily know his location and find him. If it were within his capability, all things said and done, Faith would be the only one capable of stopping it.

"I'm sorry, Rainbow, but you'll have to go back empty hoofed," he whispered, feeling sorry for the hot headed mare.

His attention keen, Faith turned his head again. The sounds of whirlwind had ceased, a possible sign that she had moved on. Even then the other pegasus was feeling extra precautious. The mare wasn't kidding about her intentions of finding him so assuming too much would be careless.

Deciding to make his own move, Faith crawled to the log's opposite side and took a peek to view the forest once reaching the opening. A deep breath expressed his relief, nothing had stood out from the ordinary.

Much to his disappointment Rainbow’s hanging face suddenly popped in view from above the opening to glare at him. She had landed on the round log, suspecting it’s obvious cavity as his next hideout and was waiting for the right opportunity to make herself known once spotting him.

"Aha!", the mare pegasus exclaimed.

Successful at last, Rainbow almost felt her relief of success produce a tickling sensation that travelled up her coat and to the top of her mane. It doesn’t distract her until she noticed that Faith was grinning at her, strangely amused by something he had noticed.

“There’s a centipede on your mane,” the feminine stallion said.

Sensing two long feelers touch her snout, Rainbow’s joy turned to bloody horror.

“Ohmygosh,ohmygosh, ohmygosh!! Get it off me!!”, she whimpered, nearly punching her mane to kill the segmented insect which provoked the centipede to take a defensive nip on her hoof.

If anypony were to be in the vicinity at the specific moment they'd be greeted with a strange sight of a pegasus doing awkward dance moves on top of a fallen tree.

As he retreated Faith didn’t note a heavy thud and a pained grunt. Behind him Rainbow jumped back up standing, having hit her head upon dropping awkwardly while getting rid of the bug. In a measly second her muscular wings already lifted the grumpy pony off the ground. In a matter of seconds she would be upon him.

She would have to wait for that success. Rainbow noticed that even with her immense speed she had somehow lost Faith to thin air while zipping around the tightly packed trees. Frustrated, the mare swooped around to do a backtrack sweep, unaware that she had already passed him again. Rainbow had become a victim to her own success. Her speed and the convenient placement of an individual trunk had allowed Faith to slip by her radar with only a split second to spare.

Still within danger zone, the stallion sneaked away only to seek immediate new cover behind another trunk near the first one because of what happened.

A second sonic rainboom went off within the forest, a telltale sign of the mare having lost every last bit of her patience and nearing a breaking point. It was a new record in pegasus flight even by her own standards.

“She’s relentless!”, Faith whispered to himself.

Rainbow had further upped the stakes. To him it meant that the table was quickly turning in her favor. In amidst of pondering about what to do to protect his threatened freedom Faith spotted a beetle fly toward him and got an idea that he instantly put into motion.

The insect heard a low whisper calling to it with words that only it understood. Curiously landing near the stallion, it’s golden carapace vibrated as he communicated.

“Where is the other pegasus that chases me?”, Faith asked the beetle in hopes of receiving a small chip of information valuable to his escape.

“Right next to you," the beetle replied.

A glance aside helped Faith confirm the state of his flawed plan; It had met the trash can. Rainbow had literally sneaked right beside him, a furious sweep having produced the results she was after. A sarcastic if not a tad mischievous grin from the mare's part was all that greeted Faith.

“Had enough hiding already?”

Nearly driven out of his mind, Faith backed against the tree.

“Hey, I just want to talk, okay?”, Rainbow explained with assuring hoof gestures, uncertain whether she should be worried or downright afraid for his sanity. With a long experience of pulling off pranks and scaring little calves Rainbow hadn’t had an adult pony almost die from a little surprise sneak.

Again Faith fled without listening, this time in frantic flight through the air.

He had already given Rainbow a good run for her money. Right now she could be feasting on leftover apples on her way to Granny Smith’s dinner. Instead Rainbow was chasing down a mad pony. So far her rewards have been frustration, a centipede sting and a black eye taken from a fall. Yet being so close to completing what she was trusted to do, Rainbow pressed on after the other pony who somehow had gotten a long head start again.

“Faith, if you don’t stop now I swear I’ll make you do it myself,” she threatened, making sure to shout it loud enough for him to hear it, “I’m not letting you go! Stop so we can discuss!”

“Get away from me!!”, a panicky shout answered. The attempts to persuade any reconsideration had still not met their mark.

Taking a new fast swoop at him to close the distance, the mare tried to grab Faith to pull him down only to meet thin air again.

A dismay almost put down the spirit of her chase. Faith had changed his position quicker than she anticipated. Once again Rainbow had missed the pesky green pegasus. Glancing past her shoulder, she spotted him flying to her left.

“Sonova zebra,” the mare uttered in dismay, “You got some good reflexes there!”

A tiny grin curved up to her face. Aside Little Strongheart few had the wits to actually try dodging her in such a way let alone succeed in it.

The grin disappeared. With no signs of giving up she veered after her difficult subject.

“Did you not get what I said?!”, Rainbow repeated, “Stop running away and listen to me!”

If an unsuccessful attempt to negotiate had not been disheartening enough what happened next helped reinforce it. Out of the blue Rainbow found a cone embedded between her teeth once clearing through dense foliage. Spitting it away just as another one came flying, the mare did a drastic evasive maneuver to dodge it.

A look ahead at her target explained everything; Faith now carried several pine cones against his chest using both front limbs and was throwing them, having snatched them for use as improvised projectiles to slow her down. Again Rainbow shifted position to avoid a hit.

“Go back! It is better for all of us! You don't understand," Faith shouted nervously.

She had easily forgiven the abrupt dodging, even finding herself in admiration for the stallion’s unusually fast reaction time. But throwing hard objects went beyond the line.

Her breaking point exceeded, Rainbow finally snapped, eyes lighting up in flame.

“That does it,” a growl exclaimed.

Later on she wouldn't remember it but the mare pegasus would be about to set a big world record for three repeated sonic rainbooms in a time frame of nineteen minutes.

Ahead Faith dived below to touch down after he heard yet another familiar sound barrier explosion at the right time to witness another tidal wave of colors pass over the clearing where had landed, this one closest to his proximity. With the previous two booms it was Faith's first time to witness the unique phenomenon.

Already to him it was an alarm bell that signals that a certain mare pegasus is moving very fast. A frantic search gave him what he sought. Rainbow had already zipped past and was coming back at the clearing.

“That’s it! You’re going down, mister,” her voice boomed from afar.

“No! Wait,” the other pegasus argued desperately, capable of doing nothing aside watching her approach.

Reasoning wouldn't work on the mare. This time she wouldn't be holding back at all. This specific full-speed charge would only stop at what it was aimed for; him.

If she were to hit Faith now there would be true hurt to remember. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Around him time ceased from mattering. Faith stood up on his rear legs to reduce ground clearance for more flexible maneuvers and went for an extreme backward lean to evade a painful impact with a supersonic steam train.

Seconds later there was a loud "thwack".

Out of balance, Faith's lean pulled him down. For a long period he lied still against the forest floor, breathing quickly from the adrenaline rush without reacting at the falling leaves sprinkling his mane and body. Relaxed, the pegasus' lids closed and a deep exhale left the lungs when his breathing settled down, wild heartbeats pounding between the stallion's ribs.

Against all the odds he had dodged her. Barely.

A short delay later a grim thought emerged. Rainbow had missed her but it wouldn't stop her from coming back for another go. He wouldn't stand a chance, not enough to repeat his success.

Mentally and physically spent as well as being fed up of running, Faith waited for the inevitable. This time he wouldn't even get up to face her.

Yet his ears didn't register any of the loud byproduct rumblings of her rainboom. Silence had returned to the woods, the calls of insects and birds being the only natural voices expressing their existence. A soft wind rustled the branches of trees, an idyllic scene undisturbed by sounds out of the ordinary.

"Something seems fishy here," the pegasus thought to himself.

Taking his time, he eventually rolled around from resting on his back to get better bearings of what was around him. Immediately making a shocking discovery, Faith's lower jaw slid down to remain open.

Several meters away behind him Rainbow was lying motionless next to the base of a large oak tree.

***

Chapter 11: Hope Against Despair

Hope Against Despair

"Rainbow!"

Not even registering it, Faith had already gotten up from where he had rested and rushed towards the mare lying under the tree that she had collided with. The world surrounding him became a vague blur.

Somepony dying because of him would be too much weight to carry for his already stressed shoulders, a thought that made him feel a lump in his throat. The stallion's problems weren't the other pony's fault. He would have to make sure that she was alright. A hoof touched Rainbow to powerfully nudge her.

"Wake up," Faith uttered, "This wasn't supposed to happen! Wake up!"

Trying the neck artery, he picked a weak pulse, an assessment that slightly relieved his worry. Proceeding to study the skull, Faith found a big swelling bruise at the forehead that marked where the concussion had been delivered. The stallion glanced at the tree, noticing a spot in the bark chipped off, the trunk's other layers easily visible from underneath. There had been a lot of force behind the impact.

It didn't look good. The potential internal damage to the mare's body could only be guessed by a medical novice.

Faith's mind filled with cynical self-blame. All because of him, a guilt he wouldn't be able to shake off. Even for a loner he wasn't cold blooded enough to close it outside himself.

"You could have gone back to your friends!", the pegasus cried out, several tears soaking up his lips, "Why didn't you just go and leave me be, Rainbow?! What am I going to do now?! Why me?!"

Faith collapsed aside Rainbow's motionless body to whimper silently, a pool of tears slowly building up underneath the stallion's drooping face. Trenched in his grief, his closed eyes ignored everything else for a long period.

Thus what he missed was the mare's other eye when it suddenly snapped open to stare at him angrily. It didn't take long; the other pegasus was literally scooped off his sitting position and forcefully pinned against the tree. Faith wriggled in a vain attempt, soon enough finding it useless against the stronger pony. Still relatively healthy, a momentary surge of rage had given Rainbow enough strength for a fast flying tackle.

"You threw cones at me," she barked, holding him stationary, "Not cool, Faith! Not cool at all!"

Suddenly going limp in her hooves, the feminine stallion became unresponsive, no longer looking at the mare holding him in place. Faith's eyes now pointed to nothing in particular almost as if the conscience behind them had lost all of it's focus. From Rainbow's point of view it resembled a seizure. Or something worse, a reaction none too pleasant to witness on a young stallion.

"What's gone into you?", the mare asked nervously, her momentary rage already forgotten.

Raising an eyebrow, she carefully released her grip to test how he reacts. Faith slumped against the trunk, sliding down the bark like a lifeless dummy of himself.

"Come on, Faith! Snap out of it," Rainbow told him, gently slapping his cheek with a hoof to try put a stir to the stallion's senses, "Come on now, I didn't really mean to be so rough on you. You just couldn't stop to listen to me.......Faith, please!"

She got no reaction, exhaling deeply upon the mootness of trying to make him pay attention. Seeing that he wasn't going anywhere, she tried the bruise her forehead had received, rewarded with excruciating pain which made her wince loud and seek balance when the symptoms of disorientation caught up. Physically strong and athletic, Rainbow had taken the hit better than Faith perceived yet an ugly injury demanding a long time to heal had been left as a reminder to add to what she already had sustained in the spider fight. With enough luck it would only ruin the beauty of her face for a week or two.

Lesson of the day; constantly look where you're flying when in high speed.

Already feeling pity and concern, she observed the limp stallion. "Damn it, Faith! You were already doing so well. And now look where we are, in the middle of nowhere. How in Celestia's sake am I supposed to bring you back to the acres in a state like that?"

Frowning, Rainbow tried to think up a new plan, a feat none too easy to pull off with an aching head. Nevertheless succeeding, an important memory activated a flashing lightbulb inside her grey brain matter. She jumped up to the support of her hind legs upon the recall.

In the intensity of the pursuit Rainbow had forgotten Twilight who now could be the cyan mare's only means to bring Faith back. Instantly she pressed two front hooves against the sides of her head, focused at making the thought as clear as possible.

"Twilight Sparkle. Twilight Sparkle. Twilight Sparkle. Twilight Sparkle. Twilight Sparkle. Twili--------"

To her relief Rainbow's ears suddenly heard a loud sound unmistakable to those who have caught it before, a teleportation spell going off.

Having emerged in the middle of a smoking circle, the lavender unicorn had still not entirely revived enough to take it all too well. Nevertheless gathering herself, Twilight started to approach. "I had to do this twice just to get near enough to pick up the new mental link. Way more difficult than transporting seven ponies. Thank Celestia for those leftover apples!"

"Please, you didn't have to be the one to actually chase him down. That buckering pegasus put me through a real hard one," Rainbow remarked, still disoriented and feeling the throbbing produced by her head injury.

Noticing it, Twilight cringed. "Ouch! I can tell," she murmured. As she halted an unpleased side glance was given at the stallion now resting against the trunk of the pine tree. "You have some explaining to do," the mare uttered.

Then she examined him closer, seeing the numbed expression and shrinked retinas after Faith didn't react to her. Twilight positioned herself in his view and waved a hoof right in front of the stallion's face which wielded nothing, making the mare fearful. "You weren't like this earlier..........."

"When I tried to speak to him he just kept evading me, all panicky. I think he has gone completely bonkers," Rainbow replied from the side, circling a hoof next to her own head as an indicative gesture to add weight to the opinion.

None too relieved by it, Twilight again wondered cluelessly about cause behind the stallion's absent stare.

"Faith, can you hear me?", she attempted to communicate, again glancing at Rainbow questioningly when finding it useless. "It seems we have no choice but to teleport him if we want to get him out of here," the unicorn finally concluded in defeat, not capable to deduce what had happened.

Still observing the limp pegasus uncertainly, she proceeded to rest down next to him. "Rainbow, unless you want to exercise those wings of yours over the distance that it takes to get back to the acres you should sit here beside me," she told her friend, "I'll give you this ride."

"What ever," she heard her friend grumble. The way it was intoned provoked a momentary grin to the lavender mare's lips as her eyelids closed. The cyan pegasus wouldn't take 'lazy lifts' as she herself called teleporting if any of her fan groups were within a mile's vicinity.

***

Back at the acres Applejack, her brother and Fluttershy still waited for Twilight, Rainbow and the escapee. Tapping her now dirty hat free from the dust it had scooped from the road when she collapsed, Applejack chewed up the last bits of apple that she had enjoyed to revive her strength, swallowing them loudly. A spent yet angry look on her face expresseed the earth pony's sentiments without need for a single word.

"Faith had me nearly run mahself to death! If Ah ran like that in the 'Race Of The Falling Leaves' Ah'd be the winner in record time," the earth mare ended up uttering, deeply unpleased, "When they bring him back Ah'll sure give him a mouth full."

The other mare's attitude visibly didn't seem to please Fluttershy either who had become nervous, rubbing her front hooves against each other in an enxious wait for the other's return.

"Please, Applejack, be gentle to him," the mare whimpered, "Faith is still insecure about his own place. There has to be a reason for why he did it."

To reflect a similar opinion Big Macintosh glanced at the ground before a deep breath came out of his lungs. "It sure ain't soundin' that big of a reason to hate on the poor stallion, lil sis. He's been handy aroun' here. Ah dunno."

A grunt left Applejack, her frustration persistent.

"Ah told Granny Smith we'd be back by now. She and Apple Bloom will be worried needlessly. We're slackin' excess time here just because Faith ran off."

Shaking her head, the mare succumbed to the other two pony's view. "We'll eventually hear his side of the story," the tan work horse mumbled calmly, placing her hat neatly back where it belongs.

As soon as the hat touched Applejack's mane a crackling sound was heard nearby. It grew in loudness, climaxing to a short and loud miniature explosion. Upon it's happening all three ponies galloped towards the heavily smoking circle that had appeared as well as the three silhouettes revealed behind it's disappearing wispy curtain. With sudden speed Fluttershy took lead to Applejack and Big Macintosh, being the first one to reach the spot and leapt past Rainbow who was coughing from the smoke to close her front limbs around the green stallion laying limp against the ground.

"Faith! Oh Faith, why did you run off! Darling, what's wrong? Speak to me! Honey, why are you so floppy?", the yellow mare exclaimed in stress, tears quickly emerging.

Faith didn't react, hanging lifelessly as she held him up. Seeing his state was enough to equally shock the two farm ponies who had come to a screeching stop to stare with open mouths. At the same time Twilight had recovered from the spell.

"Help me lift him up," the exhausted unicorn instructed the mare pegasus, proceeding to grab hold of the stallion from the other side.

The mares raised Faith to a sitting position and Fluttershy positioned herself behind to support him as Twilight self-initiated a more thorough study, trying the pulse, pulling up eyelids, ears and lips, scanning him with her horn, even retrieving a magnifying glass to check his coat, a literal body exam that revealed no signs of disease nor injury, nothing to indicate at the supposed paralysis.

"I don't understand what happened to him. He was completely fine earlier," she uttered, "Rainbow, are you sure you didn't handle him too harshly?"

"I swear I only held him still against the tree," Rainbow replied with a slight cough still resilient. An expecting look behind the listening unicorn's stare motivated an additional shrug and a hold up gesture of front limbs. "I swear! He went soft all by himself," the mare added with anxiety.

Applejack looked on, no different from the rest in how concerned she was. "Ah was the first one to approach him when it all started. Ah must have done something," she murmured with regret before Twilight opened her mouth.

"It wasn't you, "she told the farm mare, observing the feminine stallion seated in front of Fluttershy who had begun to massage him, the green front limbs half-dangling against the ground, "Something else must have terribly spooked him."

"I'm still betting on insanity," Rainbow's snarky comment added it's two cents.

The joke didn't sway Twilight. "He went through a change that he couldn't choose, Rainbow," the unicorn spoke quietly, "That would affect anypony no matter how sane."

Having quickly learned patience with the previous discussions she had with the pegasus, the lavender unicorn was by now made sceptical about what she saw. It seemed too elaborate, too evasive. He wouldn't fool her that easily.

Twilight repositioned herself closer and stared into the glassy eyes. "I know you can hear us," she whispered right into his ear, "You might have chosen a good timing to scramble when I was worn out but I'm not that stupid."

A lavender hoof lifted to stroke the brown mane, taking in the grace of the feminine snout. "Faith, I know you're not a bad pony. Please. Don't force us to play the silent game again."

Despite Twilight's best effort Faith's limp behavior didn't show signs of change which only helped unsettle the other ponies. Rainbow's face reddened to signal that her temper was taking a new dip below the sunshine meter. In an act of rage the cyan pegasus sought the closest tree and kicked it furiously, causing a literal rain of apples.

"I don't believe this buckerer!", the mare cried out.

"The creature............it's back!", a broken down voice whimpered desperately, "You're all in danger!", Faith finally spoke.

"Relax, darling, just relax," Fluttershy whispered to him anxiously, intensifying her massage.

The others gathered near upon hearing Faith speak, some jaws hanging slacked.

Encouraged to try again, Twilight communicated with him. "A pony can choose, Faith. There is no way that old grudge can hurt you. It can not hurt anyone. You pushed it away."

With immense respirations Faith finally began moving, the limbs shaking violently when he tried to lift them. What ever his mind had gone through had also put a toll to his physique. "Y-y-you don't understand........."

"Try to rest right there, honey. You're exerted," Fluttershy told the stallion, reinforcing her hold.

Faith complied by relaxing himself again, still breathing heavily. Applejack took note. "Big Mac, bring over some apples, this lad needs refreshment," she told the red earth stallion who instantly departed. He soon returned, proceeding to pass one over once setting the bucket down.

"There ya go, lad," Big Macintosh said, smiling kindly at the green pegasus as Fluttershy helps him eat the apple.

"T-t-t-thank you," Faith said after a few bites, sounding less reluctant as his strength started to return, "Even after what I have done...........I........I don't know what to say." A tear ran down his cheek, instantly wiped off by a yellow hoof.

"It's alright, honeybunny. I got you," Fluttershy cooed softly.

"So, Faith, why did ya do it?", Applejack eventually asked with a hint of returning crankyness, "Some past ghosts shouldn't scare ya like that."

Staggering as he lifted himself to the support of his front limbs, Faith glanced at the work horse.

"I must be looking like a complete loon to you now, don't I?", the feminine stallion mumbled silently, wobbling yet managing to stay upright.

"That ain't far from the truth," the earth mare replied.

Returning eye contact, Faith nodded with signs of humility, acknowledging the trouble he had put the other ponies through with his behavior.

"What I did is all that I've been doing for the past years and it wasn't the right thing to do. You've been generous and kind. Because of that I almost believed that my past really was left behind."

Faith swallowed loudly, struggling to gather more strength as he spoke to his companions.

"I was already thinking that the bitterness would never come back. So I was....caught off-guard when I felt it's returning presence while I was working. I panicked. The creature...........it is unlike anything you have seen. I know it sounds completely crazy and you have already heard my story. You don't have to believe me but I assure you that I'm not insane," the feminine stallion explained, pausing momentarily which increased anticipation in the five listening ponies. "The quake that you too must have felt, It caused it."

Still remembering the strange terrestrial phenomenon, everyone exchanged baffled looks.

"How? How can a ghost make quakes?", Applejack enquired the pegasus confusedly.

Faith was delayed while he thought of the best way to answer the given question, eventually speaking. "I'm not sure if I can answer you reliably," he explained, "Maybe it possesses living beings by entering them like a spirit. If it were to succeed in doing that to something powerful enough nothing would stop it."

The stallion's face flopped down to face the ground. "That entity exists purely to make itself more powerful by feeding from the darkness of other souls. It views everypony and everything else in Equestria the same vengeful way. I have created a monster," the pegasus whimpered, provoking Fluttershy to gently stroke his head, "I don't even know what it has possessed, there's a constant shroud that prevents me from seeing."

Faith sobbed, tears falling to the grass of the acre.

"It knows where I am, what I do and what my thoughts are. It won't cease till it has snuffed the life out of everything! Don't you see? Only I can stop it! Please, please let me go."

Rainbow rolled her eyes, coming near the two pegasus. "Faith," she began with effort, "you should know that is crazy talk. Somepony's old 'ghost emotion', or what ever it is that you speak of, it is as capable of doing damage to the living as the air that surrounds us."

"You'd be correct in a majority of instances," Faith answered, again standing up in Fluttershy's caring support, "An emotion needs it's owner. But a pony can reject his or her emotion. I forced myself through such a process as a last resort," the stallion continued with regret of his own, "believing that I had rid myself from an such an angsty way of thinking for good. I was wrong. It was already sentient but by pushing it away I didn't face myself. Instead I gave it a chance to become even more powerful. It only made things worse. What I had gained was a momentary time out. And now that time is up."

The pegasus' chin took a plummet. "It will destroy me. It will destroy us all," he finished in despair.

While Faith spoke Twilight who was still standing aside him and Fluttershy underwent through her natural thought process stimulated by the given explanations as she listened her companions.

"This must explain why you have no certain memories, Faith," the unicorn finally rejoined the discussion, "When you pushed the bitterness away it must have taken some of you with it. Your identity has been split in two......."

Hearing the disturbing conclusion, the others said nothing. Faith's cheeks turned pale, the jaw hanging slightly. Twilight's deduction had given him a hard root to chew.

"Is that even possible?", Rainbow asked, still in dismay from hearing things beyond sane comprehension.

Twilight returned looks at everyone, still thinking vigorously.

"It seems hardly unimaginable. Remember what Discord did to everyone?", the lavender mare replied, again glancing at the wobbling stallion who's breathing was shallow.

"Ah sure do but it doesn't mean that it can be understood with common sense," Applejack uttered.

"I don't feel very good," Faith explained with barely enough strength behind the voice for it to be audible.

"Big Mac, one apple if ya may please," Applejack told the other farm pony, reaching sideways with a front hoof like a surgeon expecting a knife. Big Macintosh didn't hesitate with his given task, fishing another fruit from the bucket.

After taking more bites Faith remained still. "Oh my," he eventually said, "Twilight, you might be onto something."

"Only you can regain your own memories but in order to succeed you need to face 'It' again," the lavender unicorn explained calmly, placing a hoof on his shoulder, "As of now I only got one advice for you. What ever it is that you do, avoid mindless fear."

Again she reached up to stroke his slightly tangled mane. "There is hope for you, Faith. Don't give up on yourself."

"Pardon me for jumping in on a sentimental moment but weren't we supposed to get back to the farm?", Rainbow asked the others which motivated Applejack to step up with a stern look in her eyes.

"Ya heard what the mare said! Get on movin'!", the work horse rambled, "If we keep up this constant talkin' Granny Smith herself will come here to kick mah flank! She hates waitin' for late dinner guests and Ah hate not meetin' the promises that Ah have made."

Almost coached to move on, the group travelled down the road again with Big Macintosh who had retaken his reigns at the apple carriage. By now tired from the running that she had gone through and the constant delay, Applejack did trots around everyone to make sure that no one slacked behind, none more closely than Faith who had given her, Rainbow and Twilight some work to remember.

***

"Granny! They're comin'!", Apple Bloom shouted from the porch of the farm house as she spotted the arriving group.

Although she was slow to follow her grandchild outside the green elder pony of the family still let her presence be apparent to everyone with loud exclamation. "AJ! Where the plucker ya all been?! The porridge went cold a while ago!", Granny Smith barked at the tan work horse who for obvious reasons didn't look pleased.

"Ah am so sorry, granny. We had.................a small delay," Applejack explained shyly without returning eye contact, cheeks blushing red.

"Ah may be old but Ah can still tell that wasn't a small delay," Granny Smith added with disappointment.

At the same moment Faith stepped forward. "It was my fault, miss Smith. I take full responsibility for the trouble that this has caused you," he calmly said to the elder pony. The notion provoked smiles in Twilight and Fluttershy who were still impressed by Faith's manners.

Granny Smith observed the stallion. "Ya must be Faith. AJ and Apple Bloom told me about ya," she said to him, half-buried in her thoughts. Then the old pony's eyelids narrowed as she pressed on without much happiness behind the words. "Listen up, young stallion! We got rules in this family. Ya pull off any needless stunts, ya eat outside."

"I understand if I'm not welcome here, miss Smith," Faith added with his best politeness, by now becoming put off about the punishment he was being given until Granny Smith's suddenly warm nature removed the belief. The elder pony came over to pat him in the shoulder.

"Now hold on there, son. Did Ah say ya weren't welcome?", she told the pegasus more assuringly as the others gathered close to overhear, "Ya been kind to mah grandchild and her friends. If ya weren't welcome here ya'd be driven out of our lands by now. We can all discuss about what ya have done durin' dinner," the elder mare concluded and turned to head back inside in the company of Big Macintosh and Apple Bloom.

"See, Faith? You do get what you give," Twilight noted to the stallion while passing by him.

Rainbow followed, sending a playful punch to his shoulder. "Come on, sneaky. You got to eat too," she added, having forgotten the preceding disagreement.

As she trotted inside Applejack was the last one to pass the green pegasus. "Go on, handsome, the porridge ain't gonna wait an year. Oh," the work horse stalled right before the porch," and after we have eaten Ah could tell ya a small story about somethin' similar that Ah myself once put mah friends through if ya want to hear it. Ya made me recall it."

"Sure, Applejack, I'd love to hear it," Faith answered.

Nodding at him, the farm mare headed inside, leaving the last two ponies by themselves. Fluttershy who had stuck beside Faith the whole time stroked his coat.

"Sneaky? Handsome? You seem to be getting all sorts of nicknames from my friends," the yellow pegasus said with an amused giggle.

"Can't say that I blame Rainbow nor Applejack," the feminine stallion replied to Fluttershy, following after the rest through the porch with her, "I have put you through a lot of needless trouble."

"Faith," his companion said as they reached indoors on their way to the dining room.

"Yes?", the stallion asked, looking to the mare's concerned eyes.

A barely perceivable vibration warped Fluttershy's lips as she tightened her hold on his hoof. "Hang on to me," a weak whisper said, rewarded by a gentle kiss to the mare's yellow snout and soft rubbing when Faith's own touched it.

***

Dusk settled upon Equestria, the shift of the alicorns following it's routine. Shadows cast by the land and the trees deepened in the decreasing light, stronger and more obscuring as time flowed by. It wouldn't take long till the last visible rays would disappear behind the horizon with the sun that casts them, leaving lesser illumination for the moon and the stars during Luna's turn of responsibility.

Nowhere near Canterlot was the darkness as shrouding and ominous as in the forest of Everfree, a place feared by many living near and far. Within the shroud of the growing dark, between the cover of the ancient trees a bunch of green eyes cast a different illumination wherever they faced, a handful of insect-like lenses that littered the heads of their peculiar looking owners. A carapace as black as the night that surrounded them covered the hide of these quadruped beings as they moved through the forest.

Traveling among them were two other creatures that resembled short primates walking on two legs, brown strands of hair growing from the top of the head, long tails ending to a fluff of hair and ugly faces displaying a huge potato-like nose. Trolls, the other one tied from it's legs and arms with sticky green residue. It wriggled and squeaked, trying to free itself as it was effortlessly carried on the other individual's shoulder.

This strange bunch eventually arrived to a clearing kept illuminated in the darkness by a bright green pulsation. A cursed stone sat in the middle of the open space, the origin of the green light. It was a camp to the beings and their superior who herself lied relaxed in a resting position near the comfort of this light casting object.

Queen Chrysalis, the leader of the changelings who only recently had been thrown far away from Canterlot by the love shield of Shining Armor and Princess Cadence yawned, rising up to observe what some of her minions were bringing over upon spotting their arrival. As she approached them the troll that was carrying it's subdued relative halted to throw the other creature off it's back. In a green flash the troll had changed shape, turning out to be an identical creature to the rest of the group. The minions had been hunting for food, the task wielding success.

Chrysalis glanced at the subdued troll lying below her shadow to grin gleefully. "Excellent job, my children. Bring it over there and prepare it. And be quick! I'm starving," she told her kin, pointing a segmented hoof towards the back of the clearing.

Instantly two of the changelings grabbed the troll and proceeded to drag it towards the line of trees spanning at the opposite side, drooling and giving their prey hungry looks. The troll trembled fearfully as it was brought out of view.

The queen moved back where she had been resting and obliviously touched the round boulder with the tip of her horn to turn up the emitted light. Her eyes rested on the eerie glow, a growing hateful expression indicating to a stressed dam of negative emotions now screaming to burst from within the black mind that housed them. Chrysalis was nearing the end of the patience that she has spent to the time hiding at Everfree Forest. Fully aware of it, the minions closest to her retreated a distance with understandably nervous faces, having before witnessed many of the queen changeling's potentially dangerous mental breakdowns.

This time was no different. Out of the blue an individual tree took the full force of a green energy blast, vaporized in an instant from the bottom to the tip. The changeling minions sank close to the ground, nearly as afraid of the power of their leader as their food item had been of them. Burning leaves and ash rained down to the clearing to cover the ground with a smoldering layer. Standing in the middle of the destruction, the snarling queen bared her teeth, the razor shaped horn glowing potent lime green.

"May hades swallow you, Shining Armor," Chrysalis bellowed, trampling the ash covered soil with her legs in a fit of anger, "While you and your little pride may have taken me away from my rightful kingdom I am not out of the game!"

She trotted in a circle, pondering with great effort. "My powers were reduced and most of my minions scattered," she spoke to herself, "If I only had more of my minions!"

She eventually settled down. A summoning gesture of her hoof was all that it took for the other changelings to gather around.

"My minions, do not fear your queen," Chrysalis explained in calmness, "The others will eventually find their way back to us and we will grow in numbers until our full strength returns."

The minions listened keenly to what they were being told.

"As long as I call myself the queen of the changelings," she deepened her voice to sound more authoritative, "I will ensure that our next strike against Canterlot is stronger and even more foolproof than it was before."

The other changelings had begun to cheer and clap with their hoof-like appendages.

"Taking it from within was a really good idea but there are other ways," the queen unraveled her thoughts, "Those ponies depend on their agriculture and relations. If those are destroyed Canterlot will be weakened thus easier picking."

She assessed the positive reaction of her minions, taking it all in with a smile of cruel satisfaction.

"The siege of Canterlot is far from over! Celestia and her royal pegasus guards are no match for your superior abilities and speed, my children! They won't know what hit them! This time we won't fail!"

A loud cheering of creatures answered the finishing line. Enjoying herself, Chrysalis began to cackle evilly with growing confidence.

Said confidence took a long back seat when the ground under her hooves suddenly trembled violently. A cloud of ash lifted from the ground when it intensified. It was like a giant concrete drill was being used nearby.

"What is this?!", Chrysalis cried out in confusion.

Synonymously her horn lit up in preparation against whatever invader was threatening them as the other changelings looked around aimlessly, as puzzled by the sudden quake as their leader. She gazed to the forest just in time to see a huge entity consisting from several intertwined vines of unknown origin approach the clearing. It uprooted trees caught in the way as it pummeled it's way through the grounds of Everfree at very fast speed like a twisted serpent swimming through water.

In one last huge arc the monster vine buried itself beneath the soil as it came upon the clearing. While it happened the dismayed changelings observed the newcomer. Chrysalis stepped past her followers, studying the monstrosity of bundles that kept driving itself deeper with such immense force that it constantly rocked the earth.

Balancing herself on the unstable ground, she gathered more magic to her horn to fire a concentrated beam similar to the one that only moments ago had easily destroyed a tree, hitting the intruder from point blank range. To the dark queen's surprise the vine monster remained physically untouched by her energy blast. Nevertheless ceasing it's digging once hit, it became motionless, almost anticipative. The barbed tentacle-like bits forming it's shape squirmed silently.

Even without success in causing damage Chrysalis was still enraged by the offense toward her privacy. "What are you?" she communicated with a loud voice, "And why are you bothering me and my children with your presence? Leave at once or there will be dire consequences!"

She got no reply nor movement from the beast. Growing tired in waiting, the queen prepared to fire again.

"So it was you who I sensed," a deep raspy voice resonated from within the ground, each word causing a small tectonic disturbance.

Even for being a dark creature herself Chrysalis had never before encountered anything that equalled what she now faced, feeling a new punch in her ego as the green light of the horn withered away.

"You seem rather powerful. Would you care to explain what you are after?", she spoke to the vine monster, not yet dispersuaded from trying a more diplomatic approach, "Maybe we can help each other to gain our own specific goals."

"My actions speak for themselves nor do my reasons need explaining to anyone," the goliath vine entity rumbled rudely before it started to move again, driving it's vast and complicated "pipeline" deeper within the soil of Everfree Forest with a ground shaking force.

Hearing commotion in the direction of her minions, Chrysalis spun around to witness something that truly upset her usually cold mind. The other changelings were in the process of being dragged under the ground by snaking vines that had emerged from beyond, forcefully pulling them to the holes that they had appeared from.

Charging to help her companions the best she could, Chrysalis nearly flew forward on the support of her transparent insect wings. Before such a scenario she'd have never imagined herself to actually care as much about the well-being of her lesser changelings. The queen's vague attempt at heroism still came too late as she suddenly found herself alone at the clearing.

"What did you do to my minions?!", she shouted with a voice that equalled a roaring manticore.

Looking within one of the holes left behind by the vines, Chrysalis heard sounds of crunching deep within the ground that swallowed her servants, to her shock realizing that what ever took them appeared to be eating their hard shells.

"Your children taste sweet," the creature was heard speaking again.

Listening, the queen changeling took an instinctive step backwards. All around her a grey mist rising from the soil took residence in the surrounding air.

"I'm warning you! I defeated Princess Celestia!", Chrysalis boasted eagerly while standing her ground, "No pony can defeat me!"

Incapable to decide what her next move should be, she noticed that the grey fog was growing thicker and prevented her from seeing past a certain distance.

"I am no pony," the creature's voice returned to taunt her, "Besides, you yourself got defeated by a unicorn couple so what you claim is hardly an achievement, is it? It is only one of your countless failures, the seventh one to be exact. You have a long track record in trying to dominate Equestria."

"How........how do you know that?!", the queen uttered with a shallow breath.

Her past secrets were only known by few and couldn't be fully blown open by outsiders. How this entity had deduced so much about Chrysalis after having just met her confused the changeling.

"I saw everything that I needed to see at the instant you fired your pathetic spell at me. Plenty of delicious emotions to feed me. Your darkness is mine," the voice answered, now sounding different in how it resonated almost as if it had come from the empty space surrounding it's victim.

More of the snaking vines emerged, wrapped in the same grey mist that surrounded Chrysalis, difficult to distinguish from their surroundings. The helpless queen's nervousness was backed by chills going through the spine, a sensation she had never felt before. A strange feeling overtook the changeling, a feeling of invisible set of eyes of almost machine-like devotion looking right into her essence which she found herself greatly bothered by. The powerful predator has become an unlikely prey.

"W-what do you want?," Chrysalis asked, her usually strong voice losing it's foundation as fear gripped her chest.

"I want you and everything in Equestria," the creature growls to her ear with a metallic hiss, "to die now."

Losing her composure, Chrysalis quickly unfolded the wings on her back in an attempt to escape. After a successful lift off from the ground her ascend was brought to a stop by a violent tug that also produced sharp pain to her rear ankle. The changeling looked down to spot one of the barb covered vines now wrapped around her hind limb, anchoring the queen to mid-air. More similar vines reached from behind the cover of the spreading fog to latch themselves around her body. Fighting and trying to stay airborn, Chrysalis' egg shaped retinas shrunk as she realized the futility of her efforts against the entity now reeling her to a waiting doom in the mist below.

With no pony around to hear it, a bloodcurdling scream pierced the murky depths of the forest, leaving deadly silence to linger in it's wake.

***

Chapter 12: A Test Of Faith

A Test Of Faith

A young colt sank his hooves beneath the soft soil, flinging up dirt with entertained giggles. He and his mother had been hard at work at planting new potato seeds to their backyard's small vegetable plantation.

As much as it was pleasing him the mother of the family was not as amused by his behavior, a fact quickly reminded to the child as he noticed her glancing at him worriedly.

"Pine, will you please stop making a mess?", the adult mare exclaimed to her child.

Pine, the sole child of the Drape family living at the outskirts of Trottingham ignored the given advice and rolled in the pile of loose dirt he had created despite hearing his parent.

"Awwwww, mom! You have no idea how fun this is," the colt whined at his mother, enjoying the sensation of the soil sticking to his coat as a fine layer. Used to digging and playing in such a way shortly after learning to walk on all four hooves, it was among his favorite activities.

"You can not re-enter the house in that state," miss Drape pestered Pine with an expecting stare, now distracted from seeding freshly dug holes in the plantation base because of it, "Please clean yourself."

A look at the bothered face that she was giving him was finally enough to make the child comply. Pine got up to dust himself with a side to side shake, simultaneously letting his face drop with a let down exhale.

"It's basic hygiene, dear," Pine's mother added soothingly, flashing a loving smile at him as she grabbed the shovel.

Pine turned and approached the shed at the other side of the yard in a search for the garden hose. To the colt it was one of many times when his mother was disappointingly strict with her ways.

"Why can't mom just let me have some fun while we're working," Pine thought to himself as he came upon the garden hose and turned on the tap.

"Help!!"

The young colt's ears shot straight at the moment he heard the distressed call from the direction of the plantation. It had come from his mother.

Realizing that something serious was up, Pine left the water running in his haste and galloped where he had just come from. Arriving at where he had left her, the colt skidded to a halt, staring in shock at what he discovered.

Miss Drape had fallen against the ground, struggling to free herself from a bundle of thorn covered vines which had wrapped themselves around her hind legs, reeled towards a hole in the plantation from where they had emerged. Her hooves dug into the soft ground in a desperate bid to stop the progress. This only helped to slightly stall the immensely strong pull of what ever had captured her.

Afraid for her safety, the colt dived forward and reached at the outstretched hooves of his mother without hesitation.

"Help!! Help!!", the child called out in hopes of alerting some passer-by as he was dragged along. The small additional weight did nothing to stop the adult mare's progress of being pulled within the hole, her back limbs already below the soil.

"Go get somepony," miss Drape exclaimed, wincing from the searing pain caused by the thorns digging into her skin.

"I can't leave you, mom," Pine whimpered in fear, cheeks wet from tears.

Nearby two stallions were traveling down the walkway, happening to pass near to where the tragedy was taking place. The tannish brown pony of the duo took a glance over the fence, made curious by Pine’s preceding shouting that they had heard moments before.

What he saw was an empty backyard.

"Weird. I could have sworn that I heard someone shouting in there," the horse eventually told his companion, puzzled about who it might have been as they moved on.

***

Dear Twilight Sparkle, my faithful student,

Under a great urgency I must inform you that your immediate presence is needed at Canterlot. I want to discuss with you about a series of very unfortunate happenings that have recently taken place at several locations around Equestria. They are all connected yet we do not know what causes them. These happenings demand your expertise and I believe that it is you as well as your five friends who can help to solve the problem. I have sent an escort to bring you along.

Your loving teacher,

Celestia.

"What could it be about?," Rainbow asked in Twilight's living room after listening Celestia's writing from her lips.

Further aside Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie and Applejack exchanged looks, also expecting some sort of answers.

"Don't ask me," the lavender unicorn replied and set the scroll down against the empty coffee table, "I suppose I must start packing at once."

"And we're coming with you?", Rarity enquired her friend.

"Yes," Twilight confirmed, already trotting in a circle to plan the necessary travel arrangements in her head, "It's why I invited you here."

"If that is the case I got to claim mah luggage from the farm. Oh great," Applejack exclaimed, "This puts yet more delay to mah responsibilities! Without Big Mac sharing the load at the farm we'd have no customers left by now. Since Faith arrived everythin' has been rather complicated."

"We should all get back to our homes to prepare. Where shall we meet?", Rarity asked Twilight who had ceased her trotting, apparently having decided what she has mapped regarding the trip as satisfying.

"The town square," the other unicorn told her friends, "The escort will naturally arrive here to my house. I will tell them where the rest of you are waiting and will then come to get you."

"Uh........," Fluttershy began awkwardly, already finding the attention of the others upon herself, "what about Faith?"

Having secretly expected the pegasus to mention her source of affection, Twilight gave the yellow mare a glance. "He'll be fine," the unicorn replied, "We will only be away for a day and he is already used to Ponyville. I chose the square so you will have a chance to let him know what we are doing."

"Well, I'm off," Rainbow expressed, already tense from anticipation regarding the unexpected trip, "See you at the town square." In a rush of wind the cyan pegasus had gone through the open window. At the same time the others began departing the house.

"Can't wait to visit Canterlot again," Rarity nearly squealed in joy, "With or without weddings that place makes the fashion artist within my beating chest beg for shopping. Absolutely fabulous offerings for fabrics------", is what Twilight could make out until her self-executed spell slammed the door shut behind the last mare to leave the house.

At that moment Spike arrived from the library, wiping sweat off his forehead.

"It's ready," the dragon told Twilight, exhaling tiredly with loud puffs, each producing a small ring of smoke, "The library is spotless and clean like I promised. You can go check it if you want, I went through it several times. The books are sorted."

Spike relaxed, collapsing to his back from the exhaustion. "Will you never try to control my mind again?"

A lavender hoof patted his cheek. "Oh, Spike," Twilight cooed at her assistant, "Didn't you already get over that one?"

"Will you promise?"

"I promise, dear Spike," the mare chuckled, "Now get up and help me pack my stuff. I'm going to Canterlot."

***

A knocking at the window of Faith's apartment alerted him from his daytime nap. Looking up from where he rested in his commonly relaxed laying position, the stallion spotted Fluttershy floating on her wings outside, a sight which quickly made him jump to all fours. Standing on the bed, his hoof unlocked the latch.

"Uh..........did I disturb you?", Fluttershy began reluctantly when Faith opened the window.

"Not at all, my dear Fluttershy. What is it?", Faith asked his companion.

As he finished the sentence the pegasus looked down to spot part of the answer. Everyone else in the Harmony team occupied the street in the company of a small escort of Canterlotian pegasus guards wearing their trademark golden armor, a sight Faith was witnessing for the first time for never having served in the army.

"We are going away from Ponyville to visit Canterlot for a day," Fluttershy replied to his question. She reached over and gently touched his cheek with the sole of her hoof. "Just for a day, darling. Urgent matters. Will you manage?"

Even though she hid it the tone in her voice had slight concern which Faith was quick to pick up. Smiling back at his friend, his own hoof connected with Fluttershy's fore limb.

"I'm not going anywhere," the stallion replied.

"Fluttershy, come on," both of the pegasus heard Twilight calling from below, "The guards are getting antsy."

"I got to go," Fluttershy explained and dived below as Faith watched her go.

"Have fun," the stallion shouted after the mare and proceeded to close the window.

At the street the leader of the guard escort was examining the entire group to assess that everyone were present, eventually facing Twilight with a rather stern look.

"If miss Fluttershy is done we should get going," the pegasus explained with a rough voice, "Her majesty is expecting you."

"Lead the way," Twilight replied to the guard half-heartedly, too well used to the routines of the royal pegasus.

As soon as he got her reply the head of the guard gave the rest of the royal escort a sharp order which made them surround the six mares in a pre-established formation. Heading down the street, the group was soon drawing attention from the rest of the locals.

"Are you sure this is necessary?", Rarity asked the leader of the unit, "We attract the eyes of the entire town this way."

"Celestia's orders," the head pegasus growled in agitated manner, "An unrest has begun to develop. We have been directly assigned by her majesty to protect you in case any trouble stirs."

"Celestia's orders this, Celestia's orders that," Pinkie exclaimed to herself as she observed the building crowd, "This won't help reduce any unrest, that's a given."

"Just go along with it, girls," Twilight told her friends, "It'll be over once we get a chariot."

"Twilight, there's something that we really got to speak about," Applejack began after appearing next to the unicorn, the large strapped saddle bag swayed from side to side by her flanks as they trotted over the pebbled road. Already curious, the lavender mare glanced at AJ with an expecting look.

"It's about Faith and his.............dark side," Applejack continued, "There's somethin' that still ain't makin' much sense to me."

"What about it?", Twilight enquired her friend.

"Don't get me wrong or anythin', he is a sweet, sweet darlin' of a stallion and he ain't done anythin' truly bad. The thing here is.........with everythin' that I've been taught about pony psychology, it, uh........," the farm mare attempted to bring up her point, "it doesn't work like that."

"Are you confused about his identity?", Twilight asked.

"Well, technically yeah, ya could say it like that" Applejack said, "but there's more to it. Let me see if Ah can explain what Ah mean here. Ya see, Ah just don't understand how an individual pony can suddenly become two separate beings without bein' singular in mind. As much as Ah would like to believe him what he told us is a rather mad claim."

"I understand, AJ," Twilight reacted, "It is incredibly unusual, even impossible according to recorded knowledge but we do live in Equestria. Certain forms of magic can be sentient and living for all that I know. Such magic can hide itself behind more natural elements. They are deeply connected to how our world works, maybe even how we ourselves work. How do you think we were given our Harmony mantles?"

During the discussion the escort arrived to the heart of the square, passing the town's statue. More ponies joined a crowd of curious onlookers tracking the easily distinguishable golden armor of the royal pegasus.

"So ya sayin' that he ain't crazy?", Applejack uttered to Twilight with a raised eyebrow, "Even when he is just an ordinary pegasus without magical abilities?"

Twilight's sudden stern glare made Applejack blush from a sudden realization of where she had gone wrong.

"Not.......that a mare-like stallion is ordinary of course," the mare mumbled in embarrassment, "Sorry, Twilight."

"It is he who you should apologize to, AJ," the unicorn replied, a momentary silence stalling her reply when she thought about the subject of discussion, "While Faith's ordeal put an immense toll on him he has a pure soul that prevents him from committing what he said his old bitter emotion had demanded. If he was evil we could tell it. He is a bit sensitive but Faith does know what he wants from himself. That is important with his case. I believe that he has been honest to us."

"Ah still ain't gettin' how an emotion can be sentient without bein' a true part of a pony," AJ mumbled, nearly stumbling in her thoughts. "Smells like rubbish to me. It just ain't common sense."

"Some strange happenings can not be completely described by common means, "Twilight explained, "Remember, I tried to crack how Pinkie's keen sense works and failed."

"The difference is that Pinkie's madness is way more consistent," Applejack grumbled.

"I heard that," Pinkie uttered loudly from behind their back.

"Don't worry," Twilight laughed with a smooth voice, "maybe we will learn more about Faith's ghost emotion sooner or later. I have a strange feeling that it may be related to the mentioned unrest more than we are currently aware of."

The group cleared more buildings after leaving the square behind. Many citizens of Ponyville were now aware of the escort, some of them having been tipped off early about it by others. More curious crowds gathered ahead to watch them approach, a discussion starting among individual groups.

"I wonder where Twilight's heading?", a mare asked her friends in curiosity.

"Seemingly to Canterlot with all those guards protecting them," a stallion replied.

"I hope they can do something about those vines," an older mare was heard nervously mumbling, "My fiancé got taken by them."

"Move along, everyone," the leader of the escort told to the onlooking crowd, clearing space with his fellow guards to allow the group to progress.

Amidst the crowd Twilight's ears detected loud obnoxious voices calling her name. Three stallions, a hunk with barely any teeth, a short fat brown horse and a skinny, pimple faced pony sneered among the rest of the crowd, the same trio that had harassed Faith and Fluttershy a few days earlier.

"Hey, Twilight Sparklicious!", the skinny pony exclaimed.

"Will you look at her flanks," the brown fat one of the trio added with an almost enthralled stare. Some of the mares in the crowd backed further away in disgust from having seen the drool falling from his mouth.

The toothless hunk tried the tie hanging from his neck, eyeballing the mare unicorn in his thoughts as the escort passed them. "Yeah, I'd sure give her some real horse spanking."

The remark caught Twilight's ears from close distance and stopped her dead in her tracks, causing the entire convoy to grind to a halt. Surprised, the leader of the guard group gave her a look with a confused expression.

"Why did we stop, miss Sparkle?", he asked the mare.

The luggage that was floating beside her came down against the pebbled road with a loud thud. Twilight's hooves trembled violently, a severely annoyed and grumpy look on her face signalling a surfacing need of retaliation. Turning, the mare unicorn directed a furious gaze towards the three stallions already aware of her reaction.

"I think she heard ya, Scarf," the skinny pony cackled.

"Yeah, babe! Come stroke mah mane!", the hunk shouted to Twilight without fearing the expression being displayed towards him.

Concerned, the pegasus general tapped Twilight's shoulder to try to reclaim her attention. "Miss Sparkle, we really shouldn't be stopping now," he attempted to coax her, "They aren't worth it."

Ignoring his advice, Twilight continued to stare at the three bullies angrily.

"This will only take a moment," she eventually told the general without looking at him and moved towards the crowd. Following their given instructions, the guards attempted to block her path but seeing the look on her face dispersuaded them, these guards being as aware of her abilities as everypony else in Canterlot.

"Just let her through," the general pegasus told the soldiers, exhaling in frustration as he succumbed to the inevitable change of events.

Stepping through the protective shield of the guards, Twilight neared the trio that had verbally offended her integrity. Having encountered rude ponies from time to time, the mare unicorn remembered what she had learned about self-control in the face of ethical differences. But these stallions had succeeded in crossing the line of good taste.

Before moving on with the others she would teach the toothless hunk a lesson about humble manners.

***

Back in the apartment Faith was resting in calm silence.

After Fluttershy had departed with her friends to Canterlot some questions had emerged to the stallion's mind. What type of urgent matters had she meant? She hadn't revealed any further details. From the time he had already spent in the town Faith had gotten to know enough about the six mare's roles as individual representors for the Elements Of Harmony to believe that it must have been important.

Maybe they would have a meeting with another country's changelor to discuss about shared interests. Maybe there was a dispute between war mongering clans. Perhaps a community needed voluntary helpers against damage caused by a destructive natural phenomenon. The work of a throne servant surely sounds exciting and diverse.

Going through such possibilities, Faith soon became doubtful. If the representors of Harmony were needed in such affairs how come they weren't busy with them all the time? During the entire week Faith had only seen the mares working within the vicinity of Ponyville in their respective jobs. Canterlot must have had more officials than that to handle affairs spanning beyond it's border.

Or maybe it was all concerning what he had warned them about. Maybe It had finally started to cause damage to other ponies.

Faith felt his spine tingle from a cold chill when forcibly buried recollections from the preceding days re-emerged. He had felt it's presence from the apple acre. Although far away, something that it had done was also how the quake had begun. He hadn't expected anything like that. As long as he had kept it within him years ago the bitterness had only wanted him to let it take over, to give in to it's need of vengeance against those who had alienated him from seeking social interaction. It had used his shame, uncertainty and anger as it's tools to try and bend him under it's will. It had always been between him and his half. It had been about the balance of Faith's own essence. The outside world wasn't part of his personal wrestling ground.

But had there been more to it?

Had the corrupted ghost emotion been actually driven by more than just the need to retaliate against select few? Had it's motivation been even stronger than what Faith had acknowledged, something stranger, more desiring, less controllable? What kind of a beast of a child had he truly nurtured within? Faith recalled the intense rage that had once scorched his soul, the memory producing another chill of fear once doubts about it's full implications deemed upon him.

Maybe what he had ended up doing had saved him from becoming a coldhearted monstrosity even if it didn't fully stop the creature itself from being contained within the host that made it. Regardless of the price, Faith had saved himself from self-inflicted oblivion.

It would still be his responsibility. He would work to help to put a stop to it. What ever the creature that was no longer him would be plotting now the stallion would find out himself. Maybe Twilight and her friends could back him up once they would return from Canterlot.

Faith wouldn't be in a rush.

"Get up from the bed, coward," out of the blue a familiar female voice called out.

With a surprised snap of movement Faith's head turned to observe the mare who had literally sneaked in without him even noticing. Twilight stood at the opposite side of the apartment, the look on her face unpleasant to witness for it's target, eyes enveloped in white.

"Twilight?", Faith asked in confusion, raising himself slightly from the bed, "Weren't you supposed to have gone to Canterlot?"

"I said get up to your hooves," the lavender mare roared loudly. Simultaneously her horn lit up with an intense magenta glow.

Before he got to say anything Faith felt himself being lifted from the bed by a magical aura that forcefully flung him across the room. Landing badly, Faith rubbed his coat, quickly standing up to face the mad mare unicorn.

"What is wrong with you?!", Faith winced.

Heading closer with aggressive movement, the aura surrounding Twilight's horn flickered like a potent flame.

"Bringing you here was the biggest mistake that I have ever made during my entire life," the mare snarled to the feminine stallion.

"Have you completely lost your mind?", Faith replied, dismayed by what he was hearing.

Twilight didn't reply back. The look on the mare's face worsened, lips curling up to a malicious grin. Seeing it made Faith's eyes widen from shock.

He had never expected her to treat him like this, not after what they had gone through together. Yet she was committing it.

The flickering aura appeared around two candles located on the nearby dinner table and overtook the objects, morphing them to slithering serpents that dropped to the floor. Quickly upon him, the snakes lashed out at his legs, forcing him to back away to avoid from getting bitten as Twilight looked on with the same cruel smile.

"What's the matter," the unicorn hissed, "can't handle my Twiliciousness?"

Punching the other serpent's skull when it got too near, Faith gave his assaulter a doubting look. "You weren't like this earlier. What's going on, Twilight? Why are you attacking me like this?"

The serpents withdrew, slithering back to their master. Like swimming underwater the reptiles lifted to the air to glide around the neutral space surrounding her. Twilight's twisted grin remained the same.

"There is nothing wrong with me," she snapped.

As fast as they had come to be the gliding snakes returned to the table and reformed to become candles again.

"It's you, filthy colt! I am here to fix my mistake," Twilight's voice boomed loudly, the white in her eyes intensifying so much that it forced Faith to shield his own.

A new violently swaying aura surrounded the mare's body and she started to near him again. Still shielding his eyes from the radiation, Faith backed away to keep their distance consistent, a difficult task in an apartment space designed for one pony occupant.

"Twilight, please, don't hurt me," Faith exclaimed nervously, trying to sound assuring and calm in how he communicated, "What in Celestia's name have I done to deserve this all of a sudden?"

His words had no effect on the mare sending a literal heat wave to his direction. "Oh boohoohoo, cry me a river," Twilight cackled, "You only prove that my suspicion is correct! You might look like a mare but you're still a dumb coward to the core, Faith. All stallions are the same."

Almost tripping on a chair, Faith grabbed the piece of furniture. Using his two hooves to hold it, the pegasus placed it between himself and the unicorn like a makeshift shield akin to a lion tamer performing with a large feline.

"I don't understand why you are suddenly being so different and what "problem" you are speaking of," the stallion spoke slowly, "but I don't think you're being fair to me here."

Faith gasped when the chair in his hooves caught fire from a concentrated ray of light, quickly incinerated. Dropping the smoldering remains, the pegasus swiftly changed his placement in the room to avoid Twilight who still approached.

"You have wasted my valuable time with your pathetic social issues," Twilight growled, growing angrier by each moment, "I want you out of town! Leave immediately!!"

Faith dived to his right, dodging another energy blast that shattered the window.

While doing his best to avoid her new thoughts circulated through the stallion's mind because of the unexpected change of behavior in the mare who only moments ago he had strongly considered a friend.

The first time he met her Faith had only expected a brief conversation and a possible exchange of 'thanks' for what he had done for the group back in the forest before he'd have gone his own merry way. But the way Twilight had prevented him from leaving and how she had looked him in the eyes had eventually given him a different view regarding the mare.

She had seen what troubled soul he was and had just wanted to help him in return let alone had done all of that without ever judging him. The Twilight that he had gotten to know during the week was a kind, warmhearted pony caring about the well-being of others. And she truly had helped him, more than she herself could probably imagine.

Yet the mare now facing him had lost all traits of that. This sudden new attitude stood out from what he thought he had known.

Acknowledging the past week, Faith continued with his attempts of reasoning. "Don't you remember? It was you and your friends that dragged me out of Everfree only a week ago against my own will," he exclaimed, "I didn't come here because I wanted to! You aren't being your normal self."

Twilight stalled momentarily to pierce him with the fury of her eyes without signs of sympathy, her body straightening back like a cougar stretching itself before the bounce.

"I indeed should have left you to that dreaded forest," the mare uttered menacingly, "And you don't know a thing about me."

Not buying her new behavior, Faith kept up the subject. "Then why didn't you? If I have been brought here for no reason you could have just said it in the first place." Closing out the fear regarding her power, the stallion slowly approached Twilight. "You have given me so many good advices. Was that all empty talk?"

Within the depths of his conscious thought a suspicion began to slowly develop.

When Faith got near her Twilight's magic striked again. In mere seconds the pegasus found the blade of a floating bread knife painfully close to his throat. He hadn't even thought of checking whether the apartment had such utensils for not having needed them. Freezing in place, fear overtook him again.

"You told me to trust you," the stallion half-whispered almost beggingly.

"Do not come near me, you ball of slime," Twilight barked, the pure white eyes flashing in rage.

Sensing the blade nearly puncturing his coat, Faith closed his eyes tightly.

"If I really am such a burden to you then do what you must if you feel that it is the right thing," he spoke in humble silence, "My life is in your hooves."

Waiting for the killing motion of the blade in acceptance, Faith instead felt the knife withdrawing. Opening his eyes again, he rubbed his neck from where it had pressed against, sighing loudly in relief at having avoided dismemberment.

"This is crazy, Twilight."

"Leave! Now," Twilight raised her voice again, still staring at him with a horrid look, "You are not important to me."

"Just like that? After all that you willingly did for me? No explanation? No words of wisdom? Nothing but violent harassment and insults regarding my gender," Faith uttered in a disbelieving state, "I wouldn't treat you like this in return. You are driving me away for no good reason! What the bucket, Twilight?"

"You should have believed me earlier when I said that he is a coward, Twi," a new female voice that Faith already knew was Rainbow said from behind his point of view. He hadn't noticed her appearance either because of it's silent execution.

"What? Oh, come on," the baffled stallion exclaimed as Rainbow joined Twilight's side, "Didn't we reach an agreement??"

"Like any of those would matter by now, loser," Rainbow shouted maliciously, sharing the same twisted look of rage as the mare unicorn, "Well, what's the matter? Can't take a hint? She told you to leave."

"Can't we seriously discuss this in a more civilised manner?", Faith asked both mares as politely as he felt capable.

Twilight's new attitude had already shocked him but Rainbow too adding more to the mess was becoming harder to bear.

"There's nothing to discuss between us anymore," Twilight snarled, "Rainbow and I have done some conversation of our own and we have reached an agreement about this entire fiasco of your's. Your presence is no longer welcome to Ponyville. You may leave now."

"And be fast," the cyan mare pegasus added, knacking her wrists in anticipation, "I haven't been practicing my boxing for a long time."

Devastated, Faith's chin began to sink towards the floor. He had not expected his friends to not only abandon him but also treat him as an enemy after all the voluntary effort they had gone through just to assist him.

Something in his latest actions must have made them reconsider. What ever it had been he couldn't ask without fear of aggressive response nor would they be willing to explain it to him in detail. It didn't make sense after the discussions they had had the preceding day in Applejack's home.

He eventually glanced back at the mares who were seemingly enjoying to see his despair.

"That's the problem with elitism," Faith told them darkly, "One eventually ends up drifting apart from those who he has admired."

"Well," Twilight continued, "Are you going to leave or will I have to handle you some more?"

"Leave that to me, Twi," Rainbow told her friend, "You've spent enough of your magic to this freak."

Torn from listening the insulting ways of speech regarding him, Faith finally raised a hoof as a sign of peace, having by now accepted the hopeless state of the affair.

"Alright!," the pegasus exclaimed, "Alright, I'll leave just to put an end to this madness. But before I do I'll have to farewell Fluttershy."

"I was lying to you, jerk," a third female voice spoke out in malice from where Rainbow had previously emerged.

Faith's jaw dropped when the yellow mare pegasus came to view, trotting up to join the other two mares already standing before him. She too had sneaked in without being noticed.

"Wait, what, whaaaaaaaa?", the feminine stallion nearly squeaked in ever stronger disbelief.

"You are so easy to fool, Faith," Fluttershy laughed offensively, almost intentionally stabbing at his emotions, "I had you around the tip of my hoof the whole time."

Faith observed all three ponies in silence, feeling ever more doubtful. Something in the way the sudden meeting had gone to be hadn't felt right, almost as if it had happened too conveniently in correspondence with his thoughts and feelings.

Way too good to be true.

"Now," Faith began more sternly, impatient to bring the upsetting conversation to an end, "now this is getting ridiculous. First you come here without knocking and attack me without explaining it, Twilight. Then Rainbow. And now Fluttershy-----"

"And me," Applejack exclaimed, marching to the room after slamming what Faith had perceived as a locked door, leaving the room and the five ponies surrounded by eerie silence until she continued. "I stand behind mah friends, ya brainless brute of a dead weight! Get out of here and leave us alone!"

Instead of trying to defend himself from the dogpile of friends-turned-to-enemies Faith watched them in complete silence, pondering to himself during which Twilight spoke out again.

"Still not getting it? You must have inherited a brain of a snail," the unicorn growled with such angst that it nearly made her sound like a different individual, "You have been exiled. Buckering baby face."

Catching Twilight's last name calling, all of the confusion within Faith's mind suddenly lost it's meaning. Focusing exclusively on her, the stallion lifted an eyebrow, the type of convenience he had heard having given him the last bit of necessary evidence.

"What did you just call me?", the pegasus asked slowly.

"Baby face, baby face, baby face," all four mares began to chant loudly, so synonymous that their vocal chords appeared welded in their exclaim.

Surprisingly untouched by the verbal offense, Faith listened. They were too rude, too aggressive, too convenient. These possibly couldn't be the ponies that he knew.

"That's it! I'm wrecking this moron!"

Before he could react accordingly an immense pain struck Faith to the left side of his face. Thrown to the floor, the stallion realized that Rainbow had punched him. It had happened faster than he anticipated, almost machine-like in precision.

"Yeehaw," Faith heard Applejack's voice near him as Rainbow continued to pummel his rib, "time for some pony buckin'!"

Bracing himself, Faith took the given physical assault from the two mares with endurance, shielding his face from the punches and kicks. The stallion's choice of defense had left his chest unguarded. A new kick from Rainbow's back hoof sank to it's target, knocking the wind from his lungs. Faith keeled to a fetus stance, gasping for air.

"I never......told any of you..........what my............childhood mockers called me," the pegasus mumbled with a wheezing voice, caughing.

Standing on two limbs, Rainbow raised a hoof and forcefully brought it down against the side of Faith's face to pin him against the floor, incrementally sending more pressure down at his head as the other mares cackled at him.

To the subject of beating it marked the last straw in an already stretched chain of absurdity.

Faith grabbed the mare's leg swiftly, at the same time twisting himself to the side, the counter attack succesfully bringing Rainbow out of balance. Tumbling, she was flung off entirely when Faith threw her aside. Taking her friend's place, Applejack aimed a strong kick.

Instead of connecting to soft flesh her hoof was met by Faith's own. Changing position to lie on his back in an angle that faced her, the stallion had brought his own back hoof forward to successfully block the blow coming down on him. Without returning any further offense he rolled backwards to get up from the floor, backing away from the maniacally laughing farm mare before she would get to attack again.

Fluttershy took her side, also laughing at him. "Oh, look at the poor stallion. He is fighting back."

Glancing upwards, an amused laughter inexplicably emanated from the feminine stallion who shook his head. The mares now watched him confusedly.

"What are you laughing at, baby face?", Twilight asked in a mixture of surprise and malice.

"It's you isn't it?," Faith spoke, now ignoring the mares, instead communicating to something else entirely. None of them no longer spoke, having frozen to their respective positions.

"Yes, I know you're there, bitter side," Faith again said to thin air, "Reveal yourself."

"What? That's just them being themselves," he heard a deep raspy voice reply invisibly from somewhere within the room.

"You are too late," Faith exclaimed with gathered courage, ignoring the motionless mares during his change of position to the middle of the apartment, "I have learned about both sides of the bit! There is no singular truth."

"Are you just going to let them treat you like dirt?", the raspy voice immediately replied back in a fit of rage, "Let me back in! Together we can make them pay for what they did to us!"

Faith braced himself again, anticipating a difficult struggle with an opponent that he could not see. Despite uncertainty he kept himself level headed, focused at the defensive stance.

"No," the feminine stallion exclaimed, "You generalize every bad thing! It's not how I handle conflict! I won't let you back in."

"Fool," the raspy voice garbled, "You are succumbing under the will of others. It is a weakness that they can exploit."

"Easy for you to say," Faith shouted so loud that his own ears started to ring.

While his shout still resonated in the room the space surrounding the stallion lost temperature. Very quickly Faith sensed chills running through his coat.

A dark grey mist had began to rise from beneath the floor and took residence all around the apartment, starting to condense to something larger before Faith's eyes. Already recognizing the basic shape of a pegasus, the stallion observed in morbid seriousness when a creature looking distantly similar to him completed it's growth, two orange eyes with black slits for pupils returning a stare at him, a dancing inferno behind them casting a hellish light.

"Long time no see............Faith," the elemental creature greeted him, heavy sarcasm in intonation upon the mention of his name.

Faith's body turned tense. What he had struggled against years ago had found him again.

This time he would have to win for real.

The fog pegasus chuckled and began to approach the stallion, reading his body language. "Just face it," the creature's raspy voice told him, "You and I both know it. These ponies do not truly care about you. To them you are an obligation that comes and goes."

Without acknowledging it Faith lifted his eyebrows surprisedly. The beast had almost mirrored a thought of his with it's statement.

"They can never keep you happy," the fog pony pushed it's argument, "Everything that you will get from them is suffering and unfulfillment. There is nothing for you to protect here. You don't need these deceivers. Let me back in!"

"No," Faith counter argued, "You have no right to judge everyone based on select individuals!"

"Just let me back in, Faith. It doesn't demand much from you," the creature said to him, stopping to watch his reactions, "All that you need to do is open up to me. No more than that. We can be whole again."

"Never! I will never let you in," Faith exclaimed, backing away from his former bitterness defensively, "There's a good reason for why I kicked you out. I am not giving up on my friends!"

The darkness of the fog from which the creature consists deepened, the hellish light behind It's eyes adding contrast by growing in strength.

"They are not your friends," the elemental beast growled, "Just look at her."

Faith stood in silence, not complying to the beast.

"LOOK AT HER," the creature's voice boomed with such intense loudness that it made the stallion jump.

Deciding that the action wouldn't hurt him, Faith glanced over to the motionless Twilight still staring at nothing, an unsettling expression still decorating the mare's face.

"Her sentiments concerning stallions like you are genuine," the fog pony explained, " I know so much more about your so called friends than you'd think."

"Why should I believe you," Faith asked without embracing the claim.

The fog pony watched him keenly, analyzing his way of reaction.

"I have witnessed it myself," it told him, "Twilight abuses her own power all the time let alone does it for pleasure. What kind of a wise mentor does that? Your "friend" has deceived you."

Faith shook his head, refusing to believe what he was being told. Seeing it, the elemental grudge moved towards him on it's hypothetical limbs without moving them.

"These mares have serious flaws that you had not expected to find," it said, "Aren't you disappointed?"

"Really? Like I didn't expect you to use that argument," Faith suddenly chuckled at the comment.

"What?!", the raspy voice uttered confusedly.

Smiling from ear to ear, Faith began to walk around the room, past the mares and destroyed furniture. "In case you already forgot, I am quite aware of how things really are, bitter side," he told the spirit-like entity that was tracking him from it's spot, "Nopony is perfect. Not Twilight, not Rainbow, not Fluttershy nor Applejack."

Faith stopped, watching the grimacing faces of the mares frozen to stare at where he was no longer located, feeling a tingle of pity at what had happened to them. "They have flaws because we all do," the stallion continued calmly, "Expecting perfection is a perfect way to reduce one's own foresight."

He turned around, boldly returning eye contact to the creature located not too far from him. "What they gave me is humble. Despite what somepony else does I still choose what I seek from what I do. I do not need bitterness nor power abuse to be happy."

"Listen to me---," the elemental creature attempted to counter argue.

"No," the stallion interrupted loudly, "It is you who will listen here. You created these generic bad interpretations of my helpers to try and win me over to your side. A disproportional illusion isn't going to blind me from seeing the bigger picture anymore. Life has more variety than what you claim. What you have shown me reflects only one side of these mares, not their whole essence. Yes, they can and do abuse their own capabilities."

Faith stepped closer to his opponent without hesitation. "But who doesn't? That doesn't make everyone unlikeable or antisocial. They are pony beings," he continued, "I do not hold a grudge for such a grudge will only be your weapon against me and everyone else. Believe it or not, I love these mares and want to be happy for them."

The feminine stallion positioned himself very close to the bitter beast's gaze, giving it a calm yet stern look, mindless fear absent from his feedback.

"To repeat myself, bitter side, you are too late. I am not you. You are not me. We will never be whole again, not as long as I draw breath. I mean it."

"Then I will take you by force," the elemental grudge bellowed to his face.

Sensing it's potent essence wrap around him like an invisible tentacle, Faith shifted focus to concentrate at keeping the negative emotion at bay, remembering what he was upped against as being a mere spirit from his past, a non-physical spectre depending on terror and superstitious blindness to succeed in gaining access to it's victims.

The struggle went on for a moment.

"Over my dead body," Faith stated bravely, having gained the mental upper hand over his opponent.

The bitterness retreated from him on the support of it's non-moving limbs akin to a snail reversing on it's slime, surprised by the unexpected new shielding side to what it had perceived as a simpleminded slave to it's cause. The creature suddenly began to chuckle, a morbid laughter ringing around the apartment. Hearing it momentarily chilled the blood in Faith's body. He had heard the exact same laughter in his nightmare.

"You think you have won," the elemental grudge cackled mockingly, "Aren't you aware of what I have been doing this whole time?"

Faith stared on, not sure about the hint that he had been presented.

Overly certain about what it was implying to, the fog pegasus again neared him. "All of those innocent ponies, at my mercy. While you might have delayed me I am not as powerless as you would like to believe. I will have my revenge, with or without you. And you nor those pitiful mares that you call your friends aren't going to stop me."

"What have you done?!"

"Why should I reveal my business to you," the fog pony groaked, "Aren't we two different individuals after all?"

Faith listened in shock, eyes widening.

"So you want to save them," his opponent spoke, "If that is the case I will be generous. I grant you one full day and night to come to me starting from this moment. If you fail to show up every one of them will be disposed of," the raspy voice threatened, the tone of it's voice deepening even more once it reached the detail in it's plan that it considered most juicy, "Painfully."

Feeling responsible for the fates of the mentioned ponies, Faith gave a new look of despair to the renegade piece of his former soul.

"Where can I find you?"

"Search your feelings," the fog spectre explained, "You do know where I am."

Easily noticing his helplessness, the creature moved right beside him, almost hugging his frame. "Yes, they will perish because you allowed them to. And after I am done with them............."

Faith felt the creature exhail a trail of cold mist against the back of his neck, refusing to look at it again.

"......I will personally track you down and torture you until you will cry yourself senseless," the elemental grudge finished, sounding ecstatic, "And then I will take you back. And we will be whole again."

The coldness hugging his coat began to fade. Looking around him, Faith noticed that the fog pegasus and all four mares had vanished without a trace. The rest of the grey mist still lingered.

"There is one more present that I have for you before I leave," the raspy voice of the bitterness spoke again from thin air.

"What ever you are still trying to feed me I won't take," Faith exclaimed.

"It's nothing too fancy," the raspy voice explained to him, "Just a visual recollection of something that I happened to witness only moments ago. It proves that what I have tried to tell you is true and not deceit. Take it as you wish, I don't have to lie to you about this one."

Everything around Faith blurred instantly.

Thinking that he had become blind, the stallion attempted to visualize the room that he knew he was occupying. Instead what he saw was a swirling tunnel that had started to grow fast in front of his vision. It widened, becoming large enough to fit the pegasus' entire body. Sucked forward, Faith screamed as he was hurled to the other side of the tunnel, enveloped in darkness.

A bright flash of light like a powerful still camera going off transferred his point of view near ground level, looking up at two immense shapes that he soon understood to be two ordinary sized ponies standing on a pebbled road of Ponyville's central town. A unicorn and a rough looking stallion.

Faith gasped as he recognized the unicorn as Twilight.

The look on the mare's face closely mirrored that of the interpretation that had attacked him. Her horn was glowing bright, the aura surrounding it flickering like a candle flame. Her magic had the stallion in an iron grip, strangling him with the tie hanging around the neck of the scared horse who was desperately clutching his throat, gasping for air from suffocation, a hanging mouth revealing only a few remaining teeth and a lagging tongue.

Looking on at the unnerving sight, Faith heard Twilight's voice.

"Careful, buddy," the mare said to the other stallion with a sarcastic, unpleased tone while choking him with the tie, "You might not be able to handle my Twiliciousness."

This couldn't be the mare that had helped him. The pegasus felt rejective at what he was being shown. Again he felt himself being pulled back from the sight that disappeared in a blurry fish eye.

Flown through more darkness, a sinking sensation overtook him. Faith was falling. Before dropping too far the pegasus crashed against a hard surface and collected himself back up to all fours. Faith noticed that he had re-emerged to the apartment, everything around him looking grey and lifeless.

"Have fun with your friends, Faith," the raspy voice chuckled and faded.

Gasping for air in a fit of claustrophobia, Faith broke to a run towards the shattered window and leapt through to exit the apartment.

Only to jump up on his bed with a terrified shout. His own hoof reached up and brushed against the forehead, sticky and cold sweat coming off the green coat. Faith massaged himself, trembling from the experience he had.

Looking around him while calming himself down, the stallion saw the room in the condition that it had been before Twilight appeared; Instead of turning to snakes the candles on the table weren't moving. The formerly destroyed chair was untouched. The window behind the bed was intact. Nothing looked broken nor charred. Everything had it's colors.

Sighing, Faith collapsed back against the bed, relieved by a comfortable fact; it had only happened in his head.

Had it been just a dream like previously? It had felt so vivid, even more tangible than the earlier one. On the other hoof it had been warped, one-sided, literally another nightmare nearly impossible to trust. While he had been able to control himself everything around him had turned hostile and abusive.

Had It truly tried to overtake Faith for real? Had it truly showed him a dark side in the lavender mare unicorn that he had so much begun to admire as his helper and friend? Deciding that he would think about it while taking a walk, Faith got off the bed and went towards the door on his way out of the apartment.

Unknown to the pegasus, within the inner supports of the building's walls a grayish green vine retreated below the structure, squirming in a fit of anger after failing it's mission.

***

Chapter 13: Bad Binds

Bad Binds

"New sewing needles, thread, golden fabric, silver fabric, peacock feathers, pearls, fabric dye, wool, jewellery, oh dear," Rarity nearly babbled to herself with a floating scroll placed partially in front of her face as the six mares crossed a decorated hall inside the palace of Canterlot, the regime of royal guards who had escorted them all the way to the castle during their travel still keeping them closely protected from both sides.

The general of the escort stared ahead, the look on his face making it clear that the pegasus had already become impatient to hand the subjects of his given task over to his superior. Twilight was walking beside him, already aware.

"Is there a problem, general?" the unicorn asked with slight concern. As an answer a sharp "hmph" left the pegasus' vocal chords from behind closed lips.

"Look, I'm truly sorry about what happened back at the town. I had to teach that stallion a lesson about his manners," the mare uttered quietly, thinking about how she should approach her point, "He assaulted me verbally."

"Miss Sparkle," the general finally opened his mouth, "I feel that I do have enough decency to understand why that kind of behavior from such a poorly disciplined citizen could affect your capable judgement but you also must realize that we are on a duty here. Celestia herself gave me strict orders to prevent you from being attacked not just by ponies but also by enemies that we still need to learn more about."

Stalling the group by raising his hoof, the general eyeballed passing palace personnel closely to confirm their identity.

"It is demeaning to our own rules and a needless risk to have you reverse that by violating given orders for such a momentary gain," he finished.

"I disagree about the gain of my choice being momentary but I respect what you are trying to say, general," Twilight replied while they continued moving, giggling from seeing the general's uptight stance, "Relax a little. You have done your job well."

"Equestria's balance might be at stake, miss Sparkle. For the record, I didn't come up with any of these orders," the pegasus growled, "You can speak more about that with Celestia."

Twilight exhaled tiredly and rolled her eyes without continuing the discussion.

"Glitter, buttons, silk, felt sheets," Rarity kept on reading her to-buy list until a smell caught her nostrils. Finally looking away from the list, her eyes popped open in their sockets when she spotted something and the scroll landed against the hall's long red carpet. The unicorn's mouth had not even fully dropped before a loud melodramatic shout exited it.

"Kidnappers!!" Rarity exclaimed with such loud decibels that it made everyone jump, even the unprepared royal guard, "The horrible, foul smelling kidnappers!!"

The others looked at where Rarity was screaming. In the large hall where they had stopped they saw another group of royal guards escorting two Diamond Dogs to the opposite direction from them. Hearing Rarity's loud accusations, the dogs and the guards alike all froze in a split second, now returning looks at the other group.

"Those brutal, jewel steali------," Rarity managed to exclaim before the hoof of the other unicorn covered it.

The dogs whimpered and shook, already in a badly upset mood which Rarity's temperamental fit hadn't been a welcome addition to. The other dog collapsed to his knees, weeping loudly.

"We get no respect," the Diamond Dog garbled, "No respect!"

The impatient guards lifted the dog up from the floor and dragged both of the howling creatures to where they had been taking them, leaving the other baffled group of ponies by themselves. Twilight finally released her hoof from covering Rarity's mouth.

"-------shouldn't be here...........?", Rarity completed the last part of her intended sentence half-heartedly, having seen the dog's reaction like the others, "Am I truly that terrible?"

Another "hmph" exited the general who proceeded with his own protocol, leading the mares towards where Celestia's throne room was located.

"What's gotten them so worked up?" Applejack said curiously in refer to the Diamond Dogs.

"Good question," Twilight replied.

Coming upon the entrance to the throne room, the general of the royal guard greeted two lance carrying soldiers who themselves were guarding the doors from both sides. Receiving nods, he walked up and pushed the doors open to enter.

The others followed to see the pegasus salute the princess before turning around to face Twilight. With a sharp nod of his own to the unicorn the general headed past her and exited the throne room without saying anything. Looking after the pegasus, Twilight didn't notice the ruler of the palace until she spoke out right next to her.

"Twilight," Celestia greeted the mare, "Thank you for coming."

"It's not like I had much of a choice over the matter," the unicorn replied upon looking at her teacher who had sneaked past her radar, "these escorts take their job way too seriously."

The other five mares gave a respective bow upon Celestia who gestured a front hoof with a look of anxiety.

"Rise, my dears, that won't be necessary."

Shifting her focus back to her pupil, the alicorn princess spoke to Twilight, appearing visibly sad.

"We have a lot to discuss," she said, "Come this way."

Heading towards the throne with the mares, Celestia settled down as her face descended. For a moment no one in the room spoke.

"My majesty?" Twilight ended up asking her teacher worriedly.

"So much has happened in such a short time," Celestia eventually spoke again, "I myself am not certain why but the implications..........have me deeply concerned."

The six mares turned silent, subjectively listening to the ruler of Canterlot under nervous curiosity.

"Many ponies have been disappearing all around Equestria," Celestia proceeded with the subject, "No traces, nothing else aside sightings of a strange phenomenon. Each time someone goes missing other ponies say they have seen something aggressive appear from below the ground."

"Do you know what it could be?" Twilight said.

"The acquired information is far from consistent because it is built from different witness testimonies," Celestia told them silently, "We have written records that might help shed some light. Corporal, if you may please."

"Yes, my majesty," a member of the royal pegasi complied, stepping forward from aside the throne where he had been situated, holding a scroll in the other hoof. Opening it, he began to read loudly, the echo of his voice circling the glittering air.

"Based on different witness statements, the source of the abductions works from underground. Physical form obscure and hard to describe. According to some witnesses it consists of grayish green vines. Other reports claim the source of the attack to be a demonic creature with limbs made of soil and roots."

All six mares listened the description in a tense silence.

"Behavior hostile," the guard kept reading, "Either causes significant damage to individual property or abducts ponies underground. Fate of said individuals unknown. Presumed dead. A team of royal pegasus dispatched to conduct research on the matter. Current status, missing."

"Thank you," Celestia told the pegasus, "That would be everything."

The guard rolled up the scroll like a yo-yo and stepped back to his designated spot near the tiny fountain that flowed freely from the side of the throne platform as Celestia decided to step down. She moved in circles, seemingly attempting to calm the restless thoughts kept in a limbo within her mind, a behavior both puzzling and concerning to her lavender protege who was watching it from aside. Finally she came to a cease and faced towards the other mares.

"You have been summoned here to help with this incident like I said in the letter. Can you put an end to it?"

"If we are to do anything we have to learn where this "plant creature" comes from. That might prove difficult," Twilight stated in her own thoughts.

"My dear student," Celestia spoke like a mother discussing with a beloved daughter, "With everything that you have pulled off I have full trust to your skills."

The alicorn ruler turned her head, shifting through each mare in the team with the same loving smile until her gaze turned absent, pointed towards the large room's windows to the right from where the central throne sat. Even without movement in her body Celestia's semi-solid mane kept swaying lively in the infinite solar wind, contrasted by a less energetic expression when the smile faded, replaced by a conflicted and uncertain look.

"I was just paid a visit by two representatives of the Diamond Dogs," the alicorn princess told to her guests quietly.

"What did those pillaging brutes want?" Rainbow asked bluntly with clear despise towards the burrowing canines.

"We got a glimpse of them just as we arrived," Twilight said, contrasting her friend's attitude with openness, "They seemed a bit upset."

"That was probably my fault," Rarity stated in an apologizing manner, "The poor things obviously are brutes but------"

"Don't blame yourself for something that you have not played any part in, my dear Rarity," Celestia continued, "As for your question, Rainbow, they are seeking refuge."

"What for?" Applejack enquired surprisedly.

"The shadowy entity that is causing these problems has driven their kind out of it's home burrows," Celestia answered to the farm mare, "I was told that it easily overwhelmed even their strongest fighters. According to the dogs immense fear seems to spread before it's touch. Because they can not go back they came to me to beg for a place where they could stay at. The poor things are deeply afraid and confused by what they have seen. Despite their criminal deeds I feel bad for them."

Celestia approached the windows, her mind beyond the confines of the moment. Stalling, the alicorn ruler remained distant. While her flawless outer form appeared free from signs of aging what lied beneath was suggesting at a stressful internal struggle kept deep within the mind that had experienced many violent conflicts of good and evil in Equestria's past without loss of discipline, conflicts all forgotten by those in the present who weren't yet around to share them with her.

"Equestria is a home to countless beings," Celestia again began, "Many which are driven by what makes our world stable and hospitable to those who seek shelter in it. We all share that basic understanding. Me and Luna tasked ourselves in keeping it that way so we could maintain the peace. There are very few dark forces that we aren't aware of. Those forces have all been kept away within their own realms."

From beside her Twilight was listening in an increasingly worried look to her own exterior, assessing the tone of the alicorn's voice as she recalled the entire timeline she had worked closely with Celestia, having expected her to be the more knowing of the two which had always been the case. Yet what long experience she had hadn't benefited the princess with what new challenge she now had to overcome.

Celestia briefly ruffled the folded wings on her back in search of comfort from the restless thoughts tormenting her mind, sounding nearly heartbroken as her chin descended in a graceful movement. "Hatred and grudge. That's what we have to endure. My sister knows it even better than I do. Every exile, every slain soul, every lost friendship."

Muted by silence, Celestia sighed a second time as a single glistening tear took form below her eyelid and rolled down the snow white cheek.

"It may not show from me often but every one of those continues to hurt me from within," the princess told to her student grievingly.

A new tear followed the last, noticed by the mare unicorn whose jaw had by now dropped.

"I can find momentary resolution from closing out such memories with thoughts of what friends and family I still am blessed to share my time with as well as concentrating at my responsibilities. But there is a downside to pristine memories,” the alicorn revealed sorrowfully, “They remind me of their existence when I least want them to.”

Celestia's closed eyes drew themselves back open to reveal a gaze dampened by the tears. The eyes of the princess met those of the lavender mare as if they sought for something that could add comfort to the unease. A new smile appeared.

"Every sentient being deserves affection of some kind. But to earn that they also deserve a choice," Celestia explained to Twilight, "A very long time ago I gave Discord such a choice."

Her voice nearly sank in it's increased depth when a new painful memory again distracted her mind to what was the alicorn's troubled and long past relationship with the draconequus semi-god of chaos who at one time ruled Equestria with an iron fist and had later given Twilight a literal run for her bits.

"He went down a path of his own," Celestia finished darkly.

Again the alicorn's smile faded, the gaze still lingering at Twilight as a new glistening droplet began to form at the corner of her eye.

"What ever it is that commits these atrocities is an alien being. The ponies that were taken," the alicorn half-whispered, " I can feel the fear of their relatives, the uncertainty that they are forced to bear. Yet I can't do what my heart longs me to do. I can not help them. A shadow has swallowed their loved ones. My attempts to pull the shroud aside..........."

Celestia's gaze wandered back beyond the moment. "I haven't felt this powerless since Chrysalis.............," the princess managed to utter until a silent sobbing cut off the rest of her speech. Finally giving in, her eyes teared up completely from the power of a long held back emotion. The sun goddess collapsed to a trembling heap on the floor, fresh droplets sent plopping against the shiny surface as she cried quietly.

Even though she was shocked from witnessing the unexpected breakdown Twilight inhesitantly came over and wrapped a front limb around her teacher in an impulsive gesture to try and comfort the alicorn princess, the other five mares and the royal pegasus already approaching fast.

"My majesty," Twilight soothed her whimpering guide. "We will do everything.......I will try everything within my capability to find those ponies and accordingly deal with what took them. I believe that we have a clue that can help us. He calls himself Faith."

"M-my dear student........," Celestia whispered like a withering autumn wind, too upset to keep going. A small clear puddle kept building on the floor beneath her chin.

"Celestia, please, don't do this to me," Twilight uttered, "You know that I can't be your psychiatrist. Everyone, help me lift her up."

With the aid of the other ponies she instantly took hold of the alicorn's gracile form and started to pull. Although shaky, their combined effort paid off when Celestia rose to again stand on the support of her own legs, still gently kept in balance by the six mares in case she would begin to stumble.

"My dear student," the sun goddess restarted after a moment's silence in the caring embrace of her assistants, "I dispatch you to your work. I know that you will succeed. Make me proud."

***

"Hey, watch where you're going, pal!" a stallion shouted loudly after a near collision with Faith who was absent in his thoughts during his travel through the town square.

"Uh.....sorry," the feminine pegasus mumbled, way too late to be heard by the other pony who had already moved on.

Made sharper in focus by the encounter, Faith kept his gaze more keenly pointed to the street and the other ponies going about their daily activity. Back in the apartment he had endured and foiled the first true assault of the renegade ghost emotion that he no longer treated as part of himself, a creature that the stallion only called by the name It. The attempt had been cunning and cruel but Faith had successfully protected himself without playing by it's rules.

Yet with said success he had still suffered a minor but significant loss. Faith had been shown a scene of Twilight violating a stallion with her magic at the town square, a scene It had claimed to have witnessed shortly after the mares departed to Canterlot. The seemingly wise unicorn had committed a crime that could potentially reduce Faith's belief in her.

The pegasus wasn't gullible enough to trust a calculating monster like It. To his knowledge the ghost emotion would exploit implanted blind belief to reach it's ruthless goal. Even if what he had seen was true the bitterness would obscure crucial details from what it had shown just to make the happening appear more negative or less positive than it would actually be to fabricate overall bad evidence every time such an opportunity were to offer itself.

Because of their shared past Faith had slight understanding about how It's motivating desire worked. The stallion had stood out against the creature, looked it in the eyes and blocked it's attempts to corrupt him without believing it's claims. It knew what he knew. Yet it had still showed him the vision.

In all it's malice It was aware that it didn't need to deceive him about everything to succeed in spreading bad blood which Faith had come to understand from the peaks of cruel joy in it's unnatural voice which he had picked out earlier during it's description of what it was going to do to the imprisoned ponies and him, a motivational bind easily dreadful enough to produce chills to the stallion's spine.

For a rare occurrence the bitterness had been actually honest about what it had seen, as honest as a twisted spirit-like being with the singular motive of causing the end of the world could be. If the vision had been authentic it had exposed a troubling detail in the mare unicorn responsible for bringing Faith out from a deadly environment and pushing him down the road of redemption.

Spotting a restaurant some distance away, a grumbling sensation in his stomach made the pegasus remember that he hadn't eaten too well for some hours. A green hoof lifted to balance the bottom of the leather bag that contained the bits given to him by Applejack's family from what helpful labour he himself had pulled off at the acres, a fair gift of good will from the farmers.

Deciding that there would be enough currency left for a small evening snack, the feminine stallion's trots brought him closer to the restaurant's outdoor dining area that was already occupied by several customers. As he sat down to the closest empty table Faith's thoughts brought him back outside the moment.

Twilight couldn't be a two-face. She had been honest, kind in how she spoke to him, always ready to give a helping hoof when he needed it. She had willingly brought him to her library simply to try and find answers to his problem even when he was a stranger. She had changed the apartment to better fit his needs and had listened to him when he had been most upset. She cared about his well-being.

Faith had even recognized the stallion who was being strangled as the toothless bully who some days ago had verbally assaulted him with his two buddies by using his unique posterior as ammunition. There wasn't much to deduce about said stallion, there were always badly raised individuals who'd compensate a lack of discipline with a boost of ego with questionable ethics being their plaything. Faith had successfully denied access to his composure from all three without returning anything that they had given or expected. He knew that such ponies could be easily ignored with experience.

What Twilight had done to that stallion spoke against her own teachings and the better behavior that she had displayed. The unicorn's actions felt out of place. The hunk wasn't worth the physical assault. His verbal insults had no effect on a mind capable of distinguishing a meager rat from a dangerous wolf if said mind wasn't overly sensitive to loud barking. Faith had expected Twilight to be the more experienced individual in interacting with other ponies no matter how uncivilized somepony else was.

It also didn't help that the pegasus still recalled how she had behaved when chasing Rainbow, a scary encounter in an already peculiar chain of events. At the time he had treated it as a rare mood shift, something that each and everyone of us could go through as a natural spike in an onward progressing diagram. Outside that she had not appeared unreasonably sensitive and even seemed to have a good reason behind the outburst.

Faith's latest encounter with It's doppelganger hadn't succeeded to sway his admiration towards the mare. The vision of her needlessly committing true violence had been the actual droplet in a glass of water filled to it's brim to change that. It was bizarre irony that in this specific case It had no true need to fake a subject matter to manipulate his emotions. A seed of doubt had been planted not by the bitterness but by Twilight herself. And It knew it.

Faith felt a knot in his hungry stomach as he fought to keep the doubt from becoming dominating. It couldn't be true.

"Sir, would you like to order," a unicorn waiter with a moustache asked, having already stood near him for several seconds. Startled from his thoughts, Faith looked at the waiter.

"Uh........yeah, I'd like to see the menu for starters," the pegasus mumbled shyly which the other stallion reacted to by spreading the scroll he had been holding against the table. Reading through the list, Faith licked his lips.

"I'll go for the cheese potato dish," he told the waiter politely.

Nodding, the unicorn moved on towards other customers after writing down his order. Once again by himself, Faith sighed.

"Oh Twilight," he told himself silently, "How can we be true friends if I can't trust you? Where is the meaning behind what you have told me when you throw away your own credibility like that?"

Deeming the continuous cycling in the same thoughts to be useless, the stallion gazed at the surrounding town that teamed with life beneath the canvas of the cloudless blue sky, now more curious about what he was being part of.

If it were to be looked at hard enough the society that he had at first viewed reluctantly wasn't as complicated or harsh from beneath when enough was learned about it's full diversity. The occupants of Ponyville were following the same routine basics that would drive all living beings in the natural world only with way more sentient infrastructures. Everyone learned the same hard way. Yet not everyone was being rude or ignorant with their attitude, in fact the opposite.

In a modern city it all got turned up a notch by machinery and strange ways to complicate the procedures driving them as well as way colder interaction which left the minds of individuals like Faith out of the loop. To someone who had struggled in a dark forest for years the wealth and fame that made the business stallions and mares of Manehatten foam from the mouth no longer mattered. What he looked at wasn't overshadowing his true treasure anywhere near as far for being a smaller town near Canterlot.

In here most of the local ponies still saw shelter, food and good company for what they were without bringing them out of context.

Waiting for his order, Faith stared on, assessing all the ponies moving past him. A stallion towing a cart of heavy wooden boxes that contained furniture, two mares chatting, a unicorn floating a pile of books that Faith guessed were most likely rented from Twilight's library, several young colts and fillies running somewhere, a pegasus stallion sporting a caramel colored coat and a red mane hitting on a familiar looking mare of the same race.

Recognizing the mare's grey coat and blonde mane, Faith remembered Ditzie from their earlier awkward encounter. It hadn't been the best way to get to know other ponies but they had separated in good terms. Observing, he noticed how the stallion almost intrusively pushed himself right beside her and was smacking his lips to get a kiss from the mare. Ditzie didn't appear to be enjoying his antics, constantly lifting a hoof to push the stallion back to thwart the attempts.

Watching it quickly made Faith feel uneasy. Who ever the stallion was didn't seem to be respecting her personal space as well as a true gentlecolt would. On the other hoof Ditzie seemed to be handling the situation well and there appeared to be no signs of real violence from the stallion's part. For all things said and done, she didn't seem to need any help. Jumping in with assumptions based on an incoherent witnessing would only be an action not well considered.

Seeing Ditzie suddenly look at his direction, Faith realized that she had also spotted him. Waving a hoof politely, the feminine stallion saw the mare pegasus return a wave and smile. The other stallion also noticed and started to discuss something that Faith couldn't make out over the distance but understood as questions probably regarding him.

As his empty belly again reminded Faith about it's existence the waiter came back with a floating platter. As it set down before him a delicious odor of food filled his nostrils, instantly making the stallion's mouth water. On the plate was a ration of potatoes piled on a salad leaf with a crust of steamy melted cheese covering everything, some of the vegetables chipped, others in one piece.

"Thank you," he told the waiter, "I was already getting worried for my stomach."

"Bón appetit," the unicorn replied with a chuckle and left him alone again.

Only spending a second to observe the skillfully made lunch laid before him, Faith took the first potato to his teeth and started chewing, surprised to find it hollow and filled with more cheese. Fast to swallow, he instantly took another bite. The day had been slightly hindered by his encounter with It but good food brought a surprising boost to his morale.

He only got to the fifth bite before an unexpected situation drew him away from eating.

Without warning the ground began to rock violently. Holding on to the table, Faith glanced around nervously as the quake kept going. Like him everypony else had noticed what was going on, ceasing what ever discussions they had. A mare screamed when a fracture opened up to the ground where the tables stood. The earth elevated to form a natural wall of rock while the other side took a plummet, sending some of the tables tumbling to the bottom when they tipped over.

A distance away more similar fractures had formed and distorted the ground the same way in a circular pattern which effectively mangled the roads as well as the foundations of the houses. A few of the buildings became bucked out of shape, looking like they would snap and collapse at any moment.

Shaken by what was happening, Faith was already off his seat, ignoring the unfinished meal. Around him the scene turned even more chaotic when ponies began to rush to many directions, some panicking, others attempting to help with possible property damage whereas some weren't doing anything, instead staring ahead at something, the feminine stallion being among said watchers.

At the open space of the town square something pushed the terrain out of the way like a huge mole digging underground. The earth collapsed within itself, forming a crater to the middle of the square which forced many ponies to gallop for their lives. A giant river of mud erupted from below the ground and quickly snaked itself up to the air from otherworldly influence.

Witnessing on, to his horror Faith saw an immense beast take shape from the fountain of loose muck and debris before his very eyes, a beefy creature that resembled a demon or a minotaur, vein-like roots forming an organic shell to it's frightening form. A mouth of sharp tusks opened up to bellow with such loudness that it sent vibrations through the ground. More ponies scattered in dread to escape the creature's close vicinity, some crying openly.

Ponyville was under attack.

After forming itself the demonic entity stretched the other one of it's two forelimbs to a ridiculous length with great speed to slam one of the houses like a battering ram, a flow of mud sent crashing through when the walls and windows gave away, filling the house with the loose soil. The couple living in the apartment saved themselves from drowning to the material by retreating through the backdoor in haste.

"What in Celestia's sake is that thing?!" Faith heard a stallion exclaim fearfully.

Another swipe from the earth monster's bulking arms tore a clean hole to the neighboring building with one swift swipe, sending bits of wood and glass flying everywhere. Simultaneously the creature snuck it's grasping appendage within the broken down house and pulled out what the pegasus recognized to be a flygel. Swinging it's arm in a wide arc, the monster flung the large instrument through the air.

Faith's eyes grew large. At the path of it's trajectory stood Ditzie and the pegasus stallion, both frozen in place. If they didn't move the flygel would land on top of them in a few seconds.

Without thinking Faith leapt off the ground and speeded towards the two ponies, moving fluently to try and catch up to them before the flying object would. Flapping as furiously as the strength of his wings allowed, the pegasus went in for a desperate forward dive.

"Get out of the way!" Faith shouted at the duo. Reaching them, he grabbed Ditzie and pushed her forward. Right at that moment a loud crash was heard from behind, accompanied by sounds of snapping piano strings and raining bits of stone.

With another roar the earth colossus straightened itself a distance away and plopped back into the hole that it had emerged from like a retreating seal, disappearing with a huge splash of mud. Again the ground began to rumble, slowly fading out to indicate that the monster was done with it's assault and had left the area.

Yet at it's wake a new kind of threat emerged from the crater.

Several grayish green vines slithered up with lightning speed and snatched the closest pony unfortunate enough to stand close to the hole to their barbed coils, a yellow filly with a white curly mane. Fighting and kicking, the screaming calf was yanked below by the menace before any of the adults got to her in time. A mare and a stallion wept powerlessly, the parents of the abducted child who was now gone.

Getting up from the pavement after landing, Faith began to hyperventilate. He had just witnessed a supernatural assault against the ponydom of Equestria first hand.

From what the stallion had seen the mud creature that appeared was easily powerful enough to ruin a handful of buildings in seconds. Worse than that, Faith had no idea how his former grudge was related to the existence of this new monster yet he already guessed that It was somehow behind the mess.

"Waffle!" Ditzie shouted in anxiety and rushed towards the landing spot of the now utterly demolished flygel, followed by Faith who saw her kneel beside it. The pegasus who had been in her company was sandwitched under the broken instrument.

"Oww...........oww..............oww," the red maned stallion winced repeatedly, stars and cuckoos circling his head.

"Oh no! Waffle, are you alright?" Ditzie gasped in concern and covered her mouth with a hoof.

"I can't feel my hind legs," Waffle mumbled with delirious eyes, "but my head aches. I suppose that means that the front half of my body still functions."

Tears fell down Ditzie's face. Weeping against the trapped stallion, she eventually took notice at Faith who was staring at them silently while looking pale.

"W-w-why didn't you save him too??" the mare pegasus whimpered.

"What?! There wasn't enough time," Faith replied loud, shocked by the mare's unexpected reaction, "Didn't you hear when I warned you?"

"You're lying!" Ditzie snapped at him with a sorrowful, shaky voice, "Liar!!"

Seeing the delirious expression on her made Faith's retinas grow large when he understood the reason behind Ditzie's outburst. The stallion who was now pinned under the flygel actually meant something to her, probably being a coltfriend or even a relative which Faith couldn't guess.

"Oh my gosh," the green pegasus uttered as his lips began to wobble, "I had no idea."

"Go away!!" Ditzie screamed, her eyes now fully blinded by the tears, looking like she wouldn't be listening for reason anytime soon.

Gasping deep, Faith backed away, feeling guilt weigh down his innards. Already blaming himself for what had come to be, what he felt next were the tears running down his own cheeks. The feminine stallion's trembling jaw opened reluctantly to try and add a sensible defense but it already felt useless. He hadn't prevented Waffle's injury from happening.

"I'm sorry for trying to save you," Faith ended up uttering in a hurt state and ran to the opposite direction without looking back.

"Mom!" a tiny voice called.

A purple coated filly galloped over the destroyed road and came upon the two pegasus, swiftly embracing Ditzie who was crying bucketloads. Behind her a group of other fillies and colts looked at the tragic scene in an adult mare's company.

"Dinky!" Ditzie's broken voice whimpered. Her body shook as she hung to her daughter. "Dinky!" she repeated desperately.

"What's going on, mommy?" Dinky asked her mother nervously, also tearing up as she kept glancing at the crushed stallion, "Why is Waffle lying under that piano? We heard some very loud noises."

"We have to get him to the hospital," Ditzie told her daughter, "Waffle is badly hurt and needs medical care. We need help!"

Cheerilee, the teacher who was with the children approached to a closer distance with a shocked face, the rest of her class sticking behind.

"Sweet Celestia! Keep him company, miss Doo. I'll go get help," she instructed the pegasus. With that the magenta earth mare turned and rushed past her nervous looking students.

"Hang on, Waffle!" Dinky exclaimed, still clutching to her mother.

Aside them Waffle moved his free half slowly under the flygel, appearing to be managing better than it had at first seemed like.

"Uh, sorry, honey," the pegasus stallion uttered ashamedly, "but I think I over-estimated my state. There's slight tingling building up to my rear half. Must have been temporary numbness. I guess my spine isn't damaged after all."

Out of nowhere Pinkie Pie popped into view to speak to the thin air surrounding her.

"Remember, readers, this is only possible in a cartoon!"

As soon as she came Pinkie had gone to leave the two pegasus and filly utterly puzzled.

"W-w-where is Faith?" Ditzie ended up uttering brokenly.

"Faith?" her daughter asked confusedly, "I didn't see anypony else here aside you two."

"I may be stuck under a bucking piano but you weren't being very fair to that pegasus," Waffle garbled.

In an instant a silence overtook Ditzie. As she pulled herself up from the ground a thought occured to her which made the mare exhail loud as her eyes rotated wildly in their sockets without a hint of synchronization.

"What have I done?"

***

He ran as quickly as his limbs allowed.

No direction, no goal. The strong erge to gain distance between him and other ponies being his only motivation, everything that Faith sought was isolation.

The strength of his despair gave him the speed that allowed the pegasus to exit the town in minutes. A trail of floating dust lingered behind as he galloped down the dirt road leading away from Ponyville which led him to the neutral region surrounding it's borders.

Seeing an approaching cart driving earth pony ahead, he leapt to the support of his wings in order to gain altitude, escaping high above the trees surrounding the road as the cart's owner watched in confusion.

After several more minutes of frantic flying he finally began to descend and landed on a heavy branch of an individual tree, panting heavily because by now he had ran out of breath. Leaning against the bark, the stallion wept quietly in solitude for what to him felt like an eternity.

"I was just trying to help...........," Faith whimpered.

So many things had gone wrong in one day. First the bitterness trying to corrupt him with violent images and doppelgangers, the attack on the town and the result of his rescue attempt that had gone down the drain. What else could possibly happen? Faith fought the need to scream from the very bottom of his tangled soul.

Why had Ditzie and her stallion not reacted? Both pegasus had been close enough to audibly detect his shouting. Instead they had stood in place like cowering sheeps when the flygel came down. Instead of thanking him for saving her from sharing the fate of her friend the ungrateful ass of a mare had treated him like Faith himself had been the one behind the incident.

None of it felt sensible.

For a small fraction of time a burning flame ignited within the feminine stallion's head, a flame that he had not felt since denying himself from feeling anger towards others years ago.

"I will never speak to that lousy, cowardly donkey of a ------," his mind uttered until a voice of reason exclaimed, "No!"

Realizing what his mind was again nurturing, Faith closed out the thoughts feeding it's birth and replaced them with optimism. Inside him the hateful flame was successfully snuffed out.

"There must be a logical reason for why she behaved the way she did," Faith began to speak to himself to calm his own nerves, "That stallion who she called Waffle was likely in good relations with her. I think the whole thing just made her lose her mind momentarily and I was unlucky enough to get in the way at that moment."

The pegasus got up on his hind legs to stand over the support of the thick branch and was watching the forest. He noted the sunlight and a warm summer wind that felt comfortable against his coat as it drifted against him. In the vast distance behind the tree line spanned the blue horizon.

"So much suffering from nothing but assumption," he kept coaching himself, "You have taken your eyes off the ball too easily, Faith."

His wings straightened themselves and began flapping. Lifting himself off the branch, Faith descended towards the ground and touched down in a few seconds. Around him the air glittered from the sunlight.

"Why is big pony sad?" a butterfly asked him as it flew past with words that Faith's ears understood.

"I'm continuing to grow and learn more about myself," the pegasus told the insect grievingly, "Maybe one day I will become less sad and more happy."

"Big pony is wise and sweet," the butterfly said before moving on in search of flowers.

A smile grew on the femine stallion's face as he wiped the tears from his cheeks and sniffed. What had happened in the town made Faith nervous about the future. It's influence was beginning to widen which the stallion felt powerless against. Yet his true chances lied at overcoming the effects of mindless fear and the confusion that it spawned, an acknowledgment that lightened his burden.

A small start would be better than nothing. Despite all the shortcomings Faith was still functional and willing to keep going. All that he had to do was to get a new hold of himself.

After walking alone through the woods for a while the pegasus came upon a pond located in the heart of the forest and watched it, deciding that the spot was isolated and calm enough to allow his thoughts to flow freely. Relaxing in the natural calmness of the setting and inspired by the voices of the insects, Faith suddenly started singing.

Who am I?
Do I stand for nothing?
Who am I?
Can't I strive for something?

All I did was trying to steer away
From myself,
What I could stand for.

Who am I?
Why does it seem lack meaning?
Who am I?
Can't I just stop grieving?

I hide away from what my true binds could be
to the world
that can give much more.

Looking below him and to the vibrating water surface, Faith stared to the eyes of a green mare-like pony who flashed a smile from between the floating lily pads, water fleas skimming over the reflection.

I get what I give and should aim for that,
To believe to myself.
Life rewards you if you seek the good half.
I sing to remember.

I sing to remember.

Again Twilight crossed Faith's mind. Despite the troubling deed that he had been shown the stallion felt that her teachings mattered. Everyone learned that same hard way. Faith wasn't going to take It's claims literally.

Who am I?
I'm shy about the strangers.
Who am I?
I find myself stranger.

Fast to judge those who had still cared about
my well-being
and how it's maintained.

While he sang beside the pond Faith noticed that his voice was drawing attention. Butterflies, wasps, beetles and other tiny insects landed around him to listen, slowly hinging their wings. They weren't alone, other small forest animals ranging from birds and squirrels came to witness the momentary spectacle.

Who am I?
My life is not in vain.
Who am I?
I must endure this pain.

I can't run from what could be my true bind
to the life
that has much to give.

I get what I give and should aim for that,
To believe to myself.
Life rewards me if I seek the good half.
I sing to remember.

I sing to remember.

"I sing to remember," Faith whispered to himself.

He closed his eyes and remained in deep silence. The insects, birds and rodents eventually began departing once they deemed the performance over. Finding himself alone once more, in his solitude the pegasus turned to look over at the horizon and the sun visible through the free space between the rows of trees. It was a beautiful solitary moment which the pegasus enjoyed as long as time would permit.

Faith would return to Ponyville. He'd find Ditzie and attempt to untie the established locks, maybe even find a way to assist his coltfriend if he had managed to survive the accident. He'd talk to Twilight and the others once they were to return from Canterlot and help put a stop to It's plan of destroying Equestria.

Faith was done wallowing in negative thoughts and self-esteem. It would be now or never. The time to work for his future had come.

***

Chapter 14: Unrest Rising

Unrest Rising

A piece of crumbling earth lifted up from a larger crevice of what had formerly been the foundation to the town square's formerly well-conditioned pebbled stone pavement. As soon as it was off the ground the sediment began to revolve at high speed, carefully manipulated within a glowing green bubble of magic. The unicorn who had collected the soil inspected the now finer cocktail of stones, gravel and mud until laying it neatly back down to level the bottom of the gaping hole. His work was only so successful which he instantly addressed to someone nearby.

"Tumble, mind bring over more soil? This won't be enough to fill it."

An earth pony nodded and took position behind a cart that was filled with fresh sediment. Once parking it closer the horse grabbed a shovel to his teeth and began to scoop out soil, flinging it to the crevice as his co-worker observed from beside. "Hurry up, we have to get it done quickly. Remember what the mayor said to everypony, all of these dents must be cleared up before tomorrow," the unicorn remarked, still taking in the view of the surrounding devastation with a clueless posterior.

"I'm workin', I'm workin'!" the earth stallion mumbled loudly from between the teeth that clenched the shovel, sounding unhappy about the neutral yet bossy attitude of his comrade who himself wasn't doing anything, "If ya want this finished quicker ya might just as well shut ya trap and help out a tad here!" he growled bitterly.

"Don't blow your top off, buddy, I'll help," the unicorn replied in annoyance and took another shovel to join the task.

"Excuse me, sir."

The stallions ceased what they were about to do to spot six approaching mares. The news of the happening had quickly spread around in Canterlot which had caught the ears of Twilight's group who abandoned their plans of spending the night at the castle as a result and rushed over in one of the fastest chariots that Celestia had provided. Even without clear expectations about what they would find the impact of the utter chaos that now greeted them nevertheless showed from everyone as visible dismay.

"Where can we find whoever is leading these repairs?" Twilight asked the workers.

"The mayor is in charge," the unicorn grunted back, "I believe she's somewhere in the middle of the square. If you search you should locate her."

Politely thanking the stallions for their help, the group moved on, upset by seeing just how bad of a state the town square was in. Huge crevices crossed the pavement, the largest several hooves in width which the townsfolk worked vigorously to patch up. Curious by nature, Pinkie stuck her head to the bottom of one such crevice. "Hello? Anypony there?" her voice echoed in the hole until she abruptly pulled back to re-reveal her snout stuck between the jaws of her toothless pet alligator.

"Gummy! What are you doing in there?" Pinkie exclaimed to the biting reptile.

"We ain't got quakes like this for a living memory," Applejack stated in dismay, "Even the ones that have ended up happening ain't near this magnitude. Yet Ah still wonder how it only affected this part of the town."

"Shouldn't it be plain clear already, AJ?" Twilight told her friend worriedly, "Our underground subject has been at it again. Only this time Ponyville was the target. The timing was convenient, it has happened when we were in Canterlot."

"I see Mayor Mare over there," Rainbow spoke out anxiously, pointing a hoof some distance away at a busy looking pony who was unhappily following the work force moving around her. As the mares approached their presence quickly became acknowledged when the mayor ceased from assessing the repair work and came up to greet her visitors with anxiety.

"Miss Sparkle, it is absolutely relieving to see you here! What a dreadful day!" the older mare complained. "What happened?" Applejack asked. The mayor hesitated, clearing her throat nervously several times before she managed to speak again. "Some kind of creature destroyed our idyllic square and took an innocent calf. The parents are near mental breakdown."

The information shocked everyone as much as it naturally would, Rarity's front hoof already covering her mouth. "Oh my gosh," Rainbow murmured until her face gained a crimson red color, "I will personally mangle the face of whoever or what ever did it no matter what size it may be!"

"That will have to wait until we get to know more about what we are upped against, Rainbow," Twilight said with a calming hoof gesture and eyeballed the square curiously. "Do you mind if we look around a little?"

"Not at all, dear miss Sparkle," the mayor told them kindly, "The repairs for the worst damages aside that ghastly hole are nearly completed anyway. Speaking of which, I apologize for ending our chat here but I must return to my duties if we are to see our square anywhere near to what it was before this happened. Hey, you four over there! Quit slacking around and fill that hole! Aren't you aware that Celestia herself is going to pay us a visit in a few hours?!" she barked at a group of workers who had began to chat amongst themselves when her back had been turned, quick to return to their work upon the mention of the ruler of Canterlot.

Continuing on, the group sought for clues until they reached the edge of the large hole that the mayor had mentioned. It had formed only a short distance away from the first buildings at where the square ended, two individual houses appearing to be in total need of repair, one filled with mud while the other displayed a huge gaping hole at where it's walls used to be. Taking in the signs, Twilight gazed to the bottom of the crater before sounds of weeping distracted her focus. Looking up, she spotted a couple to the right from where she and her friends stood, both ponies resting low to the ground and quietly embracing each other.

"Are those the........." Fluttershy began to ask.

"Yes, Fluttershy, that's them. Let's not disturd," Twilight added quietly and returned her attention to the hole, taking a careful step over the steep incline, loose soil crumbling away beneath her hooves as they partially sank to the soft earth which added difficulty to balancing. Soon reaching the bottom such way, she examined the soft earth that filled every inch of the crater's foundation. "The sediment has collapsed back down to cover it but this hole continued deeper when it was first formed," Twilight nearly theorized to herself, "It takes more than strength to move the ground around in this magnitude."

"Anything that you know of?" Rainbow asked as she landed by her friend's side, the other mares looking from the edge.

"Doubtful," Twilight returned a pessimistic viewpoint, "I can go through what books I have in my library but they won't reveal much." Frustrated, she began a slow climb back towards the others. "We have to find Faith. He might be able to help us with some information," the mare pondered.

"Why do you think he is useful?" Rainbow enquired.

"He lives only a short distance away from here," Twilight said, "Unless he spent his entire day in the apartment he must have seen what happened," Partially oblivious, the unicorn failed to pay enough attention which made her slip on the unstable soil, "Ugh! Watch your step at this spot, Rainbow. Where was I? Yes, I believe that whoever is behind this might be the spirit that he struggled against."

"Ghost emotion," Applejack corrected and helped the unicorn back on the edge. Struggling with the incline, Twilight stumbled again only to be caught by the assisting work horse."Gosh, what is it with this hole? Spirit, ghost emotion, that being that plagued Faith for years seems to have something to do with these attacks, "she grunted and got up on solid ground, "You do remember that quake that we sensed at the acre and what Faith claimed. The timing fits. Call it a gut feeling and I might be wrong but I bet that is the answer."

"M-m-miss Sparkle?" a female voice spoke. The grieving couple had slowly approached the group when they hadn't noticed. From the looks of her face and walking stance the mare's sorrow was weighing her down which forced the stallion to support her with his shoulder to keep her from stumbling.

"Can I help you?" Twilight asked them concernedly once they got near.

"Our filly was snatched," the stallion explained, "We don't know what we should do."

"You have greatly helped Ponyville several times in the past," the mare whimpered, "Please, miss Sparkle! You have to save our daughter."

"There is only so much that I am capable of but I will do my very best to track down the culprit," Twilight explained her future intentions soothingly, "Once I do they will answer for what they have done. Even then it's..........", she paused. The parents were upset and giving them more reasons to grieve with hard facts wouldn't help ease their pain, a role that she was hoping to avoid. Yet how could she explain them that it was impossible to tell whether their filly was still alive without crushing their hope? Because she couldn't make up her mind in time the unicorn hesitated with the rest of her answer.

"Impossible to tell whether our dear Wheezy still lives," the stallion added quietly, tears flowing freely down the cheeks of both ill looking ponies. "If it comes to be that the heart in my little angel's chest has stopped beating," the mother whispered shakily, "Do what you must to bring justice to that monstrosity."

"I........," Twilight began as the couple left, still caught off-guard by what they had said, ".....I will," she finished to herself.

A dismay had struck hard at everyone from what the couple had told them, Fluttershy's whimper and distant clanking of shovels scraping against bedrock being everything that added contrast to the otherwise deadly silence until Applejack ended up breaking it. "That does it," she exclaimed, clearly forcing her determination without being able to hide her upset state, "We have to help end this insanity!"

"If we only knew where to start," Twilight uttered quietly.

"I might be able to help you with that," a new female voice made it's presence known, sounding nearly equally quiet. Ditzy had appeared during their conversation with the pony couple and was now standing behind the group. "You're looking for Faith, aren't you?" she added. "Yes," Twilight replied with a sudden new rush of motivation, "Did he tell you??"

"My coltfriend was injured during the attack and I nearly was too but that Faith saved me in time. I was being kind of a jerk because I was badly upset from what happened and took it out on him. He didn't receive that all too well and ran away," Ditzy revealed, receiving angry looks from Fluttershy that succeeded in making the other mare visibly nervous as she kept going, "but he came back later and tracked me to the hospital! He's a really sweet and fair pony. Makes me feel bad for snapping at him like I did."

"Where is he? At his apartment?"

Ditzy shook her head. "He told me that he had a lot in his mind and needed some solitary time for himself," she kept going, "He mentioned you and instructed that if I happened to see you I should tell you that he knows what is behind this and that if you want to reach him he has gone somewhere near the acres to think things through," the pegasus explained to the intently listening Twilight.

"Take care, Ditz," Rainbow gave her fellow pegasus a friendly shoulder fist, "I'll wreck who ever caused this."

"I'm sure you will, Rainbow. Just deal with that creature," Ditzy replied with a hint of resentment towards the subject and made a swift depart.

"See, AJ?" Twilight remarked to the pondering work horse with a smug facial expression, "It appears that I was on the right track after all."

***

With Ditzy's information the group headed to the apple acres and searched for Faith for a long time without finding a trace of him. They were joined by Big Macintosh who had been at work before spotting them and accounted how he had felt the ground shake and heard a loud bellow during the day the mares had been away at their trip as the ponies moved on to scour around the other farming regions located close to Applejack's property. That is how they eventually found valuable assistance from one of her cousins, Almond Stace, a carrot farmer who's help finally brought them to the dirt path leading towards their sought subject.

"It's beautiful," Rarity gasped in inspiration.

A yellow field of flowers spanning nearly as far as everyone could see greeted them as they left the trail and entered the scenery. Bees and other insects buzzed from plant to plant in large formations, the surrounding air full of enthralling humming caused by their wings. "It is mid-summer," Fluttershy unraveled her knowledge, "The flying insects are now gathering nectar from the flowers to store it in their hives as food for themselves and their family. As a returning favor they transfer the pollem of those flowers elsewhere so the plants can flourish the same way the following year."

"A delicate balance," Twilight added, transfixed at the yellow ocean until Stace eventually stopped everyone to point his hoof towards the middle of the dense growth of flowers where everyone could make out a green shape that rested motionless, low to the ground yet in a vertical stance that made it stand out from the ocean of yellow. It was Faith.

"Ah happened to meet him at the road and he asked me if ah knew a place where he could relax without any background distractions," Almond told the mares and Big Mac, "He claimed that he'd come here only to "med-a-tate" if Ah spelt that correctly, how do ya spell that? Quite a polite and down-to-earth fellow. Anyways, he has been here for many hours now. Kind of amazin', Ah never thought that a young pony can stay still that long, your age group tends to be impatient and restless. Well, ah'll just leave ya with him."

"Thanks for the help, Stace," Applejack nodded at the other farmer and took her time to shake his hoof. "Anytime, cousin," Stace replied happily and went back towards the dirt path, tipping his hat at Big Mac who too returned a nod. After the farmer had gone the group approached Faith's location through the tall grass and closed the distance.

Where the pegasus sat the ground formed a natural ascending hill that the yellow flowers covered. He was relaxed in his all too common crossed leg position, resting low to the ground in a relatively peaceful state, obviously focused at what he was experienced at listening. As the group got close Twilight took a lead to everyone else and was the first one to reach him. Faith did not react when she stroked the back of his ear with the tip of her hoof.

"Tickle, tickle, Faith," the unicorn told the pegasus playfully as the others caught up, "How are you doing?"

For a moment she waited for him to speak which only rewarded her with silence. "Ditzy relied us your message. You made it hard for us to find you, "she decided to add after receiving no reply which too made no difference. Faith appeared abscent almost as if his mind was occupying a different conscience, perfectly focused at it's state.

"Uh.........Faith? Are you awake? Hello?"

Still not reacting, a small but visible hint of dread to Faith's facial language made it easier to notice that not everything was as it seemed. If he had been aware of their presence it had no effect on him. Yet it appeared that he wasn't asleep nor oblivious.

"The bitterness visited me while you were away," he uttered out of the blue without an ounce of happiness behind his voice, an unsettling reveal that made everyone's eyes grow twice their original size.

"What...........what did it say to you?" Twilight ended up asking him after slight hesitation, a question which Faith didn't even flinch at.

"A lot," he began again darkly, "It is full of the same hatred, deceit and bloodlust that I threw away years ago. It has grown powerful." His face sank to point downwards, a physical sign of a deeply troubled soul that tries to ignore the weight of a painful memory. "It.......tried to corrupt me again."

"Oh, Faith," Fluttershy's saddened whisper followed the stallion's new reveal.

"It's alright," the other pegasus quickly regained himself, "I have no true reasons to jump to It's bandwagon. I get what I give. As long as I remember that my conscience will stay clean."

"Did it tell you anything about.......captured ponies?" Twilight asked again, the others slowly taking in parts of Faith's reveal in a none too satisfied state.

Like it had been summoned to mark an occasion, a single tear fell down Faith's cheek and left behind a thin, glistening trail. Fluttershy had positioned herself before him thus the first pony to notice. Her shocked reaction spoke volumes about the feelings that she still relished towards the internally battered stallion. No one in the small party was in fact taking the conversation lightly, aware of the grim implications to what his knowledge might shed light to.

"It has taken prisoners by means that escape me," Faith revealed, forcing himself to raise the depth of his voice to try sounding braver, "It told me that if I fail to find it within one full cycle of day and night it will................"

"I understand, Faith," Twilight soothed him. Even so what she had began to note in the stallion's almost cold indifference to her presence was slowly gnawing at her.

"Not that it would make a difference," Faith reacted with more of such coldness, "It will kill them with or without me."

"Were you at the town?" Applejack asked anxiously.

A nod affirmed her question. "I was at the diner when it happened," the pegasus revealed grimly, "There was an unnatural earthquake of sorts and that hideous creature popped out of the ground. I don't know what it was but it looked like an elemental demon of some kind, all mud and roots and those glowing red eyes. It caused a lot of damage. After it left some vines came in it's wake and took a pony with them. I believe that It has somehow made them but how that is possible I honestly have no idea."

The description as well as the overall grim news had the expected effect on the listening ears. "Great, an elemental demon is the least that we need to add to this," Rainbow murmured and inspected the pristine state of her forehooves almost like she was preparing to punch someone. "I will so mangle that thing," she growled to herself, remembering what they had heard about the snatched filly.

Twilight's urgently planning nature caught spontaneous flame and drove her to cycle around a small patch of the field which left a circular mark to the grass and trambled the yellow flowers that were unfortunate enough to be on the path of the brainstorming unicorn's hooves, a crime scene that would not have uplifted Fluttershy's own mood if she had noticed. Yet she was unaware of the fate of the flowers because she was fixed elsewhere. Her source of focus did not move to even fix the comfort of his position, similar in immobility to a fine statue or a rock that resides in a natural environment either from a lack of life of it's own or by fear of what it wishes to keep outside a hard green exterior.

"Okay, okay," Twilight mumbled and came to a sharp break in mid-trot, "Enough with plan B, those ponies are in real danger. We have to find It as soon as possible."

Her new plan met instant opposition. "How? We only got half a day," Rarity squealed, terrified by everything that she had listened, "It could be anywhere. Where do we even begin this hopeless search?!"

"You can start from the roots of the problem," Faith added his two bits which brought the group's focus back aside Fluttershy who had already been looking. "Please elaborate what you mean, Faith," Twilight addressed.

The stallion finally moved, apparently having finished his meditation and began to flex his limbs. "As you already know, It commits it's deed from underground," was his explanation, "Those vines that took the calf at the square belong to a larger sum that continues to bloat itself."

Rainbow's head tilted sideways as she pondered the given exposition after failing to understand the point behind it. "How does that help us?"
"That larger sum is like a highway or a path of sorts, it all originates from the main capital or, in this case, the big bad," Faith emphasized, "An epicentre."

"Can you help us find it?"

Faith nodded back, a pair of dampened eyes finally revealing themselves from behind the conceal of their lids. "The vines work in a shadowy bundle. While I can't see them I feel their presence in a sense. I think the rest of you too can if you take a moment to listen. Go on."

An exchange of uncertain glances between ponies was eventually followed by a short period of nothing happening.

"This is boring! I only hear the birds and the bees," Pinkie sounded off her impatience.

"Focus at the ground. Feel it with the soles of your hooves. It is distinguishable from everything else," Faith instructed the others who kept trying.

"Wait............Ah feel it!" Applejack shouted abruptly, "Some kinda vibrations. It is weak but it's almost as if something living is movin' down there."

The hint proved helpful to the rest who quickly picked out what she had described as short periods of rumbling that gently brushed everyone's hooves, like the earth underneath them was behaving similarly to a sleeping cat that slightly purrs when it's owner rubs it's chin just the right way or a large engine trying to start up. It was no longer a mere question, the turf below the meadow was being moved by an unseen force.

The vague presence suddenly became very real when a bigger vibration swept through the field, only brief but difficult to miss which caused Rarity to jolt in fright and scan her surrounding field. "I definitely felt that," the scared fashionist uttered, a caught off-guard reaction shared by the other group members.

"What can we do when the earth underneath our very hooves becomes our enemy?" Faith stated calmly, obviously aware of what grim situation was in development, a calm posterior not present on Twilight who shared the concerns of her white colleague. "This alone isn't enough to help us find It...............although we are running out of time," she voiced nervously.

"There are other signs too but you have to look hard to spot them," Faith replied indifferently," I'll show you what I mean."

He began to walk down the hill, locating what seemed like a random spot of the field and pulled away some of the long undergrowth which revealed a hidden disturbance in the soil that would have remained undiscovered if the stallion hadn't known exactly where to look from; a neat fracture that exposed some of the soil right beneath the grass, difficult to define in length yet still indicative at underground movement.

Twilight eyeballed the crevice and ended up scratching her head. "How do you know about all this?" Without answering straight away, Faith let go of the grass which reconcealed the tiny crevice and listened the surrounding air, ending up smiling warmly amidst his own pondering as a flying insect passed right by his ear. "A little bee told me," he eventually said, totally ignoring Twilight's confused facial expression.

***

"Okay, so what the slug do we do now?" Rainbow uttered from behind everyone in an upset spirit, something that you couldn't have blamed her for because of what she and her friends currently observed. The ponies had taken upon themselves to follow what little signs helped guide them along the trail of the elusive dark force hours before, a painfully long tracking that eventually produced needed results. The signs of anonymous underground influence were becoming more visible. A lot more visible.

Before them an immense hole broke up the level ground right beside the skirts of a forest, a cavity that spanned several yards to swallow up what had formerly been a small clearing that no longer existed. While it's sheer scale made it noticeable the pit wasn't the most dominant feature in comparison to what protruded from within it. Most of the hole's entire cavity was filled up by an immense, greyish green mass, a bundle that split to an intersection from the middle as it came near to the top of the treeline with each one of the resulting individual bundles made of living vines that squirmed in a raging motion and wrapped around anything that was in their reach, a multi-headed hydra from the deepest pits of Hades. The forest was overtaken, each tree drained by the volatile, barbed mass that snaked around the terrain infinitely and sucked the plants dry of their liquids, some of the trees already reduced to lifeless husks of their former selves. Littered around random areas around the clearing obliterated remains of wood laid sprayed, broken parts of what to a trained eye appeared to originate from a travel wagon or a cart.

"Sweet Celestia," Applejack uttered, the color of her facial coat paling at the sight. "Eeeyup," her near identically pale brother added.

"Oh no......it's worse than I thought!" Faith exclaimed, sounding as badly upset as the rest of his companions, "Now I understand, it appears that It uses this form to anchor itself to the very soil of Equestria and spread so it becomes nearly impossible to eradicate. With this kind of speed it may not even take very long. If you don't do something soon we will be in serious trouble..........."

"Ya right, this sure ain't good. It'll eat up the acres," AJ agreed, having already been listening and thinking about the consequences behind the statement.

"Eeeeyup," Big Macintosh quickly enforced.

The group wasn't taking their new challenge well. Rainbow was moving impatiently and kicking around small pebbles. Fluttershy shivered in place without moving while Rarity's eyes looked like they might fall off their sockets at any second without the support of their lids that hung wide from the sight whereas Twilight was busy clenching her upper and lower lips in turns with her teeth. Finally admitting that her cognitive abilities couldn't solve the issue, she began to near the bizarre mass with a confident stare, replacing all of her other plans with a singular bold one.

"Twilight, dear, what are you doing!?" Rarity gasped from behind her back as she noticed her move, "Don't go near it!"

Taking in the other unicorn's warning but nevertheless heeding it no regard, Twilight's eyes enveloped to a white shroud. An orb shot up from her horn and took a place a short hight above her head, growing in size. The others looked on as a pulsating form of energy began to break through the glowing crust, warping the orb's round form. Each of the strands pushed out from the core and circled the sphere in a swirling movement until the round shape had become surrounded by a highway of white flares like a miniature sun, a spectacle to behold to those who's eyes could adjust to it's brightness. "Woah," Rainbow expressed with a plain impressed note.

It happened quickly. An individual vine lashed from the hole with a lightning quick whipping motion and the giant orb vanished to thin air. With a thud Twilight fell hard against the ground and laid motionless on her side, having been swept off her hooves.

"Twilight!" the others screamed in unison and rushed over to help.

At the same time more vines began to creep out and near the unconscious mare. "Pull her away! Now!" Faith shouted at full lungs. With the use of front hoof and mouth alike Twilight's companions took hold and dragged the unicorn to the opposite direction as quickly as they could, an act committed none too soon when the vines shot forward and tried to grab hold of her, missing their target by a very close margin. Once they got far enough from the bundle's reach the ponies surrounded their friend who was leaving a trail of red blotches as grim evidence of the severeness of her injury. Slowly coming back, Twilight blinked repeatedly to try to regain her barings.

"Sweet Celestia, sugarcube," AJ gasped by her side, "What were ya thinking?"

"I was trying to summon my tiara," Twilight winced, "If I had just succeeded......."

"Your plan would have gone down way better if you had simply listened to me instead of standing so close to it, darling," Rarity stated calmly and examined the wound. The vine had torn a vicious looking gash to the coat at the left side of Twilight's skull, a flowing stream of blood seeping over the other half of the her face which made it an unpleasant sight to behold. "Now, I really have to ask you stay still because this might sting a little, dear," the fashionist explained, "I am not very experienced with medical science but we must fix that wound before it develops a scar. I absolutely refuse to watch such an ugly decoration on your mug for the rest of my life. Do you trust me?"

Swallowing quietly, Twilight gestured a simple nod at her friend who wasted no second as she got to work using her own magic. As it happened the other mare felt a soft touch brush against the injured section of her head. She didn't get to enjoy it for long as it suddenly turned to searing pain that tore through her. Twilight winced in agony, swelling tears mixed with the blood as she fought to endure the sensation without passing out a second time.

"The bleeding is contained," Rarity soothed her friend, "I'm almost there, darling, just hang on."

The same soft magic touched the same spot again and it's the wake a new horrible pain intensified. Eventually unable to bare it, Twilight lost her composure, a loud yelp leaving her vocal cords as she reeled back and shivered violently, looking sickeningly pale. Luckily Rarity had successfully finished the task and embraced her.

"It's alright, darling, it's over now. I patched it up flawlessly."

"I think I'm going to throw up," Twilight wept which drew the other mares to join the embrace that remained unbroken until Fluttershy became scared.

"Faith?"

Faith had frozen, eyes fixated to stare at the direction of the squirming behemoth without speaking anything. The look on his face already spoke for itself, a ghastly expression that Applejack instantly recognized.

"Hey, are ya alright?"

"It's......all my fault," Faith whispered to himself, nearly oblivious to them. "All my fault.........."

"Faith," Rainbow communicated slowly as the group approached him, "Snap out of it."

Faith ignored the advice, still oblivious.

"All my fault....... No, I can not take this anymore!! You want me?! Take me!!" the pegasus literally exploded to a rambling fit, "I'm right here!!"

Faith's wings began to flap violently which got him airborn but Rainbow landed on his back to stop him before he got too much altitude which successfully brought both of the pegasus back down on solid ground. "No!!!!!!!" Faith roared from beneath the other pony, "You don't understand!!! I'm responsible for it's existence!! I have to end it!! I can't let it hurt any more ponies!! Let me do this!! Let me do this!!!"

Trying to free himself, the stallion wriggled furiously but it proved useless because Rainbow was keeping him pinned and maintained a strong lock from around his wings so he wouldn't be able to escape."You won't help anypony by needlessly getting yourself killed," Rainbow exclaimed and held on until the other pegasus eventually ceased from resisting, "Come on, buddy, we need you here."

"No! No! No!N-n-no............," Faith moaned loudly, a scene that further provoked Fluttershy.

"Faith, this was not your fault," she wept beside them, "Faith, please, don't leave me again!"

With no forewarning a chilling laughter erupted somewhere underneath the field which got everyone on high guard, intensifying until it became unbearable to listen, each cackle rocking the ground violently with a deep vibration. In time it began to fade and was reduced to a distant evil cackle which left the group greatly shaken once the field became as silent as it had been moments ago. Soon guessing where the noise had come from and noticing how Faith fell slack underneath her, Rainbow shot a murderous look towards the massive bundle.

"You buckering bastard!" the enraged mare cried out, "How dare you poke fun at his plight?! I'll kill you!!"

This time it was Rainbow who found herself restrained by her friends as she charged forward. "Rainbow, don't be crazy!" Rarity addressed with a shocked yelp and dragged the mare to the opposite direction, "Remember what it did to Twilight! Remember what you yourself told Faith! How do you think we are going to survive this if we disregard common sense with our own actions?!" Although she still glared burning daggers at the vine creature the latter remark seemed to cool down the pegasus who lifted her hoof at Rarity, Applejack and Pinkie who eventually released their grip.

"YOU SON OF A SNAKE!!!!!!"

Re-restrained, Rainbow proved harder to handle when she used her wings to drag everyone forward until Applejack's brother finally lended his helping hoof to hold the maddened pegasus in place.

"Her wings! Hold her wings!" AJ shouted.

"Rainbow!!!" Rarity snarled at her friend as the horn on her head flickered dangerously, "I'm warning you! You will either calm down at this intant or I will cuff you up with what ever tree roots I can find from this blasted forest to keep you from doing something stupid."

Noticing the seriousness in the fashionist's stare, the mare tomboy halted without returning eye contact to anyone around her, a depressed facial expression replacing the anger.

Twilight had taken her time to inspect the facial injury, still rubbing a hoof against the spot that to her amazement felt almost as smooth as it had been before the vine struck. She approached Faith and her friends and placed a forehoof on the stallion's trembling shoulder.

"Faith, listen to me," she began softly, "I am doing quite alright. Don't blame yourself for what is happening, you played no part with the existence of that abomination. Please, don't do this to yourself."

Faith sniffed once and slowly gathered himself up from the floor with the assistance of the one pony who had remained at his side the entire time.

"That's it, darling," Fluttershy encouraged him in tears, "Come on, come on, come on, honeybunny, you can do it, that's it, come on!"

Back on his hooves, her friend looked thoughtful which ended to a short, weak chuckle of disbelief. "I can't believe that I have become this kind of crycalf," he scolded himself until his attention met the others, "What are you going to do now?"

"I will complete the summoning spell and use my tiara to call in the rest of the Elements of Harmony so we can destroy the epicentre," Twilight explained and instinctively ran a front hoof over the spot where the vine had scratched her face, "The Elements saved Ponyville and Equestria two times in the past and haven't let us down when we had to use them. This time is no exception."

The unicorn began to concentrate and quickly channeled new magic to her horn to restart what had been interrupted.

"Twilight, wait!"

Faith suddenly intervened, an antic that provoked a confused reaction as Twilight brows stood up questioningly in the dithering magenta light.

"Faith, we can't use anymore time for discussion, this is the only way to get it------," she began.

"In that case I hate to cut it for you," the pegasus interrupted, "but this is not the epicentre."

"What?!" everyone sounded in unison.

"This is where It's new form first started to grow," Faith addressed the inconvenient truth behind what squirmed a short span away from them, giving the creature off-put glances until he could no longer tolerate looking at it, "It came to be last week during our little acre incident. It appears to have corrupted a tree of some sort and attacked the unicorn behind the spell that allowed it to re-emerge. What I sensed took place here."

"I don't undertand," Rarity mumbled, "How can you sense such a presence?"

"I have already explained that I have no ways to answer all of your questions," Faith replied calmly, "I barely understand it myself yet I believe that it must be the intact spiritual connection that I still possess between my old emotion, almost like a bridge between spaces. I don't know for sure. In any case, the true epicentre has formed itself miles away. If you use your offense here it will simply grow back."

Twilight's face dropped steeply.

"Sweet Celestia, we only have what, seventeen hours?" Applejack uttered, sweat running down the nervous work horse's face which the equally sweatting mug of her brother closely mirrored.

"Oh, for crying camel's packbag!" Twilight rambled, "Okay, we have to act quickly, if the creature was serious about what it told him those ponies will be killed after midnight."

As she tried to make up her mind of what to do with her common circling which proved faster this time around she swiftly faced the others. "Alright, everyone, we are in a pickle, if we want to prevent a tragedy we must reach that supposed epicentre before night falls. We only have half a day and there might be a long distance to travel which means that we have to ditch the idea of going back to the square to meet with Celestia...........what's wrong, Pinkie?"

Pinkie's entire body had began to tremble with such violence that it made her wiggle like a rubberized version of herself. As soon as they had noticed it the other mares and Big Macintosh leaned back in horror, already knowing what it meant.

"Your keen sense!" Twilight exclaimed frightfully, all of the lavender drained from her face.

"E-e-e-e-e-e-eeye t-t-t-t-w-t-i-tch! M-m-ake that two!" the party pony mumbled, collapsing half-way to sit comfortably while her body bobbed up and down, "Tail twitch! Eye twitch! Tail twitch! Eye twitch! Coat itch! Woah, that's a new combination!"

"There ain't any cover here!" the now prefusely sweating Applejack whimpered and worked vigorously to spot a safe obstacle to place between herself and the unknown, "What are we going to do?!"

"Could somepony please explain to me what is happening to her?" Faith uttered confusedly, already finding a terrified Fluttershy clinging from him.

"Pinkie's keen sense predicts a happening just before it happens! It could be literally anything," Twilight barely answered the question until an unsettling suspicion brought her attention to the bundle. "Our close proximity to the creature must be the explanation! Everypony, gallop for your lives!!"

The ponies stampeded to the opposite direction except Rainbow who didn't budge from where she stood. "I'd say bring it!" the mare pegasus expressed boldly, "I can take it!"

"Rainbow, Pinkie, get away from the vines!!"

"Tail twitch! Leg t-t-t-throb-b-b-b-ing!" Pinkie uttered with a stuttery voice, her other rear leg pulsating uncontrollably until her symptoms ceased as quickly as they had begun. "Hmmmm, that's strange."

"What is it Pinkie?" Rainbow asked excitedly, "Is it another vine? A new creature perhaps? Tell me! Tell me!"

"Hey, slow it down, RD, I haven't received it yet," the party pony snapped until something made her literally light up, "Okaydokaylokey, I got it! The timer has gone off!" she laughed delightfully and rubbed her hooves together."

".........timer??"

"My egg clock, silly lilly!" Pinkie blurted at the other mare, "I'm making a super special cupcake and placed it in the oven back at Sugarcube Corner before we left to look for Faith."

Taking in the explanation, Rainbow's face suddenly began to twitch as if it had become sentient, a detail that instantly provoked new laughter in Pinkie.

"I didn't know that you too possess a keen sense, RD."

Rainbow's neck took a sharp arc towards the ground, ending up burying her face to a self-formed hole as the mare pegasus smashed her head repeatedly against the green turf which sent small lumps of grass and soil flying.

"Stop being so silly," Pinkie giggled during which the others returned to their proximity.

"It..........it wasn't the plant monster?" Rarity asked nervously.

"I guess not," the party pony shrugged and proceeded to grin widely," Now if you mares and stallions excuse me, I got a treat to claim from the oven before it turns way too crispy." With said explanation Pinkie gathered momentum and disappeared to a puff of smoke that lingered behind.

"Pinkie, wait! We have to save those ponies!" Twilight called after her friend, the unicorn's entire form slumping downwards, "What is it with her being so...........stubborn?" she growled.

"Don't be nervous, Twi," she heard Pinkie's voice right beside her with only a split second to notice the party pony's instant presence until she had already vanished as quickly as she had left the first time, "I'll catch up with the rest of you," her voice shouted a long distance away.

"How do you know that?!"

Twilight jumped back in surprise when Pinkie re-emerged a third time only this time right in front of her even before she had even suspected her to be there. "What? Are you deaf?! Are you silly or something? Who the plumber do you think I am? I'm the buggerblasted Pinkie Pie!!" the mare scolded madly. "You know my name. So.....call me, maybe?"

As soon as she had explained herself Pinkie had gone with a badly left behind unicorn stuck in her wake.

***